Description: The world's deadliest cardshark battles the prodigal Bernstein aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. What follows is a study in gambling and the fickle nature of the cards: and how it doesn't always matter what's in the pot, but what's going on while everyone is watching the game. Can't keep your eyes off the pinstripes, can you? (Winner: Adelheid)
Neo Leauge was getting quite curiously interesting. About the catapult deck, a half-ring of soldiers have formed, front row kneeling, latter rows standing anxiously in wait. Only a few of the crew members, donning different color jackets stay within the circle, off at the near edge as the air-whipping sounds of the chopper start to fill the wave-crash saturated air. Oswald was within the CV-22 Osprey labelled 'Inflecture' as it approached the carrier, seated on upon one of the barely cushioned benches, gaze fixated upon the deck as the VTOL rotors tilt up to give it air-borne ballast relief, letting it gently and slowly descend to the tarmac.
The back's hardpoint door drops open as Oswald steps down the ramp and onto the deck, one hand upon his hat, the other within his pocket as he steps upon the ship, drawing the hand out to give a respectful salute to the attending crewman that was acting as gateguard.
He had little other instruction other than 'arrive at this time'... but the ring of recruits and officers made the purpose rather obvious...
A Neo League battle orchestrated on a US Naval vessel out to sea... and involving two enigmatic warriors of questionable morality, lineage, and intent?!?! Scandalous! It's also a great piece of entertainment for the men aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, stationed somewhere off the coast of Washington, currently some distance out into the mighty Pacific. Having a Bernstein on board is a risk that the brass are well aware of - but Adelheid is hardly the Classified peak-level threat that his father embodies, and with the power of the Masters corporations backing the bout, well. Red tape is crossed, arrangements made.... and ample military security focused on Adel beyond the cheering servicemen.
Oswald takes the high road, and Adel arrives via the low. CVN-72 comes up quickly for the modified antique bearing the prodigal Bernstein. A German-made WWII-era S-Boat, the torpedo vessel is little threat to the massive capital ship, particularly today. It bears no loadout, no crew to speak of, enough to navigate the course, and pull up next to the Abraham Lincoln. Why? .... well, it's a dramatic entrance! And opposed to Oswald's aerial approach, as it should be in such matches. A ladder is dropped, and the platinum blonde shimmies up the length of reinforced fiber quickly, too quickly. It's a practiced grace, and such hardware does little to give him pause. It is familiar, if impressive - and certainly less haunting than the aging Battleship on which he resides, and was mostly raised, and trained.
The lithe Bernstein crests the deck with a fluid leap, a single front flip bringing him down on cushioning legs, knees bending to absorb the shock. He stands, nods towards the collected soldiers, and throws a salute of his own before he advances on the circle where it is all too obvious the fight is to be taking place.
Oswald. A wildcard, to be sure. Despite his SNF involving the unusual warrior, Adelheid has little information on the fellow, or what to expect from his odd, card-based fighting. Something one might imagine Oswald intentionally obscured during that previous meeting. Crimson eyes lock on the elder mercenary, a pensive intensity on the prodigal Bernstein's austere face. He nods slowly to Oswald, and brushes a hand down the front of his shirt - a sleeveless, skintight affair in green so dark it might as well be black, black fatigues tucked into heavy combat boots. The attire is belted in a band of matte silver, the mildly metallic glint the only ornamentation he bears, aside from dark bracers that match his shirt. These cover the lower half of his forearms, ending halfway up his knuckles as they each continue into a half-glove. These are emblazoned with stylized silver etchings as well, an overall militaristic appearance, if the 'uniform' is not traceable to any world military. Still, it will suit for fighting on a mighty capital ship, surrounded by cheering and jeering warriors.
Still wordless, he steps into the circle of men, which reforms behind him, leaving a vast spread of deck clear for Oswald and himself to ply their arts.
"Mister Bernstein." Oswald states just loud enough to be heard as he offers a respectful nod, lifting the hat from his head and simply letting it go, allowing it to catch a gust of wind and gain proverbial wings of its own, "I've not seen you since that SNF match long ago... with the boxer-Bison."
A roll of a shoulder, then the other as he goes through a very brief, very short limbering up while squaring his stance and rightening his posture just a bit, "Your skills were impressive then, I hope you have grown even more since that match. Shall we begin?"
COMBATSYS: Oswald has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Oswald 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Oswald
A light half-smile creases the corner of the platinum blonde's mouth as he studies Oswald, the operative's greeting reaching his ears, "I've been curious about what you're really capable of, myself." That fight, more of a grudge match between Bison and the Bernstein heir than anything else, was hardly the perfect environment for analysis and consideration, "I hope you find your hopes well-founded." Adel responds, the wry chuckle that follows belying the joke in the play on words. Calm, relaxed, but strangely serious regardless. A cool sort of fire, not the passion boiling over as it might in so many fighters - a quiet love of his art, and an alert focus on the battle to come that goes beyond his limited years.
A half-gloved hand extends, fingertips beckoning the enigmatic cardshark forward, "Hold nothing back. I may be young, but I have fought legends." He fears nothing in this battle, no hesitation or apprehension in his rich, crimson gaze. It merely locks to Oswald, and the Prince of War waits.
"I prefer to give no quarter." Oswald brings a gloved hand up to push the glasses up a little higher on the bridge of his nose, taking a slow breath of the salt air before letting his entire body relax, and brings his arms up into a more pugilistic pose.
"Adelheid Bernstein. Let us entertain our hosts well, we wouldn't want to disappoint them. 'd be bad for morale." There's a smirk that takes his lips, brow furrowing as his body grows tense, hands tightening into fists before relaxing a second later. Feet twisting slowly to get a good grip into the landing strip just as the sound of a JST F-35's engines scream to life just in time to drown out the roar of the military crowd to celebrate the start of the battle...
COMBATSYS: Oswald focuses on his next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Oswald
Beginning, without beginning. It's certainly something that Adelheid is familiar with, and it only broadens his smile for the moments it persists before his delicate features settle into something more approaching serious, platinum brows coming together as his eyes narrow on Oswald, "And I would ask none." He may have invited Oswald forward, but holding off further would just be rude. He can see the shifts in the cardshark's stance, the tingle of power in the air... that instinct that speaks to the veteran in Adelheid, a warrior experienced beyond his years. This battle has already begun.
And so the Prince of War is in motion, rushing forward in a sudden burst of momentum that seems more pure launch than accelerating run, the air around him whooshing as he passes, leading full bore in at Oswald with a flying elbow, his weight shifting behind the strike, seeking to deliver the direct, abrupt strike even with the killer cardshark's collarbone, the intent to lead into a snapping straight from his right fist, twisting about to bring his weight around on that foot, the motion leading into a fluid, powerful leap.
His intent is to finish with a powerful, forward kick, that carries him in at Oswald, but the threat in this case is not so much the heavy boot... but the voluminous cloud of roiling, silver-grey chi that whips about in a sudden storm beneath that cleaving limb, threatening to blast Oswald back.
COMBATSYS: Oswald reflects Grosse Stob from Adelheid with Heart.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Oswald
He knew that Adelheid was not only fast, but powerful. Frighteningly powerful at that, he had seen him make near-mincemeat out of M.Bison not some months ago despite his own best efforts to try and force a draw, the idea that Adelheid was his opponent now was a tad disconcerting. Disconcerting yet it envigorating.
The burst of speed draws a bit longer than Adelheid may have expected at first as Oswald matches the rush forward with a half-speed backpedaling. If anything, it's only to give him time to draw those cards with that practiced flick of the wrist, taking the custom trumps into fingers as the Heir's strikes start to rain down. The elbow, the punch and the kick do hit something... but it's strangely intangible, like a wall of carefully polished glass as the arms of the Gambler rush to keep up with the speed of Adelheid's attack. Upon the kick though, Oswald's body seems to suddenly come to a stop despite the thrust of the leg, as instead his hands grip the ankle, and a brief yet brilliant flare of pinkish energy pulses through his arms, unleashing the force that each block drew in and blasted it back into Adelheid's body via his leg. The pulse is accompanied with a sudden lunge, pushing the leg forward and in to Adelheid's body - and thrusting him away with it - creating space for the time being.
"...This will not be a disappointing match, for either."
Impressive indeed. Adelheid had inklings about the unique sort of chi manipulation practiced by this card-carrying combatant, but running, literally, full-on into it is a whole different story from suspicions. His force is deflected, the blast of chi redirected, and with a forceful shock, the Bernstein heir is driven backwards, landing hard, his momentum thoroughly reversed. He comes down on one knee, his other foot finding purchase as he shoves upwards, and abates his slide into a recovery of his stance, such as it is. His hands come up, fingers curled but unclenched, and he nods once to his red-shaded adversary, "A good deflection." He admits, even as he comes in at Oswald once more.
In the last instant of his renewed charge, the Prince of War drops low, swinging one leg about in a forceful, sudden sweep, as his right hand shoots upwards, seeking to grasp Oswald by shirt, jacket, or belt - right at the midsection. The idea is to not only take his legs out from under him....
... but also to flex one lithely corded, surprisingly powerful arm, and literally slam him full-on into the deck, aiding his descent dramatically. That's true charity for you.
As the sounds of battle fill the air above, the water below the carrier ripples slightly, as several sneak-suited soldiers creep aboard the vessel. Not fighters, no... soldiers, like these. It's a pity the attention of the vessel is entirely on Oswald and Adelheid, for both entertainment -and- security purposes.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Oswald with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Oswald
He had lifted one leg to evade, but not the second - not expecting the leg to be able to reach both. The arm is crooked, and his body is lifted only to soon after slam upon the false-pavement of the carrier with a rather harsh thump upon the unyeilding land-strip.
Even as he puffs out the air in his lungs to try and keep his breath, Oswald's body flurries into its counter attack as one foot's ankle plants into the ground as the other leg lifts up in a quick arc. The gambler's hands grab at the collar of Adelheid's tight and sleeveless shirt as the knee comes up to try and strike at the side of his head.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Oswald's Medium Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Oswald
As quickly as Oswald is slammed to the ground, Adelheid is preparing to shift his momentum, pushing away... but the cardshark's reaction is faster than he expected. His shirt grabbed, there is little recourse but to interject a solid, braced arm between the gambler's knee and its intended target. The strike hammers home with stinging force against Adelheid's bracered forearm, and he shoves off the strike to extricate himself, and push back to his feet. It's not a stance he holds, however, stepping back in on Oswald and seeking to make the card-carrying combatant pay for his proximity by slamming one reinforced, booted toe up for Oswald's ribcage.
The motion is sudden, the Prince of War twisting to bring his kicking leg around, but all he's really trying to do is help Oswald back to his feet - really!
COMBATSYS: Oswald dodges Adelheid's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Oswald
It's now a battle of agility as Oswald gets to his feet as fast as he can, barely enough time for him to limbo-bend back and off to the side to circumvent Adelheid's chest-aimed kick. The bottom of his ankle brushes up against the bridge of his coat as the Irishman's arm comes down behind him to steady himself, going into a not-so graceful twist away, maybe if he were younger he could have given it a capoeira feel but that wasn't really his intent.
Through the twist-away though that Oswald draws one of his legs in once more, moving with the twist and transforming it into a leap-roll forward by kicking out with that coiled leg. Pushing himself into Adelheid's defense as he suddenly springs up with a rising elbow, following suit with another - a level trajectory elbow aimed at his chest.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to interrupt Fierce Strike from Oswald with Genocide Cutter.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Oswald
Rather than trying to continue the dance of evasion and reprisal, Adelheid makes a bold move. Oswald recovers, launches himself in... and the Prince of War steps into the assault, shifting his momentum behind his right leg as he whips the boot about.... and is abruptly stopped by the impact of Oswald's own kick, which carries enough force to abolish his own plans. Staggering backwards, Adel is prey for the follow-up strikes, the rising elbow and secondary slam sending him reeling backwards, a most palpable hit indeed. Feet fall unsteadily, struggling to keep up with his reversing momentum, and in the end it's simply not enough... he's driven backwards, and into the carrier's deck, his chest stinging rather notably.
Gritting his teeth, the platinum blonde turns his attention to kicking out of his prone position, and rolling back to his feet, his eyes snapping back to Oswald before he's even fully come up into a three point crouch. This fellow is indeed full of surprises.... it may be time to reassess his gameplan. But the Prince of War is far from out, yet.
Through the level elbow, Oswald's body comes to a statuesque stop in that pose, letting his body lock and then relax in a quick motion back to its most natural fighting pose. His style is a bit more brusque than usual, but he has learned that flamboyance isn't always good to have in a match Some things had to be sacrificed for efficency at times.
The snow-white brows grow sombre a moment as Adelheid rights himself, and the grizzled Gambler gives him a curt nod. That was a solid hit and he took it like a pro. Chances are he was the type to become a legend in his own right when the years would pass.
With a roll of his head at first, his body seems to release a part of its tension as the roll seems to flow down to his left arm, giving it a circular motion that ends in a whiplike snap of his hand, flicking out the held card toward the poised Prince...
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Oswald's Queen.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Oswald
Experience and battlefield understanding have long been principles which Adelheid values most highly in the process of learning to fight, bettering his abilities. Oswald is a perfect example of why, as the older man keeps the prodigy on the defensive, the cleaving card crashing in on him with impressive ferocity. Rather than immediately pushing to his feet, Adelheid flexes one arm, angling it to drive the card's impact wide. The sweeping deflection is not without its pain, a momentary wince of surprise crossed the Bernstein heir's features, "Well played." He murmurs, more to himself than to Oswald, the cheering of the onlooking soldiers lost to intense focus as Adel pushes back to his feet, recentering his inner power as calming his mind as he faces off against the enigmatic operative.
"But this isn't nearly finished yet. Let's see if you can keep it up..." If he can, Adelheid will have to strive even harder to make up ground on his own power. Barring that? Well, there's always the old try, try again. Adelheid's not the 'do not' sort of fellow. Crimson eyes burn as he breathes deep, preparing to continue... and perhaps amp it up a level.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Oswald
"Thank you." He says quietly, flatly, otherwise staying still as Adelheid draws his battle sense in and expands his awareness. Oswald on the other hand is doing much the same but of a different variety, taking a moment to slowly draw a breath in, letting his eyes narrow as he lets his tension fade away with a deeply cleansing breath that seems to draw out the pain of the throw and strikes and push them away for the time being... there would be ample opportunity to suffer after the battle, after all.
The fists relax, fingers and arms becoming languid yet legs and back remain still, keeping his alertness about him despite taking his breather...
COMBATSYS: Oswald gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Oswald
Oswald hangs back. Studying, much as Adelheid does, to the young fighter's estimation. Recuperating from what the young Bernstein has been able to do thus far. It's an interesting approach, particularly since it leaves distance for Adel to close - an approach that hasn't precisely been serving him well to this point. Thankfully, a Bernstein is nothing without versatile options. What other point is there to a hybrid, evolving style? Adelheid's concentration settles, and he moves. Not forward, not more than a step - that step synchronous with a sweeping motion of his right arm. His fingertips splay open, brilliant, silvery chi bleeding from his grip as the ground before him -erupts- in a tremendous gale of focused power.
The cleaving edge is nearly as tall as either man, a ragged mass of ripping windshear, its gleaming greyish mass storming across the deck and bearing down on the cardshark mercilessly, a focused blast of rampant chi the likes of which few men twice his age could muster.... all centered on his elusive, impressive adversary, a fiercely focusing shout following the release of the massive burst.
COMBATSYS: Oswald dodges Adelheid's Kaiser Wave.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Oswald
"...HELL!" He blurts out as he spots the familiar Kaiser Wave, the trauma of having it visited upon his body not weeks ago still fresh on his mind like a bad scar. His reaction is almost bordering on the instinctual more than the controlled as the wave manifests and draws out upon the ground toward where Oswald was standing.
The dash he makes toward the wave is just as quick as the leap he uses to propel himself into the air and over the sliver flow of energy that he had once suffered at the hands of Wolfgang Krauser himself - Oswald is not willing to experience that sort of pain twice if he could help it.
It's near the tail end of the leap that Oswald tries to take the moment of recovery that Adelheid was going through to unleash the Kaiser wave as his time of strike, with Adelheid's neck being the target of opportunity. Using the inertia of the leap, his hand goes out to his throat as Oswald's feet land upon the ground, quickly attempting to slip one ankle behind Adelheid's to shove him to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Oswald successfully hits Adelheid with Medium Throw.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Oswald
Impossible! Battlefield wisdom and quick reflex pay off once again, as the speeding storm of power is nullified by Oswald's quick footwork. Rarely-registered surprise shows on the Bernstein heir's face as his gaze snaps upwards, tracking the cardshark's course as well as he can... which winds up to be too little, too late. He shifts his feet, prepares to move, but all he accomplishes in this case is being already off-balance as his opponent descends. The precision choke robs him of air, as surely as the hooking sweep drops him powerfully to the deck, the reinforced metal rushing up to meet him as he crashes backwards, back hitting the carrier -hard-.
Air rushes from his lungs, and his vision momentarily blurs. His head rings, his chest burns, and still the Prince of War refuses to give in. He hasn't been worked like this in a long time - and pity the next who pushes him to such heights! Kicking out with both legs, Adelheid is on the move before he's even fully recovered his breath. There's no time, nothing to be gained from holding back and gaining his bearings now. This is do or die - and Adelheid seeks to match Oswald even when thoroughly on his proverbial turf. He flips back to his feet in one fluid motion, touching down in a sprint that's more a fluid, energy-fueled slide. His aim is simple, but likely unexpected: he blasts full on in at Oswald, swinging one arm around. It's his turn to try to choke the elder combatant, but instead of tripping and shoving, he seeks to quite literally, and suddenly heft Oswald up -off- his feet, and completely ignore gravity as both men would then launch with breakneck g-force acceleration akin to one of the Abraham Lincoln's jetcraft, crossing a wide span of the deck in an instant.... and ideally, slamming Oswald back-first into the carrier at the end, the sudden stop meant to bounce Oswald harshly into the metal.
COMBATSYS: Oswald endures Adelheid's God Press.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Oswald
It was a fleeting and rapid exchange of blows. There was always something lively about a fight without malice, and despite the killer instinct Oswald had to foster into himself to do the jobs he makes a living off of, a part of him loved the rush of combat.
As the Crowned Prince slips away and almost simultaneously leaps back in, Oswald is caught by surprise at first... by a throw he knew well. The God Press was one of the many attacks that had done devastating damage to both M.Bison and the poor flower shop along with. He was already along for the right when that realization comes into play, so he braces, holds breath and simply hangs on for the impact.
The soliders give an almost unanimous 'ohhhhhhhhhh~' shout as Oswald's body comes crashing down to the deck, hard enough to set the seizemic alarm off briefly near the control tower and leaving a considerable mark upon the surface of the stretch.
Oswald took the hit in whole, but he was preparing mentally and physcially through what resolve he could muster for his next attack, as he first keeps hold upon Adelheid and yanks him back down and toward him as he tries to plant a foot upon his chest... then if only he could give a tremendously powerful thrust... to launch him away...
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Oswald's Joker'.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Adelheid 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Oswald
With the foot giving that launch to push Adelheid high up into the air, Oswald unleashes four waves of attacks as he draws himself out of the impact crater. The first wave of cards buys him time to draw himself out of the crater... the second wave of thirteen as he draws from knees to stand, the third as Adelheid means to approach the ground and the fourth when all is said and done....
It's rare for someone to hold on -through- the God Press. Rarer still for it to impact and leave someone coherent enough to immediately follow up. But Oswald is nothing if not extraordinary - the unique wildcard putting Adel through the paces despite the force of that slam. He's kicked off, flying airborne, but aerial antics are one of the Bernstein heir's specialties. He backflips as he ascends, coming about to face Oswald nearly instantly. ... to face dozens of those fearsome cards. If a single thrown playing card charged by Oswald's unusual style stung, this peppers the Bernstein heir with pain. To his merit, however, he keeps his wits. He shifts in midair, a blur of motion equalling the cards as he weaves, deflects, kicks away projectiles. One cuts his cheek, another slices his left bicep, more thud into his bracers audibly.
He drops, and remains in motion, every ounce of his focus intent on keeping those ravaging waves at bay. He lands, and the motions have become almost practiced - as if he's predicting the approach of each strike. Another gash on his arm, a painful strike as one slips through, clipping him in the tensed abdomen. The last flies in.... and is caught between two fingers, crimson eyes rising to Oswald as Adelheid breathes heavily.
He bleeds from numerous wounds now, pain wracking his body. Even so, the expression offered to Oswald... is a smile. Slow, sly, mildly predatory, an icy fire burning in his unusual gaze. His arm shoots out to his side, and the last card is tossed away. He doesn't bother to look at what it is... there's only one it could be. This fight is a bonus to this little operation... which is hopefully concluding by now, as he really doesn't have much time left here, one way or the other. But it's an impressive bonus, "You're going to have to tell me about some of your tricks, sometime. Magician or no." The Prince of War observes in a strained, but undeniably smooth tenor... no, he's still not afraid. Impressed. Hurt. But part of him is still his father's son.
His other arm swipes out to the side as well, and his palms open, burning with luminescent fury. It's his turn.
Power thrums, energy builds, flaring spheres held within his grip as his hands conjure forth twin, massive charges of power. His muscles fles, his eyes narrow, and he /slams/ his hands around, blasting the spheres into one another and giving birth to a wildly coalescent mass of raw, brilliant power.
If the Kaiser Wave he wielded earlier was a tornado, this is a hurricane - the culmination of the Prince of War's astounding chi talent. The twin spheres blossom into a blast exponentially larger than either, a ragged-edged, massive silver-blue mass of white-hot chi. The blast is larger than Adelheid, focused forward with impressive alacrity, the youth himself tensed behind it, focusing all his strength into this blast... into Oswald. Turnabout is fair play, and it's only fair that he remain true to his promise, and hold nothing back. Even this late in the battle, there is no room for doubt, no room for anything but unflinching application of strength. There's much he's learned here - and more to be learned, and it pushes him higher still.
COMBATSYS: Oswald blocks Adelheid's Crown Prince.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Oswald
While it was 'easy' to follow through when prepared for such a blow, like it or not the aftermath has left Oswald a bit worse for wear. His glasses must have slipped off sometime at the impact, leaving his crimson eyes exposed, the crack to his head making an ear bleed just a bit.
"As I thought.... a powerful...foe..." He groans through labored breaths, one hand coming up to wipe at the trickle from the ear, shaking his head to banish some of the cobwebs and tunnel vision.
There was that etherial tingle in the air as Adelheid makes his prodigal talent manifest, and Oswald is wise to what might happen. Another Kaiser Wave? Another attack like that first volley.... No far worse.
His eyes grow momentailry wider as the galeforce wind is unleashed toward the Gambler's standing form. His arms cross before him as his head ducks down, elbows tucked in tight as he weathers the storm much like a palm tree in a monsoon. He is not wholly uprooted, but the chi-blazed coat and shirt and the scarring left from the blow is telltale of a brief story.
The attack was monstrous.
"I ... commend you..." He gruns as his singed arms come down from before him, his body wrenching now as he takes very deep breaths, "This chi you weild. If only I could as well..." Trailing thoughts as he first scuffs one sole upon the ground to test the grip before launching into a dash, "... I ENVY YOU, ADELHEID BERNSTEIN!"
A feint, a false jab, a purposefully placed hook to allow his arms to come up to Adelheid's body to form a clinch as he brings a knee up to try and drive to whatever he could manage to hit...
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Oswald's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Oswald
The blast is released, the coruscating sphere of rampantly charged windshear on its course come hell or high water. Oswald weathers the flaring pseudo-sphere admirably, soldiers behind him scattering to either side just to be sure they're out of the way if he did not stop it, defending himself admirably against the erupting power. Adel's wry expression remains intact as the ruffled Oswald pushes out the other side of the attack... he hadn't expected it to down him, and as before, the cardshark does not disappoint. In fact, he antes up. A nod of respect is paid in response to the compliment, a sentiment that's returned by the platinum blonde prodigy.
"You wield yours in a very different way..." Adel observes, interrupted midthought as Oswald shouts, and charges. The jab falls through empty air as Adelheid shifts his upper body, weaving aside, and then following into a full, flanking sidestep as the feint becomes apparent.... and the card-carrying combatant finds little to grasp but the space where the Prince of War previously stood. He twists to face Oswald, and then leaps straight back, gracefully, intuitively clearing much of the makeshift arena to stand near the outskirts of the circle, putting distance between himself and his adversary as he breathes deeply once more, recovering what energy he can... keeping his senses alert despite the slow blood loss, "An impressive feat on its own - unpredictable and unconventional. Most see only the obvious, brute force over cunning." Something he's already shown with his motions, even the latest leap, not to be the case with himself. His chi fuels nearly everything he does - as it does with Oswald.
... of course sometimes, a bit of brute force doesn't hurt.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Oswald
The attempt at the jab and clinch go wide as Adelheid steps aside and beyond his reach, leaving him to grasp at air as he instinctively ducks and rolls away from what he thought was an attack coming from his blind side. There was no such thing though as Adelheid is away and still to gather his bearings, leaving Oswald semi-crouched with one knee on the ground, on the high defensive side.
Better to err on the side of caution in his case.
It's another tense moment now as Oswald and Adelheid trade roles from a moment ago, as one draws in his spirit and the other sharpens his battle sense; as the Gambler's eyes narrow, and the hands flick once more to produce a pair of cards once again...
COMBATSYS: Oswald focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Oswald
Despite his efforts to turn things around, the gamble remains. The cards on the table continue to favor the calculating cardshark - not that it seems to bother Adelheid overly much. Overcoming a hurdle is of little importance if there is little to overcome. He is impressed, and indeed, surprised. The latter particularly has been rare on his tours of these fighting circuits, but legendary warriors are to be expected. This cagey veteran is one of the more interesting examples, and there is little choice left but to spring his trap once more.
The Bernstein heir channels what strength he retains, once more launching himself forward. His motion blurs, his feet barely touch the ground, and his only greeting towards Oswald is the leading, horizontal chop of one half-gloved hand even with the card-carrying combatant's neck, a staggering blow meant to set him up for what follows: a palm-driven blast of explosive chi aligned with his chest, and the familiar, sweeping kick of his leg that carries with it a burst of silver-grey energy, meant to blast Oswald back, this time as Adelheid uses the force to leap back, himself.
COMBATSYS: Oswald endures Adelheid's Grosse Stob.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\======-\1 Oswald
That attack once more... the flare of energy followed by the rapid strikes. Again he clenches his body inward as the imbued arms come in to strike and slam into his body, making him cough hard with the second and third hits, the groan audible and brisk. The blast of chi still lifts him from his feet as even he wanted to remain still, but the force of the blow leaves him with little choice as he rolls with, turning the shove back into a surprisingly graceful somersault, a double one at that, as a mist of darkness envelops him for a moment before the first flip unleashes a pair of cards... the second flip two more... and a final third upon the moment his foot touches ground...
COMBATSYS: Adelheid just-defends Oswald's Royal Flush!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Oswald
Adelheid's ascent brings him gracefully back, touching down out of the chi-fueled launch in a ready stance. Oswald follows up quickly, there's no denying that... impressively. He can sense the gathering chi within his adversary, even if Oswald hasn't entirely placed that ample energy with the crackling blackness, or the lethal force of those playing cards. Despite his interest in the cardshark's techniques, however, the platinum blonde prodigy has already acquired some insight into the style, the ebb and flow of Oswald's impressive power. In come the first pair, faster than before... Adelheid sidesteps left, his right arm shooting up in a fluid rotation. Those sensitive to the channeling of power would sense the invisible, tangible force that courses up his limbs, through his body. The card that remains on course is driven aside before it even strikes home, as if striking an invisible barrier.
... strangely similar to Oswald's initial technique. Bracers align, and the second pair are driven high, with similar, rippling energy as they skip off the Prince of War's forearms, the young Bernstein dropping low, sweeping in under them even as he deflects them up and past him, to sail off into the wild blue yonder. The final pair blast forth, and Adelheid is already in the air, seeming if anything -invigorated- from the efforts, like a freshly replaced conduit suddenly found its charge. The ocean waves fill his head, the brilliance of the ship's reactor, the fluid warmth of the Pacific wind. For a moment it all comes together, and he is one with the power around him. Inverting, snapping one leg up and around, the Bernstein heir launches a boot-driven lance of wildly driven wind-chi down on Oswald, the dark, swirling mass threatening to surround him in ragged, ripping edges of devouring energy.
Oswald says, "it's a gamble."
COMBATSYS: Oswald fails to reflect Reppukyaku from Adelheid with Heart.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Oswald can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|
Oswald thought he had him for certain. There's a moment of disblief between the two as the cards are so effortlessly flicked away, leaving him to stand somewhat silent and still during the aftermath, the only motion is a solemn nod of his head.
Had he been had? Was Adelheid simply biding his time all throughout the fight just to lead him into a false sense of security? If that was the idea then it was one of the few bluffs he did not see through. A rare event indeed if such were true.
That static buildup of chi begins again and a sneer crosses Oswald's face, painted with fatigue and exertion as the build of chi on Adelheid is met with an almost arcane series of gestures, as he drops four cards strategically about him and builds almost mage's runic circle as a pink and white energy grows from the ground up. A barrier? The energy is tangible, but as the Reppukyaku drives into it... it only lasts a few seconds before Oswald's body and resolve fail him...
The barrier melts, bends inwards and breaks as his body slumps forward.
Bent, broken, spent and drained....
Upon the tarmac now, he lay, eyes closed, a pained expression, chest and back heaving from heavy breaths...
Adelheid's backflip carries him around, and with abrupt velocity, he lands. The crouch is hard, coming down to a full three-point stance, winded from the effort... his back to Oswald. It was a last-ditch assault, not everything he had left, but close enough. Close enough indeed. If Oswald were still able to press the assault, he might be in some serious trouble. Hustled? Not in the classic sense. There was no toying with the cardshark, not beyond learning what he was capable of, what might work to bring him down. In that sense, Adelheid certainly went the distance in the final hand, more than before. When everything was in the pot, he saw the route to take.
... but it was hard fought, to the end. Only sheer determination and unrelenting intensity won the day, and then only just barely. The Prince of War draws a deep breath, and releases it, pushing back to his feet, and finally turning to look to the fallen Oswald. Medics rush over... Adelheid waves off the interest in his own injuries. The gathered soldiers are a mass of elated shouts, chants, and applause. An epic battle, indeed. The cagey, cunning veteran against the youth honed beyond his years. One to write home about, one to remember... one to study further, in the lithe Bernstein's book, "Well fought." Is all he murmurs, smiling slightly to himself.
.... bow now his agents should be back on the boat. There has been no alarm aboard the carrier. They got what they came for.
Log created on 18:03:28 04/11/2008 by Adelheid, and last modified on 00:07:32 04/12/2008.