Description: Jiro rages against the machine!!! The machine in this case being an ornery Duke. ALSO, SOMEONE DIES?! You really think the author of these descriptions would get tired of that joke by now. But no, he has NOT. (Post Script: Ha Ha! 'Ornery.')
It is yet another day for the young officer in Metro City. There had been reasons that Jiro had to come back to Metro City once more. Although he did come to Southtown for a visit and to settle his home there, he had gotten further information of the gang wars that have been largely ignored. That was why Jiro needed to return to Metro City.
Currently looking like a regular civilian, as he doesn't want to give himself off as anything other than that, Jiro is actually walking along the streets of Metro City's fine Financial District, glancing back at the several of businesses standing as a monolith as trails of men in business suits flutter pass.
Blended as a regular passerbyer, he is occassionally brushed past by the stock men, largely ignoring over their rudeness. But of course, Jiro's temper is, while not as bad as it used to be, is very vandictive. One of the men that passes by is 'accidentally' tripped as Jiro walks past him, continuing his way through the streets until he finds an opening and leaves the crowd.
He can't help but to look up at the building that once belonged to Belgar.
There is nothing better than a tragic opera to soothe the soul.
When done right, the tragedies are by far the greatest of any stories. The hubris of men bringing about their ultimate downfall and the loss of all that they love and cherish; they are lessons contained within the form of awe-inspiring art. Each soulful note bears wisdom that should be listened to.
Duke has always preferred them because the ultimate folly of man amuses him. After all...
There's so much of it that can be applied to real life.
It's dark in Metro. As night time begins to descend upon the city, even the Financial District's swelling masses begin to dwindle. Trickling out to their homes, the people lining the street begin to thin out as trails become the occasional, haughty passer-by. Even here, people don't like to be out late at night. Because all of them know deep in their hearts what kind of person crawls the streets when the darkness starts to settle in.
People like the rebelliously vindictive Jiro Kasagi. Many who actually notice him stray away; after all, he might be some sort of gangster. Lord only knows. Most remain ignorant, out of their own self-absorbtion, or--
"... hmph."
--out of their lack of fear or concern.
The sound comes in tandem with the feeling of a rough shoulder slamming into Jiro's side, the moment that he looks up towards Belgar's former building. Timing. Coincidence. -Fate-. Whatever the reason, -someone- exits the building and slams into Jiro's shoulder with a rude grunt of annoyance. "Watch where you're going, boy," a deep voice growls out. It belongs to a singularly tall man, dressed in black and scarlet. Clothes that look particularly distinct for the financial district; dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes... and the most vicious of scars dragging across his neck, as if someone had tried with all their being to decapitate the man. The scar alone is hint enough for anyone well-acquainted with the underworld and their 'big names.' The scar, the face. He keeps walking past Jiro, unconcerned, making a path towards the alley ahead.
After all, who else but Duke would roam the streets of Metro's Financial District without fear or worry?
Jiro was feeling very vindictive due to the fact that he's an ass an general, and they deserved it. Tit-for-tat. The young Interpol officer, however, is caught up in the moment of looking at the building. It takes him a few moments to stare into it, looking at the very place that likely still houses the Metro City's threats. He frowns at the thought, until he's caught up with a slam to the shoulder. It snaps him out of his dazed state to glare out at the stranger. Oh, he is very annoyed at the man who just smacked onto him.
This is a very annoying thing, all considering. There is the Jiro that is usually beyond the rudeness. There is the Jiro that is beyond vinidiction and needs to get back onto the case. There is that maturity that is to overlook this and model himself after Alma, the older man who is known for eternal patience and such.
Screw that.
The first thing that Jiro does, as the man is walking past him, is reach out into his pocket to pull out a coin and immediately flick it out towards the back of the man's head.
"Asshole."
COMBATSYS: Jiro has started a fight here.
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Jiro 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Duke has joined the fight here.
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Duke 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Jiro
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Duke with Thrown Object.
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Duke 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Jiro
Let it not be said that hubris does not also cause the downfall of angsty young teenagers, as well.
Smack.
The coin makes a deadened thud the moment it hits home at the base of Duke's scalp. Metal greets head in a vaguely stinging encounter. His head rocks forward, briefly, but that's not important. What's important, what really -matters-, is the fact that Duke has stopped dead in his tracks. Hands in his pockets still, back turned to Jiro still, he remains silent. The muted impact of the coin is proceeded by its spiraling descent towards the ground. One of Duke's hands lift out of its pockets.
"What's this now, eh? Seems to me..."
Before the coin strikes the ground, that massive form is turning. With the ripple of black and scarlet fabric catching in the fall wind, Duke's right arm snaps out in a taut, hooking path. Jiro will get all of a second to look at that distinct scar around Duke's neck.
The coin hits the ground with a quiet clatter as Hell's Executioner seeks to introduce Jiro Kasagi's face with his fist. Hello.
"... it's just another idiot with a death wish."
COMBATSYS: Jiro Toughs Out Duke's Quick Punch!
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Duke 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
After the coin smack is made, the young officer merely glances towards the aftermath, cursing at himself for his temper coming over him once more. How annoying. This is another fine mess that he's gotten himself into. But, to see that he is still standing with such a strong stature, that only means one thing.
He's a fighter too. He's recognizable for some reason. Didn't he see any pictures of this individual within the files? ... Yep. One of the Syndicate's members.
This draws a huge grin on Jiro's face as he immediately runs forth into the fray of the fist. As the fist comes forth to strike across his cheek, he merely has a smile on his face, as if it didn't hurt that much.
"Hrmph...." His eyes narrow, then he whips his head over along with the flow of the fist, then he whips his right leg out to snatch Duke off balance with a trip, then he steps forward to unleash the other leg to snap right at Duke's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Duke with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Duke 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
Arrogance is a fault of man that leads to many painful choices. One of the happens to be underestimating a punk kid as a weak idiot in over his head. Such assumptions lead to the unsettling of Duke's feet, enough to caugh him to lurch in a forward stagger. Foot meets gut in the painful-sounding crack of impact, eliciting a grunt of pain from Duke. The force turns his forward lurch into a backwards stumble, polished feet slamming into the ground and tensing to bring the gangster to a sudden halt. Arrogance is assuming that this is nothing more than a punk kid.
It's also assuming Hell's Executioner is nothing more than a Syndicate thug.
"... Hn." Without a word, Duke cocks his right hand back. Like a snake, it unwinds in a sudden lash; thick, powerful fingertips seek to dig -painfully- into the flesh of Jiro's face in an iron-clad grasp. One fluid movement is all it'll take...
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to counter Treadmill from Duke with Helldrive.
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Duke 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Jiro
Fingers twist and nails sink into Jiro Kasagi's face like the grip of the devil himself, seeking to drag the Interpol agent into the depths of Hell. Yet, it's not down that he goes. Instead, as if he weighed little more than a ragdoll, Jiro will be lifted into the air. Duke's palm presses tight enough to stifle breathing as Jiro dangles. Yet it all lasts for no more than a second; as soon as he is lifted up, Kasagi is dragged down in a full-body swing, all of Duke's momentum driving his arm and subsequently Jiro's body into the ground with enough force to send spider-line cracks across the pavement. "GRAAAAAAAAAGH!!"
He releases. Jiro is given a brief reprieve to breath for all of half a second before he'll find something descending into him at rapid speeds: the heel of Duke's shoe. As if Jiro was nothing more than an insect, Duke stamps his foot into his sternum and begins to grind. Hard. Driving Jiro further and further into the ground, Duke inevitably builds up so much pressure that the improbably happens. The ground explodes... and Jiro gets to fly up with it, ricocheting from the ground and into the air in a painful arch away from the Southsynd gangster.
"Tell me, boy," he sneers as Jiro flies.
"Do you -want- to die?"
Hell's Executioner, that was the dossier. That meant that Duke was no slouch at all and that Jiro had to be really careful when dealing with this man. But to him? This is a challenge that he is going to enjoy. May as well lead this man on in a blank state for a while. No sense of blowing his cover.
As Duke reaches over towards his face, Jiro attempts to sweep underneath the hand and capture the arms for a bat away for his own choke-hold. It is an unfortunate thing that Jiro's caught by the face in the hold, leaving him defenseless in his attempts to counteract of what may be a very painful ride.
And he does, as he is swung around like a ragdoll before he slams against the ground quite hard. With the cracks on the ground leaving traces of where he is lying at not being enough, he's given a boot to the head, droven further into the ground before he's caught into the explosion.
He's blasted further into the air, before he drops onto the ground. "Ugh!" Now at a distance, Jiro is staggering to attempt to get back to his feet.
"...If I was to die, it wouldn't be to the Hell's Executioner." He has a grin on his face, "I've been through that and back."
"... Kids always think they've seen the worst of things. You want to know the truth?
"It's always a load of crap."
He hates that look. When little kids think they've seen enough to know what determination is, to know what -STRUGGLING- is. It's a look of defiance. And in Duke's mind, it's a look of -stupidity-. And it's always a look that's easy to break down. His right leg sweeping back in a slow drag across the cracked concrete, Duke considers Jiro and the stupid, cocky grin on his face with an unpleasant gaze. His lips pull back into a dry, mirthless smile. He says nothing; his fists can do the talking for him.
It's a talk that comes across in what could be considered a 'heated debate'. His right hand snakes forward, attemping to get a solid grasp onto the front of Jiro's shirt. From there he'll yank -backwards-, forcibly ripping Jiro off his feet once more. His arm pulls back in a wind... and then unleashes in a forward -thrust-, the tension releasing like a cannon blast as he seeks to launch Jiro straight through the air and face first into the helpful metal of a nearby sign reading 'PED XING.' "HRAAAAAAAAGH!"
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Duke's Quick Throw.
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Duke 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Jiro
"Right, believe what you what."
His expression becomes very serious once more when Duke. It is expected that Duke is coming in for an retalitation, which is why that Jiro immediately aims to get away from Duke. How so? Well, the young man immediately springs over towards the side to get over to a positioned distance from Duke.
Instead, Jiro opts for the other option that he had in mind, charging forth with his right arm extended in an attempt to clothesline the man straight into the ground.
Although instead? Jiro actually springs forth with his right foot to dart him forward into a charge. He draws the fist forward to collide with Duke.
That is when the aura of Fury comes to life. His emotions finally awakens in the form of the chi. Since it is time to have a heated debate, it is time to bring the heat. The former Ankoku student draws his own power of the fury, instead of the deep clutches of the hatred. And that fury is honed in to condense together and explode within contact of Duke.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Duke with My Little Phantom.
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Duke 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Jiro
Slippery little one, isn't he? This is going to be a little bit annoying. Duke's teeth grit. A frown forms fully over his lips as his hand snakes back. And already, Jiro is charging towards Duke in preparation of yet another attack. Hell's Executioner twists backwards, his leg bracing to help him accept the blow...
... but it just doesn't work that way. Instead, Jiro manages to come at him a bit too fast, a bit too suddenly. That fist drives into him in a singularly powerful strike. The impact, coupled with the sudden -explosion- of chi is enough to send the Southsynd gangster reeling backwards. Smoke rises from his chest as he SLAMS into the wall of Belger's former headquarters.
Cracklines form along the glass, yet Duke doesn't seem to notice. No, instead... he's lifting his right foot up, before simply DRIVING it into the earth in a sudden STOMP. "GRAAAGH!!" The impact is so violent that the ground around them will shake as if in the throes of an earthquake, with Duke at its epicentre; tremors violent enough to unsettle Jiro and knock him flat off the ground. And accompanying the powerful rupture across the earth is a roaring wave of fire that blossoms from Duke's polished shoe, bursting forward in a circle from the man and searing a raging path towards Jiro, to blast him right off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Jiro endures Duke's Seismic Impact.
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Duke 1/--=====/=======|=======\===----\1 Jiro
After the explosion of energy sends Duke slamming into the wall of the former headquarters, Jiro actually takes a deep breath. Jesus, this guy is tough as the dossier says. He will definately have to keep an eye on him. Although, he is wondering what purpose is Duke here for. In fact, the young man regards him with the subject.
"I do hope you're not involved with the mess here." He -really- doesn't feel like cleaning up more of the mess that was made. But while Duke lifts his foot up to create the stomp, Jiro immediately rushes towards Duke, which would mean jumping straight into the earthquake. As the tremors of the earthquake come to life, the young man snarls as he rips through the wave of fire.
Hell's flames, how he missed you. His body blazes through the infernal blaze and he sears in a path close to Duke, charging through the entire pain despite of it aching every inch of him. He can feel the clothes rip from the burning sensation.
But it is not before long that Jiro drives his fist out to catch Duke within an uppercut. That uppercut is laced with the scarlet chi, swirling along his hand in an attempt to set forth for the main course.
COMBATSYS: Duke Toughs Out Jiro's Scarlet Slaughter!
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Duke 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Jiro
Even with the uppercut making its way to promise Jiro a special opportunity, Jiro takes the moment to actually wind the left fist back and drive his momentum forward. The left fist starts plowing through the air, erupting with a burst of flames that swirls along the knuckles.
As the fist strikes towards Duke, the energy actually releases a large explosion, perhaps enveloping Hell's Guardian...
What is Duke doing here? Is he involved in the mess here?
"What I'm involved in, boy..."
Fire plumes around Duke's fists in an unpleasant tingle. His eyes roll forward to stare towards the approaching Jiro, and as he valiantly bursts through those fires... the gangster smirks. It's not pleasant; more like a deadened, ominous portent of the pain to come. His form wavers in the chi-induced heat surrounding him. Jiro's hand rears back into, and snaps forward in the vicious momentum of an upward swing.
Duke doesn't even move.
CRACK. The sound of bone snapping and crunching is the only audible sound as kinetic force interlaces with scarlet flames to weave a single beautiful moment of pain. Duke staggers, but he does not fall. Blood flows from his lips, but he still smiles. As if, for all the force Jiro had struck him with, he might as well have been hitting a wall. Duke's right hand pulls up, bending at the elbow through the air -- the entire forearm encased in flames.
"... is not the business of a dead man. HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
His fist swings down the moment that Jiro's fist makes contact with his chest. There is an explosion of red that undulates outward in a horrific mass of pain. But the grandeur and strength of Jiro's attack is soon eclipsed. Because the moment Duke's fist impacts the ground?
EVERYTHING explodes.
The fist impacts concrete with enough force that the skin literally -breaks-, blood gushing from Duke's knuckles. But the moment it does, everything within at least a twenty-foot radius IGNITES, as if the very air itself had become a flammable substance. The ground ruptures, and then simply -bursts- in the wake of a cacophonous explosion as every, single, -ounce- of Duke's rage is poured out of the furnace that is his soul, burning everything around him in a firestorm of pain. Chunks of debris swirl around them, crashing into cars that rapidly melt to slag, through windows, through anything. If Jiro's not careful... he'll be consumed in the storm, too. And all the while, Duke simply thrashes against the ground, dark crimson liquid spraying from his fists as he crushes concrete into powder beneath his fury.
"GRAAAAAGH! HAAAAAAAARGH!!! GURAAAAAAOGH!!!"
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits Jiro with Ground Zero EX.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Jiro
After the fist makes it's connection, the Interpol officer keeps his stance strong. He manages to take in the hold, but he notices that the impact isn't as bad as it should had been on Duke. It is rather troubling for the young man. But when he sees that the older man lifts a hand to draw forth his own flames of the heated debate being brought to a massive conclusion.
The explosion actually erupts and engulfs Jiro. By the time he tried to avoid it, he was already too late before the thought was made. Blown back by the massive power, the rushing flow of rage and power rages forth, blasting Jiro further into the air until he lands very hard on the earthern soil.
"...Ugh... shit..." He grits his teeth, looking at his tattered state. His clothes are covered with soot and burn marks while his body has a lot of char and cut wounds. Immediately, Jiro slowly brings himself up to his feet, staggering about before he turns to face Duke.
As soon as he straightens his stance, it is a glow that eventually washes over Jiro. Scarlet fireflies form around him, fluttering as he takes a kneeling position towards the ground.
As he kneels, the fingertips touches the round, then the ground starts to clammer, erupting to the point of making the spider-web marks of cracks expand. Slowly, the ground breaks apart as the chi forms around him in a small circle. The tremors finally swirl around him as the fireflies finally envelop him.
"Indignation!"
Then, he too releases the ultimate wave of the rage. That fury that was born in him, that is connected through his chi, finally presses out and tears the ground asunder, aiming to rip towards Duke's path as well. The dome of energy expands out all around him, tearing all within the massive dome.
COMBATSYS: Duke blocks Jiro's Indignation.
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Duke 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Jiro
The flames die. In rapid succession they fade away, chi-borne tongues regressing into nothing more than the smoking aftermath of a flashfire. Concrete melts at various points around them. Cars are smashed with chunks of debris lodged in their sides. The 'PED XING' sign is now naught more than a 'ED NG.' Yet everything is quiet.
Consider it the eye of the storm.
Duke comes to a full stand with not even a stagger, his eyes cold, dead. Blood drips from the knuckles of his clenched fists as his right hand opens, lifting up to press rough fingertips against his scarred neck. "... Always the same..." he murmurs, thoughtfully. Scarlet manifests in defiance around Jiro.
"Always so eager to prove how finite their lives really are."
Eagerness comes in a wave of energy that washes out from Jiro in an explosion with no small degree of preparation. Scarlet chi cuts a swath across already ruined concrete, roaring with a promise of pain for Duke. His fingertips finish the drag across his neck just as the swirling dome approaches. "A word to the wise, boy:"
Without any pomp or ceremony, Duke -whips- both his arms out in a full-force -thrust- towards that mass of burning scarlet. Bloodied fist meets raging energy in an explosive spark of impact and a gutteral roar of fury. Ultimately, physical might wins out, as Duke -hammers- his fists through the blow, dispersing all the energy around him in glistening shards of red. His arms burn, throb. He ignores it. Instead, he focuses his eyes on Jiro. The message is clear: Kasagi is getting a break. A moment for Duke to restabilize himself. But sure enough, when he's done -- there will only be pain to follow.
"Telegraphing your attacks just makes you look like a moron."
COMBATSYS: Duke gains composure.
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Duke 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Jiro
Damn. He's about worn out and he knows he's about to collapse. There's no but about it. However, if there is a grunt as the energy finally blasts forth. As he whips both of his arms out to thrust at the energy, Jiro grits his teeth as he dispersing the entire energy out and about. Damnit.
The young man shakes his head, coughing once more. "Right, I'll keep that in mind." He snarls, then he sprints forth to get a close view with Duke, trying to get himself to the point where he can close in and actually thrust his arm out to take Duke down with a clothesline.
He is losing momentum, fast. The tiredness is setting in, but he has to press on.
COMBATSYS: Duke interrupts Fierce Punch from Jiro with Tall Hammer.
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Duke 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Jiro
Has to press on. How valiant.
Pride is also notorious for the downfall of a man.
Jiro is given a break. It's entirely possible that, if he chose to walk away, he could. Instead, the rebellious young man carries onward. In some places, this is considered a suicide charge.
Duke considers is entertainment.
Bravely does Jiro make a rush for Duke, and the end result is one of pain. His fist is greeted with a shoulder, and his jaw is greeted with Duke's massive fist ascending in a savage uppercut. "HRAAAAGH!!" The force alone would be enough to make bone crack, send Jiro skywards. And so it does, launching the persistent fighter into the air. It should be over then.
... But there is still one, final act. As Jiro ascends, Duke rips across the ground. His body flows with disturbing elegance for a man of his build and brutality, his blurring onrush proceeded by faint blue afterimages of himself. Gravity will take care of Kasagi's airborne predicament; but as he falls, Duke's left fist lances upwards, burying itself deep within his opponent's gut with explosive force. The intent is simple: juggle him back into the air again, sending Jiro on a collision course for the ground several feet away from Hell's Executioner.
"Hah... ...Get it now, boy?"
During the attempt to press forth with the clothesline, Jiro is caught up with the fist across his jaw for a savage uppercut. The young man is starting to fly back, sailing high against the air before he falls forth. But, as he falls towards Duke, he is caught in the left fist that buries within his gut.
Unfortunately, as he lands on the ground, Jiro would stagger close, before he grunts. He falls onto one knee, and he attempts to get back up. But instead, he falls on both knees, "...Damnit."
Not able to move, the fight is about lost in him.
Yet, he struggles for consciousness. He's stubborn on falling as well.
COMBATSYS: Jiro takes no action.
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Duke 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Jiro can no longer fight.
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Duke 0/-------/------=|
And so Jiro falls. It seems pride gives in before arrogance, today.
"Worthless trash."
Two condemning words are uttered with a blood-tinged spit towards the ground. Duke's polished shoes drag across cracked and ruined concrete, brushing aside strewn piles of rubble. "..." Dark eyes fall upon the struggling Jiro. There is a moment there, where Duke considers. He weighs the benefits of finishing this boy off, or perhaps just breaking his knees to teach him a lesson. He draws in a breath, and holds it for the span of three seconds.
"... You're not worth bothering over."
Cooly, Duke's bloodied hands slip into his pockets as if no fight had just ravaged the streets of the financial district. He disregards the gawkers, the onlookers. Twisting on a heel, he begins to walk away, ignoring the blood still slithering down the right corner of his mouth. "Keep this day in mind. And remember, that from now on... you're only alive because I allowed you to be." Because he 'wasn't worth the time.' Arrogance is a deep and terrible vice.
"Think about that next time you try to waste my time again."
COMBATSYS: Duke takes no action.
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Duke 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Duke has ended the fight here.
Log created on 23:40:15 10/24/2007 by Duke, and last modified on 03:40:13 10/25/2007.