Description: The Shogun of Mad Gear demands his VCR be repaired, NOW. Unfortunately, his luck with picking the right place to issue demands ends up being very poor as he is escorted back out of the building by none other than Rugal Bernstein.
Though easily ninety percent of 'R' Organization's business is conducted and controlled on or from the Black Noah, there are at times matters that need to be handled by people closer on hand than a helicopter ride from the carrier and that's why there's any number of small fronts scattered throughout the world. Especially in Southtown. Things are always happening there. It would be a drastic oversight to not have some kind of presence...
The building looks inocuous enough. An office building, three floors tall, situated on its own lot, surrounded by a small parking lot and a nifty sign that reads 'Herald's Electronics and VCR repair'. The parking lot is mostly empty and very few of the windows in the building have lights on. Whatever business really exists within the structure, it doesn't appear to be particularly busy.
From the outside, it would be impossible to know of the basement full of illegal arms, or the third floor completely layered with expensive hacking technology that gets put to use from time to time in circumventing TV broadcasts to force people to watch whatever Rugal Bernstein feels like they should be watching that moment. He likes to cut into Howard's SNF broadcasts from time to time... nothing like annoying another crimelord for personal amusement.
But today.. It seems that there would be no peace for crimelords. There would be no peace for Southtown, either! Something outside of the building pulls up, and not in the normal way, no. You can hear it far off, before the semi's tire's squeal, stopping itself from the rather stupid speed it was going at moments before. But they live n the edge. Why? Because they're the Mad Gear Gang, and that's how things go.
The Truck got a new paint, and a few other new things with something that doesn't bare noting, but the fact is, everything has been replaced.
BUT THE VCR.
A few thugs pouring out, the three various kinds creating a line straight from the truck's door to the front of the shop, much like one that would have been created for stars, something moves closer to the door, through the empty, but not somewhat filled, parking lot.
And then 'Dingle-dingle ding'! The door opens, and a man of meat, armor, and weapons walks in, brandishing blades. And those blades are holding something. The Mad Gear VCR. "YOU!" Katana says to whomever sits at the counter, or front desk.
"There has been a grave accident.. and there is not much time! The VCR is in the process of ruining the most important tape to us all!" Before the door closes, the gang gives a response alright, yelling slowly growing less loud as the door jingles close.
"You must fix it while there is still time .. and it will be your life if you do not!" The odd Shogun seems .. well.. odd. And while he certainly SOUNDS serious.. he's not exactly the most imposing.
The man behind the counter is, as one would probably imagine, a fraud. Dressed in nice, clean clothes, a tie at his neck, and polished shoes on his feet, his head balding, his hair slightly greying, the middle-aged man stares back at the arrival of three very rough looking individuals with somewhat widened eyes. "W-w-why yes," he stammers, getting to his feet slowly from off the comfortable leather chair that he typically spends most of his days lounging in.
'Who the bloody hell gets VCRs repaired these days,' he mutters beneath his breath as he steps out behind the counter, the words harder to hear beneath the scraggy beard at his chin. "Maybe I could interest you fine gentlemen... and lady," he adds, taking a second look at the third Mad Gear minion, "in just purchasing a new VCR? We have plenty in stock here, and they cost only ten dollars, o-or, actually, for such distinguished customers as yourself, we can discount it down to eight dollars instead."
Ah, yes, this is the way he usually gets rid of the few weirdos who show up wanting to get their archaic VCR technology fixed. Just pawn off a new one to them and they're on their way, and the small 'R' office building gets to go on completely above suspicion as usual.
The man stutters. Of course! It is to be expected, especially about the Mad Gear Gang! Why, people quake with fear when he is anywhere near them! Ahahahha! Such power Katana enjoys. Even if it may only be this man, after all. As the balding middle aged man speaks up as he steps from behind the counter moves up, and speaks, fine gentlemen and a lady .. the lady winks to him and blows him a kiss. She wears little, is certainly desirable, but is mostly likely trailer trash. SEMI-TRAILER TRASH THAT IS.
But all is not right in the world. "I think you may have not heard me, my friend!" Katana says, thrusting the VCR out towards the man, who believes everything will be fixed! "The VCR contains our success! And now, it is being caught within the horrible failure of a broken VCR! But you, YOU will make this better, or you will end up just like the tape!"
The wakizashi point towards the man, one at his chest, the other at his neck. "We shall wind you between two metal poles and pull you through them!" Well, that certainly sounds nice. "If you honor us, you will do the work for free... and RIGHT! Otherwise, you bring shame upon all of Mad Gear, and are intending to ruin us!" The fat guy jiggles as he punches his fist. The woman poses, revealing herself a bit slightly.
"Mad Gear demands your respect.. and your cooperation! Otherwise, you will perish!" ... Wow. So much for a VCR!
The man stops short as the VCR is thrust into his arms, followed by two sharp weapons pointed directly for him. Gulp. This isn't in his job description at all. And he knows about as much about reparing a broken VCR as he does about gene splicing. Which is to say, pretty much nothing at all. "Y-yes," he stammers again, taking a step back if only to put some distance between himself and the pointy ends of the wakizashi, scooting back around the counter as a defensive retreat, placing the VCR down on the countertop as he turns back around to stare at a workbench covered with tools he's never touched in his entire life.
He didn't miss the mention of Mad Gear, however, and as any criminal lowlife worth his salt, he now knows mostly of what he is dealing with here. This isn't just trailor trash. This is somewhat organized and mobolized trouble incarnate! Oh dear, oh dear. The poor man with the plastic placard on his shirt that reads 'Herald' isn't a fighter. And even if he was, he wouldn't be stuck with such a boring job if he was any /good/ at it. And while the building is loaded with weapons in the basement, starting some kind of war with Katana and his people would kind of require more personnel on hand.
Fortunately for him he just SOOOO happens to be in luck. He has one trump card. The boss is in today. "W-well, I didn't realize that I had the most distinguished Mad Gear calling on us today. I'll have to call in the most capable of experts on these matters to attend to this most serious problem. L-Let me get right on that." A hand reaches for the phone at his side, pulling it from the wall and holding down a single button, "A-ah, boss-sir-I-mean-ah-we have a /very/ serious VCR problem down here." A pause. "No, not just any VCR. Mad Gear's VCR." Pause. "Y-yes sir, I mean, yes, that would be satisfactory." He moves the phone from his ear and forces a very strained smile toward Katana, sweat beads rolling down the sides of his face.
The Shogun of the Mad Gear Gang is very serious about everything he does! He seriously eats ramen, seriously performs the sacred dances of his ancestors in a kimono, seriously creates origami and paper fans, and seriously, today, makes sure the man takes good care of the VCR. It is .. a Mad Gear treasure, now. He has claimed it to be. And so it was. So it was. Broken, that is! And as the man moves around, getting into position to fix the pieces, he is sure he would not mess up! Even if he was not Mad Gear, he would not be so foolish as to shame them!
As the poor Herald begins to fumble, Katana looks at him. The masked man moving forwards, ceremonial armor and mask all leaning a bit forwards.. but the man makes good with the Shogun, aha, the distinguished Mad Gear! Things are looking up! He turns around, the other two with him rather happy with it as well, the fat man thrusting a hand in the air with such effort it looks like he might have a stroke, and the woman gives him a thumbs up. "Then we shall wait! Such treatment.. you may get a dollar from this!" Katana is certainly happy alright, and his swarm outside is waiting rather.. badly. But they'd at least not trashing the place when it is taking care of important VCR DUTIES.
And with the man calling up, talking, Katana 'smiles' back, giving a thumbs up to the man. He cannot smile, no, he would have to remove his mask then. "An important expert for the important Mad Gear. One day, we will hear this on a regular basis! Remember the feeling, bask in it!" And then they bask.
OH, THE BASKING.
Ah... alas, all of that trumped up regard for Mad Gear is simply poor Herald's way of buying time. Wooden stairs off to the side that lead to the upper floors echo with the sound of leather soled shoes clacking against the polished surface, heralding the descent of this 'expert' called in to look into the problem.
He rounds the corner, stepping down into the lobby - none other than Rugal Bernstein. A tall man, yet not as tall as the Mad Gear gang leader, he is clearly way overdressed for being a VCR technician. A somewhat guady red-orange colored suit with a neatly pressed, expensive white dress shirt, accompanied by a black rope-style necktie and a black, thin scarf hanging open around his neck. His hair and moustache are blond in color, groomed enough to not look slovenly, but grown long enough to suggest that it isn't a high priority for him to maintain either. But perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic is that while his left eye is a natural brown, his right eye is a pool of black, dark metal, a cybernetic replacement for an eye stolen from him years ago. And no, it's not there to help him repair VCRs better.
"Gentlemen," he states, his tone calm, his voice deep. "I'm afraid there has been a misunderstanding. We are closing for the day. You would be best served by finding another place to attend to your... priorities." He steps forward, moving between Herald and Katana. Not as some kind of protective gesture, since on many levels Rugal couldn't care less what happens to the face paid to try and make this place seem semi-legitimate, but because he reaches out with one hand to heft the VCR off the counter and hold it out toward Katana, fingers clenching the case with a vice-like grip that actually ends up denting it just a little. "Now take this and be on your way."
FOCUS - The Man who arrives. PAN TO - Rugals death grip upon the VCR, then across Rugal's styling form, his clothes definitely making him look out of the ordinary.. a PERFECT VCR repair man. But yet, all is not well. And while Rugal is certainly imposing.. things do not go, perhaps, as Rugal wishes them to. Gentlemen! That is the word that Katana loves so much, and he even hears it again! It's so .. so.. REGAL sounding, and to a Shogun, no better title will fit! All is well. He has the sharp dressed VCR repair man. He has a WELL DRESSED VCR repair man. He has a .. VCR repair man who is currently denting his VCR HEY WAIT A SECOND.
The Wakizashi raise, the mask staring back into the black pool of dark metal, his own eyes obscured. A soulless, perhaps dark, face looks onto Rugal. And without moving it's face, it speaks. "You're not a very good VCR repair man are you .. YOU DENTED IT!" Perhaps this is all lost on him, the crushing of the case WITH HIS BARE HANDS. But he knows he broke it by touching it. Broke it more.
The thug and thugette gasp. Katana takes this .. as a serious dishonor. "You have harmed property of the Mad Gear Gang .. you have brought SHAME upon us. I will take it .. but I will take your life as well! You will either give me service, now, or I will give you the business end of my Wakizashi!" Spinning them .. wait you don't spin swords, they fall before he fumbles and grabs them again. "THE BUSINESS END OF MY WAKIZASHI!" He repeats, louder.
"So get to fixing, before the might of the Mad Gear Gang crushes you beneath it!" ... He must not know who Rugal is, or something.
Everything about Katana is observed with an impassive analysis. The way he fumbles the twin blades. The way he gesticulates wildly. The way he hollars with increasing volume. The man takes it all in in silence, the VCR held out, his hand still holding it tightly. Herald has ducked down behind the counter now, either not wanting to be stuck by one of those wakazaki's if they go spinning out of Katana's hands, or afraid of getting caught up in whatever violence Rugal decides to inflict on the three ruffians in this lobby.
"What is your name, sir," Bernstein inquires calmly as he places the VCR down on the counter top. His right hand slips into the pocket in his suit pants, withdrawing two black leather, fingerless gloves, which he calmly begins to slip over his hands, pulling them taut. Surely those must be technician's gloves, right?? "Are you, in fact, the current leader of the Mad Gear coterie?"
The man steps forward then, glancing dismissingly over the two thugs accompanying Katana before his eyes fix back on the man. "I would hate to have to remove you from here myself in front of your subordinates... Such a sign of weakness can breed contempt and lead to mutany after all. You wouldn't want that, now would you." His tone never loses its calmness, though there is a hint that his patience, never known for being all that great anyway, has just about run out.
As Rugal still stands, mostly silent for a bit as Katana goes on and on, there is only so long, it seems, that Rugal can take a verbal berating, especially from such a man as Katana. But once he is done, it looks like Herald is out of the picture.. and the VCR is thankfully saved. To a point. "My name, master technician of the VCR repair store, is Katana! .. And there is no other leader than I! The Shogun of Mad Gear!" Those certainly look like technician's gloves. All is falling into place.
And then it sort of falls out, one end swinging and the other holding until it flies off. The man steps forwards as the thugs look on .. and back up? Katana listens, hearing about how his loyal members of the Mad Gear Gang would overthrow him and leap to contempt and mutiny .. If that were the case, then they'd have certainly overthrown him by now! "Mad Gear... is more like a family than it will ever just be leading! I have given them my life, to see them through this dark hour and to show once and for all, that Mad Gear is a force to be reckoned with. It will rise from the ashes like the fabled Phoenix, with me leading it!"
"I would never step back from a fight, especially not when you would deny me service that Mad Gear deserves. And not only that... make me wait and then dent the VCR! I have half a mind to show you the power of a true Japanese man!" Man, he looks serious, even posing!
Rugal won't see it coming!
COMBATSYS: Rugal has started a fight here.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Katana has joined the fight here.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
"Yes, indeed," murmurs the man of German descent. "Well then, I'm sure your people will be glad to know just how dedicated you were to their cause before your untimely demise." Bernstein continues.
He steps forward, walking over to the door of the lobby and pulling it open, his foot coming down as he keeps it propped open. Both of his arms lash out then, one hand for each of Katana's minions, clamping down tightly on their shoulders with that same force that so casually crushed the case of their poor VCR. And in a movement that is blindingly fast, the two are yanked hard toward him then sent rolling out the door into the parkling lot.
"Just the two of us now. Come, Mister Katana, show me this force. Show me this pride of the true Japanese you claim you represent!" His voice escalates now, invigorated at the prospect of a battle. "Or go now and save what is left of your useless pride by leaving in one piece!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal focuses on his next action.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
As the German man faces off against the Japanese man, Katana is ready. He gets ready. He gives the spirits his regards. He praises his ancestors. He mentally prepares himself. All is done. All is ready.. All is .. hey.
All is odd, because he watches the fat man and the skinny trailer park woman being launched out of the building, thrown outside into the parking lot. Katana stops his actions. His praises. Everything. To look towards Rugal.. so he was not a VCR repairman.
The things you learn.
The wakizashi move into position. They draw closer to Katana as he readies them, looking upon Rugal. "You should have not brought my brethren into this, not-Vcr repairman! .. My honor requires me to avenge them. With all my strength, you'll see just comes .. of causing such a problem.. to a TRUE JAPANESE! hoooooooAAARRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" He starts low, but gradually gets louder. And his strength.. doesn't go anywhere.
"YOU WILL PAY!" Within the confined space, it will be difficult for Katana to really do much. But by god he will try. As Rugal just stands, Katana brings the blades around, flailing with them as he slashes towards Rugal, it almost seems comical. Does he really expect to strike him with such unfocused slashes?
.. No, because the next moment, he thrusts forwards, a weeping motion with both body and blade, seeming to slide forwards, the wakizashi attempting to not only slam into the powerhouse, but scrape as it slides forwards! "I would only lose pride by retreating!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to interrupt Jigoku Scrape from Katana with Jab Punch.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Katana
And so it begins. Katana charges forward brazenly, without fear, without remorse, and without any idea just what in the heck he is going UP against here!! Bernstein simply stands in place, his sole human eye narrowing a little at how recklessly the man charges him, sweeping those blades around like that.
And so he decides to put a swift, abrupt stop to it all, his hand jabbing out, palm first, intending to slam right into the masked man's chest and knock him back a little for his carelessness. After all, best to give him a little taste of what he's up against and see if fear smacks reason into his head before his fists do...
But Katana's charge is not to be stopped by a simple flick of the wrist and he barrels right on through, his flailing slashes jabbing at the man, scraping and cutting fine, expensive red-orange cloth, though not seeming to phase Rugal particularly much either. "Che," the man grunts, his feet having been pushed back a couple of inches by the charge. He lowers his arm a little as if waiting now, "You do bear some strength. I'll grant you that..."
As Rugal, or Non-VCR repair man, goes to stop his slash, a palm being launched forwards to prevent Katana's charge.. Katana's true strength is more true and more strengthy! His scrapes and cuts slash through the fabric! Katana can see it now! Blood, gore, VICTORY. If you know, any of that was seen. The blades cut the cloth, but yet, there is no blood. There is .. there is NOTHING.
Katana sees then, what he is up against as the man is pushed back inches by the charge. Mere inches. "Such power ...does not only belong to me!" Katana speaks. "But you .. you will still fall to me! For I fight for a cause! The VCR shall be fixed, and I shall return the favor for such shame you have bestowed upon me!" He ... really really really doesn't think things will be all that fine anymore. Not anymore. But to fall back. NEVER!
He moves again towards Rugal, grabbing for the man's arm that went to slam into him with his palm. If such was possible, he would spin Rugal around, using the torque from that one spin to launch him against ... THE TOOLS.
It would be a fall from there on, beyond the scraping on the ground if Rugal failed again.
But then, how could he not? Katana IS a Shogun. This guys is just a freakishly powerful VCR repairer!
COMBATSYS: Rugal endures Katana's Daimyo Throw.
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Rugal 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Katana
This time as Katana grabs hold of his arm, the man seems to go right along with the attack, letting the SHOGUN pull him forward, spinning him arounda nd slamming him against the workbench covered with tools that have probably never actually been used for... well, tool things. There is a grunt from Bernstein, but even as he is pulled down to the floor he seems to be moving with the momentum of Katana's attack rather than fighting against it.
Only as his back strikes the ground does he grunt just a little and finally react, both of his arms reaching up to grab hold the sword weilder's wrists and pull him down and over his head into a rolling throw... while moving with the momentum of the rolling throw himself in order to land on top of his chest with the express purpose of pulling both of his arms back and slaming them forward into Katana's gut, palms first, clearly intending shut him up by making him gasp for breath.
If all that is accomplished, he'll simply get back up to his feet then, hands coming up to adjust his suit coat back into proper position, as if he believes that's all that it will have taken to destroy the haughty gang leader.
COMBATSYS: Katana interrupts Medium Throw from Rugal with Tengu Walking.
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Rugal 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Katana
As Rugal moves with the momentum, Katana is caught with that very same momentum, Katana's wrists being pulled over Rugal's head as the Shogun begins to fly.. but things do not always work as planned! Katana sees the ceiling! Then the table. Then the floor, then it's table time again and .. that's when Katana springs, as Rugal goes to land onto him, Katana squeezes out, out of breath, but still moving. It's hard pressed for him to, but he is.
He pushes off with his hands, flips forwards, before catching himself again.. but this time, swords in the floor, holding himself up. And yes, Katana is hand standing in his ridiculous get up on his swords. What happens next is no less surprising, nor is it no less awe inspiring. To a point.
He begins to slash forwards on his hands. pulling himself forwards, towards the fallen Rugal, intent on slashing against his back as he passes over and past the VCR repair man.. who is rather amazingly powerful. He only was struck half of what he wanted.. he's sure the floor must be dented!
Past, Katana leaps up, breathing heavily, in position. He's winded... but then, you would be too if you were fighting Rugal, tooth and nail!
Katana's refusal to being crushed handily is beginning to get on Rugal's nerves! Managing to slip free from the brutal sequence Bernstein hand in mind for him, the tyrant lands on his back rather than having the masked warrior in his grip as he had intended, which leaves him the target for the sequence of... hand-stand-stabs as the Mad Mad Gear leader barrels his way over him.
Getting back to his feet slowly, with deliberate control, one hand pressing against his knee as he sits up, then finally rises once again to a formidable standing postion, Rugal looks at Katana in a new light. "Yes, yes," he growls now, "Desperate timing has made you a better fighter than I would have thought possible from a bombastic buffoon. No wonder you are able to keep that band of misfits under your control. You surely outclass them by far... unfortunately for you, you're still merely an annoyance to me!"
Leaning forward into an aggressive charge forward, Bernstein bears in on Katana with his arms out at his sides, as if he intends to simply plow the warrior over. Only just shy of doing that does he stop, his right hand slamming in with destructive force toward Katana's chest while his left hand swings lower, aiming to deliver a painful palm against his stomach. "RAGH!" The force of the swings are more than enough to break rock. And right now they're bearing in on Katana as Rugal leans heavily into the attack.
COMBATSYS: Katana fails to counter Medium Punch from Rugal with Shiraha Catch.
- Power fail! -
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Katana
As Rugal bears towards Katana, hands out at his sides as he charges forwards, and then Rugal's right hand launches forwards, towards the chest! Hah! Katana can see this coming. He breathes in. He breathes out. And then he moves his hands to-
Remember that breathe? If there was any air left, IT'S NOT ANY MORE. His hands got to catch the fist that's already plowing into his body, but at such power that Rugal would almost feel the strong like ox body of Katana begin to bend around his fist like some kind of toy! Gasping for breathe, Katana is not just hit, but the force of the punch, and how much it caught him, makes it more like a fist BREAKING HIS CHEST. Rocks are lucky he is not punching them.
Launched backwards, Katana slams through the wall, the gang spreading out as Katana breaths in and out, gasping for air, finally, on the cement. He bleeds as well, but it is unimportant. He has to get up. But he's so tired. He won't be if Rugal gets done with him.
Either way... Katana doesn't want to give up. And he refuses to. Even if he's tired. Even if Rugal hurts. He pulls himself to his feet.. the hunched form of Katana slowly standing back up. ".. This is the strength of the Japanese."
That should finish him. Rugal felt the crushing force of his blows... and a fighter of his experience is able to tell almost precisely what kind of damage he's dealing to the foes unfortunate enough to face him. That should finish him indeed. Still, best to make sure.
Stepping forward, the tyrant walks outside through the new custom, Katana-sized exit that has been added to the wall, feet calmly stepping over the rubble, his toe brushing some of the wrecked wall aside. He intended to come out and find the other man collapsed... but instead Katana rises again, drawing upon a fierce determination to honor his pride in the face of literally impossible power.
"Strength of the Japanese?" the man intones, a questioning hint to his voice. "Or simply your own strength, Mister Katana, proud leader of the Mad Gear. You have fared far better than my initial analysis of you lead me to believe you would. Even still, by now you must know you have chosen infuriate the wrong man. Surely you cannot last much longer." He pauses then, a slow smirk entering his expression. "But now that the battle has been engaged, there is no choice but to finish it!!"
And with that, he charges forward again, this time with blinding speed, his body becoming almost a red blur as a single arm snaps out, knuckles first, intending to crack Katana right dead dead center in the forehead of his mask - the red blur that is Rugal coming to a sudden stop several yards behind Katana. To the outside observer, it would almost look like he simply passed right through the man with how fast he was moving.
COMBATSYS: Katana fails to interrupt Jab Punch from Rugal with Meido no Miyage.
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Katana
As Rugal charges forwards once more, Katana is tired. His impaired actions, impaired judgements, and then some cause him to begin to falter. He could only resist so long against the strength that is Rugal. And all good things must come to an end. This time, it's Katana's lead on Rugal.. he shouldn't have had it in the first place.
And it's being rightfully stripped from him.
Rugal speaks with him. Telling him he has went past all expectations. A proud leader of Mad Gear, to Rugal. His will soars, his soul is lifted from the words, even as his body feels as if it would collapse. There's little he can just do. But.. HE WILL NOT FALL. Not until Rugal has done him in. And if Rugal continues, as he is, that won't be much longer. Katana's breathe is unsteady, but he still speaks. "I chose right. Even if you're to best me now. You are strong. The honor to even fight you has been more than I could normally ask! This is my strength!"
And Then Regal snaps his fist out. This is where Katana moves, "MEIDO-" He cries out, fist slamming into his mask, the steel striking head on to his forehead, blood tricking from the mask as a wakizashi is raised where Rugal .. isn't anymore. He's fast alright.
"AGH.. The mask... you struck.. the ceremonial mask!" HIS WEAKPOINT. Hit it to inflict massive damage.
The attack, blindingly fast yet not striking with the kind of force Rugal is certainly capable of putting out, was a test. A way to see, first hand, just how much strength is left in the man now. Just how determined is he to stay standing in the face of such incredible power. And it would seem... Katana's will is as tough as iron, even if his mask might not entirely be.
As the gang leader reacts to the strike to his mask, Rugal merely chuckles, his tone dark, his demeanor anything but pleasant at this point. "I believe... it is time to show you the real power I possess, Mister Katana. While I have not spared you any of my speed, I have held back a little on using the energy that courses through me... But you deserve to see it all. You should feel honored... It may be the last thing you EVER SEE!!"
And with that shout, Rugal charges forward, his mighty arm out to his side as he seems intent on hooking the large samurai up into his grasp. His hands flare a bloody red, liquid energy literally pouring from his fingertips, leaving a smoking trail in his wake wherever the foul substance lands. This... this is very bad news.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Katana with Gigantic Pressure.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Katana
And the moment all of that raw power and momentum slams into Katana, it goes horribly downhill from there. Bernstein, now tapping into strength that he was holding back on, just continues right along as if Katana's mass was no more than a snowflake in his path. Hooked into that strong arm of his, the man is carried another twenty yards before Bernstein slams him down into the parking lot with the force necessary to shatter cement, sending a cloud of powdered concrete into the air around him.
There is a deep, gluttural growl in Rugal's throat as he holds the man down and then from the ground beneath Katana a literal geyser of blood-red energy errupts upward, burning, searing, hurting. The dark red pillar of energy bears with it a sound that resembles a an inhuman shrieking and in the midst of it, for a split second, the energy forms the shape of a demonic skull, its mouth open in a horrifying scream of agony.
The energy splashes back down to the ground, spreading over the surface of the ravaged concrete with a burning hiss, literally sending smoke into the air as the cement burns. Only then does Rugal release his grip, standing up straight, taking a step backward as he looks down upon Katana with the kind of curiosity one might have when inspecting a fly that they managed to smash between their fingers. If he wanted to kill Katana, he could put him through that entire ordeal twice. He /has/ that power within him. But... it seems he has no intent on finishing the proud leader of Mad Gear. Not right now.
It looks like the mighty Shogun of the Mad Gear Gang.. has fallen. But what steps lead to his fate?
Tired, fatigued to a rather crazy amount, Katana can barely stand. He's slow, he's tired, and looking at Rugal, he knows something's different. The last thing he ever sees?
Katana tries to lurch out of the way as Rugal's liquid energy flowing hand begins to swarm over him. The hands hook onto him.
Oh hell.
The raw power surging into him causes the sight of the sky flying above him to not immediately fill in all together. He's carried, and finally realizes where he is when his body slams into the concrete. The armor nearly cracks as the force causes Katana to go out of it. Things got dizzy. And as Rugal holds him down, things only get worse. Blood-red energy in a geyser sears the man, the screaming. The burning, The pain. THE SKULL OH GOD WHY A SKULL.
But then, it's all over. Katana lays on the ground a broken Shogun, a broken man, and perhaps a broken bone or five. It would be unsure, but his body is ill trained to take such chi in such large numbers. The pavement hurt, but then, he has aten piledriver from Haggar once before. The chi causes havoc for him. And Katana is on the edge.. who will come in his time of need?! "Such.. Honor." He gurgles out before his body finally gives in. He would not just walk it off, couldn't.
And then .. A HORN. It sounds, although it's certainly not a normal one, more of a 'little chinese town' sound, dunnanananana na na nana naaaa. It's going full bore. The Mad Gear Gang is in it and is planning to do TWO THINGS.
One involves the hook, or 'sheath'. The Katana sheath/hook. It attempts to grab him as it passes, no, no attempt. They are masters at Katana fishing! But that begs the question.. what IS the second thing? Perhaps it would be simply answered if Rugal would look onto the twin beams, pointed straight at him as the truck heads forwards, music playing, neon lights flashing, AND AWESOME PAINT JOB (recently redid) being lit up by the lights.
The grill, oddly enough, has a target the shape of a human.
... WHAT COULD THAT BE FOR? THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.
Either way, that truck and Rugal attempt to meet. IN THE ONE WAY A CAR AND A MAN CAN MEET WITH NO REPRESSION.
COMBATSYS: Katana can no longer fight.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rugal endures Katana's Run Your Ass Over.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rugal 0/-------/----===|
The deed is done. The haughty gang boss has been dealt an incredible blow by the man who owns this small, unassuming building. He ventured inside, expecting to find a poor slob to intimidate into fixing his VCR, only to bring down the wrath of the dragon of the house. Rugal sees no need to inflict anything further upon the fallen opponent. Surely, when he comes to eventually, he will hopefully remember well the lesson taught here. In Southtown... very little is ever what it seems like on the outside.
Rugal hehs and turns to walk back toward the Katana-hole in the wall to go back inside... only becoming aware of the sound of an oncoming beast of a vehicle after a few steps. Slowly he turns, the slightly raised eyebrow over his human eye the very image of incredulous. These fools have the /gall/ to try and run him down?
It is with brazen arrogance that Rugal's feet stay planted then. He could move. Oh, he most certainly could get out of the way. That speed he exhibited earlier... the ability to move as a blur, would be more than enough to get out of the way of the incoming truck. But he just doesn't. "Hahahahaha!" the madman laughs, extending his arms out to his sides. "I will show you POWE-"
The word is never finished as he is struck dead on by the rampaging vehicle. His feet, refusing to be removed from the ground, literally slide back across the cement, digging parallel furrows of upturned concrete until at last he slams into the solid brick wall of the office building, arms and legs spread out as his body smashes several inches through the thick wall.
And then... Rugal Bernstein, tyrant of 'R', and all around horrible VCR repair man, leans forward, stepping out of the indentation, rubble and powdered brick pouring down from off his shoulders to collect at his feet. His mouth set in the smirk of a man who is just... really not sane. "Hahahahaha!" his laughter continues to echo even as the big rig takes off, bearing its precious Katana cargo off to safety to recuperate.
The maniacal laughter dies down eventually, as does the rumble of the Mad Gear rig as it vanishes down the road. Slowly Rugal lifts his hand and brushes the unsightly dust from off his shoulders, adjusts his suit coat, straightens his tie, and heads back inside. Ah... that was a fine little diversion. Now back to business as usual.
COMBATSYS: Rugal drops his guard to recover.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rugal 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Rugal has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:35:44 08/30/2007 by Rugal, and last modified on 01:26:21 08/31/2007.