Description: [OOC] Saishu says, "we need a taller building" GENTLEMAN, BEHOLD! Buildings... die!! Revelations... are revealed!! Bear witness to the most hardcore fight... EVER. (Winner: Duke)
Domino's Pizza has it good.
Besides having a branch right nearby the choice location of Metro Square in Metro City, their coincidental name similarity with a certain professional wrestler turned tournament fighter who has recently entered the world spotlight has given this particular local manager the bright idea of choosing Drake as this particular pizza place's personal fighter of choice, decorating the store with cardboard cutouts of the ravishing amethyst-eyed model and televising his and other street fights, drawing a more substantial crowd. So with this increase in sales and their current marketing kick, eager to impress the bosses back at Domino's HQ in... uh... Ann Arbor, Michigan, why wouldn't they accept the great opportunity to have a Neo League fight right outside their doorstep? Not to mention one starring the legendary father of Kyo Kusanagi, old-timer Saishu Kusanagi, and the fearsome Duke?
Yes, Domino's Pizza has it good...
"Ha ha!"
.../for now/.
Apparently heedless of how out of place his green kimono is on the streets of Metro City, a widely grinning Saishu stands with arms crossed in the middle of the road, enjoying the stares of others if anything and doubtless confident that any car that runs into him will break before he does. That seems unlikely, of course, since the cameras are being set up and a large crowd has already gathered. People are moving in and out of the doors of the Domino's to get pizza despite the thriving throng-- but they won't meet Saishu's eyes no matter how often he allows his normally almost ever-present grin to fade so that he can cast glares in the store's direction.
"No natto pizza!" he mutters to himself, in what is really more of a bark than a mutter. "It's a disgrace. An insult!"
He seems far more concerned with the pizza than the fight.
Domino's Pizza, sponsering Domino.
How ridiculous.
The idea of fighters who see fit to parade their public image about like some sort of freakishly stupid circus act is an idea and an activity that the man known simply as 'Duke' has never put much stock in. Hell's Executioner has never enjoyed the lime light. As a man who has put much of his past into the deep shrouds of mysteries, places and positions where he is forced into public scrutiny have never been particularly appealing. He is, in fact, still a newcomer to the fighting world -- the -official- fighting world, at least. And the impression he has made so far has been incredibly mixed. There are those who view him as horrible -- a jerk, a monster, or just plain mean. And then there are a small handful... who believe Duke to be the sweetest thing since sliced bread. He could care less.
He's not doing this for the -praise-, after all.
As Saishu makes his way to the Domino's Pizza parlor, he'll find his opponent is already here. Dressed in that traditional, elegant black and scarlet attire, Hell's Executioner makes no motion towards the older man as he approaches. Instead, dark eyes lift to observe, brows furrowing and lips creasing in a frown. Saishu Kusanagi -- one of the more well known fighters. This will certainly be interesting, if not an -uphill- battle. Arms folding over his broad chest, Duke elects to lean back against the parlor itself -- coincidentally leaning next to a cutout of Drake making some vague model pose or another with pursed lips and a sincere stare. He looks up towards the sky, shuts his eyes... and grins wryly.
"I doubt you're going to have much time to eat, old man." But then again...
Who knows?
There is an old, faded poster on the wall of Domino's, with two panels. One is a ridiculous 80s-era-looking thug walking away from a woman collapsed on the ground, crying, with a hilarious expression on his face as he opens up a wallet stuffed with money, and he also has jewelry and a watch clutched in his grubby fist. Beneath this panel are the words "Crime pays..."
The other panel is of Mayor Haggar uppercutting the thug, having clearly just exploded out of the alley. Money and chains and a watch flies everywhere. "...and the city gets payback!"
"Ha ha!"
Saishu Kusanagi is rather preoccupied with being grumpy about the lack of satisfactory pizza, but not too preoccupied to emit his trademark laughter at Duke's remark. It must say something, though, that this entire time since arriving the Kusanagi elder has been more concerned with Domino's failings than sizing up the opponent who has been here all along. Now, however, he turns to make eye contact with the larger, far more frightening-looking man, grinning all the while.
"You will discover, sir, that my appetite for food, much like my appetite for battle, is insatiable!"
'Okay! Mr. Kusanagi, Mr. ... uh ... Duke, we're ready!'
"Ha ha! Stupendous!" Eyes twinkling now, Saishu reaches up to idly stroke his beard, settling back on his haunches as he regards his soon to be opponent. The people trying to get their pizza are quickening now, growing more frantic as they attempt to get outside in time to watch the fight.
Little do they know where this fight will actually be going...
'FIGHT!'
Cheers rise up, and Saishu, master of the famous Kusanagi style and wielder of the ancient Kusanagi bloodline flames-- scratches his armpit casually, still grinning at the taller man in silence.
If he's so hungry, what's he waiting for?
COMBATSYS: Saishu has started a fight here.
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Saishu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Duke has joined the fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Saishu
People never learn.
Who ever expects any fight to stay in one place?
Rolling either shoulder in succession, Duke seems to almost casually stretch out the kinks in his arms and neck. A slow roll of his head ushers forth a series of cracking noises, a soft 'aaaah' escaping the dark man's lips. He remains largely silent as Saishu makes his bold proclamation, that wry look of amusement fading to his normal, unpleasant glare. Cold rage boils beneath the surface of his gaze as he pushes off the large glass pane.
"I guess we'll get a good chance to test that out today, huh?"
Arms unfolding, Duke doesn't make much move. Instead, he eyes the flames that the Kusanagi master manifests within his grasp, a single brow arching. It's the first time he's seen anything like it in person. Real flames being ushered forth by a -person-, not simple faux flames generated by chi. If he cared more about ancient bloodlines, it might be interesting. Instead-- "... Let's get this started."
There is no straight up attack on Duke's part. No flung fist, no knee to the gut, no massive explosion of power. Instead? He reaches out with his right hand, and grips that Domino cut out by the waist. Lifting it up with an almost simplistic ease, he places it between both his hands, reels back.... and then swings.
In an instant, Saishu's face will be greeted with the puckered lips of Drake Vyril. Professional model wrestler kung fu fighter.
THE KISS OF DEATH.
COMBATSYS: Saishu interrupts Random Weapon from Duke with Random Weapon.
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Duke 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu grins.
The purpose of his squat stance is soon revealed as Duke approaches with killing kiss intent: he is quite capable of springing or lunging far at a moment's notice. In this case, however, the Kusanagi elder does not have to spring too far-- only far enough to reach out to grab another cutout of Drake Vyril, twin of the other that also flanked the entrance to the Domino's. Ignoring the screams of fangirls and the outraged cry of the manager that came out to watch, the old master uses his darting movements to get the jump on Duke's attack, stepping in suddenly to be struck by the cut-out's torso rather than the face, thank the lord, and give poor Duke the kiss of death instead!
Drake breaks in half over the enforcer's face, and Saishu's opponent is struck with such improbable force that he will at the very least certainly go staggering in the direction of the pizzeria's entrance. But Saishu does not immediately pursue; first he takes a moment to survey his work with pride, arms crossed inside the sleeves of his kimono.
"Ha ha! The domino effect!"
Only then does he leap in, escaping the chorus of groans from the onlookers.
Well.
An interesting start.
Duke's sudden, sweeping strike is cut off prematurely before it can complete its full swing; giving how it breaks off against Saishu, that's likely a -good- thing. It leaves Duke, however, unfortunately open for Saishu's rather tremendous counterassault. Hell's Executioner is given the horrid Kiss of Death, that cardboard cutout face SMACKING into his harshly and -breaking- into hundreds of pieces in the very instant that it strikes. And in a rain of cutout and glass...
... Duke makes a shattering entrance into Domino's Pizza a bit earlier than anticipated.
Crash landing against a table which breaks against his momentum, Duke skids across the ground before quickly leaping right back onto his feet. Eyes narrowed, his fists finally clench to fists -- preparing for Saishu's inevitable arrival. Which comes soon after a line that makes the man spit out condescendingly. That--that was -horrible-.
As soon as Saishu leaps in, though, he'll be greeted by the rush of the Southsynd lieutenant -driving- at him at swift speeds. The man's intentions are simple enough; SLAM his fist like a piston into Saishu's gut with enough force that it will stun him, while in the process gripping him with his left hand by that dark mop of hair. If successful, he'll follow up with an uppercut blow straight to the jaw, with enough force to knock the Kusanagi master into the air... before winding back, and SLAMMING his fist into the other man's sternum, with intent to launch him -straight- into a pile of pizza dough and sauce. "HRAAAAAAAGH!!"
Apparently Duke isn't one for extensive talking.
COMBATSYS: Saishu endures Duke's Crack Up.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu runs right into it.
If anyone has tired of his expression, it will be a great relief to find that the blur he becomes during Duke's vicious combination attack makes it impossible to deal what he looks like during the ordeal. The savage strikes land the Kusanagi master in the pizza dough just as planned, utterly destroying several more pieces of furniture and sending the screaming customers scattering all over the store.
"Hmf hmf!!"
Yet blows that would reduce boulders to rubble leave Saishu somehow unfazed, and when he kicks off from the shattered countertop he has landed on to roll abruptly toward his opponent, a sauce-smeared piece of tasty uncooked dough clenched between his teeth, the patriarch's eyes blaze with the red rage of his-- wait, that's just some sauce on his face.
Okay, but the red around his hand definitely isn't sauce, and Duke may be unfortunate enough to discover this firsthand-- or facefirst. For Saishu comes directly out of his roll and with unprecedented speed bursts into a epic rising uppercut that aims to plow Duke right up toward the ceiling, Kusanagi flames spewing out from around his fist as he somehow manages a battlecry though the food in his mouth.
"OOROMRMNNYNAHAHHHH!!"
Don't talk with your mouth full, old man!
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Duke with Oniyaki.
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Duke 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 Saishu
Saishu can take a hit. That's good.
At least Duke can find a kindred spirit in him in -that- much.
As much as he can appreciate it, though, it still leaves him sorely defenseless when the old man decides to reciprocate in kind. As the Kusanagi elder leaps back onto his feet and begins to -roll- towards him, the enforcer's response is simple: he breaks into a dead run, intent to greet the other man halfway through the rush. However, something is amiss. Something is wrong. He's not prepared....
... and a bit of sauce splatters in his eyes.
Really. A bit of sauce splashes into Duke's gaze, and it is disorienting enough that the flaming uppercut that comes next strikes him with an EXPLOSIVE impact, crimson flames billowing around Duke and burning as blood flies out from his mouth. Struck with such ferocity, there is little that Duke can do but go along for the ride as rubble spews out of the impact zone. Plaster and concrete goes flying, water pipes busting and spraying horrendous amounts of pressurized H2O in every direction (fortunately dousing the flames still lingering on Duke's jacket). And yet, as Saishu makes his brutal warcry, Duke responds in kind, with something only slightly more legible.
"HRAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHH!!!"
It is as he and Saishu are in -mid-flight- through the second level of the parlor that Duke seeks to grab the other man by the front of his kimono, pull back... and then swing, aiming to deliver a BRUTAL haymaker across his jaw.
COMBATSYS: Saishu interrupts Volcanic Bomb from Duke with Oniyaki.
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Duke 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Saishu
The second level of the parlor. In cities where housing is at a premium and cheap living space is scrounged by any and all who yet have dreams of making it in this metropolis, apartments can be found hidden away in all manner of nooks and crannies. This small building, limited to two floors by the zoning regulations of this particular part of the neighborhood, has managed to pack some up above the pizza parlor, a perfect spot for those who are in need of both cheap housing /and/ a ready supply of cheap eats. College students, for example.
Eric zips up his last bag with a relieved sigh and steps back to regard the fruits of his labors. The tall young man has, in his summer job endeavors, all but forgotten what classes he will be taking next semester at the esteemed Metro City University in the pursuit of his major in psychology, but he knows at least that he is looking forward to living with his new roommates. Soon enough, he will be settling in with Devin and Aaron in their new shared apartment and looking forward to a bright new future. Honestly, he thinks to himself with a rising sense of satisfaction, life could not get much sweeter than this.
Whereupon the floor erupts only a few feet away, scattering carefully packed boxes everywhere, as Saishu Kusanagi and Duke burst forth in an explosion of flame and rage and screaming. Now that the brutal giant has recovered from the initial uppercut, it is clear that, though still in midair, he is preparing for a massive retaliation in the form of a savage haymaker. The old man, trailing flame and no doubt losing momentum by now, seems in dire straits. Yet even as the roaring Duke punches out, Saishu twists around, letting the punch graze him and glance off his forehead as his head turns, and roars in equal measure -- "HUUUUUUAAARGHH!" -- as he kicks hard against the damaged force, destroying yet more of the wordwork, and manages a new burst of speed. The move is ludicruously haphazard and for any other man would be doomed to fail from the get-go. Yet even as the very floor begins to cave in around them from their overwhelming strength, Saishu's sudden redoubling of momentum combines with his twist and a new ignition of Kusanagi fire to allow him to slip around Duke's recovering defenses-- and immediately hit him with YET ANOTHER rising uppercut under the chin, taking them on a nonstop trip to the ceiling AGAIN, busting a hole through with Duke's head and carrying them through the roof and back into the open air.
There is a still moment as dust showers down. People on the bottom floor tenatively begin to step forward, peering up to see if the two of them really have, impossibly enough, just rocketed straight up through the roof without stopping.
Whereupon the ceiling collapses above them and they are pelted mercilessly by Eric's falling boxes and the timber that comes with it.
One floor above, standing miraculously on a part of the floor that hasn't collasped, an unscathed Eric simply stares into space, gazing at nothing with a feeling of awe that, he already knows, will change his life forever.
Meanwhile, Saishu and Duke are still airborne.
"OOOORRYYYAAHHHH!"
And screaming.
A peaceful moment, interrupted with the cries of battle.
And also fire and fists and punching.
Minor details.
Eric was likely anticipated a quiet move out, to go study his psychological pursuits further and maybe go have a scotch -- don't worry though, he's of age!! He likely did NOT predict, however, that his simple move out would be interrupted in the affair of an instant. As his simple life continues, it is suddenly, BRUTALLY interrupted by the explosion of water and flames and plaster and shouting, angry men. Well, one crazy man, and one angry -- debatably crazy -- man. Hell's Executioner swings outward, with a fist filled with brutality. What he is not expecting, however, is for Saishu to carry through with yet another one of those uppercuts, nearly identical in form and execution. As that haymaker slings outward, whatever Duke has planned afterwards is brutally interrupted in the wake of that second uppercut. Duke goes fling FURTHER upwards, hollaring out a blood curdling yell as he launches STRAIGHT through the roof. A rain of cement follows in his wake.
Eric stares onward, as if he had seen a bomb go off.
He may very well need that scotch he so loves and is of age to drink.
Meanwhile? Duke flies upward into the open skies, face bloodied and burnt after being introduced to brutal physical blows twice in an instant. He is not deterred, however; quite the contrary. In that very moment, his fist pulls back, and then launches FORWARD as he and Saishu seperate. The momentum of his swing is enough to propel him forward, aiming for a brutal right hook to smack Saishu like a ragdoll into the roof floor beneath them.
"GRAAAAAAARGH!!"
That's the way REAL men communicate. Through unintelligible yelling.
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Saishu with Power Axe.
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Duke 1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1 Saishu
MIGHT.
So mighty. Everything is just so mighty. Cameramen race desperately up the stairs to survey the destruction even as Duke is plowing a huge fist into the body of the relentless old man, hurling him back down toward the roof-- which, of course, he plows right through.
Eric, still standing in a daze, gets to see Saishu burst through a /new/ hole in the ceiling and promptly fall right through the huge hole the recent cave-in has created, landing loudly in the pile of boxes and timber on the first floor of the Domino's pizzeria. But the two holes created in such close proximity on the roof continue to crack dangerously-- and before Saishu can even move to arise from the heap he has landed in, a second mighty -- that's right, mighty -- cave-in occurs between the two gaping holes on the roof, sending a new shower of bricks and mortar upon the pile being created.
Duke, probably just beginning his descent from their long airborne adventure, will be able to look down all the way to the first floor and see nothing but a cloud of dust obscuring where Saishu has landed. After all that stuff has hit him, who knows? Maybe that did the trick. Maybe that explosion of savagery was enough. Maybe that's all there is to it.
Maybe not!
"HA HA!!"
The laughter is accompanied by a rush of flame akin to a dragon's roar as a coiling serpent of Kusanagi fire emerges from the obfuscating dust in deadly pursuit, rising up like some hell-beast summoned from the underworld to bring Duke down where he belongs. It opens its terrifying jaws, rushing up and through the hole and aiming to snag Duke before he can even touch the ground, sweet sweet ground--
And if it strikes true, it will rend him in its fiery jaws and cast him falling down into the pit himself...
COMBATSYS: Saishu successfully hits Duke with Orochinagi'.
[ < > ///////// ]
Duke 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Saishu
Long firestream is long.
Also, very, very painful.
As Duke descends, he surveys the devestation. This is likely not giving Domino's the business it craves, but it may, in fact, reap in more customers; it could be a tourist attraction. These things are far from the mind of Hell's Executioner, however, as he falls towards the massive depression in the building. Dark eyes look down towards the cave-in, towards the settling dust, and he frowns in quiet consideration. Where is that old man? He's certainly not -dead- yet. So where...
... oh. Duke's brows knit in thought.
"... hmph."
FWOOOOSH!!
Crimson flames overtake Duke in a massive, springing serpent of raw power. Burning at his skin, searing away his jacket in its all consuming might. And yet, as he is consumed by the serpent, Duke seems to all but disregard the pain. Fire licks around his hands. Fire distinctly -different- from the crimson inferno that engulfs and devours him with might that equals that of what he experienced through the Kaiser Wave. He's endured worse... and besides.
He has a plan.
Rather than collapse in a heap, as Duke breaks through the flames, he BURSTS through -- severely damaged, but carrying through nonetheless. His right hand pulls backwards, engulfed in raging fires. And as he -SLAMS- into the ground... he lands fist-first.
And that's when everything explodes.
The ground, the air, everything around Duke and Saishu erupts in a hellish firestorm as Hell's Executioner begins to POUND his fists against the ground -- to introduce Saishu to his own Hell. The explosion rocks the ground, gigantic boulders of debris ripping through the fire-laden air as Duke POUNDS the ground over and over with bloodied fists.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAGH!! HAAAAAAAARGH!!! GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Duke has reached second wind!
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Saishu
COMBATSYS: Saishu endures Duke's Ground Zero.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Saishu
The world erupts in utter chaos. Debris is blown everywhere; those few that remain in the store flee screaming for their very lives; countertops crack and ovens break and ingredients are scattered to the four winds and beyond. Poor Eric's boxes are no doubt mostly destroyed; the timber has been pounded into splinters, charring from the sheer force of Duke's explosive tantrum.
And Saishu--
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!"
--plunges through undaunted.
His indefatigable aura burns against the pressure of Duke's series of attacks, wave after wave sapping the Kusanagi master's momentum and slowing his progress toward his opponent. He seems to strain against the air itself. Yet Saishu claws his way through space, absorbing the shockwaves in his relentless pursuit of his enemy, and with one grasping hand reaches out-- and thrusts a flame-imbued palm directly into Duke's face, setting off a final blast of Kusanagi fire that sends Saishu himself hurtling back.
He hits the ground in a wild tumble...
COMBATSYS: Saishu can no longer fight.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|
...and disappears into the dust and debris.
COMBATSYS: Duke endures Saishu's Homura Gasane.
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Duke 1/-----==/=======|
Explosive and quick. Some people might wonder if the fight had even -happened-.
If they disregarded the ruination that was formerly a Domino's Pizzaria / home of the Unfortunate Eric. But those are just details.
In the wake of Duke's explosive striking of the ground, he lifts up slowly -- not yet defeated, despite the -obscene- amount of damage he has been dealt. That damage shows; burned skin, shirt in tatters, blood oozing from the corners of his lips -- that scarlet liquid drips from his knuckles, injuries of his own doing from the sheer force in which he -punched the ground-. Yet, he doesn't even wobble as he stands. A testament to the rumors of his immortality, his invincibility, Hell's Executioner merely twists his head... and frowns as Saishu charges at him.
"... it's over, old man."
Yet? Saishu doesn't seem to understand that. And so, Duke deigns to teach the man a lesson. Saishu UNLEASHES that flurry of raw fire and power straight into Duke's face, sends him -blasting- backwards as Saishu himself flies back. Duke doesn't try to defend himself. He takes it all, SLAMS into the ground, and then... as Saishu collapses? Duke stands up. The victor. Camera crews pull back, stunned and recording the events.
"Just like a told you--"
Rrrruuuumble...
"...?"
Duke only gets roughly a second to look up in a questioning manner, before brick and blaster and piping comes raining down on him, the entire building simply -collapsing-.
"... he--"
BOOM.
COMBATSYS: Duke endures Duke's Random Weapon.
[ <
Duke 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Duke takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Duke can no longer fight.
Log created on 03:10:22 08/13/2007 by Duke, and last modified on 17:39:48 08/13/2007.