Description: The son of Rugal Bernstein seeks out new secrets of chi.... from a swimming coach? (Winner: Adelheid)
When it comes to a roster of impressive fighters, few would be more complete than that of Ken's League ladder championship. Some come for the points, some come for the prestige, some come for the prize money - Adelheid Bernstein comes just to test his mettle against whoever happens to grab his attention, or throw down a challenge. It's his debut this season, might as well start out with what many would call a longshot. Of course, different fans would call it that in different directions! Adelheid's challenge goes out to the Taiyo swim coach. An unremarkable choice, unless one considers that the Southtown alum has shown no small measure of talent and strength. But it's one step deeper, into Nagare's wild and unconventional 'fighting' style (of swimming?!?), that interests the Bernstein heir.
His family's power is all but built on an assimilated hodgepodge of some of the strongest traits and techniques of eastern and western martial arts, but /swimming/ has never been a source of exceptional inspiration. Good exercise, sure, but... well, let's just say Adelheid is left with little option but to test Nagare's approach up close and personal.
The streets for a solid block are cordoned off for the 'street fight', and in typical Metro fashion, a wide corridor is left free for the warriors. Coincidently, the backdrop contains not only an alleyway, but a dumpster, several barrels, and a large section of pipe. The onlookers gather at either end of the street, with large monitors helping to display the fight. Several derelict cars are parked along the sidewalk, and let's not forget the street signs, trash cans, and other lovely metro landmarks. Somewhere, there is a scent of turkey.
For Adel's part, the platinum blonde just waits for his opponent, leaning against the side of one of the brownstone tenements, beneath Metro natives hanging out their windows to see.
And Adelheid will get his fight. A member of the Taiyo school never turns down a chance to spread the Taiyo word and fight in the name of his school! Nagare is definitely in that category, but will he actually fight well?! No one knows! Rugal might know, since Nagare fought him, and Geese, and others, but for Adelheid to truely SEE it, well, it's the only way to believe.
The Taiyo coach arrives uncerimoniously. He doesn't have any cars, he doesn't point towards Adel and say he's going down, none of that. He just arrives with only flippers on his feet and hands, goggles, a head cap and a speedo as well as a jacket. This is all Nagare ever appears with, so Adelheid might be surprised when he firsts sees this fighter.
He's even more unconventional than any one could even imagine.
Walking towards the center of the block street, or at least on his side, Nagare extends a hand (flipper?) towards Adelheid. "Let's have a nice clean match then." Nagare states, the coach of Taiyo's swim team. He isn't interested in anything but spreading the Taiyo word and trying get his swimming style out there!
Which he will! Try, of course.
Wow. It's a moment that's hard to forget. Even seeing Nagare fight, the guy actually showing up dressed like that is a shock. Flippers... on his hands and feet. Adelheid's dark crimson eyes blink, and he does his best not to stare boggle-eyed at Nagare as he extends his... flipper. Instead, the platinum blonde nods to the Taiyo coach, and with a heave of one shoulder, shoves off the wall and paces out to the edge of the sidewalk. He's dressed a bit more, uh, appropriately than Nagare, sporting a black leather jacket, matching black jeans, skintight t-shirt, and heavy combat boots. The only ornamentation is the silvery rings about his belt.
He turns to face Nagare fully, and simply inclines his head towards the swimmeister once more, "Alright then." His maturing tenor is calm, confident. Despite his age, the Bernstein heir is already well on his way towards veteran combatant status, "Let's see what you're capable of." A black-gloved hand extends, and two fingers beckon Nagare forward. Hopefully he won't lash out with a snorkel.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has started a fight here.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Nagare has joined the fight here.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagare
A snorkel huh, Nagare might have to think about that. He's not too sure about that, and that might be a pretty good idea.
Still Nagare can't automatically change his fighting style in the drop of a hat, not right now anyways, so instead, he begins to lower his hand as Adelheid doesn't taking his flipper. Such a terribly unnice act! But Nagare says nothing about it at first, and with a nod, lets it go.
"Alright then Mr. Bernstein. I'll do my best." And that is a promise. Nagare recoils back as Berstein actually calls Nagare forward. So Nagare does go. He awkwardly moves towards Adelheid, walking sideways like a duck, one foot over the next as he makes his way towards the man, and once he's close, he drops down legs on the ground, arms planted back as he kicks towards Adelheid's legs, water chi and flippers flopping against Adelheid.
It's.... something alright. THIS IS THE POWER OF TAIYO. And you will NOT forget it!
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Nagare's Splash Kick.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nagare
Giving an opponent an opening is a dangerous game when proximity is already surrendered, and Nagare looks to make Adelheid pay with sudden, impressive(?!?!) motion. The deceptive shuffling leads into a remarkably dangerous strike, the rushing waves of energy crashing in with the swim coach's... flipper.... Thankfully, for Adel, he's already prepared to evade the initial offensive, and as the proverbial wave crashes in, he's already leaping backwards, one leg bent upwards with the ascent, and subsequently softening his landing a short span away. An agile, sudden motion, decisive and abrupt, the crimson-eyed youth looking up to Nagare and smiling coolly, "Not bad." He notes, before his own energy spikes. No tidal waves, no whitewater breakers, just an invisible, but far from intangible gust of wind in a shockwave about him. A sudden spike, synchronous with a sharp lunge.
He rushes right in on Nagare, looking to catch him off balance, and feint right past whatever flippered guard he might offer. Ideally, this will result in the grip of surprisingly strong, lithe fingers around his throat. A sharp heave would bring the swim coach up off the ground, instants before a swinging right fist launched in for his ribs, with force enough to send him back down the street the way he came.
COMBATSYS: Nagare endures Adelheid's Scorpion Blow.
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Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Nagare
Nagare watches as Adelheid flies directly out of the way of the assault. Just as he does, he watches, paying close attention towards him. It's rather impressive to Nagare as he watches. But just then, he has to react. And react is what he does. Adelheid comes at him quickly, Nagare swivels and turns, attemping to get closer towards Adelheid. But then Adelheid leaps in.
Nagare's put off for a moment as he does as the hand grabs for his throat, ripping him right off the ground and a fist coming right for his ribs. One would say the strike would send him back, but Nagare grabs a hold of Adelheid's hand as it lashes out.
Both hands grab on even as the blow hammers his rib cage. He grunts, but works through it, "You're not bad... yourself." He manages to make out before prying himself free of the choke hold and falling backwards. But as he does, his flippers and feet come up. So much in fact that water chi washes out towards Adelheid's face as he does fall back, attempting to catch him.
But what of Nagare? Well, he flips, and comes down at a stop infront of Adelheid, water chi still lingering in the air, washing off as he swims back to his feet. And swims momentarily through the air. How's that for skill!?
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Nagare's Flipper Roundhouse.
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Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Nagare
Praise, and success. More or less. There's no time to rest on those laurels, however: Nagare is quick on his feet, despite his footwear. What's more, the coach's mastery of his own chi lends itself to rather unpredictable results. The Bernstein heir reacts more on instinct than meditation, the cleaving path of Nagare's flippered foot washing a rush of watery power right past the platinum blonde's face as he weaves harshly aside, heaving his weight away to the flank. He pivots on his right foot as the boot touches down, coming about in time to see the Taiyo teacher 'kick off' of his own technique, launched gracefully through the air. Impressive indeed. Maybe there is something to be learned from the guy in the speedos, after all.
For the moment, however, Adelheid is more interested in making Nagare's landing anything but graceful. He launches in for the swimcoach as he descends, seeking to catch him as he lands - or even right in midair, with a full-on leaping tackle of a grapple. The real goal here, however, is to use the momentum to unbalance Nagare enough to grab him by his swimcapped skull, and leverage the power in both of Adelheid's arms to, ideally, swing the coach about and abruptly down, increasing centripical force just before an abrupt reunion with pavement. Facedown. Street chiropracting at its best.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Nagare with Medium Throw.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Nagare
Adelheid escapes him again! What a terrible thing. He's unable to catch the man at all. Obviously without the presence of water anywhere Nagare is doomed to failure.
As he gets back up however, Adelheid is moving to grapple him, and he does as he's driven back and thrown towards the ground. Nagare's neck is struck with a powerful grevious blow! But otherwise he's still surviving well and enjoying a rather nice fight! Even if it is momentarily one sided. Nagare doesn't really have much he can do in that sector.
He lays there even as he's driven, getting up afterwards. "Hah. That hurt." Nagare states, as he stretches out a little, coming towards Adelheid in a very weird fashion before lashing out with a kick, aimed straight for Adelheid's face! A flipper kick.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid interrupts Light Kick from Nagare with Reppukyaku.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Nagare
You have one active ability you will be able to access with dm/echo.
Ah, but Nagare takes the water with him! It's just that Adelheid's wearing leather, and it's terrible to get that soaked; ... especially by punishing power. While the logistics of the Neo League may not be of much concern to the Bernstein heir, a fierce fight most certainly is. The test is far from concluded, but it seems Nagare is rushing headlong into trouble, this time. Holding his stance tight, moving with almost military precision, Adelheid shifts aside, Nagare's flipper slicing a painful gash down the side of his face, his handsome cheek marred by the strike. Gritting his teeth, Adelheid whips his own booted foot around, up. It's his turn to make waves.
While his strike did indeed hurt, even drew first blood, the Bernstein heir sees to it that Nagare crashes full-on into a lancing blast of silvery energy, the waist-high, torrential storm exploding outwards from beneath the platinum blonde's boot. There's a sort of symmetry between Adelheid's motions now and Nagare's aerial antics as the cleaving edge of potent windshear rips off, its force used to send Adelheid into a graceful slide, imposing a short span of distance between the fighters.
"I'm just getting warmed up." the youthful Bernstein observes, more in warning or challenge than mocking or taunting... Nagare doesn't seem the sort to respond to that. He's sure to have gotten it plenty, and be resistant, "So it's probably your turn to show me something!"
Nagare takes no water with him! That's water chi, not water! Very big difference.
Adelheid slams Nagare even with a single kick is lashed. It seems every single strike Nagare will land will be through his own blood and sweat and nothing more. Adelheid is seemingly destroying the Swimming coach single handly. Even with a strike, Nagare is shot backwards as the blast of energy explodes towards him and into Nagare's face, throwing him back. He lands against a building as he looks towards Bernstein, moving forward again.
"Yeah... alright!" Nagare states as he begins to come back towards Adelheid once more. But instead he throws himself into the air, which he swims, and swims, and swims into the air, water chi lancing off of him as he comes to the top.
Where he then drops like a rock, aimed directly into Rugal's heir. A most grevious dive into the cement itself.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to interrupt Concrete Dive from Nagare with Genocide Cutter.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Nagare
The challenge is issued, and like any good competitor, the flipperbound fighter is obligated to up the ante. The ferocity with which Nagare launches himself back into the fray catches the Bernstein heir by surprise, though he should have expected something above and beyond the previous attempts, indeed. The torpedo that is a swimcoach meets a crouched Adel, as he drops low in preparation to quite thoroughly counteract the leaping swimmer's momentum. He never gets the chance to launch his attack and turn a fender bender into a trainwreck, and it's rather punishing indeed, his chest impacted fiercely as he's launched backwards, sliding to the ground, and then over in a haphazard roll.
He comes up quickly, pressing one palm into the street and shoving upwards, eyes snapping back up to Nagare in a moment, "Better." He murmurs, more to himself than his opponent, drawing one leg, then the other back underneath him, "Now let's see how long we can keep this up." The youth cracks a half-smile. The way this fellow uses chi... yes, quite intriguing indeed. Particularly to a boy-champion who some say is one of the more prodigious energy talents out there.
Nagare comes down gracefully. He comes down magnificently. His dives are impetuous! And it seems that Adelheid comes right at his mid air drop. Nagare just keeps his drop up before the kick is ever issued, crushing down into the low Adelheid. He strikes, senting the man backwards. Nagare flips about as he lands, flopping like a fish before getting up.
And then, looking towards Adelheid, Nagare thinks what on earth his next move should be. He wonders, momentarily, before nodding his head. "Yeah." Nagare states, before scratching his head. "I dunno really." He states.
Answer: Long time.
Before so, Nagare actually looks towards the ground. He looks at the sewer cover. Well. It is a fair fight! Nagare thinks for a moment before he already finds himself picking it up, and like so, tossing it like an over sized frizbee at Adelheid. "How about a quick game?" Nagare asks as he tosses it.
COMBATSYS: Nagare successfully hits Adelheid with Large Thrown Object.
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Adelheid 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Nagare
Flopping about like a fish is (arguably) a nicer fate than hurtling end over end across the asphalt. That tends to scrape, and bruise, and rather burn, frankly. The Bernstein heir is quick in regaining his bearings, relatively speaking, but Nagare is also rather swift in following up his initial assault. The whizzing of the air is little warning as *CLANG* the manhole cover whips right off his skull, rebounding away and sending the Bernstein heir positively reeling. He manages to shove to his feet anyway, pushing into a backstep, then another, and then defiantly charging.
Footfalls accelerate rapidly into a swift sprint, his boots falling lightly on the pavement as he rushes Nagare. His rhythmic, swift approach culminates barely an arm's length from the swimcoach with a sudden, blurring spin. It's a spin that brings Adel's weight around, behind the leading, reversed knuckles of his fist. It's a full-on leaping backhand, squarely aligned with the skilled "swimmer's" jaw. His own head is still ringing, so we'll answer in action for the moment.
COMBATSYS: Nagare fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Adelheid with Super Splash Kick.
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Adelheid 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Nagare
Nagare watches as Adelheid comes at him. Moving faster and faster and faster as he goes. Adelheid throws himself at the swimming genius even though it isn't going to help! Nagare's got this all planned out. Nothing going to matter because as Adelheid comes close, Nagare begins to kick.
And then gets punches directly in the jaw, throwing him back in a sprawl as he comes to a stop. He batters himself against the ground once, twice and three times before coming to a stop without getting up.
Maybe he should have chose a different idea. But oh well! It seemed cool. And just maybe he would have caught some luck! But today, HE IS A FISH OUT OF WATER.
Adelheid can sense the build-up of power within Nagare. Impressive, even if it never manifests into the torrents of ocean spray and kicking flippers that the swimcoach no doubt had planned... and there's no other choice but to barrel in. Hope he hits hard enough that it never comes to pass. Which is the turn of events, this time, as knuckle cracks to skull, an audible gasp from the crowd as Nagare reels away. Adelheid pulls up momentarily as Nagare rights himself, the lithe blonde recovering balance and drawing a deep, steadying breath. What's that they say in Taiyo? Go for broke?!?!
"Time for that one. last. lap!" Adelheid encourages in swiming/racing analogy instead, even as he all but glides in on Nagare, feet barely leaving the ground in a blur of swelling winds, a swinging arm seeking to catch Nagare by his throat, crush his face in the splayed grip of his other fingers, and quite impressively explode forward on a shockwave of raw power, his flexing arms seeking to forge Nagare into a sort of makeshift warhead, with which to impact the very foundation of the aged but resilient four-story on the corner.
At that point? Well, Nagare might wish it were over, but instead, Adelheid would release a voluminous gale of rampant, silvery energy, the brilliant explosion reaving point blank over and around the coach, erupting outwards in all directions. Only Adelheid would be untouched by the ravaging edges of the raging hurricane... if Nagare knows what's good for him, he'd be somewhere else. The eye is not the calm of this storm.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Nagare with Gigantic Pressure.
- Power hit! -
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Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Nagare
Nagare went for broke and got broke. Broke into many different pieces. It seems his plan of ideas didn't really come down to success. Instead, Taiyo got crushes sorta badly. As Nagare watches as Adelheid comes with the swimming, anology, Nagare seems to see more of whats coming.
But to no avail. Adelheid throws him about, grabbing him and then thrusting him into the ground. Th energy erupts out on him as he fails to escape. He knows it's coming, but he slipped up, likely on the man hole he actually had opened!
Still, he's beaten bloody and raw as Adelheid comes down on him hard. He's unable to do anything. Nagare is damned.
But there, he's not going to give up without a fight nomatter how bad everything came down to it. Still, he begins to kick, water chi going over his feet even as he's driven into the ground, attempting to get one last lick in on Adelheid, no matter how rare it may be.
Otherwise, he's down. In his crater. Dang that hurt.
COMBATSYS: Nagare can no longer fight.
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Adelheid 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Nagare successfully hits Adelheid with Super Splash Kick.
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Adelheid 0/-------/---====|
Adelheid's rush headlong at 'broke' turns out a fair bit better, but still fits the continuing pattern of abuse quite firmly. It takes all of the Bernstein heir's concentration to empty all that power squarely into Nagare's face, and as the swimcoach is exploded away, there's little he can do but try to bunker in and defend against the sudden rush of roaring waters and flippered ferocity, the dropping Nagare knocking the platinum blonde's legs cleanly out from under him in an explosion of watery chi and swinging foot.
Crashing to the ground, Adelheid lets out a low groan, and for a moment the busy street is almost silent. But the black-clad Bernstein is the first to rise, pushing back unsteadily, but determinedly, to his feet. A slow nod is his only immediate acknowledgement, ignoring the announcer in favor of getting his bearings back... which is a gradual process, just now.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has ended the fight here.
Log created on 18:30:24 02/12/2008 by Adelheid, and last modified on 00:22:12 02/13/2008.