Description: Facing off at a Buddhist monastery, K' and Shenwoo find their regular ol' match interrupted by one of the monks... Who proves to be Krizalid, IN DISGUISE! Just try to guess what happens next! (Winner: Shenwoo)
If nothing else, entering SNF lets you see the world.
K''s usual hatred of anything sanctioned or organized could be relaxed slightly for that fact alone. The flight to Nepal had been relatively short, all things considered: or, more accurately, it could have been a hell of a lot longer. Alone this time, assigned separately from Maxima when the matchups rolled out, K' had spent the trip in more or less complete silence; his fellow passengers largely ignored as he opted to look out the window instead. It was a nice view of China.
The walk to the monastery had been long, but K' had chosen to take it rather than be ferried by SNF staff. Even considering that, he arrives about an hour early, spending his time walking around the monastery grounds and poking around inside the building proper. Inside is where he can be found now, weirdly absorbed in looking at an incense censer and largely oblivious to the bustle of the fight staff around him. He watches the sticks of incense burn all the way down to the ash, eyes half-lidding as he tracks the smolder's downward progress, and then he turns around and heads for the cordoned area in which the fight is designated to happen. A camera scoots along beside him as he does, busily recording as the announcer tells the listeners at home what little there is to know about K': a brow twitches, but K' manages to ignore it all for now. Perhaps it's all that incense he was inhaling.
One step takes him over the makeshift fencing, and he stops: waiting morosely for whoever he's matched against to show up. He looks unusually calm, considering the fight description that's now being read out to the cameras by the fight announcer: a sort of preliminary to the actual fight, not unlike the babble of football sportscasters before anything good happens.
Isn't this a weird situation to be putting these guys into? Of course, weird situations and Saturday Night Fight do go hand in hand, putting unlikely groups of people in unlikely places and then telling them to fight it out. It could always be worse, though, it's not like they're scheduled to fight in a hospital nursey or something like that.
A Buddhist /anything/ is likely the last place anyone would expect to find the self-styled 'God of Battle', of course, but here he is, already waiting for K' in the space set aside for them to start fighting. His stance full of false casualness, Shen stands with his right hand in his pants pocket, while in his left he holds three of those supposedly soothing harmony balls, rolling them around his hand casually. Taking the edge off of his spectacularly and famously unbalanced nature? Making some vague attempt to blend in with the calm and relaxed surroundings they find themselves in? Or maybe he's just bored.
"Hope this is worth my time," Shenwoo mutters to himself, but it hardly seems like something he needs to be worried about, knowing who he's up against. His mouth is already pulled into a broad, wolfish grin, and for all the calm harmony surrounding him, and the casualness of his stance... Exitement is writ large on the half-Chinese man's face. He's ready to wreck the hell out of K'. AND MAYBE SOME BUDDHISTS TOO.
The monks there must be receiving quite the karma realignment (which can only be dispensed by the gods) for allowing the SNF to happen within their hallowed monastery. Most are keen to watch though, ready to preach the 'Middle Way' instead, but the organizers -- the lofty SNF committee -- have plucked out a member of the order to watch over the fight and ensure that everything is above board.
That member stands there in the middle of the fighting arena that's been marked off. Clad within enveloping robes with the hood drawn deep, he's still enough to be mistaken for a statue. But the time has drawn nigh. The shuffle from the organizers and the camera crew has reached a fever pitch. With both combatants there, it's time!
A solemn hand lifts, tipped fingers escaping the long sleeve of the robe to gesture for the fight to begin at their leisure.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid has started a fight here.
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Krizalid
COMBATSYS: K' has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Krizalid focuses on his next action.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
Presently, K' looks up and across the 'arena,' his bared yellow eyes (his shades had come off long ago, the monastery being too dark for them) focusing on Shenwoo with a quick and ready recognition. It's about that time that the weird calm of the boy cracks, revealing the volatile nature the fight announcer is even now chirping about to the watching cameras. K' grins faintly, mirroring Shen's wolfish expression.
"Funny that we flew all the way here to do something we coulda done at home," is his low, amused greeting for the brawler, his stance already winding taut and opening to something a bit more poised. His figure coils like a cobra spreading its hood, hands flicking up to a ready, stronger hand thrust out in front while his off-hand chambers close in by his chest.
K' glances at the robed figure the instant it moves, a cursory look that skates over the man and misses the weirdly-clawed quality of that hand in the monastery's half-light. His gaze switches back to Shenwoo quickly, not wanting to spend too much time distracted from the other man. That gesture was an invitation to begin, and K' knows Shen won't hesitate to strike first.
So he preempts the brawler. There is a moment in which nothing happens, the boy completely still: and then, abruptly, K' rips into motion with a swift flying kick, going straight from zero to some ridiculous speed as he attempts to snap a blow clear into Shen's face.
COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Shenwoo with Minutes Spike.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
With K' on the scene, and some dude in a robe too, Shenwoo is obviously ready to go. Clenching his fist around the harmony balls in his hand, the dust of their remains rains down from his hand as he opens it, making a mess of the unsuspecting Buddhist floor. "C'mon then," Shenwoo says to K', slipping into his casual boxing stance, leading with his right fist. "Don't bore me, all right?"
Of course, K' isn't about to bore him, as he comes launching forward in a sudden flying kick, and a while someone else would probably try to get out of the way, the berserker instead stands his ground in an attempt to create his own opening, but instead - oh, instead - he miscalculates badly and instead gets booted in the face, the blow staggering him and costing him that precious opportunity.
But that's not enough to stop Shenwoo.
Instead, Shenwoo laughs, a harsh bark of mirth, as he lunges forward right at K', lacing his fingers together and raising his hands over his head, bringing them down in a vicious overhead axehandle, aimed right at K''s head. "ORA!!" If he manages that first hit, of course, then he follows it up with a second, swinging his fists back up hard enough to drive K' right off of his feet. "ORAA!!"
The solemn monk simply stands there as the two combatants rush at each other. From the shadows that overhanging hood provides, Krizalid watches and waits. It was a stroke of genius for them to have picked the monastery he works at on weekends for the SNF.
All the same though, he moves like a sudden blur, intervening on a perceived slight to deliver a fist to the side of K's head. But did he even move at all?! The monk stands there as placidly as ever as the two fight right before his very eyes.
Perhaps it wasn't his fist at all, but a low-flying bird!
COMBATSYS: K' just-defends Shenwoo's Kouryuu-Geki!
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Krizalid successfully hits K' with Quick Punch.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
Landing from his kick, K' is quick to focus on the intended reprisal. Yellowy eyes flick upwards, tracking the progress of those laced fists, and K''s armored hand snaps upwards. It intercepts the downwards swing and then twists to shove to one side. Metal-sheathed fingers shut about Shenwoo's hands tightly as K' redirects the blow off to one side and past his shoulder.
"Exciting enough for you?" K' questions a bit breathlessly, flashing a brief grin, skating backwards a few steps in a blurring slide. The expression wipes from his face quick, replaced by an intent focus as his low-slung form coiling in readiness to attack again-- and then, out of nowhere, the robed figure launches forwards with a stabbing strike. Caught by surprise, K' takes the blow head-on, reeling sideways a few steps before he can shake off the dizziness.
"The f..." Presumably that man is to be the 'Chaos Agent,' then. Fine. Not like K' will say no to something that can challenge his ability. Reorienting himself with some considerable annoyance, head shaking to clear his mind and a growl pushing out of the back of his throat, K' wheels around and back on Shenwoo. His right hand swipes upwards in an arc, tensed fingers bleeding flames, and a burst of the Kusanagi holy fire sears to life in the heavy monastery air, aimed straight at the brawler.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo interrupts Eins Trigger from K' with Tenrenshou.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
"Heh," chuckles Shenwoo as his attack is handily deflected, but before he can retort, the 'chaos agent' goes and gets involved, taking a shot at K' that's a good deal more successful than the brawler's own. How does Shen feel about that? Well, he'll just have to do better, right? The growling K' comes at him again, this time with his hand moving and shooting fire, but this is hardly about to intimidate berserker, who doesn't try to avoid or guard against the raging flames... Instead, he takes a quick turning step forward, right at the leather-clad youth.
As he finishes turning, Shenwoo lifts one leg and thrusts it forward, kicking /through/ the flames summoned forth by K', and burying his heel directly in the other young fighter's gut. And as he does so, he laughs away. "Ha ha ha ha!!"
The monk, after his intervention, simply stands there and waits.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid takes no action.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
The breath quite literally kicked out of him, K' goes skidding a fair distance back with a barked cough. The fire gutters and fades in the air, its creator's mind no longer really on its maintenance. A brief snarl patterns across his face, but he doesn't say anything. He's a little busy getting his breath back after that solid kick.
He recovers quickly enough, eventually straightening back up to a mantling stand: eyes narrowed. There's something pressing at the back of his mind, some nebulous concern more instinctive than conscious: he ignores it. He can't afford to be distracted right now, not against somebody like Shenwoo.
He paces closer, steps deceptively slow: and then he bolts in again, reckless as ever. His right arm, instead of chambering back for a blow, actually extends: and then, once K' is breaths away from running clear into Shenwoo, his entire lean frame slams forward, the accumulated force driving his armored hand like a shot towards the brawler. At the very last moment, that hand fists.
COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Shenwoo with One Inch.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
The mixture of K''s speed and slowness are pretty good at disguising the timing of his attacks, which is all sorts of problematic for Shenwoo. This time, as the gene-altered fighter comes his way, the brawler tries to move out of the path of the attack, but the sudden change in speed trips him up, leaving him wide open for that armored fist. Grunting, he staggers...
But of course, Shenwoo being Shenwoo, he doesn't even wait for himself to fully recover from the other fighter's attack before launching his own, twisting to change the direction of his movement and then throwing himself at K', reaching to grab him by that silvery hair, and then twist and whip him towards the nearest solid-looking object. Something that will hopefully be good and painful, like a wall, or a column, or a statue or something. "GET OUT OF MY FACE!!"
"Do not shout within these hallowed walls," the monk suddenly states, despite the following facts;
a) they're outside;
b) shouting has already happened;
c) monks are supposed to be silent or something.
Regardless, the monk again lashes out, this time aiming to kick Shenwoo right in the ankle.
COMBATSYS: K' dodges Shenwoo's Strong Throw.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
It would seem K' is quite concerned about the safety of his hair, given how fast he gets out of range of that throw. The boy puts on the brakes in the wake of his strike, skidding to an abrupt halt just so he can blur backwards in a burst of swift blackness. Shenwoo's swiping grab misses by inches.
Grinding to a halt, K' considers his opponent carefully, the animal cunning in his intent stare a calmer mirror of Shenwoo's bestial raging. He might have been about to launch another attack, especially given the fact the Chaos Agent has turned his attention to Shenwoo, except the mysterious cloaked man chooses that exact moment to speak. And suddenly, K' knows why he was feeling off. That is a voice he would recognize anywhere.
A sort of jolt goes down his spine, a cold feeling sparked in the back of his mind, and for a moment he freezes in place: old and deep-set conditioning snapping his body into a compliant stillness. With a burst of anger, partly external and partly directed inwards at himself, he shakes himself out of it, his amber eyes focused furiously on the cloaked man.
"K...Krizalid?" he demands in a snarl. Incidentally, he is so busy being surprised that he forgets to attack.
COMBATSYS: K' takes no action.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo dodges Krizalid's Heavy Kick.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
Speaking of blurring; Shenwoo can do that too. When the monk tries to kick him in the ankle, the foot instead passes through a flickering afterimage of Shenwoo, while the real brawler is instead a few steps back, staggering back the rest of the way. He's waiting for K''s retaliation, expecting it, anticipating it... But it doesn't come, as the flamewielder instead focuses on that monk guy? And what the heck is a 'Krizalid' anyway? That's a funny name.
Brow furrowing, Shenwoo frowns right at K', who seems awfully angry at the cloaked man, whoever he might be. Which sort of irritates Shenwoo in that it seems to have completely drawn his opponent's attention away from him. That's not something Shenwoo can appreciate. If only he had some eggs here with which to regain K''s focus. "Hey!! Where the hell are you lookin'?!" he demands of K', but he doesn't go and attack right away either. It's no fun if he's too busy ogling some monk guy.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo gains composure.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
The monk offers no response, he simply stands there.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid takes no action.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-------|
Shenwoo might as well not be there. It really is too bad the brawler doesn't have a ready carton of eggs, though at this point it's doubtful whether even being egged could do much to pull K''s attention back. The boy is too busy squinting angrily at that monk, seeming enraged enough to succumb to a tic at any moment. He doesn't know whether he's hearing things, or whether he's finally just gone crazy: he swears he just heard--
Doubt hits his mind like a bucket of ice water. Uncertainty is not a feeling K' likes, and so he tries to dispel it. He turns fully towards the unspeaking man, yellowy eyes narrowing. It's patently against the rules to pay so much attention to the CA, and the event staff are already starting to murmur in consternation. It's a murmur that soon escalates into sounds of real alarm (and excitement-- this is good TV) as K' abruptly breaks completely from script.
Incidentally, he completely ignores Shenwoo. Which is a very bad idea.
The kid has to know for certain, and the only way he's going to know is if that robe is gone. Instead of doing anything sane like throwing back the hood, however, K' elects to try and -set it on fire-. His arm snaps upwards again, a bolting ring of flames launching towards that mysterious CA, and then for good measure K' adds a swiping kick: a stinging reprisal, perhaps, for the crime of failing to answer K''s question.
You know K', that's really rude, going and ignoring your opponent like that. Shenwoo will have to do something about it. "Tch... Stupid ass," the brawler mutters in irritation, before he springs into action and follows after K', in fact /leaping into the air after him/ in a rare display of acrobatic prowess from the normally ground-based fighter. Why is he doing this? Why, for one simple reason.
To punch K' right in the small of the back. "PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!" Shenwoo demands, his feelings clearly hurt.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid reflects Second Shell from K' with Typhon's Rage - Reflect.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-----==|
The flames rise but they're all going to fall short -- as a sudden gust of wind slashes through the air, driving the flames back at their owner! Or their pez dispenser, since Kyo isn't here.
Forget the kick!
The monk still just stands there though, placid and tranquil even as his robes are caught up in the gust. The arms fold.
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Shenwoo's Quick Punch.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-----==|
Do you expect anything -but- rudeness from K'? Seriously? If you do, you're bound to be disappointed. Kind of how that monk looks right now, what with those arms folding and all.
K' is both surprised and unsurprised by that sudden gust of wind-- a blast of chi which reflects his own attack clear back at him. Caught headlong, the poor Kusanagi pez dispenser gets knocked straight back towards the oncoming Shenwoo. Skidding to a halt on one knee, a hand to the ground, K' bares teeth in something half a snarl and half a grimace as he shakes off the burn of his own fire, rising somewhat painfully. But smarting as that was, it's just further proof. That cloaked CA... it's either Krizalid, or a damned good approximation.
That fact makes him even less inclined to continue paying attention to his actual opponent. K' has more important things on his mind now than observance of Howard's silly rules or Shenwoo's hurt feelings. K' nonetheless can't ignore the brawler entirely, as evidenced by that incoming punch: the boy whips around at that feeling of incoming danger. Suddenly face-to-face with Shen, wild-eyed and volatile, he demands right back, "-Fuck- off!" as he blocks that swift blow. "There's something I have to know..." And judging by the way his right arm suddenly lights with fire, he's going to find out the only way he knows how.
He wheels abruptly around, breaking from Shenwoo, and the fire about his arm focuses about his right hand. The boy -slams- abruptly away from the brawler, streaking a long line of fire straight towards the unfortunate CA, trying to impact the other man with a burst of searing flames. But instead of just blasting straight past him as he would usually, this time K' aims to knock down-- to pin the cloaked figure and see past that veiling hood.
But K''s reaction actually leaves Shenwoo... Taken aback. He's surprised by the passion and volatile anger displayed by the gene-altered fighter, and for a second he just stands there, looking uncertain as to what to do. Should he attack K'? Should he just leave the guy to do whatever he wants? Or what's behind door number three?
Because, you see, instead of doing either of these things, the self-styled 'God of Battle' instead suddenly rushes forward, running /past/ K' and towards the masked chaos agent, blurring in speed as he twists around and throws out his left fist in a powerful rushing punch, in the hopes of staggering their mysterious third party long enough for K' to do what he's gotta do, and unmask this Old Man Withers. "GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Krizalid endures Shenwoo's Gekiken.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Krizalid reflects Heat Drive from K' with Typhon's Rage - Reflect.
- Power hit! -
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 K'
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Krizalid 0/-------/--=====|
There's a quiet sigh from the monk as K' turns both belligerent and vulgar at the same time. He waits for it, seeing the oncoming assault -- and then Shenwoo as the berserker streams past the former NESTS agent.
Seizing the opportunity given, he steps forward into that fist, rolling over it and the berserker himself. The fist slams into the robes, and there's a definite meaty impact, but for that moment the monk is as fluid and as limber as one would expect from a man of his supposed order.
Rolling off of Shenwoo's back and right into a literal line of fire, Krizalid's hood falls back to reveal his bronzed and rather white-haired appearance as he slams both hands forward. Again, those winds rise, stopping the assault entirely as winds slash out.
"A set of teachings here at the monastery revolve around the concept of patience, discipline. You show a decided lack in both departments.
"End this fight, God of Battle."
The Chaos Agent has spoken, but will he be heeded?! He remains there on one knee, hands poised in the air, with his back to Shenwoo.
Mid-rush, K' watches the hood come off, and Krizalid's revealed face makes him see red. Almost literally blinded with fury-- partially from the adrenaline of a fight high-- K' doesn't have the presence of mind to overcome or avoid the retaliation from the significantly cooler-headed Krizalid. The rising winds scissor through his attack, stopping his momentum-- and then forcing him back. K' goes skidding a fair distance back, leaving a path of blood behind from that slashing chi.
The overall impression of K' as Krizalid coolly evaluates him, and then instructs Shenwoo, is of a wounded animal caught in a trap. A black brow twitches as that voice grates at him, K' looking enraged enough to immolate right then and there: which he kind of does. Fire sparks about his hands, burning about his arms in a steady conflagration. But for all that fury, he stays right where he is, forced to one knee with his left hand nailed to the floor as a brace.
"I told you I would stop you," he promises, a tense, half-mad look about him as blood-lined teeth bare in the shrinking, grinning snarl of a cornered wolf. "You're just afraid 'cause I could do it now..." His head twists to one side, and the boy spits blood to the floor.
"But fine. Delegate the last blow." His head stays turned aside, but one gleaming yellow eye flicks back to fix on Krizalid. "Make it look like you don't think it's worth wasting your own energy." His gaze stays steady. "You just don't wanna let me close. It might end like last time..."
Taunting Krizalid, K'? It's not a good idea at the best of times. At this juncture... it's simply suicidal, and not even necessarily in the sense of physical reprisal.
COMBATSYS: K' gathers his will.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 K'
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Krizalid 0/-------/--=====|
That... Was pretty impressive. And somewhere in the back of Shen's mind, it seems familiar as well, though he can't quite place it. K''s plight doesn't really mean too much to Shenwoo, of course, but there's something larger than that at work here. Krizalid just tried to tell him what to do, and that... That isn't how things work. "Okay," the God of Battle replies, amicably enough, turning to look at K' with that same wolfish smile as before. Of course, the gene-altered fighter might not even notice. He might also not notice as Shenwoo jerks his head towards Krizalid.
Everybody gets one, K'.
Not even bothering to turn around or anything, Shenwoo lifts one leg up in front of him, bent double at the knee, before he strikes out backwards with it, bending over in order to properly mule kick Krizalid right in the back, if he has his way. Sure, he'll end the fight. And he'll do it /his/ way, too. The SNF organisers want chaos? Well, Shenwoo will give it to them!
COMBATSYS: Krizalid blocks Shenwoo's Heavy Kick.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/-======|
"You're speaking from a land of delusions," Krizalid cuts K' off rather calmly, although he's placid enough that the latter is likely to continue in that ranting fashion;
"And people call me the crazy one."
On the other hand, his command to Shenwoo goes awry as that mule kick takes place -- but beneath those robes, a warning is issued, a proximity alarm telling him of a betrayal most fowl. Or donkey-ish.
The kick hits those robes, but something within it stops any further damage from taking place. There's even a rather metallic clunk sound. Rolling forward from the force of the blow, Krizalid comes up to his feet, and quickly steps to one side.
"But please, the two of you; end this fight," he states, the Irish lilt barely there in his voice as he offers a wink for the cameras.
He fully anticipates further attack -- and that's why, borrowing off data stolen through his suit, he thrusts both arms to the side. A circle of flames appear around his feet, motes of power rising into the air as he gathers his will.
COMBATSYS: Krizalid gathers his will.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 K'
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Krizalid 1/-----==/=======|
Yes, Krizalid just said that CSYS.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Shenwoo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 K'
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Krizalid 1/-----==/=======|
K' watches Shenwoo levelly as the brawler turns his attention towards him. He has encountered Shenwoo enough times before to have a suspicion-- one which is quickly proven correct when Shen decides to do -exactly the opposite- of what he's told. The NESTS project finds himself stifling a slight smirk. For all his shortcomings, he doesn't find the other man terribly unlikeable. Possibly because of the similarities they share.
K''s gaze flicks over to Shenwoo, and for a moment the look in his eyes is clearly apologetic: a strange gesture indeed from the runaway NESTS project, but one he feels to be merited. He may even trade a non-confrontational word with Shen later, if there -is- a later for him. That look is brief-- especially considering Krizalid talks again. K''s gaze snaps away, that blatant anger sinking back into it as he draws painfully to a stand.
End it?
"I am done," K' informs Krizalid lowly, defiance wound through his voice, "taking orders from you." And then, though it is patently foolish given that gathering power about the other man, he starts advancing. No one ever said K' was smart. It's slow at first, almost painful-- and then K' bursts forwards, attempting to seize his former superior, yank him forwards, and elbowspike him to the ground.
For Shenwoo, this is the only rule there is: Live life how you want. Don't let other people tell you what to do, or how to do it. Accept things only on your own terms. He spent enough of his life playing by other people's rules. By the orphanage's, by the mob's. Eventually, he just had enough, but it wasn't something he understood - it wasn't something he could articulate - until he met that crazy Frenchman. 'Why don't you just live by your own rules?' Ash Crimson told him, Ash Crimson who could defeat him without trying hard. Ash Crimson who showed him the real path to strength: Live free, without any responsibilities save to yourself.
So in a way, Shenwoo can empathise with K'. In a way, Shenwoo understands him. Stubborn, defiant, wanting to live free. And Shenwoo laughs, the unconcerned laugh of someone for whom nothing matters except what he's doing right in this moment, and the tall, lean blond fighter casually walks forward. What happens next clearly depends on whether or not K' is successful in his treatment of Krizalid; if the mysterious third man remains standing, then Shenwoo's leg lashes upwards to catch him in the chin. If he's down, though, then it's a brutal stomp right on the apparently Irish fighter's head. "Just shut up and DIE!!"
COMBATSYS: Krizalid endures K''s Spot Pile.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 K'
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Krizalid 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Krizalid endures Shenwoo's Light Kick.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 K'
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Krizalid 1/=======/=======|
Talk; they're all talk. But when K' decides to run forward, there's a derisive laugh from the NESTS Agent, who simply stands his ground. Naturally, he's grabbed and spiked, hitting the ground hard. An attempt to roll through puts him right into Shenwoo's boot, the berserker keeping him down for a moment longer than he'd like, as if the weight of K' weren't enough.
But even under the heel and the body, there's a thread of deranged laughter filling the air.
The monks exchange worried glances. A member of their order, being curbstomped by both combatants! They should intervene, but alas, they are pacified little things. They instead exchange worried murmurs to go with the glances. It's a fine trade.
The laughter lifts a key or three as Krizalid draws on his strength, pushing himself up and Shenwoo's foot along with it. And then the world turns to fire.
Erupting skyward, a pillar of it threatens all involved, but most importantly, the two who are trying to keep Krizalid down! The pillar revolves sharply, but the flames are the least of the worries that both need to face, should they be thrown up into the air thanks to the force of the blast--!!
COMBATSYS: Krizalid successfully hits K' with End of Eden.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo Toughs Out Krizalid's End of Eden!
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Shenwoo 1/-======/=======|=======\======-\1 K'
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Krizalid 0/-------/----===|
It's the snagging hands of the Irishman they need to worry about, as he's upright in a flash, aiming to grab both of his sky-bound opponents by arm, ankle, foot or any body part for the start of some primo comedy.
Like smashing them right into each other face-first, bringing both combatants back to the ground in a rather violent fashion.
"Idiots!" Krizalid roars at them both, repeating the motion for a second and third time. "I'm the Chaos Agent! I'm not a combatant! You're meant to take each other out, NOT get me involved as well!
"Blind rage! A berserker of all things! You're not the God of Battle, you're just an upstart punk!
"And Kay, Kay, KAY!" Oh there's a few head-slams there. "You're an absolute idiot! Are you looking for revenge or are you on the fighting circuit! Figure it out, dear boy!"
And then he releases both of them, and wipes his now revealed forearm across his brow. Across his back is a big metal contraption, the purpose of which will soon be revealed. "Man, that was tiring, I need a frothy warm mug of Guinness.
K' knows that mad laughter. He knows something extremely painful is coming. Krizalid was always more explosive, more possessed of raw strength than K'. The runaway agent knows that much-- and so he has an inkling of what to expect next. Knowing what's coming, though, doesn't make it hurt any less.
Blasted clear of his crazy 'brother,' K' doesn't even have the time to clinically wonder how far he'll fly before Krizalid graciously answers the question for him: not far at all. Seized quite literally by the scruff, Krizalid getting ahold of the back of his jacket, the boy finds himself dragged right on back like a misbehaving kitten, smashed a couple times into Shen and then dropped. Dizzy and reeling, K' essays little resistance throughout, falling to hands and knees once he's released from his thorough thrashing.
For a moment, he simply stays right where he is, waiting dizzily for the world to resolve back into some semblance of normality. Once he can see straight again, he pulls himself back upright: stumbling a few paces back as if the solid -scolding- he just received was enough to knock the teenage rebellion out of him. For a few seconds, he looks like a kitten spraybottled right in the face.
Then, the events and words of the past few seconds sink in. A final shake of the head, and K' locates his rage again, booting back up into his previous state of fury slowly but surely. Adrenaline and that hatred is all that really keeps him standing as he answers-- a bit thickly, given the blood he's talking through. What is he really out for? "Revenge."
Simply -unable- to take a hint, K' attacks -yet again-: eschewing preamble in an attempt to simply crush the distance between Krizalid and himself with a sudden burst of speed. He lunges, swiping at the man even despite the blood running into his eyes, desperate viciousness written into his movements.
COMBATSYS: K' can no longer fight.
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Shenwoo 1/-======/=======|===----\-------\0 Krizalid
COMBATSYS: Krizalid fails to reflect Chain Drive from K' with Typhon's Rage - Reflect.
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Shenwoo 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Krizalid can no longer fight.
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Shenwoo 1/-======/=======|
That first blow sinks home-- K' pauses an instant, and then his entire lean frame whips into a sudden and furious assault. Fire sparks along K''s knuckles, wreathing every striking surface he slams into Krizalid, bursting against the man's skin in searing waves. The boy rips into his erstwhile 'brother' with a violent abandon, attacking with all the weapons given him like a cat mauling prey with all four limbs. Eventually the assault wanes, those ripping kicks and punches losing rhythm-- but the slowdown is only the precursor to the closing blow, a short Heat Drive that blasts him clear through Krizalid with a surge of holy flames.
Clear past Krizalid-- only to collapse, skidding on hands and knees and looking utterly spent.
And yet, for all the pain and fury of Krizalid's attack, it doesn't seem to quite have the intended effect on Shenwoo. Oh, sure, he gets hurt, set on fire and tossed around, but not long after he's tossed away that final time, the berserker is back on his feet, his innocent silk shirt what never harmed anyone totally ruined by Krizalid's flames and such, the lean man himself breathing raggedly, fury filling his gaze. Krizalid wants to see rage? He wants to see a berserker?
...But before Shenwoo can unleash his explosive rage, K' goes in for the kill, taking Krizalid out with the last of his own strength. This leaves Shen... A little unsatisfied. "Ghhk..." the former street thug hisses, before slugging himself in the face /hard/. He leans back, throwing his arms out and his head back as he bellows at the sky, the pure force of his spirit cracking the ground underfoot, his fury subsiding only slightly, enough to control. "You trash," Shen spits out at Krizalid, fallen or otherwise. "Don't ever cross my path again." And as for K', well, Shenwoo nudges the guy with his foot. "We're not finished," he grits, and then he turns and just starts to walk away.
Someone, somewhere, is totally going to get punched in the teeth.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo has ended the fight here.
Aaaaaaand wow that hurts! Suffice it to say, Krizalid's attempt to negate the entire thrust with those dashing winds of his fails at just the wrong time for it. "Damn, it worked earlier!" he manages, right before he enters a mish-mash of pain.
Really though, it doesn't hurt that bad.
Left wobbly on his feet after K' goes flying by with the final attack, he gives his head a shake and looks to his monkey brethren. "Alas, our time together has ended," he states...
And then makes a quick run and a leap off the mountain!!
Suicide! What a fate most cruel for one so adorable as the adorable Krizali--oh wait, no, no.
He soars back into view, the contraption on his back open wide to reveal a set of metal wings. His laughter bounces off the mountains as he flies away. Did Shenwoo say something to him? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SHENWOO SAID.
Not entirely out yet, K' is still conscious-- albeit on hands and knees, and certainly not going anywhere but facedown on the floor anytime soon. Conscious enough to register it when Shenwoo walks over and pokes him. A tired snarl pushes out of his throat as he's nudged, the sound calling to mind an impression of a worn-out dog: one too beat to protest such treatment in any way but vocally.
"I know," he replies. A heavy pause, and K''s mouth pulls into an approximation of a grin. The look is without mirth, though it's not necessarily unhappy. It's just there. "...I owe you."
Both him and Shenwoo should know that this isn't meant in the usual way people owe each other. What K' has promised Shen, in effect, is the fight he didn't give the other young man today. Asshole though he might be, K' still has his moments where he can approximate actual humanity and various of the trappings thereof.
Log created on 20:30:33 11/18/2007 by Shenwoo, and last modified on 15:51:41 11/19/2007.