Description: Oswald meets his first defeat at the hands of the Ansatsuken Legend, Ken Masters, in a fight of tactical brilliance on Ken's behalf. The forest path marks the spot where a nine fight no-loss streak came to a close. ( Winner: Ken )
The wind moves through the trees, carrying with it the message of spring and hope. The message is lost on Ken as he glances up, worried more about finishing this fight than he is enjoying the beauty of Japan in the months of April. He usually doesn't fly out to fight someone these days, but considering that he really wanted to kick the crap out of Oswald, he was willing to make a concession on his part. After all, if he's good enough to be the champ right now, he's good enough to fight Ken.
Dressed in his usual gi, Ken waits with the Neo League judge and the small camera crew that is here to record the fight. After all, Ken almost always records his fights. It lets him study himself, analyze what needs to change... And make some money too. The American Champ has already stretched, looking around as he waits for the mysterious Oswald to make his appearance.
While Oswald's garb was casual, his demeanour was far-from. He seems a bit simultanesously tense and intense at the same time as he approaches from the opposite end of the path. Ken's name was lauded and carried a string of victories and titles a mile long, not only did he have skill but he had a great deal of experience under his belt. He was about to right one of the legendary Rising Dragons, one of the great Ansatsuken masters.
"I seem to be attracting big names." He stops a respectful distance away, tucking one arm before him and offering a deep bow, "Mister Masters, I am not loathe to admit that I have been entertained by the televised matches I've seen of you in the past years. I never once thought I would be facing you eye-to-eye in a match."
With a rise now, he gives a little nod as he reaches to his wrist to remove his watch, stowing it, leaving him in normal looking semi-formal slacks and a polo-cut shirt. Gone are the tie and suit for this fight. "My goal is victory, but I will be satisfied with earning your respect, even if I lose. May fortune smile on us both."
"There he is, roll camera, roll camera!" one of the cameramen commands his peers, all three of them taking positions around the fighters. It's harder to get good footage of an outside fight, so multiple men are needed, more so when you get skilled warriors that move too fast for one man to keep up with.
The judge steps back as Ken gets into his position. His arms are ready for a fight, but he doesn't start bouncing on the balls of his feet quite yet. After all, while Oswald might have a lot of wins, Ken didn't check who they were against. After all, if a swimmer kid can rank higher than Ryu and Krauser, skill isn't everything. Oswald will have to prove himself to gain that respect, but is what he expected.
Ken doesn't bow, but nods his head in brief respect as he readies to fight. "Glad to make your wildest dreams come true as I kick your ass." Ken pauses to give a confident smirk, but he still has a good natured spirit to his words, no malice or harshness to his talk, however big it might be. "I'm expecting you'll give me a good one, so come at me with some of your best when you want to get this party started."
COMBATSYS: Ken has started a fight here.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Oswald has joined the fight here.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ken
"Cocky." Oswald's eyebrows raise a bit as his lips purse, offering a belated nod "But with good reason." With a roll of one shoulder and then the other Oswald lets his body limber up just a bit more before slipping into his own rather unique fighting stance, one arm low and the other high as he lets a deep breath give him a moment of shallow meditation. Oswald was to have first strike...
There's a near liquidous flick of his arms from high to low, both of them ending at his sides as the cards come out of thin air to his fingers, and thus begins the fight as Oswald goes into a dash... but it's a feint as a card was already tossed into the air high above, coming in from a completely different angle...
COMBATSYS: Ken overcomes Queen from Oswald with Hadouken.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ken
Oswald is fast and seemingly tricky. Thankfully, Ken is experienced and one of the fastest fighters himself. As the polo-shirt warrior leaps into the air, Ken is able to keep track of him. The feign doesn't work and when the card flies, Ken's hands are already at his side, channeling chi. He doesn't have the time needed to give the battle cry, barely having enough time to raise his palms to seemingly catching the card. It stops in the blue energy before being cast aside (if it isn't ripped apart), the blue fireball soon screaming through the air in order to hit Oswald before he touches down.
Fearing this fight might get a little intense, the camera crew instinctively begin to back away a little. The judge is quick to pick this up and moves a bit away as well.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Oswald with Hadouken.
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Oswald 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ken
"Cheh." There's a frown as he watches the card get consumed by the trademark Hadouken... but it's when the blazing ball of chi passes through it and starts heading his way that he comes to a skidding stop - he had expected yet, yet was still nonetheless surprised when the bluish force is screaming at him.
The attempt to brace himself comes late; though his arms are crossed to take the blow, the ball of chi slams into his chest. Oswald weathers the blow well, but is left a little more winded than he expected. Leaning over for a moment, one hand on his knee, the other to his chest where the shirt is singed by the force, he gives a brief, neck-crinking tilt of his head. The next words are simple yet state volumes, "Well done."
Far closer now, Oswald draws in to a more traditional approach as he starts forward again and into Ken's defense, going in for a rather straight forward elbow to the face, bringing an arm up high then down in a sort of modified muay-thai strike...
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Oswald's Medium Strike.
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Oswald 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ken
The elbow roughly grazes against Ken's cheek, but the blond fighter is unphased as he weaves to the side. He is totally calm, clearly still feeling in control of the fight as he is still smirking. The second blow causes Ken to back away, gracefully avoiding the strike. "Thank you... I figure you're getting warmed up," he says cheerfully before he moves back in, trying to grab the card carrying fighter to toss him aside toward a tree. It wouldn't be TOO painful if Ken didn't also try and give a spinning roundhouse to Oswald if the toss works.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Oswald with Tsukami Nage.
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Oswald 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Ken
The toss was simple enough to deal with, but the kick itself lands perfectly, and achieves what the toss would have done, as his back slams into the tree leaving him a pained groan and sour look on his face. There was a longer pause now as Ken speaks of him only warming up, the remainder of his breath escaping out in a slow sigh. To think Oswald was already warmed up.
The sound of the air being sucked in through his nostrils is somewhat like the wind, a slow hiss that fills his body with a new energy now as his eyes narrow. He had to find a way to land a blow somehow. Something significant. Pushing from the tree where he had landed, he stands on his own two feet and starts forward once more, a slow circle around Ken drawing closer and closer with each pace, "I would like if I said I was just getting started." He grunts to himself as his usually relaxed and open hands tighten into fists, "Just means I have to push the envelope back a little."
Another quick step forward now, as he reaches on to grab the lapels of Ken's gi to tug him forward while coming in with first a knee... and then a weight-throw to the side...
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Oswald's Medium Throw.
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Oswald 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ken
The American Warrior nods to his foe for the night speaks to him. "I'm always a fan of pushing things," Ken replies as keeps his eyes on Oswald. While the fight is going Ken's way and he's still confident, by no means does Ken intend to do any rookie mistakes. The hands go for Ken's gi, but Ken merely leaps back again. He's way too good at this dodging thing. There was that one time he dodged so much, he won against multiple attackers because they gave up trying to hit him. True story. But Ken doubts that Oswald is that weak-willed, so he tries to aim a powerful fist right for Oswald's nose. It's a slow blow compared to most of Ken's attack, but when your punches can dent a sheet of reinforced steel, losing a little bit of speed can be worth it.
COMBATSYS: Oswald dodges Ken's Fierce Punch.
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Oswald 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Ken
(Log interruption, meters from this point may not be completely accurate)
The Gambler barely manages the dodge as the great punch zips right by his cheek as his shoulders stoop to one side to evade the blow. There was good reason for Oswald's confidence to be shaken, as he needed not just more speed or strength, but a little bit more of /everything/ to match skill with this time-and-time-again champion.
He would have to step this up notch or two - and manage however he could. The punch gives him an angle to attack as the right arm makes a quick motion up as the left covers with, moving to take the punch's momentum and try to shift Ken's weight from under him with a quick hip toss, something he's seen done time and time again in tournaments... though only sometimes practiced by himself...
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Oswald's Medium Throw.
Like lightning, Ken's arm is retacted from harm's way, slipping out of the attempt to lop Ken. To help further the distance, Ken tries to lift up his feet just a couple of inches off the ground. He then takes his other arm and tries to open palm thrust it right for Oswald's nose. It's a swift blow, but if it hits, it will not only hurt, but serve as something to help propel Ken a couple of critical feet away to better keep Oswald at a managable distance. He doesn't say anything for the time being, but his smug smile likely says exactly what he's thinking.
COMBATSYS: Oswald blocks Ken's Medium Punch.
Fast. Faster than anyone he's met up to date. Oswald knew that Ken wouldn't miss a chance at capitalizing on the opening left from the attempt at the throw. The straight counter that comes in for his nose meets defending arms and a turned head as the forearms of the Irishman takes the brunt of the impact, turning his shoulders with as he lets his body do a single turn as if glancing off the blow.
It's the final half of the turn that gets deadly as both his arms flare out with cards weilded 'tween his fingers as both hands draw out to blades to try and cut high and low at Ken's body, as Oswald's body turns into a brief but rapid spiral.
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Oswald's Ace.
The bladed cards come, but Ken leaps out of the way, his blond hair rushing about his face as he lands a couple of feet from where he once was. His gi is cut, but there isn't a mark on his body. "Almost got me there... Almost," the American points out before races for Oswald. He tries to grab the man by the polo shirt. "Time for a ride," Ken replies with a smirk before he rolls back, trying to send Oswald across the ground a couple times before tossing him toward the nearest tree.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Oswald with Jigoku Fuusha.
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Oswald 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Ken
Almost? ALMOST? Even the cool and collected Oswald was experiencing the subtle sting of frustration now as the cards hit nothing but air and the tail end of hair as the circular cuts find their target has left their reach. "...what the devil?" He manages to blurt out as the Ansetsuken Master grabs his shirt and sends him into a practiced tumble, sending him flying at the end, near catapulted by the momentum, visiting the tree he had gotten to know better only a few brief moments ago.
With a slow slump he drops to a knee post the impact, taking a moment to shake his head and bring a hand up to a now bleeding lip and split forhead. So this is how it felt to fight with the big names. There was a thrill in losing just as much as there was a thrill in winning. Survival was becoming the name of the game now - no longer victory.
Oswald stays low for now, head tilted down for a few seconds before slowly rising to his feet once more, giving a good nod, a respectful nod. "I... expected better of myself... or should I say." again one of the hands goes up to draw across his lip, "...I far underestimated you, Mister Masters. I suppose, I should be happy..." And he lets his phrase fall at that as he stands still and focused, "I will give you all I have."
There's a blur, a quick motion from Oswald's body as he dashes toward his opponent with a burst of vigor... one arm stretched out as if to grab his neck...
COMBATSYS: Oswald successfully hits Ken with Joker'.
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Oswald 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Ken
Success? Oswald's hand finds Ken's throat and both go sailing in a eerie glide as the hand that grips his throat gives a final, forceful shove and his leg a kick as both are still in mid-air. It's over as quick as the attack started, a great barrage of cards like a thin paper hailstorm that goes with Oswald's kick-back, using his leg that pushed Ken away to propell him higher up and back as he litereally empties what would be a deck of cards worth of unique trumps upon Ken's body.
There was no flair this time, no flamboyance. He couldn't afford such things now, no.. instead he took this moment to take a moment's breath, collect his thoughts and stand ready. No doubt Ken would press his attack as effeciently as he had so far...
The powerful man lands in a heap after Oswald goes nuts on him. Some people think that the fight is over. The judge knows otherwise and takes a step back. A blooded hand slaps the ground as Masters pushes himself slowly up. "That all you got?" Ken offers as he slowly stands back up. He removes cards from his body, none of them sinking in too far. It is the number that did it more than anything else.
"Now I'm covered in damn paper cuts. No offense, but I'm gunna have to beat the tar out of you." With that, Ken slides into a fighting position, his muscles tensing as he's ready to pounce. Oswald has more than enough time to press the attack if he wants to, but it's Ken Masters claiming he's going to get 'serious'... What can be done?
COMBATSYS: Ken focuses on his next action.
As expected, Ken is not only quick, but knows well how to take punishment. There's a sneer from Oswald as he was hoping Ken would somehow, miraculously stay down after such an attack. "None taken, Mister Masters" He intones as he watches Ken center himself and get ready to attack, "This is just business, after all."
Just business. Oswald knew well what that was all about. As Ken centers himself, Oswald takes those extra moments to do a bit of concentration of his own, flushing out the thoughts of frustration and anger, focusing on controlling his breathing...
COMBATSYS: Oswald gains composure.
Oswald takes a breather. He's hurt and is trying to brace himself for the onslaught to come. Ken grins as he just gives off an aura of power. It comes in a wave, clearly something going on within his fighting spirit. Oswald will likely know what it is in due time. He let Ken prepare. Now it's time to learn what an error that was.
Running at full steam, Ken tries to lash out one foot for Oswald's face. Than another, than another, Ken spinning about as he offers a flood of roundhouses. He stops for a second, but it's not to let Oswald be, but instead use his other leg as he hops into the air. He becomes a whirlwind of foot pain, trying to carry Oswald into the sky as he hammers the poor guy's body again and again. Once he gets about ten feet into the air, Ken just drops to the ground, taking the moment to wipe some of the blood off of his chest.
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Oswald 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Ken
COMBATSYS: Oswald fails to counter Shippuujinrai Kyaku from Ken with King.
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Oswald 1/-======/=======|===----\-------\0 Ken
Oswald was preparing something of his own, but this barrage of kicks and airtime wasn't at all what he was expecting. No, he expected something like a blast of chi... a great uppercut... something more trademark. Something more classic, Oswald rolled the dice and guessed quite incorrectly.
Each strike draws more and more life out of him, leaving him near limp and helpless in the air at at Ken's kicking mercy until the barrage finally ends, leaving him a battered, bloody mess upon the ground. He's down, he's down hard, but he's not out. A series of hits in exchange for a series of hits was a good balance.
Oswald's hand grabs a tuft of grass as he pushes himself up a bit, head hanging low as he slowly but surely brings himself up to his knees. Shirt torn, dritied, bloodied, bruised, he's quite a mess. And then he laughs. It's a deep, pained and hearty laugh as his hands draw into tight fists, head lulled back and staring at the sky. "Is this... defeat?" he groans to himself as one leg comes up to plant heel on ground, drawing him to stand with wobbly effort, "At least... my first defeat will be to a master."
It's a lumbering dash, but Oswald presses forward, arms almost ragdolling, but having just enough strength in them to stay steady as he brings his body into a lunge for a good, solid swipe of the cards, aimed at Ken's legs.
Oswald was preparing something of his own, but this barrage of kicks and airtime wasn't at all what he was expecting. No, he expected something like a blast of chi... a great uppercut... something more trademark. Something more classic, Oswald rolled the dice and guessed quite incorrectly.
Each strike draws more and more life out of him, leaving him near limp and helpless in the air at at Ken's kicking mercy until the barrage finally ends, leaving him a battered, bloody mess upon the ground. He's down, he's down hard, but he's not out. A series of hits in exchange for a series of hits was a good balance.
Oswald's hand grabs a tuft of grass as he pushes himself up a bit, head hanging low as he slowly but surely brings himself up to his knees. Shirt torn, dritied, bloodied, bruised, he's quite a mess. And then he laughs. It's a deep, pained and hearty laugh as his hands draw into tight fists, head lulled back and staring at the sky. "Is this... defeat?" he groans to himself as one leg comes up to plant heel on ground, drawing him to stand with wobbly effort, "At least... my first defeat will be to a master."
He's almost like a scarecrow, arms numbed and near limp, having only the most minimal of strength in them as he stands his ground and stands tall, "But... I will not simply.... give up."
There is a pause as Ken watches Oswald make his rise. He doesn't insult him. No, in fact, he gives him an arched brow. "Huh... Fighting a battle you know you can't win and taking it like a man. You've just gotten yourself some respect. Time to show you how nice I am." With that, Ken moves almost as fast as the eye can see. One hand reaches out, trying to plant itself into Oswald's chest. Should it get there, Ken will just push hard against him, hoping to plaster him against a tree. He could have done much worse... But Ken is doing a swift yet gentle (at least compared to the rest of Ken's moves) end to this rather one-sided fight. Still, Oswald fought and took it all with dignity and grace. Oswald will be remembered.
COMBATSYS: Oswald fails to interrupt Quick Throw from Ken with Joker'.
- Power fail! -
COMBATSYS: Oswald can no longer fight.
'Punch' drunk and head swimming with cobwebs, the already lightning fast motion of Ken's attack is a blur to him as his strains his eyes to try and keep up. As the hand grabs hold, Oswald's world becomes forced motion, a hazy blur to compound with his already potent disorentation.
The slam to the tree is the fell blow, as his knees buckle and he slumps down almost immediately, fingers releasing the cards that were meant to be the answer to the grab. Too little, too late in this case. "Haa...." He pants out with a final groan, "...we'll fight again... some day..."
COMBATSYS: Ken has ended the fight here.
The martial arts master winces when he sees his attack is more powerful than he anticapted. He moves to the man, offering out his hand to help the man up. He doesn't do this too often, more so to lower tiered fighters he trounces. "Good fight," he states simply.
Eyes barely open as the fight crew start to arrive, medics in tow to administer medical attention, Oswald manages a smile as he makes out the show of respect. "Good... good fight. I am happy my first loss was to a legend." He grunts with effort as he tries to stand, but no doubt most of the work would be Ken's if he was offering to assist, "You carry your title well. But... I'll find a way to win the league somehow, just... you wait...."
Barely any steam left in this old engine as the crew bring a stretcher for him to lay upon, the elder fighter giving a cough and shake of his head, "Only one hit... cheh... I need to train more..."
"I believe even with this fight... You still may. I'll just make sure to give you a run for your money." Ken gives a wink as he pulls up Oswald. It's easy for him, since he wasn't hurt at all. Moving the guy to the stretcher, Ken shifts his gaze the limo making its way toward the position. His ride out. "I'm sure you'll do good in time, guy... Just keep on training and maybe you'll be the one kick ass like me one day." That said, Ken starts his walk toward the limo, ignoring the camera crew as they ask for a post fight interview.
With a grim smile, Oswald can't help but chuckle to himself - having someone like Ken chasing the path to the championship would be problematic, but a good challenge is a good challenge - something that the grizzled gambler always enjoyed. There's a slow turn of his hands, a thumb-up as Ken starts to leave, giving him a silent thanks for not only the battle, but the post fight respect. There was... a degree of comfort in knowing that one wasn't the most powerful warrior. Not only comfort, but it gives a goal. Something to strive for...
Log created on 20:37:17 04/04/2008 by Oswald, and last modified on 18:40:44 04/08/2008.