Description: In this world filled with crime and car-bashing villains, one man stands for justice. When old women complain about car doors being ripped apart, this man defends them. He is a paragon of might, and today... he displays his might against the greatest villains on earth! BEHOLD... SKULLOMANIA!! (Winner: Duke)
It's an honor to have an SNF fight. Though Saburo doesn't know what the true idea behind the fight is, this will draw people to the lot! People will see all the nice used cars, the shining faces of the attendants! Nothing could go wrong! A spot has been cleared up in the middle of the lot, cars slowly being moved about before the fight begins. A set of high school bleachers were set up near by for the eager fans of the fights to push into. Saburo himself, a skinny but fit Japanese man about in his thirties and rather timid, combs his hair a bit and waves the cars out over a large circle where the fight will be. His father watches from the glass window of the showcase room, sipping his coffee. He's like the Japanese Red Foreman.
An honor indeed. For simple people -- assumedly simple, at least -- like the owner of this used car lot, the prospect of playing host to a prestigious, televised event like Saturday Night Fight is quite the opportunity. For the fighters, though, this means either one of two things: just another bland setting for a fight with their designated opponent...
... or a prime location brimming with potential weaponry.
For the fighter standing nearby one of the many used cars lining the area, it is a little of both. Duke has little interest in this place, its owner, or the salesmen here. Fighting at a volcano or a minimall, it's all the same to him. What concerns him is opponents, and opponents alone. Standing towards the edge of the lot clearing, the Southsynd enforcer slides his hands into his pockets, head rolling with the slightest of cracking noises. The place thrums with activity -- most likely moreso than it usually would. And for it all... Duke snorts.
"... this had better be good." Other than this grumbled statement, Duke says very little. He is content to wait for his opponent to arrive for now, giving no indication of knowledge of who his opponent might be. After all, out here, in a publicized event run by his employer? He and Kurow have never met until now.
He wishes that belief to stay that way.
Unlike last time Kurow and Duke met on the field of battle (the time that never happened, of course), Kurow is ready for a fight. He has not just been bulldozed by Wolfgang Krauser, and more than that, he expects Duke. He knows what he's getting into by fighting Hell's Executioner, and knows the battle itself is coming.
And has a multitude of convenient things to hide behind and launch attacks from. Excellent.
The former Shadaloo ally, now being groomed by "R," comes onto Saburo's used car lot in his usual fighting outfit, and seems to be regarding this, so far, as any other fight, albeit one in a strange venue. It certainly seems like it's going to be good for business, though, if the crowds are any indication -- good, he thinks. After all, the business of Japan is business.
Kirishima gives Duke one look over -- and for now, that's all he's focusing on. The Southsynd enforcer is his opponent... everything else is just window dressing.
Saburo holds up his hands. "Just a second! Just a second! We almost got them all!" The nervous man hangs his hand into a Honda, urging the attendant to quickly drive it out to the rim of the fight area. He hurries over to the next few cars, begging other attendants towards them. "We are almost ready! We are almost ready!" His father, owner of the lot, drinks another sip of coffee, burning holes with his eyes at Saburo. Surely they won't start the fight until he is done.
The crowd is starting to get restless, shouting for a fight.
Ready or not, Duke has similarly seen Kurow fight -- and experienced it first hand, at that. They are more or less on equal ground today, which will make for a much more interesting fight. Duke says little as the ninja arrives, however; dark eyes slide over to the young man, a small frown creasing across his lips. No recognition there, save for the fact that Kurow actively participates in SNF -- whereas Duke is still a relative newcomer.
Despite this fact, Duke seems entirely prepared for a fight. His right hand lifts to his throat, pressing against that distinctive scar around his neck in that telltale fashion of his. Slowly, a cold smile drifts past the dark man's lips, his gaze focusing anew on Kurow. It is silent -- relatively tense...
... until the used car salesman claims they're not ready yet.
With a blink, the gaze of Hell's Executioner shifts, glancing towards the thin young man with an annoyed stare. "... Hmph," he grunts out, looking towards Kurow. Surely they won't start the fight when the car salesmen aren't ready. Surely--
"I don't think we have to wait for a bunch of incompetent morons to sort out their business. Do you?"
Surely, regardless of how prepared Saburo is, Duke doesn't wait. With a push off his right foot, the large enforcer seeks to start out this fight with a bang -- blurring across the distance between himself and Kurow and cocking his fist back, before -releasing- all that pressure with piston-like force, aiming to slam his fist into Kurow's chest with such ferocity that he launches backward into a nearby car. "GRAARGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Duke has started a fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kurow has joined the fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kurow
COMBATSYS: Kurow has left the fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kurow has joined the fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kurow
COMBATSYS: Skullomania has joined the fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Kurow with Strong Punch.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
"Not at all," Kurow says, with a grin on his face. "They can work arou --" That, of course, is as far as he gets. Kirishima spends just a little too much time talking, underestimating Duke's speed just as he has in the past, and gets punished for it with a forceful slam straight into that car's door, sending the frame crumpling in and popping one of the tires off. He pulls himself out easily enough, not even too hurt...
... but think of how much the price just dropped on that car. (Or rose, considering its status as an SNF artifact now.) "...Good work," he forces out, as he watches the tire roll off the vehicle and land on the ground -- and gets a spectacular idea, though one which will surely damage the tire beyond repair.
The young man picks up the circle of vulcanized rubber and gleaming metal, tossing it into the air and letting it speed back down to just above his head. It's then that he whips his body around and sends his leg up, delivering a swift kick to the tire, folding the hubcap in... but sending the lump of hard material /itself/ on a collision course with Duke's face!
Saburo quickly turns away from the Honda, seeing Kurow crash into a car. The japanese man gapes, grabbing his hair. "Hey! hey! Wait! You can't do that! Those cars are our property! Please! Just give us a few moments!" The man can feel his heart sink as the hubcap is RIPPED out and then mashed into a ball of pain. He turns his head back to his father. His father has his eyes open wide. He grasps so tightly on his coffee cup that it begins to shake. The be-suited Saburo rushes right towards the fighters. "Hold on a second! Hold on a second!"
COMBATSYS: Duke overcomes Large Thrown Object from Kurow with Large Thrown Object.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
Start things off with a bang. That's the way to really begin a fight. The feel of Kurow body folding beneath his fist is something minorly satisfactory to Duke. The fact that it smashes in the car door? Merely means they're using the environment to its maximum potential. Only offering a lifeless, wry smile as he straightens, Duke tracks Kurow's lift off of the ground... and then...
... throw a tire at Duke.
The enforcer's reactions are -impeccably- swift. Within a matter of moments, he reels backwards. Snapping out a large, dark hand, he grips onto the handle of a nearby SUV and then simply RIPS it off its hinges, using the built-up force to fling it like a missile of metal at the incoming tired hubcap. With the deafening CLANG of metal, part of the door shreds off -- yet takes the hubcap with it, neutralizing the threat of the improvised projectile while sending the remnants of Duke's own straight for the ninja.
As for Saburo? "... Don't get in the way, if you value your safety." It's not meant to be a campy threat; it's a legitimate warning. After all... Duke isn't going to hold himself back for the sake of a -salesman's- safety.
COMBATSYS: Kurow dodges Duke's Large Thrown Object.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
This time, Kurow's adrenaline is pumping. He's thrown a tire. He's kicked it to get it going. He's starting to get in the combat groove, that much is for sure -- and nothing, not even Saburo's constant protesting, can get him to stop. Kirishima's always been tenacious -- sometimes, he's referred to as being like a cockroach, or a rather persistent fly.
His body snaps like a whip, right out of the way of Duke's metal door; he, too, takes a split second's time out to address Saburo. "I imagine Geese Howard will compensate you," if not entirely fairly, "so just stay out of the way. You don't need to get hurt over this."
And back to addressing the big man himself. Kurow needs a second to think on just how to strike the man -- he's shown a great deal of resistance to almost everything Kurow can throw out. The man's built like a brick, like many out there... which means that Kurow needs to vary up his tactics until something works. He can even afford to take a little time out now if it'll mean inflicting more punishing blows later -- so that's just what he does, circling around Duke and reading the openings in his posture, the split-second gaps in his titanic defenses.
COMBATSYS: Kurow focuses on his next action.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
Saburo waves his arms about. "What about the people?! What about these people who want to buy cars? There are legacies in these cars... these are cars that people want to buy for their children." Saburo ducks quickly as he sees the door FLING wide for Kurow. He straightens himself back up and then stomps his foot down. "I demand right this second that you stop this senseless destruction of this car lot!" He looks at Duke in the face, quickly shrinking down. He looks away to Kurow. "P-Please?"
So -- it seems Kurow is going to take his sweet time to attempt to think up a strategy. It's a tactic that Duke can appreciate; he's seen it time and again. Many are intimidated when others stand by and wait, afraid of what they might be preparing. Duke? His answer is ultimately a simple one: engage, and strike out the individual in question. As simple as that.
The remnants of Duke's doormissile strike another car with the shattering of glass and the bending of metal. The alarm goes off in a shrill, annoying 'BEE-OOO BEE-OOO BEE-OO PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, BEE...' as Duke's head twists, taking in Kurow's motionless form in quiet contemplation. He prepares to strike--
--and then the salesman speaks again. "..." Eyebrow twitching, he looks towards the man, eyes narrowing. Injuring normal civilians it prohibitted in SNF, sadly. However... "... Get out. Now. Otherwise... if you don't... I'm not going to guarantee you won't end up like these -cars-." And without much further ado, Duke disregards Saburo. His right hand clenches into a fist as he leaps -straight- into the air, his form becoming like a literal blur of motion as he seeks to SLAM his knee into Kurow's gut. "GRAAAAARGH!!" Intending to send Kurow up into the air with that diagonal knee strike, Duke will twist from there, his right leg snapping up HIGH in the air before he -slams- it down, seeking to simply stomp the ninja straight into the dirt.
COMBATSYS: Kurow fails to counter Dive Bomber from Duke with Double Slash.
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Duke 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
Kirishima can see Duke's attack coming quite clearly. He's got it all planned out how he's going to handle it -- he can see it in his mind's eye. It's not even a very difficult maneuver. There's certainly no chance of failing it.
Except that wretched salesman keeps nattering in his ear and wrecking his concentration. When Duke's knee comes in, Kirishima thrusts a hand forward -- a second too late. That knee plows straight on into Kurow's waiting face, and sends him down into the ground. He doesn't address Saburo at all -- after all, his mouth is just a little too full of knee to process that for the moment.
An old lady stands up in the bleachers. "That! That was my car! That was my car you ripped a door off." Her husband quickly pulls her down, but Saburo is not so easily silenced. His eyes burn red with the fury of justice. A burning fire is kindled in his stomach, quickly starting to spread and burn. An old lady's car... how could you... how could you?! Saburo tugs at his necktie slightly, trying to draw air in. He is feeling hot... flushed... But there are too many people about. He can't pull off his clothes here.
Saburo tugs off his tie, looking down at it. He looks up at Duke, eyes burning with deep justice filled passion. He goes in a dead sprint towards Duke, pumping his arms wildly. "You apologize to her right this second! And you will pay for her car!" He demands, throwing himself right for Duke, necktie held outward. He goes right for the neck to give Duke whatfor.
"P-please." he adds as an afterthought.
COMBATSYS: Duke interrupts Necktie Strangle from Skullomania with Quick Punch.
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Duke 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
Distractions abound. Whatever the reason, Kurow does not react -nearly- fast enough to Duke's assault. As such, the poor ninja is launched into the air, before stomped into the ground with such force that a tremor ripples through the ground. Duke tears away quickly after, pushing off the young man and hopping backwards. Landing several feet away, the Southtown Syndicate enforcer straightens his jacket, staring calmly at his opponent. "... hmph." His right hand clenches, and he leans backward...
... just as Saburo rushes at him. The man moves so slowly in comparison to Duke's reflexes, the enforcer can see him coming from a mile away. With a necktie. Attempting to... strangle him. With a necktie. Duke eyes the scrawny man as he makes his ludicrous demands, and as soon as Saburo's hands reach for Duke's scarred neck...
... he'll find the back of a massive hand slamming into him like a brick wall.
Duke doesn't even do so much as budge. In a single move, his right, scarlet-clad arm lashes out in a blur of motion. He backhands the used car salesman -- though is sure to restrain his force so as not to -kill- the man. Instead, he simply delivers enough concussive force to send Saburo blasting off again straight through the sky -- and right out of the ring area. Which might be useful for his SECRET AGENDA.
In the aftermath, the enforcer touches a hand to his throat, frowning deeply. "Don't touch my neck. Idiot."
The intervention from Saburo gives Kurow time to get back on his feet, after that mockery of anything approaching acceptable performance by his own high standards. He rolls his neck once, as he watches Duke's get almost-strangled, only to see Saburo's brave gesture torn apart with that immense force. Hell's Executioner is /good/.
Kirishima doesn't waste any time this time. He's at a massive disadvantage and even he can see it, which means it's time to go for a tactic no more complex than a straightforward beating-down. Sure, Duke has several advantages in that particular regard... but it's something the enforcer might not expect from a man like Kurow, which gives him an edge for a few short moments.
"If you'd get back to the task at hand?" Kurow asks, giving the only signal he'll give Duke that he's once more on the offensive. Lunging in, Kirishima seems to go for a rather straightforward, forceful thrust with those claws toward Duke's gut -- only to whirl around him at the last moment, slip his arms under Duke's shoulders and lock his arms in a powerful hold. It only lasts a moment, though, as Kurow merely uses the hold as a setup to force Duke forward, then transfer his grip to /one/ arm and fling Duke to the ground.
The hand comes across the way and bashes into Saburo. Sa Saburo widens his eyes as it slaps against his chest, letting go of the necktie as quickly as he can and looking apologetic. He didn't know he was so fussy about the neck. "So-" It instantly knocks the wind out of him, breaks one of his ribs, and drives him out of the ring area. He flies backwards over the lot, flying towards the showcase area. He flies right through the glass, striking the roof of a Honda. But he doesn't stop there, just bouncing right a rag doll over the roof of the car and continues his journey. He slams through the door to the employee rest room, slams across the lockers, and falls on top of the box of donuts.
With his head in a box of sprinkles, Saburo very slowly reaches down into his suit to pull out... a scarf?!
COMBATSYS: Skullomania focuses on his next action.
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Duke 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Duke endures Kurow's Strong Throw.
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Duke 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/----===|
Kurow is given a brief reprieve from what is typically an endless offensive on the part of Duke. Completely unintentional, Saburo's intervention has give the ninja enough time to recover and get back onto his feet; a fact that Duke notes briefly from the corner of his eye as the salesman goes flying, much to the gasps of the men and women gathered here. "Now that that's settled..."
And there Kurow is, leaping straight towards Duke. Hell's Executioner stares upward as the ninja advances in a lunge. Despite the straightforward maneuver, it would seem the brawler doesn't have enough time to react before Kirishima suddenly feints, and locks Duke's arms in a rather painful grip. Thrust -forward- and flung into the ground, Duke hits with a shuddering slam. Yet as he falls, Kurow might notice...
... Duke is recovering -mid-slam-.
It's the affair of an instant. As soon as Kurow throws him, Duke drags across the ground, lifting a foot into the air and SLAMMING it into the dirt. His shoe strikes with such -force- that the ground beneath himself and Kurow rumbles in what seems to be akin to a miniaturized earthquake. He seeks to unsettle Kurow's footing, as almost instantaneously a circle of fire BURSTS forth from Duke's foot, seeking to consume Kurow in burning fury. "GRAAARGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Kurow with Seismic Impact.
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Duke 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 0/-------/--=====|
Saburo's been removed, and as such Kurow can concentrate on the fight --
-- just in time to glance down, seeing Duke's instant recovery, and seeing the ground rippling beneath them. The fire and debris consumes Kurow's entire form for the shortest moment, punishing his body with some of the best Hell's Executioner has to offer -- though even Kurow knows that this isn't anywhere near the end of the line for what Duke can do. He has to figure out a way to step up his game, and fast... or else Hell's Executioner might take an even more forceful command of the match than he already has. Looking around the 'arena,' Kurow tries to find some way of gaining an advantage... and sees it, in the form of a wrench, of all things. He picks up the car repair tool, glancing the enforcer over one last time before leaping in, trying to get that wrench around Duke's neck on the leap forward.
His own momentum does the rest. Once he gets that lock on Duke's neck, he shifts his hands so his claws likewise dive in, allowing him to simultaneously choke Duke and lacerate his neck in that familiar series of spins and whirls around the body that one of Kirishima's ancestors probably borrowed from one of Heidern's. To make matters worse, if he gets the opportunity to finish by kicking off of Duke's body... he doesn't let go of the wrench. Oh no. It's /forced/ out of his hands by the kick, no doubt meaning that Duke's throat is going to be under a lot of pressure from the effort.
Saburo's Father rushes towards the back, worried as hell. His eyes wide, he throws open the door to the employee lounge. He sees a crushed box of donuts on the ground.
One of the donuts is missing.
A strong voice, deeper, manlier, and much more confidence, bellows out from the loud speaker. "There is a 2008 Blue Mercedes with the license plate 'K-U-R-O-W' on the back. I'm afraid that it has its lights on and there is a large smell coming from the back of it. The smell of evil." A mighty sound is heard, a fling perhaps. A blue Mercedes does indeed fly over from the back of the car building.
The roof of the building bursts open as Skullomania leaps high into the air, scarf trailing flamboyantly behind him. He sails up high into the sky from his mighty jump, suspended momentarily by a bit of a blue glow. "This car lot of a place of family and love. You have both desecrated it with your lack of honor and /respect/ for what went into these cars." The Mercedes arcs underneath him and towards the battle area.
"For your injustice, you must pay!" Skullomania then zooms downward, foot outstretched. He presses it down against the back of the car, just at the trunk, and pushes it towards Kurow. Think of it as a flying kick. With a CAR at the end.
COMBATSYS: Duke endures Kurow's Circle Slash.
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Duke 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 1/-------/=======|
Impact. With the sweep of his leg against the dirt-ridden ground, Duke pushes himself up onto his feet. His dark eyes ablaze with his cold rage, he surveys the ninja as he is blasted backwards with searing fire. He says nothing, instead choosing to stand back and... -wait- for Kurow to strike at him again? That seems to be the man's intentions, as he doesn't even -budge- as Kurow gathers up his improvised weaponry. He even goes so far as to shove a single hand in his pocket, lifting his other to beckon towards Kirisima.
"... Come on."
And so the Kirishima boy does. In a remarkably swift maneuver, Kirishima lashes out with that wrech. It strikes his neck, with those claws soon to follow. Unfortunately -- if the scar on Duke's neck is any indication, the man has a VERY strong neck. Rather than guard himself, he once more takes the -entirety- of Kurow's strike. Blur sprays out from a series of remarkably shallow cuts from that brutal technique, and the kick-off sends Duke FLYING -- just as Kurow seems to get a surprise visit. From a jump-kicking car. Blood flying from Duke's body as he goes blazing back, an attentive person might notice... -fire- burning across the edges of the man's body, searing brightly at his fists. And as Skullomania crashes towards Kurow, Duke lands, hands raised... and eyes narrowed.
"... the smell of evil? You've got to be kidding me. Whoever you are..." And within the instant, Duke doesn't hesitate. He'll debate the oddities of this newcomer later, if he's still alive. Because as Hell's Executioner speaks, he -punches- the earth.
"SHUT UP AND -GET OUT-."
And that's when everything blows up.
The moment Duke's fists make contact with the ground beneath him, everythig -ruptures-. For a wide radius around him, the ground beneath Duke EXPLODES, massive chunks, -BOULDERS-, of rubble bursting out of the ground as everything erupts into a firestorm of rage-born chi flames. And at the epicentre of it all? Duke, pounding away, intent on devouring not only Kurow... but the 'newcomer' and his car, and a good chunk of the -other- cars, up in the wake of that hellish explosion.
"HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Kurow dodges Skullomania's Random Weapon.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Kurow with Ground Zero EX.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
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Kurow 1/--=====/=======|
Once again, Duke is deceptively fast -- Kirishima just doesn't have time to look around. He hears Skullomania's cries about family and love and respect and honor, which telegraph the move... and needless to say, make it oh so easy to simply leap over. This would be a fine thing in a perfect world.
However, it also takes Kurow right into the path of Duke's explosion of energy and debris. The young man sees nothing anymore -- his vision is obscured by the cloud of dust and force that engulfs the entire arena. He's running blind... all he has to go on are his failing senses and his knowledge of where his opponent was last. It's a big, stupid gamble, especially since if he can't catch Duke /now/ he knows he can't get anything else out of this maneuver. Still... it's always worth the attempt, he reminds himself.
The young man springs forward, /possibly/ toward Duke, extending one hand to the side and flaring out those nasty claws in an attempt to make his grab radius wider. He swings forward with that hand with all of his might when he thinks he's traveled far enough, trying desperately to get Duke in that one solid catch...
COMBATSYS: Kurow can no longer fight.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
COMBATSYS: Duke blocks Kurow's Kirishima Kyoujuu Reppa.
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Duke 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Skullomania with Ground Zero EX.
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Duke 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Skullomania
Skullomania leaps backwards off the Mercedes at the last second. He does a triple spin in middle air, allowing his scarf to twirl about him in a fanciful fashion. It trails once... twice... and then stops when a GIANT FREAKING BOULDER comes out of the ground and slams right into Skullomania. The man folds against the boulder, being taken along with it against the ground. He is buried into the asphalt and lies there, under the rock. The crowd stands up, eyes wide. They all look at Duke with amazement. What power... Could he have KILLED Skullomania?
A young child reaches up to his jacket, a zip up jacket, rather normal. He pulls tightly at either side of the jacket, ripping down the zipper and revealing a bone pattern shirt beneath it. 'Skullomania. Skullomania! Skullomania! Skullomania!' The young boy pumps his fist into the air. The old lady joins it, cupping her hands around her mouth. 'Do it for my car! Beat that bastard's face in! Skullomania! Skullomania!' The entire crowd quickly joins in, pumping their fists into the air. The boulder rumbles, it quakes, it jostles. Then, with a mighty burst, it shatters, sending rocks everywhere. There is a light blue haze of chi around Skullomania, though it quickly disappears as Skullomania stands tall, despite having every rib broken. "Justice never quits!"
Skullomania rushes towards Duke and leaps up into the air. Out from over the car dealership, a table flies with something strapped to it. Skullomania grabs it out of mid air and slaps it down onto the ground. There are two cups and a bottle of sake velcroed to it. Skullomania reaches out, snatches the sake as two chairs fly over the dealership. He pours both cups of sake, grabbing one of the chairs out of midair with his other hand. He plants the chair on the ground and with a single kick, kicks it at Duke's legs to force a sit. He then grabs the table and the other chair, dragging it over.
Skullomania sits, takes the sake cup to his mask and takes a long sip. He breathes out a sigh of relief. "That's good sake." With a flick of his foot, he kicks the table upward and with a slight flip, giving him a shot at the underside of the table and allowing him to kick it at Duke, followed by a swing of the chair at the man for good measure.
COMBATSYS: Duke endures Skullomania's Skullo Dream EX.
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Duke 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Skullomania
The aftermath leaves nothing but ruination. Fires born by the fully blast of Duke's rage simmer out as quickly as they were formed. The ground is burnt, charred. Dead. The cars that were assembled around the clearing of the lot are destroyed, parts of them melted straight to slap. And in the middle of it all stands Duke, winds whipping around him in the dusty aftermath. Blood flows from Duke's neck, but it is only a mild flow; most of it is wiped off with the slow drag of the mobster's hand against his scarred throat. And through it all... he smirks.
A smirk that swiftly dies the moment that Duke turns -- and sees a clawed hand sweeping out in a ride radius towards him. Dark eyes snap wide, and within a moment Duke's right arm jerks -upward-, intercepting Kurow's sweep with his forearm. The claws dig into his sleeve, dragging shallow cuts as the force alone causes him to stagger -backwards- with a grunt of effort. Yet... in that same motion? Duke pushes, to -thrust- Kurow into the ground. It's over. He knows it. And so he turns as the dust settles, looking around him calmly.
"So, I guess we're do--"
But they're not. He hears the chanting, and looks around him. Slowly, the aspiring mobster's gaze squints, his calm smile contorting into a frown of annoyance. "What the hell is a 'Skullomania'...?"
He gets his answer when the very man himself bursts out of the rocks in such a dynamic pose. Hell's Executioner merely pauses, cracks his neck, and looks distinctly -bored-. "Oh. It's just you. I don't know who the hell you are, but you should le--"
And that's about when Duke gets hit with a table so hard he is forced to sit down and... have -tea-?
He looks astounded for a second. In what seems the span of an instant he's sitting down forcibly into a chair, with a cup of sake settled just beyond him -- with that FREAK drinking some. He blinks. And then... he grips his cup. He drinks deeply.
By the time that Skullomania kicks the table out at Duke, Hell's Executioner is already out of his chair... and flinging a hand forward.
With a single, deafening explosion, the wood of the table splinters, followed by the chair. And through it all, a single massive hand lashes out -- seeking for Skullomania's face.
"The sake is crap."
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Skullomania with Treadmill.
[ \\\\\\\ < > // ]
Duke 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Skullomania
"And you're nothing but a loser." Skullomania will feel the pressure of large, meaty fingers pressing up against his skull as he suddenly dangles in mid-air, hefted like nothing more than a ragdoll. The pressure will seem so great that it might feel as if Duke is attempting to crush the man's skull -- and if he lingered any longer, he might. Instead, Skullomania's reprieve is only given when the gangster suddenly -twists-, sweeping down and SLAMMING the action hero into the dirt with such force that the charred earth depresses inward in a miniature Skullomania Crater. He is released as the brawler snorts, lifting back up--
"GRAAAARGH!!"
--just in time for the heel of his shoe to CRASH into Skullomania's sternum.
With sudden, terrible brutality, Duke begins to grind his heel into Skullomania's chest, applying more and more crushing pressure. It begins to build up, higher and higher, until it reaches such a point of intensity... that the skeleton-clad 'hero' is suddenly BLASTED into the air in a sudden defiance of physics, shot -upwards- from Duke's extreme -downward- force.
"... Stupid punk."
This is how it went in Skullomania's head . o O ( 'YOUR POWER IS TOO MUCH FOR ME, SKULLOMANIA! I give up my life of crime and go to be a dance instructor to change my life around. Thank you for showing me the error of my ways.' )
This is how it really goes. The table cracks in half, and Skullo gets his head grabbed. He has one thing to say before the first kick. "Your hand smells like beef!" The statement is then punctuated by Skullo's skull going into the ground. He is then hauled back up rather bodily and smashed down into the ground. He can feel himself being crushed and crushed and cruuuushed. He closes his eyes for a moment as the pain becomes intense and Skullomania flies off into the air.
THen, almost as if acting of his body's own accord, the man of Skull flips and lands on the ground. Despite now having shards of bone in his lung, Skullomania stands tall. He points a finger at the hellish man. "Justice is never a loser." He then takes in a deep breath, gathering up a load of chi and forming an aura around himself. He then strides right up to Duke, walking tall and proud. He moves right up to him, arching his head back. With one fierce maneuver, Skullomania bashes his head forward right for Duke's nose. The sheer ugline-I mean, hardness of Duke's skull knocks Skullomania out.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Duke 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Skullomania successfully hits Duke with Super Skullo Crusher.
[ \\\ <
Duke 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Duke takes no action.
[ \\\ <
Duke 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Duke has reached second wind!
[ \\\ <
Duke 0/-------/------=|
That should be it. With Skullomania launched into the air like some sort of freakish human cannonball, Duke says little more. Though his expression is largely impassive, and he stands tall, the numerable cuts and scrapes along his body pay tribute to just how close the fight actually was. Spitting blood off to the side, Duke seems content to simply walk away. Large hands shove into his pockets as he turns, presenting his back to the descending Skullomania.
Which is likely exactly why he doesn't notice the man is still up and attacking until he hears that voice.
"... You're STILL trying? Give -up- --"
Which is also likely why he can't get out of the way before Skullomania headbutts him. Explosively.
The force is enough to -launch- Duke through the air upon impact. Hell's Executioner goes flying, slamming into the ground with a bounce. He rolls, slamming straight into the ruined hull of a largely melted car, the hot metal burning at his back as he crashes. There is a long pause, a moment of silence. Has Skullomania done it? Has he taken out the villain?!
"... like I said..."
The man lifts up slowly, blood pouring down his nostrils, staining his goatee. But he comes to a stand, his expression still deadened. Still condescending. As if, despite the damage... he had never even been hit.
"... you're a loser."
And that said, Duke turns to leave. The victor.
He'll leave Kurow to pay for all the exploded cars. That car salesman is likely very upset... wherever he may be!!!
COMBATSYS: Duke has ended the fight here.
Log created on 22:07:20 08/12/2007 by Duke, and last modified on 17:43:20 08/13/2007.