Description: Team Rocket faces off against Ryu and his faithful pokeymane, Ingrid!! Can Maxima and K' beat back Ingrid's psychic powers and Ryu's smelly, old, hobo gi!? Or will they go blasting off again?? And which one is the man and which is the woman of the team?! Tune in here for NONE of the answers to these stunning questions! (Winners: K' and Maxima)
Despite the wound-down nature one might expect from the tail end of the weekend, the Howard Stadium is filled with the crowd one can expect when the current King of Fighters is scheduled to hold a match. Other concerns and issues have kept him away from the spotlight of late..not that it was precisely something he had ever been known to covet in the first place. But despite it's commercial nature, such sanctioned fights had been the source of countless valuable lessons and experiences to Ryu, who ever sought to find greater heights to strive to. Whether those triumps were made amidst the glitz and glamour of the fighting world's premier stage or an unknown alley of a forogotten town made no difference to him, nor did he discount either.
As is expect, the wanderer arrives neither too early or two late, but in that most covetous window of puntuality in between the two. His ever-present traveling sack cast to the side, bare feet hop up on to smoothened slate and stride toward the arena's center. The other fighters, whether they are already there or yet to arrive themselves receive a nod of aknowledgement in no particular order. He knew none of them by reputation..and rather than arrogance, it was reason for caution. He had no idea what to expect; A necessary component of any worthwhile fight.
Saturday Night Fight. As always, it is a thriving source of business for Howard Enterprises; people come from all across the world simply to see their favorite fighters performing live, before their very eyes within the hallowed grounds of the Howard Arena. The stands are crowded over with hundreds of cheering, whooping fans, here to see the main event of this week's SNF: a showdown between Ryu and the mysterious Ingrid, and perhaps the even -more- mysterious duo that oppose them. It's an exciting feeling...
... Which is probably why Maxima, at least, is grinning as he makes a calm, casual gait towards the arena grounds. His massive hands locked behind the back of his head, the Canadian cyborg lumbers forward, his dark eyes falling over the crowds before placing his focus on his opponents -- or at least, Ryu. Squinting lightly, the rogue agent offers a friendly wave, even as his eyes show him things others do not. The former World Warrior, current King of Fighters, Ryu. This could be a problem. But even so, Maxima smiles in anticipation.
"This is all pretty exciting, eh?" the Canadian asides to his partner as they approach. Exciting indeed. At the very least...
... it'll be a challenge.
In a manner that is perhaps much like Ryu, Ingrid is here in order to learn how to become a better fighter. Every fight has it's own lessons to teach, and it's ones like these that you can find yourself completely overwhelmed with them. The fighters are all powerful ones; she's being paired up with one of the most powerful there are, and pitted against two fighters with strong reputations, though she doesn't know much of them. She arrives in a similar fashion to the others, though perhaps a bit more like Maxima than Ryu with the smile on her face.
The young woman first approaches her partner Ryu, and smiles up to him. "Hello, Ryu. It will be a pleasure fighting alongside you. I'll do my best to offer the best support I can." For surely she's there for support, she is in no way on the level of a man who once single handedly stole the title of World Warrior from Sagat.
But she's not going to completely ignore her opponents, she turns on her heels to face them while brushing her hair back over her shoulders and speaks to them. "Let's give everyone a good show, shall we?"
For once, he was early: arriving a little before his partner, trusting Maxima to show up when the cyborg was good and ready. He'd needed no preparatory warmup, no fawning attention from the various people working the arena; upon arriving, he'd simply parked himself at a table in that space between stage and stands, kicked back in his chair and trusting his inscrutable shades to make his mood ambiguous enough to discourage approach. Though K' was the relative unknown here, he wasn't actively attempting to change that despite the fact that a match in the famous Howard Arena could provide unparalleled access to publicity.
He only looks up-- and then, the glance isn't even perceptible, hidden as his eyes are-- when he hears Maxima approaching. Heaving out a sigh, he lets the chair's front legs nail back to the ground with a sharp stacatto complaint. Then he pushes to his feet, and falls into step next to the cyborg without even bothering to say hello. "Hn," is his dismissive reply to the Canadian's aside, his mouth curling in scorn. "Exciting? If you like dancing for the crowd, maybe..."
Up on the stage, slouched in a loose posture that seems to say he doesn't even want to be here, K' looks the opposing pair over-- or at least, he presumably does so. It's nearly impossible to tell where or what he's looking at, given those shades. After a moment of this scathing regard, his shoulders slope boredly, his head tilting. Hands hook into his pockets: a dismissive gesture bordering on insult. 'Good show,' huh. "....Tch." The sound is riddled with disgust.
COMBATSYS: Ryu has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Maxima has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maxima
COMBATSYS: K' has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maxima
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|-------\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Ingrid has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Ingrid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
As everyone seems to have finally congregated on the slate floor, the groundskeepers decide that the combatants are all probably ready for their fight. With that in mind everything in the arena suddenly gets much darker, the main lights turning down and the black lights that were prepared turning on and giving the entire place a much different ambiance. And to change this even more several fog machines are turned on, turning the scene into something that might look much like an ocean town predawn, only with more purple added into the mix.
Though her greeting seems to have been tossed aside, Ingrid doesn't seem to mind, the change in atmosphere having altered her mood to some extent. It's time to get somewhat serious about this. She takes in a breath and then lets it out, her arms lowering down to her sides as she moves into her open fighting stance. At about that moment the beginning of the fight is announced by a trademark scream from an unseen announcer. The young blonde doesn't seem to be in the mood to rush in, however. "Well then, shall we begin?"
COMBATSYS: Ingrid focuses on her next action.
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Ingrid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
If disrepect is indeed the intention of K's actions, many are the fighters who would take boisterous offense to it, but Ryu has always been of the mind to let actions speak moreso than words, refusing to let his guard down for the sake of proper decorum. Of course, what that gives him cause to think of the lankier fighter personally is another issue all together! Still, mysterious is most certainly the nature of the fight tonight. He could be at disadvantage in that there was a decent chance all involved knew how he fought, his methods and trademark abilities where he knew none in kind.
As the fight begins, his youthful partner eschews leaping into the fray to pay attention and watch. An expectation on him, perhaps? Nonetheless, it is a wise move, and one the wanderer decides he will honor by seizing the rarely-used opportunity to open up the battle, closing the distance between himself and the two fighters with speed one could expect of the current King of Fighters. Only at the last moment does it become clear which of two is his actual target, a quick veer and leap launching him towards Maxima, a closed fist descending with him towards the fighter's brow. Now and then, a direct approach could be a rewarding change of pace.
COMBATSYS: Maxima Toughs Out Ryu's Sakotsu Wari!
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Ingrid 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 K'
Rolling either shoulder with little in the way of a sense of urgency, Maxima looks from his opponents to his partner, lifting a brow at the young man's sour words. "Aah, always so grumpy..." he mulls, his left hand rubbing at his right wrist in an idle, preparatory gesture. "Relax and live a little. This'll shape up to be fun."
Initial commentary aside, Maxima focuses his attentions on their opponents once more, eyes and mind making a quick analysis of either of the fighters. Ryu, will be a problem. But... "Alright, partner," Maxima begins, lowering himself into a combat-ready stance, "take out the little fish before we get the big fish, right?" Tournament or no, Maxima and K' are trained to behave a certain way. And old habits die hard -- especially for partners who have worked together for years.
And so, the fight starts. Ingrid hangs towards the back, seeming to be preparing for something. Ryu, though, comes in swinging, and at almost terrifying speeds. Maxima's eyes, however, can more than keep up with the man's movements. And as Ryu rushes forwards... Maxima makes a charge -towards- him and, more importantly, Ingrid. It might seem suicidal, but even as that punch comes towards Maxima? He barrels straight -through- it, stopping the force of the blow before it can build up entirely. Fist meets an oddly dense forehead with a sudden clash and Maxima, seemingly unphased by the assault, carries on through, his right fist swinging down... and towards Ingrid.
It's a seemingly straightforward punch, yet from the distance Maxima is at, it would never successfully connect. Before the swing comes to completion though, Ingrid will get to see something truly bizzare: Maxima's wrist begins to literally -open up-, expanding into a series of armcannons that suddenly release a gout of high-pressure air, cutting through the distance between himself and the girl to impact her with far more force than any fist ever truly could, intent on using his positioning to his advantage. "HMPH!!"
K' doesn't bother replying Maxima's mild chiding. In fact, it's debatable whether he's even listening all that hard: an irritable lift of a shoulder serving as his response to Maxima's opinions. But the instant the cyborg starts talking tactics, the boy starts to take heed: even if he still doesn't look much like he's paying attention.
One fingertip lifts to the corner of those shades, pulling them down slightly so that glinting eyes can peek out over the dark rim. Wolfish yellow eyes focus on Ingrid as Maxima speaks, and a lick of compliant amusement flickers briefly in them. The brief glimmer of acquiescence in those cold eyes would have been lost on anyone other than the Canadian cyborg; but between the two, such nonverbal cues are all that are needed. It is a sort of synchronicity of intent and attack that can come only from a long time working together in the field. The actual consensus of action which they come to might seem cruel; but training dies hard, and the two NESTS agents have been schooled to maximize efficiency.
In this case, efficiency means quick disposal. K' only gives himself enough time for one last indulgence. That light touch shifts, hooking more securely and slipping the shades free. A minute flick of the wrist folds the arms shut with a tiny click, and K' puts the glasses quietly away in the inside pocket of his jacket.
The boy then rips into movement, going smoothly from slouch to sprint with no discernable brace or pause in between. He circles in a swift arc as Maxima goes straight in, waiting for the cyborg to field his first blow, and the instant that gout of air blasts towards Ingrid, K' is adding his attack: leaping straight in in its wake to attempt to crack a smart snapkick into the girl's chest.
COMBATSYS: Maxima successfully hits Ingrid with Vapour Cannon.
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Ingrid 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Ingrid fails to counter Minutes Spike from K' with Sun Upper EX.
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Ingrid 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 K'
Ingrid finds herself the primary target after Ryu moves to engage, Maxima being powerful enough to smash straight through the punch to the head and seeming to draw strength from the pain and speed up, and K' being fast enough to just rush in for a simultaneous beat down. When Maxima's wrist seems to retract, Ingrid immediately moves to get out of the way, but isn't quick enough, the blast of compressed air smashes into her and flings her backwards. That's when the kick to the chest comes in, Ingrid using all the power she can muster to try and regain control of herself. She brings her hand up and points in the air towards the kick, a disk of energy forming at an odd angle, missing the incoming kick entirely as it comes in and smashes her as well, taking any tiny semblance of control she might have had left from her and flinging her backwards. The power of the team up is enough to have thrown her all the way to the edge of the arena, and she grits her teeth while slowly pulling herself up off of the ground.
While Ryu's fist finds it's mark, not all is as it should be. For one, punching Maxima is less like hitting a person and more like hitting a rock wall, to which the dull ache left in his knuckles attest. Knocked aside by the hulking fighter's charge, he'll quickly recover in a roll, left in slight confusion over this fact. There was only so much strength conditioning of the body could do...and while he'd fought opponent who'd shaped their body and strength towards an exceptional natural defense before, they weren't quite like that.
Of course, he only has so much time to ponder as the pair go on to rip into his young partner this fight with ruthless efficiency, apparently eschewing him for someone they knew they could dispose of more quickly. A cold but effective tactical maneuver. That alone tells him much, but seeing how their movements and techniques complement the other, how they did not need to verbally communicate to know what to do...all of this gives the former World Warrior cause to think that his opponent's are quite used to fighting together. Compounded with the grim efficiency of the application of these skills...military, perhaps? Or something else?
The answer is left unqueried, however, as Ryu rises in attempt to provide some measure of relieft to Ingrid. Palms glow with a familiar blue light as the screams of the crowd rise with the fluid, singular motion the pushes them forth, energy coalescing into a single sphere that hurls towards K' with burst of speed, "Hadouuuuuken!" Comes the familiar cry. Time now to test the other.
Cold, but efficient. A good way to put it. The force and brutality comes from months upon years of training and teamwork, and it proves to make short work of Ryu's partner -- even if she's still standing. Coming to a skidding stop, Maxima slams his right foot into the tiled ground to make his skidding come to an abrupt end, pivoting on his foot to come to an ultimate halt facing Ryu. It's an action brought about by the sudden readings of chi the man's sensors pick up -- a sharp spike accompanied by the gathering of cerulean power shortly thereafter, heralding something unpleasant soon to come.
"... Ah, crap," Maxima utters even as the chi begins to swirl around in the palms of Ryu's hands. Noting the direction the legendary fighter faces, it's quick order to gauge the trajectory of the fireball before it can even fully form -- and just who it's aimed at.
"K'!" Shouted as Maxima turns a heal, preparing himself for his next action, he focuses those dark eyes on his partner. "Watch your back!!" Of course, he knows K' can defend himself -- and trusts the young man knows what to do here. But a little assistance never hurt.
COMBATSYS: Maxima assists K'.
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Ingrid 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Ryu's Hadouken.
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Ingrid 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 K'
K' lands lightly, stance low and poised, and for the moment he doesn't instantly lunge straight after Ingrid again. He pauses, as if debating whether it's worth finishing things off, and then he just rocks back on his heels and straightens up, one hand hooking into his pocket, his head canted in obvious boredom. His posture is practically demeaning in its casualness, though the look in his eyes-- cold and watchful-- doesn't quite match the nonchalant boredom inherent in the slackness to his shoulders. His focus on her is intent in an animalistic sort of way. Like the sweep of a raptor's gaze across a field.
It's not so complete, however, that he doesn't notice when he's being attacked. Especially not with the sudden spike of light from Ryu's corner of the stage, and the shouted warning from Maxima. K' turns away from Ingrid like a wolverine chased off a corpse, irritation strung through every line of him as he braces his stance and faces the incoming threat. His right hand rips upwards before him, his forearm crossing his chest and left shoulder. Does he intend to try and block that famed attack with nothing but a bare arm?
An abrupt lick of fire kindles in the cage of his right hand, the searing flame unfolding in an eyeblink to sheathe from fingertip to shoulder at the exact moment the chi sphere strikes. The fire's appearance is abrupt, and its disappearance just as quick: it's gone as soon as it's dashed apart the energy of that hadouken, dismissed before its intense heat can burn its own wielder too badly. There's a reason K' wears leather, and that reason is to guard the boy against his own fire.
Sent skidding back a few feet by the impact, K' grimaces as he shakes out his stinging arm: expression souring. Some of that got through. "I'm letting you tank -that-... for now," he comments to Maxima with an offhand, dismissive gesture at Ryu, his sardonic voice managing to carry despite the fact he hasn't bothered to raise it. And then he turns back around to finish off what he started.
The boy whirls back around without warning, closing with Ingrid in a leap that seems strangely similar to the move he performed just a moment before. One might almost think he were simply repeating his technique-- that is, until the last-moment fakeout where he drops abruptly out of the air and skids in low with a sharp swiping kick to the legs.
COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Ingrid with Narrow Spike.
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Ingrid 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 K'
At least she's able to stand up before the second onslaught comes. Ryu thankfully manages to distract the pair of them for a moment while they focus on her, and though Maxima helps K' out with a warning, he isn't barreling in to crush the life out of the young woman. K' manages to deal with Ryus retaliation easily enough, and then comes for her. Though she was watching them both carefully when he came in the first time, the minute knowledge she gained simply wasn't enough to help her avoid this next attack. She tries to dive out of the way, but that only puts her in better position to be punished by the sweeping kick, which ends up slamming into her shoulder and tossing her completely out of the ring. Luckily that isn't grounds for complete disqualification itself.
She drags herself up again, doing her best to keep the look of pain from her face, and takes in a deep breath. "Perhaps Sakura was right, and I should study my opponents before fights begin..." She sets her shoulders, "Very well...I'll do my best to at least prove my worth!"
There's a bright flash of golden energy around her, magnified by the darkness, fog, and black lights, and she leans forward and points towards K'. A triangle of her power forms in front of her, and then all the way back over where K' is a huge disk of energy forms, attempting to pick him up and drag him into the air.
COMBATSYS: Ingrid can no longer fight.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
> ////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: K' dodges Ingrid's Sun Delta EX.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
> ////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
The pair are clearly no slouches, and Ryu's attempt to divert any attention away from Ingrid is seen for what it is..and appropriately dealt with. "Hm.." Interesting enough though was the way in which the youth counteracted his hadouken..he intended to see even more of what the power could do, of what both of them could do, before this fight was done.
A solemn nod is given to Ingrid as she falls, then. As unfortunate as it was, she was simply outpaced by the pair, who clear knew when, how and where to strike so that it hit hardest. The fight was now two-on-one, the disadvantage is squarely his.
Curiously enough, the wander's lips quirk into a faint smile. Ken would surely do something more flamboyant, but that much expression alone was considerable when considering the legendary fighter's equally legendary stoic demeanor. Holding his stance solid, he turns a discnering eyes to the next movements of the pair, seeing how they'll go next. Come at him both at once, or perhaps incorporate a degree of guile (No, not that Guile) into their tactics? In either case, he aims to be ready.
COMBATSYS: Ryu focuses on his next action.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
> ////////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
And there it is. Maxima observes from afar as K' manages to spot the fiery mass of hadouken and deal with it effectively before turning his attention on finishing off Ingrid properly. That second kick strikes true, sending Ingrid spiralling out of the ring, and Maxima can only look on with some vague sense of curiosity as she attempts to take one, final action against his partner.
Noting the spike in that unusual energy Ingrid wields -- a type that is only vaguely reminiscent of something the Canadian recalls NESTS researching, once upon a time -- the rogue agent once more turns his attentions to Ryu as he stays back -- clearly preparing.
"... I guess it's just the three of us now, huh? Sorry -- I don't think me or my partner can go easy on you. But then..." As Maxima speaks, he pushes off the ground with his left foot, leading into a dead-set charge towards Ryu. The action is simple, but fast: in a single movement, Maxima twists to his right and thrusts out his leather-clad arm. It bends at the elbow, ramming forward with lightning speed to bury itself just underneath Ryu's sternum... aiming for the solar plexus, to knock all the wind from the legendary fighter's lungs.
"... I'd expect the same from you!"
People have such a pathetic attachment to the concept of 'dying on their feet.' Or, in the professional fighting world, 'losing on their feet.' It's funny the level of risk some take in order to cling to this shred of so-called dignity or honor... and it makes K' sick. Who the hell cares how you lose? You should be caring about the fact you just -did-...
Not to say that K' wouldn't prefer, himself, to lose standing, but then the boy isn't exactly the most shining example of fair-minded or nonhypocritical thought.
He doesn't seem deterred or concerned by the effects of his attacks-- and when the inevitable reaction comes, he is prepared and alert. He seems almost to blur at the edges, and then his form winks rapidly away into a mess of wispy blackness. He literally shadowsteps past her retaliation in a move that's halfway to a teleport, slipping away like a wraith, and when he reappears it's on the edge of the stage: looking out towards Ingrid with a brooding and morose sort of air.
"Should've stayed home..." The words are quiet and rhetorical. Whether he meant them as a final insult to the girl, or as a note of regret to see somebody so young fighting on display for public amusement... well, he doesn't bother to clarify or give any indication either way. He tends to be ambiguous like that.
Instead, he's walking back towards Maxima and Ryu, rolling a shoulder. That familiar ever-present irritation is etching itself back into his face already. "'Go easy?'" There's a spate of humorless laughter at that, short and abrupt: K' caught that part of Maxima's little speech, at the least. "Since when did we -ever-...?" he questions his partner. That reaction might be something of a hint as to the pair's usual modus operandi when fighting together: one of utmost efficient ruthlessness.
K' stops in his advance while he's still some distance away, watching with a deceptive passivity as Maxima makes his attack. It's not until the cyborg's elbow is arrowing straight for Ryu that K' acts: raking a ring of fire in the air before him, before spinning abruptly to kick the gout of flame straight at the spot he predicts Ryu will end up.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Maxima's Quick Punch.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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|====---\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges K''s Second Shoot.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
> ///////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
It could be quite fine at times, the line between dignity and practicality. Some fully embraced one or the other while fewer attempted to walk the narrow middle path, constantly threatened with pitfalls and compromise along the way. Ryu at least sympathizes with the natural desire retain a measure of grace and honor when defeat. In stakes as simple as these, it's certainly not too much to ask. Yet too much pride can be blinding, and a constant utilitarian approach can be..well, ruthless. As if it wasn't obvious, Ryu is one of those who ever tries to maintain a balance between the two, as he does with all things.
Philosphic introspection aside, Maxima's powerful blow is met with a receptive palm, the King of Fighters still skidding a pace or two back as he catches the fist, feeling a bit like he just seized a bull by the horns..one of them at least. It was a negligible amount of the true strength Maxima could likely muster, he wagered, and yet his arm possessed a dull ache all the same, "You would be correct." He offers in answer to the Canadian's assumption, allowing only the briefest moment for the exchange before abrutply jerking the man's fist down, using his other hand the gain a firm plant on the cyborg's shoulder while powerful legs flip him up and over. A final handspring off the brawler gives Ryu just the extra lift he needs to barely soar over the trajectory of K's attack, still passing close enough to earn a scorch mark or two across the back of his white gi.
Retaliation comes quick then, the full force of the man's downard momentum raining down upon K's head in the form of a falling kick.
Quick, Ryu certainly is. But that's only to be expected. Feeling a deft hand stopping his blow short, Maxima is quick to snap it -backwards- immediately after in a sudden blur of motion, preparing himself for a potential counter. One never comes, though; instead, Ryu is suddenly using the massive Canadian as an unusually sturdy springboard, launching himself -off- the cyborg and through the air in a graceful flip. Maxima is left to blink and twist his head as Ryu flies above him, just in time for that gout of fire to go soaring -straight- past, brushing across the side of his face and sending short brown hair flailing in the sudden onrush of heated air. "... Huh. Fast guy."
He doesn't take long to ponder over this, though; soon afterwards, he takes not of Ryu descending towards K' with the intent to just smash him into the smooth arena flooring with that kick. The Canadian is quick to respond, rushing across the ground with the sudden stomp of those heavy boots against the tiling. Hopefully K' can handle the man. Until then...
Maxima comes up from behind Ryu as he descends, giving a sudden twist of his body so that his back is presented to the fighter. With a swift jerk, he thrusts his right leg -outward-, intending to slam his booted foot straight into Ryu's back with an impressive display of force. "HMPH!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits K' with Strong Kick.
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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|=======\-------\1 K'
K' has barely regained his stance in the wake of his attack before Ryu has responded, closing with the boy far quicker than anticipated by using -Maxima- as leverage for his attack. K' doesn't have the time to try to get out of the way, and his swift attempt to redirect the blow goes wide, knocked askew by the force of the attack. The erstwhile NESTS agent is driven into the ground with a feral snarl, knocked to hands and knees.
He doesn't stay there for long. It's not in his nature to spend too much time licking his wounds. The instant K' looks up and Maxima gets a good look at the boy's eyes, Maxima should know full well what's coming next and get out of the way quick. If he doesn't, he deserves the hit he'll take, because he really -should- know better after all this time.
For anyone else that is -not- Maxima, there is no warning and no preamble other than the sudden ripping hiss of fire. K' coils like a spring, his right hand peeling from the ground, revealing a lash of fire sprung to life about its curled fingers. It is a small flame that rapidly whips and writhes into a formidable, snarling mass of fire.
There is about a half-second's worth of grace period, more for Maxima's benefit than Ryu's. Then K' bolts straight forward in a searing rush of flame, aiming fire-first straight for the martial artist.
COMBATSYS: Maxima successfully hits Ryu with Light Kick.
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Ryu 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
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|-------\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Ryu with Heat Drive.
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Ryu 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 K'
An unusually showy move for the Ansatasuken practitioner but one that remains no less effective in it's end result, giving the more limber NESTS agent a solid introduction to the unforgiving arena floor. However, just as much as K' is not one waste time licking his wounds, Ryu is not one to waste it preening over his successes. He anticipate an attack from Maxima, but rather surprisingly moves too slow to evade it, perhaps having misjudged the cyborg's speed. The impact has the very undesirable effect of knocking the wanderer straight in K's furious counterassault. The flames scorch, burn and burst against the flung fighter, knocking him out to the side where he will skid loosely to a stop. Even after that he does not stay down for long, rising to his feet with ragged breath, the ferocity of the one-two combo showing in his initially faltering stance. He'd been hit hard from both sides...not only that, but there was something very, very familiar-seeming about those flames...
Yet his opponents will surely not allow him the luxury of rest and he must capitalized on what time he has achieved by getting some distance from the fearsome pair. A few moments of inward focus to realign and distribute some of his chi can be spared, renewing his clarities and absolving some of the lingering pain from the assault.
COMBATSYS: Ryu gains composure.
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Ryu 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 K'
Leg snaping down to his side, Maxima straightens from his lurched position, one massive hand lifting up to crack at his neck in an idle gesture. He observes the effects of his works; a brown brow arches as he watches that gout of flame and fist consume and knock back Ryu, and just as passively watches as Ryu recovers himself and waits for what is to come next. Apparently, Ryu is going to lie in wait once more. But rather than simply disappoint the man and stay back as well, Maxima gives a carefree sort of shrug, and lowers himself. "Guess we have to come to him, then."
And so, Maxima obliges. Rushing straight forward, Maxima bends his right arm backwards at the elbow, pulling it back as if preparing something. His muscles clench, power moving towards that appendage as he rapidly closes the distance between himself and the World Warrior. As soon as he closes that gap? He unleashes with a sudden, brutal punch, aimed diagonally upwards and intent on crashing that massive fist straight into Ryu's jaw. "-HMPH-!!!"
K' brakes hard to a stop in the wake of his attack, turning smoothly to face his opponent again and straightening up to a slack and careless stance. His yellow-amber eyes glitter coldly, reflecting the firelight with little regard or care for any pain he's inflicted. He watches impassively as Ryu picks himself up and takes a breather, rolling a lingering lick of fire back and forth along his knuckles with a fluent motion of his fingers. Eventually his eyes half-lid in abrupt boredom: his wrist flicks, and the fire snuffs. His hands lift, as he shifts his stance into the high and aggressive poise of a snake flaring its hood in preparation to attack.
"Tcheh." The disgusted sound draws out slightly, dawdling on the vowel. Apparently Maxima's observation on how they'll have to go to him has touched on something that's been annoying K' all this while. "I hate lazy opponents..." he bitches, "...drawing shit out." And that's about all the commentary he'll share with his partner, for the both of them are pushing off into attacks.
K' notes Maxima's upward-angled blow, and in accordance he himself leaps up: aiming a scything kick at Ryu that'll hit him high if he's not sent into the air by Maxima's blow... or that'll send him slamming straight into the ground with punishing force, if he -is- knocked off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Maxima's Maxima Missile.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Ryu fails to interrupt Medium Kick from K' with Shoryuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 K'
Ryu is simply the patient sort..and when matched against those who were not, well, lets just say it was an advantage that could pay off when they became frustrated with waiting and made mistakes. Unfortunately, such is not the case here! Maxima's strong attack nearly catches the King of Fighters off-guard, so absorbed was he in his focus, but instincts are ahead of his mind when it comes to putting up a quick defense and the blow is absorbed by a last minute cross guard. Still, the bruising on his arms begins to be noticeable; Taking Maxima's blows as such is starting to take its toll.
K' presents yet more problems with his aerial assault, usually not a very good idea against Ryu (and even less so against Ken), and for good reason. In fact, he's about to demonstrate just -why-, leaping into the air to meet the NESTS agent with a powerful rising uppercut when his opponent's sweep proves just a touch faster, smashing through the Japanese fighter's momentum and delivering precisely what was promised as he smashes unceremoniously to the ground.
Rising up once more, he seems a hair worse of than he was earlier. Knowing he can't take too much more of the constant assault, his mind begins to consider quicker methods to end at least one of these fights.
COMBATSYS: Maxima has saved the state of this fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 K'
Between both K' and Maxima, this is likely going to be something of an uphill battle for Ryu. Maxima knows this much, but also knows the danger that the fighter poses; so, he takes it at a calm, precise pace, waiting for the opportune moments to strike and seizing them when they present themselves. They're spared the man's powerful repercussions this time if only thanks to a failed gambit; and as the Canadian cyborg's massive fist confronts a solid defense, he is quick to pull himself away -- simultaneously being silently thankful Ryu's planned maneuver didn't follow through on K'.
Now, though? Now, it's time to hold back, and prepare himself. Dark eyes narrowed, Maxima considers Ryu with that analytical gaze of his, that unnatural mind gathering data from innumerable sources about the man's speed, style, weakpoints -- anything to press an advantage. "... Hmmm," the rogue agent mulls, rolling his right wrist.
"I guess we should start getting a bit serious now."
COMBATSYS: Maxima focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 K'
This time, K''s just a touch faster than the intended reprisal: his kick scything home before the uppercut can connect. He pushes deftly off from the point of impact, spinning lithely in the air and dropping lightly back to the ground, before circling slowly back to Maxima's side. Where Maxima is calm and set, immovable and impassive, K' seems to be all restless energy and prowling impatience.
Serious, huh. "If you say so," K' replies quietly. He pauses a moment, and then, as an aside: "...Shut your eyes a sec."
K''s gloved hand lifts, fingers flexing half-shut tensely. He tilts his head slightly, consideringly-- and then he rips a wide gesture through the air, tearing his hand downwards in an arc. An intense burst of bright fire flares hotly in the space between them, white and piercing and roaring with smoke, the intent of it all to obscure both NESTS agents from immediate sight-- and to blind Ryu.
"Now," he prompts offhandedly.
COMBATSYS: K' assists Maxima.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 K'
Serious, indeed. It seems the two NESTS agents are now the one waiting for him to come to them..and considering they granted him the same courtesy, it's only fair that he return the favor. Nimble feet kick off in quick dash to close the distance between him and the Canadian fight with a short burst of speed, apparently deciding he's been a bit too ignored thus far.
However, a well-placed maneuver by the flame-wielder causes a brief lapse in his approach, the burning shine of the explosion forcing Ryu to tear his eyes away to the side, yet he dare not come to full stop this close, having already committed to some form of action. Relying on instinct, he leaps towards where he believes ths cyborg to be, aiming to grab him by the waist and, with strength enough to even life one such as he, thoroughly heft Maxim up and over to slam into the granite.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Maxima with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 K'
And everything goes in accordance to plan. Maxima is quick to shut his eyes the moment that gout of flame streaks across the distance between himself and Ryu, coating the air in a wall of bright, blinding mystic fire. Squinting through the blaze, he still notes the sheer -speed- at which Ryu moves at him, blinking in surprise. "... Wow, so I guess he really is that good--"
He doesn't even have time to finish. Ryu grasps but, as he does, he'll find lifting Maxima is something of a feat -- even for someone like him. Near five hundred pounds of weight is not something that's just shirked off, after all, especially when it's not exactly natural for someone with a build like the Canadian. But still it's done, and Maxima doesn't even have time to be impressed before he is greeted, head-first, with the granite. It comes with enough force to crate the tile and powder it beneath his head, denting in the arena ground. "Hrrgh--!!" Yet--yet, hands dig into the ground, thick fingers dragging across the floor. And within moments--
--Maxima is straight off his feet and charging -right- for Ryu, snapping out his hands in an attempt to securely grapple him and lift him straight off the ground like nothing more than a ragdoll. And, if he should...
COMBATSYS: Maxima successfully hits Ryu with Maxima Revenger.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 K'
Everything happens within a blurring, debilitating matter of moments. Gripped solidly, Maxima SLAMS Ryu into the ground with an immense amount of force, breaking the ground beneath him with the sheer force of the assault, spiderline cracks spreading throughout the tile of the arena. Sheer, inhuman force thrusts Ryu upwards again as Maxima diverts power entirely into offensive might and sheer physical strength, faux muscles and cybernetic limbs simply -chucking- Ryu straight upwards into the air. He pauses, hunkers down. His legs tense, and as Ryu descends...
... Maxima pushes straight up in a sudden explosion of power, his thick head SLAMMING into the World Warrior's back in a titanic headbutt, sending him straight into the air once again. When Ryu descends, the Canadian greets him with a second headbutt of equal force, sending him straight up once more, before repeating the process -one- more time, the granite cracking beneath the force Maxima exerts as that third and final headbutt will send the Japanese fighter rocketing through the air, and away from the former NESTS agent. "... hah. This guy is tough."
A loosening flick of the wrist kills the gout of fire nearly as quickly as it was summoned, the former NESTS agent huffing out a breath as his eyes half-lid. K''s hand lowers back to his side, hooking morosely into a pocket, as he simply watches his partner rip into Ryu with no discernable emotion or shred of concern. He might have been staring at some obscure bit of modern art stuck proudly up in the Met, for all the interest he appears to take in the fight at this particular moment in time.
He knows this move. He knows how many iterations it has. He knows approximately how long it takes, and exactly what it does and where it sends its targets. That's why he barely even has to look to know when the best time to strike is; why he doesn't have to watch closely to know what he wants to do next.
A precise few seconds after that final blow connects, K' lunges from a dead standstill: ripping from motionlessness to a rapid flying leap in an instant, and snapping a quick kick at the Ansatsuken practitioner in midair. Risky move, but then K''s never been known for prudence.
COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Ryu with Minutes Spike.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0 Maxima
> /////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 K'
Ryu expected the cyborg to weigh quite a bit, but it's quite a struggle for him to throw the man as planned, finding him at least two times as heavy as he would've surmised to be. What in the world was he, a light truck?! The sheer effort it takes to follow through with his attack takes its toll, and he is far too worn and sluggish to have a hope of escaping Maxima's vicious reprisal. From there, the world becomes a blurred vision of pain and concussions as the former World Warrior is cast into the air and slammed about like a rag doll, each impact feeling like being hit by the aforementioned truck than a blow from an actual human. Ryu nonetheless does his best to keep himself poised and tenses to take injury in places best equipped to take beating, hopefully minimizing a small amount of damage.
K's move however risky it may be does wind up paying off, perfectly syncrhonizing with the final hit of Maxim's attack to send Ryu barrelling away towards an unhappy reunion with the arena floor. Not put out enough to depart without a token of congratulation, even as the fighter soars away the bright glow emanating from his palms is evident, even more illuminating than the first. "Shinkuu..." He begins, charging an even greater deal of will and energy than usual, compacting it into barely-contained physical form, "Hadouuuuuken!" The amalgamation speeds in the direction of K' as he hangs still in the air, backblow giving Ryu even more momentum, but not preventing him from making rather rough and shaky landing on his feet. Tough as he was, even he had his limits, and they were just about to be breached.
There it is. That similar spike in chi, that unique signature that belongs to one of the most well-known techniques throughout the world. The levels of chi from Ryu lift sharply, almost faster than Maxima can keep track of -- and certainly rising far higher than the last time the cyborg detected that sudden burst of power. Eyes snap towards Ryu, noting the sudden compression of chi within the palms of his hand. Hadouken. Just bigger, and meaner, and cutting a path straight towards K' once again. "Man, he's going to be complaining all day after this is over..."
But, Maxima trusts, if anything, K' knows how to deal with that particular kind of attack more than anyone else. As soon as all that pent up energy is released in one compact burst of speed, Maxima is cutting across the ground, making a racing path towards Ryu once more. His footfalls pound heavily against the ground as he comes up from behind the World Warrior, seeking to get a solid grapple onto his waist.
If he does, what occurs next is fast, and efficient. Maxima will bend backwards, far further than a man with as large a build as he should be able to, to SLAM Ryu front-first into the ground in a rupture of small chunks of granite. "HRMPH!!" Afterwards, he literally -flips- through the air in a short hop, still holding onto Ryu. He lands with a loud crash above the man, lifting Ryu up before performing one more suplex to finally floor the mighty Ryu.
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Ryu's Shinkuu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Maxima
> //////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
Still recovering from his midair snapkick, K' doesn't have the ability to maneuver a dodge. He braces as best he can, arms whipping up to cross before him, and a welter of fire swarms to life about his forearms: the seething mass flaring up to take the brunt of that hadouken. The impact knocks him clear back, though his fire shields him from the brunt of the chi's potential damage; he twists in the air agilely, flipping to skid to a halt in a low three-point stance.
He watches carefully as Maxima attacks, unable to execute most of his own moves due to the cyborg's proximity to Ryu. He's forced to wait a moment until he can get a clear shot, and even then his options are slightly limited. Huffing an annoyed breath, he pauses: and then whips a ring of fire before him, kicking the mess clear at Ryu in a bolt. Probably hoping Maxima's attack will carry the martial artist straight into the blaze.
COMBATSYS: Maxima successfully hits Ryu with Dangerous Arch.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Maxima
> /////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges K''s Second Shoot.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Maxima
> /////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
Despite the fact that his attack his effectively minimized by K', Ryu may take some small amount of satisfaction in that Maxima just so happens to yank him out of the way of the other agent's retaliation...only to slame the wanderer headfirst into the ground.
And that about does it. Darkness overwhelming him, the King of Fighters has only precious few seconds to use, and he opts to use them well. "Good fight.." He'll murmur from the rather undignified position, snapping a leg out and and to the side with all his strength, hopefully right across the cyborg's face in one last strike. And then he's out, the former World Warrior having defeated quite decisively by the formiddable duo, proving teamwork to go quite a long way.
COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.
> ///////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Maxima
> /////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Maxima endures Ryu's Joudan Sokutou Geri.
> ///////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> /////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
One final strike. Quickly and efficiently, Maxima drives Ryu into the ground in a series of dual suplexes. He's quick to tear off the World Warrior -- just in time to see that swift kick lancing out to impact right into him. Bare foot impacts against Maxima in a surge of white, and it should be evident from the way Maxima holds himself still with tense legs... he's not really trying to put up a defense.
Once more, Ryu gets to experience just how dense that hide of Maxima's truly is. Whatever the Canadian really is, that foot strikes with a painful crack across his jaw; yet, Maxima only takes a single step backwards, bearing through the brunt of the pain as his surprisingly dense body absorbs the physical strike without so much as batting an eyelash. It's painful, to be sure; there is a slight swell to Maxima's jaw afterwards to attest to that.
"Yeah -- good fight. Thanks for the challenge," is Maxima's polite reply as he comes to a full stand, taking a look around him towards the fans. There is the roar of cheers as the massive Canadian thrusts out a hand in a thumbs up. He grins. This -- this is fun.
As the annoucer shouts out the names of the winners, Maxima turns, walking away from Ryu and Ingrid and clasping his hands behind the back of his head in a casual stance. "Let's go, K'," he remarks, nudging his head towards the exit. "See? I told you it was going to be interesting. Even you can't complain about that." And with that said, the massive Canadian is content to walk off, an amiable smile on his face. -He- had fun. And he's sure somewhere beyond all the grumbling and the cynicism, K' did too. A little.
COMBATSYS: Maxima takes no action.
> ///////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Maxima
> /////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: Maxima has left the fight here.
> /////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 K'
K' has straightened up by the time Ryu goes down, the tenseness of his lean figure already lost to a casual slouch. Even while his partner's about to get kicked across the face, K' is barely even paying attention: he's digging into his jacket for his shades, flipping them open with a hand. The slight click of the arms flicking open mingles with the sharp crack of that blow.
For a moment, he blinks owlishly over at the cyborg in the wake of that blow, briefly considering; and then, finally deciding decisively that he really doesn't have to jump in, he simply sticks the glasses securely back onto his face, adjusting them slightly. Yeah, Maxima can handle it. He didn't have any doubt of that.
Maxima's also usually right about his predictions concerning K'. Namely, his expectation that the kid will be bitching constantly for the rest of the day. He's already started on the nonverbal part of that by the time Maxima gets back to him: what's visible of his face sunk back down into that vaguely put-out expression that seems so everpresent. His hidden eyes roll slightly at Maxima's crowd-pleasing antics, but he doesn't say anything. Whatever. Let the guy have his indulgences.
"Try me..." he starts off darkly in reply, but not without some measure of dry humor in his voice: tailing Maxima grumpily as the Canadian ambles off. Poor Maxima'll probably be hearing the rest of what he's got to say for the rest of the day, but at least nobody else'll have to suffer it.
COMBATSYS: K' has ended the fight here.
Log created on 18:33:16 09/23/2007 by Maxima, and last modified on 10:46:08 09/25/2007.