Description: Kain takes on Kyo in Howard Arena, with Ryuhaku Todoh and Adelheid Bernstein as their almost teammates. What results is chaos and fire. (Winner: ?!??!???!?)
It's been a while since Kain has been assigned a teammate for a SNF match. He certainly doesn't believe he needs any help against Kyo, of course. Both Kyo /and/ Adelheid, though? Well, that might be a little difficult for him to handle by himself. His usual feelings toward partners applies; he doesn't mind them, as long as they don't get in his way. If they /do/ get in his way, well, he's not going to hold back on a good hit just because it might take out more than one target.
Kain strides confidently out into the arena, paying little attention to the cheers of the audience, as usual. Somehow, this manages to make some members of the crowd like him even more. Fans, huh? Heinlein pauses once he reaches his spot, closing his eyes for a moment and letting all the sound fade into the background as he concentrates. For all that he thinks of Kyo as a failure as a person, he has to admit that the Kusanagi heir can be dangerous, and he's got a dangerous ally... so it would be good to be prepared.
And speaking of that particular failure as a person, here's Kyo Kusanagi!
...Wait a minute.
The reigning World Warrior champion makes his own entrance only a few moments after Kain's, looking about how he usually does: Pretty full of himself, with a slight smirk on his face as he surveys the crowd, giving the same look to the sections that cheer him as the ones that don't, and a lazy grace to his movements as he makes his way to the raised fighting stage, arriving from the side opposite Kain. That's probably symbolic, or something.
"Hey, Sparky," offers Kyo as a greeting to Kain as he steps onto the platform. Normally, Kyo would probably play to the crowd a bit more, but today his attention is focused directly on the German. There are few people in the world who can get this kind of focus out of the Kusanagi heir; Kain should be proud of himself! "Too bad we gotta play babysitter today, huh? Just try not to 'accidentally' kill your partner or anything. I know how you Germans can be," Kyo adds, sagely. After all, he fought Krauser and stuff!
"Just remind yourself that he's not Jewish, and you'll be fine." Hi everybody, this is Kyo Kusanagi. He's a jerk.
The Howard Arena has hosted great strength many a time over its illustrious tenure as Southtown's premiere venue, and tonight... the sheer power that gathers centralized on that faux mountaintop is nearly enough to set the non-sensitive onlookers on edge with the tingle of that energy in the air, the focused power that courses through all four men, in their own rights. Adelheid walks up the stairs calmly, the Bernstein heir clad simply in a black muscle shirt and black fatigue pants, along with his customary, heavy military boots, and a pair of hard leather bracers. Crimson eyes scan over Kyo, taking in the exchange between the Kusanagi scion and Kain. Heinlein may not hold the out and out /respect/ he once had from the younger Bernstein, given his dealings with the R Organization.... but Kyo never had any to begin with.
The OTHER German (sort-of), approaches (a safe distance) towards his 'ally', and murmurs to himself, "There really is no right side here." All the better, really. The Bernstein heir observes, cracking a strong fist into his opposite palm. He doesn't offer much more in the way of conversation or taunting, for either Kyo or Kain.... he, unlike those watching at home, /can/ feel the massive chi energy all around him, his own centering as he focuses his attention on the fight to come. If anything, Kain might notice /more/ strength than he recalled... both in the boy himself, and the lack of apprehension when facing Heinlein. But perhaps it's just the proximity of Kusanagi and his remarkable flame... either way things are about to get very chaotic.
The OTHER German (sort-of), approaches (a safe distance) towards his 'ally', and murmurs to himself, "There really is no right side here." All the better, really. The Bernstein heir observes, cracking a strong fist into his opposite palm. He doesn't offer much more in the way of conversation or taunting, for either Kyo or Kain.... he, unlike those watching at home, /can/ feel the massive chi energy all around him, his own centering as he focuses his attention on the fight to come. If anything, Kain might notice /more/ strength than he recalled... both in the boy himself, and the lack of apprehension when facing Heinlein. But perhaps it's just the proximity of Kusanagi and his remarkable flame... either way things are about to get very chaotic.
Of all the times for /him/ to appear, for all the times for /him/ to bother to show his face to the competitive fighting scene, it has to be now. And of all the people to be paired with, it has to be /him/.
Kain R. Heinlein! Bah, says the Ryuhaku Todoh who is probably planning some inane entry just to spite Howard Arena officials over such petty things like 'ticket prices' and 'designated fighter entrances and exits.' Some have run betting pools over this. Some have lost jobs over this. Some have had to be committed in mental hospitals over just how he manages to slip by every. Single. Time.
But there's something different today. A little fan of the flag of Japan rises from behind Kain's head, with two little fingers pointed upwards in the classic 'bunny ears' photograph prank. Some would laugh if they weren't aware of the sheer power that Kain R. Heinlein himself wields as the camera swivels around to catch the elder Todoh in the act, grinning like a naughty little kid.
The security crew leans closer from their station, agape. Did he just? Did he just do that? The one thing no man would dare think he'd do?! Whispers go among them as the proper announcements of the gathering fighters continue for the main event. The ice is broken by a long-time member of the staff, an aging man in his 60s who has a tear roll down his eye.
"He must... he must have walked in behind him. Ryuhaku Todoh, that smarmy bastard... he must have walked in the way he was supposed to!" The security station erupts into cheer and high fives. Did they finally get a peg on the crazy old man and get him to follow the rules at last to some appreciable letter?!
Does the elder Todoh seem to care that his wacky entrance streak has been apparently halted at long last? Well, let's put it this way. What sort of maniac would stand this close to one so proficient with their chi, so much that coming into sheer close proximity makes it outright /ticklish/, just to deliver his own personal touch on the bunny ears prank?
...Take a wild guess.
Todoh's abilities are legendary, but even he can't trail directly behind Kain all the way through the arena and out onto the main stage without Kain noticing. He did make it pretty far, though. Exactly how far, Kain would prefer not to say. But even once he does notice, Kain doesn't do anything about it. Why bother? Of course, just because he's noticed Todoh's presence by the time he makes his entrance doesn't mean Kain is aware of what he's /doing/. He can sense the movement behind him, though. And that makes it a very good thing he knows Todoh is on his side... or it could have had painful results.
"Are you done?" There is no answer to that aside from 'yes', as far as Kain is concerned. "Don't get in my way, and we should be able to work together perfectly well." And that's all the pep talk it seems Kain is in the mood for, as he begins striding toward Kyo. It's all very calm and serene... until Kain suddenly jumps into the air with enough speed that if anybody blinks they might miss him. He flips forward through the air, right leg extending to come crashing down on Kyo's shoulder with a fiery blow. Talking to your opponent before attempting to beat them into the ground? Bah!
COMBATSYS: Kain has started a fight here on the right meter side.
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|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Kyo has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Todoh has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
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|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Kyo counters Strong Kick from Kain with Nue Tsumi.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Kain
What... Nothing? No withering glare, no disdainful sigh, just nothing? You're going to hurt Kyo's feelings like that, Kain!
While Kyo might not have quite the massive ridiculous outpouring of energy that always seems to follow Kain around, there is a definite buildup of power on his part in response to Heinlein's, like some kind of subconscious spiritual pissing contest; either way, the Ever-Burning Flames of the Kusanagi and the Ankoku Flames are about to clash, and the fans know this, and the SNF personnel know this, and that means they're either going to hide or they're going to watch with rapt attention.
Possibly both.
Kain's serene walk forward is met with a skeptical look from Kyo, so while the sudden movement that follows from the blond German might be difficult for most to follow... Kyo sees what's going on. "Yeah, whatever," the World Warrior says, catching Kain's leg before it can properly impact with him, flames or otherwise and using it to bear his opponent towards the slate underfoot, leaning into the motion to drive his other fist down at the same time, impacting as Kain strikes the floor with a fiery strike of his own. "TOO SLOW, SPARKY!"
Frown. What is it about Kyo that makes Adelheid wish he wasn't expected to support the Kusanagi scion? ... oh, right. Just about everything. Kain isn't exactly a great choice either, but hey... at least he's not broadcasting it. The younger blonde watches Heinlein advance on Kyo, studies the form of the technique used to counter it... and holds his ground. He's got two choices here: go for Kain, or go for Todoh. Whatever he thinks of Kusanagi, that's just overwhelming force. He's here for a challenge. Heinlein, with all his skill and natural power, is certainly an appealing target. Before, he and Adelheid have always fought to dramatic result - and some level of pain on both sides. But in today's matchup it's the whimsical, elder master who draws Adel's attention. It's time for Todoh to pull his weight.
The young Bernstein charges forward, accelerating with impressive speed and all but blurring as he charges the eccentric Ryuhaku. Crimson eyes narrow, a wry, predatory smirk quirks at the side of his mouth, and he twists about, throwing a reinforced boot around with a strong snap for Todoh's chest.
Should that grunting-enunciated strike fire true, it's fluidly followed by two more, the military-edition shitkickers snapping in for Todoh's jaw, and then leveling a final roundhouse meant to drop him to the stone. Let the titans clash.... for the moment.
COMBATSYS: Todoh blocks Adelheid's B's Destruction.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Kain
"Yeh hah hah..." It's not the usual loud, crazy, annoying laughter but more the 'stop me you're tickling' variety as Kain deigns to indicate that he is aware of one Ryuhaku's often childish attempts at... well, nearly everything. "Yes, of course, that's right, I'll be a little obedient little twe--," said just about as deadpan as he's ever been up until the hyphens, by which one means the part where Kain just moves forward calmly in what would be the most innocent approach to Kyo ever, because despite the vast difference in ability, both call themselves very proficient chi (ab)users and any movement from Kain can be aggressive, demeaning, and/or threatening at the drop of a hat which Ryuhaku picks up rather easily. Also, ticklish.
But Ryuhaku still clings onto the belief that he is superior even as he clenches his teeth and brings his arms up once Kain leaps off the ground even when Kain is going in the opposite direction and not even attacking him, because Kain has skills that way. This is the part where he bothers to take stock of the rest. That punk kid of Takuma's punk friend, and that nice young man who had a front seat to watching him completely pummel Mr. Big single-handedly in the pursuit of Todoh dominance (lies). Truth be told, he notices Kyo first because the man blinks and then all he So sees post-leaping Kain is his beloved(?) partner eating slate courtesy of flames that are actually the color of proper flames.
As for Adelheid, well, that comes like half a moment later and it is pretty much dumb luck from Kain's threatening presence rather than any true awareness of Adelheid's maneuvers that prevents the boot from caving his lungs in and instead leaving a hell of a bruise in his right palm that is answered with a grunt while the other hand - or the fan, rather - catches the jaw kick, throwing the fan into his own face and bringing up both arms in a cross as if to clumsily catch it, but then it meets the roundhouse, by which one means his left arm gets kicked aside like nothing and it hurts like a mofo but he's still standing and the (sore) unchecked hand clenches into a fist.
He's not going to concede that was a fortunate accident. "I saw it!" He spits out a blatant lie as he thrusts Fist On Arm Not Just Roundhouse Kicked By Adelheid Berenstein Himself upward in a textbook grounded vertical uppercut made special because it is of the Todoh way, in order to give himself just a little space.
That wasn't quite as overwhelming a display of power as Kain might have hoped. Something about getting slammed into the floor and punched doesn't really strike awe into people. Still, it doesn't mean that Kain is out of tricks just yet. He rocks back on his shoulders, then smoothly leaps up to his feet. Turning his back or using his hands to get up would just be asking for trouble in such close proximity to Kyo. Besides, if Kain was using his hands to push himself up, it'd be hard to attack Kyo while rising.
Because that's the plan. As Kain is springing back up, he thrusts forward with his right hand. He doesn't even come close to reaching Kyo, but he doesn't need to. It's the flames that stream from his arm, and keep going forward for a short distance beyond the limb that form the /real/ danger to Kusanagi.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Kain's Schwarz Cutter.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Kain
Honestly, Kyo would be disappointed if Kain ran out of tricks... In a world full of boring people, the Ankoku flamewielder is at least a challenge to fight. Of course, Kyo isn't exactly a fan of him as a person, putting both fighters pretty much on the same page with regard to one another, huh? At the very least, Kain isn't dead-set on killing him like /certain/ other people with flames, or megalomaniacal dictators, so there's that.
So Kain flips to his feet, which is pretty stylish, but on the way up he's slashing at Kyo with his right hand, and that 'blade' of flames, though rather than doing something really awful to the Kusanagi heir and perpetual highschooler, they instead impact with Kyo's upraised forearm, and perhaps more importantly, his Kusanagi glove. The force of the impact is enough to drive Kyo to one side, but the brunt of the damage is deflected entirely, and Kyo lets out a faint amused sound.
"Shoot, so close!" Kyo remarks, before suddenly lunging forward and swinging one fist at Kain's jaw in a short jab. It's almost more of a taunt than an actual attack!
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Todoh's Hakuzan Tou.
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Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Kain
Whether Todoh is just lucky or not - it's enough to save him some pain, this time. As the elder fighter reverses the momentum, Adelheid shifts his footing back beneath him.... and forces himself to keep his attention on the fellow attacking /him/... even if there is a barbecue going on right behind him. Adel braces his feet, crosses his arms, and weaves aside, forcibly blocking the staple technique and deflecting much of the force behind it.
It's a grudge match behind, but Adelheid still keeps his attention on his one, certain opponent in this fight, at least for now. The prodigal Bernstein's footfalls come lithely despite the heavy boots, and he comes in hard, suddenly, on Ryuhaku's flank. A reversed palm slams around, seeking a clenching grip on Todoh's throat, at which point that surprisingly strong, muscular arm would flex, and Adel would seek to sweep Todoh's legs right out from under him, reverse-chokeslamming him back first into the hard rock with a potent, forceful descent. There's two.
Whatever happens, a wry sort of grin appears on Adelheid's face as he rushes in at Todoh. This fight is going to get rather unpredictable in a moment.... assuming Kyo and Kain don't suddenly tear one another apart.
COMBATSYS: Todoh interrupts Medium Throw from Adelheid with Bodyslam.
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Kain
Who knows where Todoh's focus ever lies other than making himself look as great and amazing as possible as to find some kind of leverage up above the comparatively sweeping success of Kyokugen. Kyokugen is not terribly successful in terms of profitability. This might paint a picture... by numbers.
But enough about that. With the single moment afforded by at least pushing Adelheid enough for him to flank him like immediately, he drops his feet further apart into something more readily identifiable as a fighting stance while a little sweat runs down his brow, has anybody ever mentioned how hot these lights are? Or is it the flames over yonder?
He doesn't even give any sort of appreciative nod to the little show of agility and swift, decisive movement that would have fell many a fighter greater as the hand slams around his neck with a loud wheeze. The kid's got a hell of a grip! Whether the mark of a master or simply a reactive panic (or is that how all masters operate), he forcibly pivots on his heel to attempt to face the Bernstein prodigy which doesn't give him as much ground as he'd like because the kid has more than enough muscle behind his lithe frame to make it really hard to do much of anything other than suffer a powerful leg sweep. At least, if he didn't manage to plant his hands on Adelheid at about the worst angle possible but, somehow, he manages to actually lift the young man off the ground by catching himself in a kneel at the moment of the sweep so he can complete the superior throwing technique of kings!!
...A simple over-the-shoulder bodyslam, at its best. Here, it's more of a 'over-the-shoulder-stumble-collapse-on-top-of-the-guy-after' sort of variation that he must have been practicing day and night for this very single moment (or not), at which point he makes little smiling face through heavy breathing and yet another wheeze because damn, that arm, his palm, and now one of his ankles feel ready to betray him to some body part donation drive.
He knows...
COMBATSYS: Kain blocks Kyo's Quick Punch.
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Kain
Kyo doesn't seem to be putting much effort into his attack, and Kain doesn't put much effort into his defense. He simply sweeps one arm up, taking the punch on the forearm and knocking Kyo's fist off course so that he can't follow through to get a clean strike in on Kain. At first it looks like Kain is in a perfect position to go for a strike at Kyo's torso... but then Heinlein considers something. Kyo's probably already preparing for that, and he's got another arm for defense...
And so Kain reaches out, attempting to grab Kyo by the striking arm. He then twists about, getting himself onto the outside of Kyo's grasp rather than the inside. Holding onto Kyo's arm with one hand, he pulls back his other, curling up a fist. A blue glow surrounds his hand as his goal becomes clear, and then he strikes out. Maybe a direct punch to the elbow while his arm is being restrained will be enough to make Kyo concentrate on something other than mocking.
COMBATSYS: Kyo dodges Kain's Medium Punch.
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Kain
But... Kyo can guess where Kain is going with this as he tries to grab him by the striking arm, and that place is NOWHERE GOOD. So Kyo twists, and gets his other arm out, forcing Kain off as he tries to grab him and get all twisty, then hopping back and putting a bit more space between himself and the Ankoku flamewielder. "Hey, at least buy me dinner first," Kyo chides, wagging a finger at Kain, and mostly ignoring Adelheid and Todoh entirely at the moment. Oh, sure, he's aware that they're present, with that sort of subconscious sense any fighter of his caliber has got to develop, but they're not really a pressing concern.
Not right this second, anyway.
Holding his right hand up, Kyo summons forth the flames of his bloodline once again, the orange-crimson fire burning in his palm without actually, you know, /burning/ his palm; his posture tenses a little as he focuses on the flame, concentrating on what he's doing, tapping the ancestral power of the Kusanagi clan.
COMBATSYS: Kyo gathers his will.
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Kain
Adelheid's attempt to thwart Todoh, and send the self-styled ultimate master to the rock is in turn thwarted by Ryuhaku. He still has plenty of fight in him, it would appear... at least when confronted by the antics of young upstarts. Adelheid is slammed to the arena, crashing hard to the unforgiving ground and skidding a short distance away, the wind half-knocked from his lungs. He coughs out, of all things, a laugh, and kicks out of his crash landing, coming up in a crouch, and returning his gaze to the elder fighter. Almost time, "Hope you're ready for this." Adel observes, still eyeing Todoh with a sort of amusement, as intense as his attention of the fight itself may be. It's simply entertaining, and in the Bernstein heir's book... the trouble Kain seems to be having pinning Kyo down just makes it better.
Kyo gathers that fiery, primal power... and Adelheid's blonde mane feels like it's trying to stand on end. He chuckles softly, and pushes back to his feet, taking a step away from Todoh, and looking momentarily over towards the clashing flame-wielders. He doesn't move, not yet... and he doesn't take all his attention off of Todoh either. But the Bernstein heir gathers his wits and strength in his own way, fist clenching at his side.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid focuses on his next action.
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Kain
Todoh's landing was not quite as gentle in comparison! Or flopping, depending on how you look at it. But you'd better be looking at it as 'totally on purpose done willingly to make the younger generation feel better about their meager chances to surpass him,' or else... uh, something.
"Geeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah," Ryuhaku groans as he pulls himself back up, sitting, then, slowly, standing. Did anybody ever mention that Adelheid's pretty good at making hits hurt? Or maybe the master(?) is simply disappointed that some kind of grandiose little ploy in his head is not quite playing out as he hopes for it to, coming up somewhere steady.
"Do you... do you even have to ask?!" At least his voice is still spry and full of fight and spite and blight and other sorts of funny but relevant '-ight' words. But maybe not foresight. Kyo's busy putting on a show while Kain's trying to do his damned hardest to catch him. The way it's all come down, though, this is just about everything he could ever hope for except for one thing.
Kain and Kyo are a liiiitle bit too far for his favored approach, but rather than sit there, grunt, scratch his head, and otherwise let a certain someone possibly succeed in a moment of opportunity... grows a sly little grin. Like a cheeky moth to a flame that should know better than to invite it! Or two flames, whose radiating powers ironically could chill to the bone!
But while he's there standing and posturing and otherwise doing his usual sorts of antics when he's not actively attacking, he throws himself down against the ground with a little forward momentum by hopping off his less achy foot, and by that point it's too late for regrets as to the sting that goes through his hand as the sore palm and the opposite arm o' pain steady his momentum while he chooses subconsciously, rather than willingly, to strike out with the achy ankle towards Kain's posterior in that infamous forward lunging kick that is professed to be the counter to the Hien Shippu Kyaku!
But is it a counter to Kain's bum? Wait, what madness is this, isn't he on Kain's team, or...?!
COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Kain with Sweeping Kick.
Glancing Blow
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Kain
What's this? The flareup of energy from Kyo is attracting most of Kain's attention, but he hasn't forgotten about Todoh and Adelheid. That, though, was mostly from the concern that Adelheid might slip past Todoh and flank him. /Todoh/ attacking him was quite unexpected. "What do you think you're doing?" Kain's not going to hang around for the answer to that, though. Todoh can shout it to him, as Kyo is still the greater threat.
And so Kain races toward Kusanagi, heedless of the fire burning in his hand. Kain has plenty of his own fire, after all. In fact, so much that it's now around his hands... and feet... and flickering out from the edges of his clothing as he closes in on Kyo. As Kain gets within a few feet of Kyo there's suddenly a rush of air as those flames explode outward, engulfing the area around Kain a raging black inferno for several dangerous moments. Then the flames fade back out, without having even mussed up Kain's hair.
COMBATSYS: Kyo just-defends Kain's Schwarze Kreuz!
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Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
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Kyo 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Kain
So there's Kyo, right? He's minding his own business, gathering power to probably do something really awful to Kain, when suddenly he's got to deal with the blond German himself trying to explode him. What's really curious is the way Todoh is suddenly going after his supposed 'partner', and Adelheid is... Standing around, doing nothing, at least for the moment. It seems like things are getting a little wacky, which is probably Todoh's fault.
The explosion of black flame engulfs Kyo, who can't really move too quickly at the moment without losing his concentration and wasting his efforts; the only thing he /can/ do is more of what he's doing, bringing his flames to bear to buffer himself from Kain's blast long enough to get the hell out, looking pretty damn pleased with himself when he does. "What is this, my birthday or something?" wonders the Kusanagi heir, who then lunges directly at Kain. His right fist lashes out, a hooking punch aimed right at Kain's face, with those flames of his trailing behind the arc of his hand and accompanying the expected impact; if he lands the first punch, then Kyo steps in and offers up a second, with his left fist. before finishing things off with a powerful, sudden uppercut delivered to the underside of Kain's jaw, accompanied by a sudden explosion of Kusanagi flames!
And Todoh jumps the gun and is off to start the race... to CHAOS! It's appropriate, really, and the eccentric master does seem to unbalance Heinlein... which bodes ill, considering the strength and grace with which Kusanagi simply negates Heinlein's strike. Bends it to his own purposes as he launches forward with a fiery strike. The blonde prodigy's eyes narrow, and he draws a deep breath.. and then Adel is launching himself right into the fray. He can't cross the distance in time to do anything about the swift strikes now headed Kain's way, but whatever becomes of that confrontation, Adel moves with purpose. A forceful sweep of his arm brings a grasping hand in for Kusanagi's collar, or throat if he's lucky.... and that's where the fun would begin.
A sudden surge of chi that's not outward, but inward, and a shockwave would be all that announces their departure from the ground, hurtling towards the far end of the arena. The idea here is to harshly slam Kyo against the ground, with the full force of the gravity-defying, breakneck launch from zero to 60 in .8 seconds. And the sudden stop at the end is typically difficult to forget. At least, that's the idea.
.... after all, getting the drop on Kyo Kusanagi can be harder than it looks.
The elder Todoh's eyes nearly bulge out of his head, not just because of this overwhelming sense of karmic justice flowing through him... wait, no, no, that's just the chi that's EVERYWHERE SO MUCH CHI it's like a volcano is blowing bubbles into a hot bath while the bubbles have feathers that tickle you and then instead of laughing you kind of grimace.
Or that's how Todoh does it as he pushes himself up without much of the panache but all of the proper determination, "HEY KYO OL' PAL!" Spoken as though, for once in the elder Todoh's life, there happened to be someone he didn't immediately want to ruin the day of just by being within eyesight of, which may more than disarm the audience who is used to him ranting, raving, bragging, and... losing.
Leaping up off his better foot again a modest (by fighter standards height, he calls out once more in all his far too energetic 'splendor,' "HOW'S ABOUT WE--"
...It's hard to transcribe what comes next as both arms go up, if not evenly, but symmetry and form have never been a concern to Todoh, not when above the flames of red and the flames of purple comes a brand new challenger to the bright flashy chi color scene, the revolutionary world-changing yellowish-orangeish shapes of... something, something that must be majestic in appearance for it links together in threes and descends with but a mighty discerning descent of both arms as the chi falls, but that's not all! It happens again, and again, and again, each one threatening to drown out the colors and spectacles of the fighting red and purple flames with each and every summon and descent as the whole lot of them threatens to rain down on Kain like a storm just waiting for a parade to make its entrance.
In-between loud calls to bring such a difficult (pfft) technique to focus, he slips in one-syllable words between calls that kind of goes as the following: "HEEYAHHEEYAHKICKHEEYAHHEEYAHHEEYAHSOMEHEEYAHBUTT!" Some of the finest English statements stolen from the little black Kyokugen playbook of English insults circa the decades young people are bored of hearing about, yes siree.
The important point is, Kain may be one of the world's very foremost masters of chi as a weapon, but Todoh does not quit! It's a veritable barrage of battering Kasane Ate, the sheer quantity to shut up those few fans who wonder where the hell they've been, this might be one of the longest non-Kasane Ate droughts in recorded history for serious.
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Kain with Aragami.
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Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Kain blocks Todoh's Kasane Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Kain
Kain is, quite honestly, caught by surprise. He was not expecting Kyo to be able to pull off something like that. He recovers quickly, but not quickly enough. Kyo's flaming uppercut crashes into his jaw, knocking his head back and sending him staggering. Even so, he's still able to sense the energy build up from Todoh and react accordingly. He steadies himself and leans forward, tucking his head in just as the barrage of Kasane Ates strikes him. There are flashes of blue light as the attacks from Todoh clash with Kain's own chi, which seems to be doing quite a good job of holding them off, allowing Kain to emerge relatively, though not completely, unscathed.
When Kain sees Adelheid going for Kyo's throat, he starts to form a pretty good theory of what's going on here. Oh Geese, you prankster. Still, hopefully the distraction will keep Kyo occupied for a moment. Kain needs to reformulate his plan of assault, since it doesn't seem to have been working very well so far. And he's pretty sure he can hold off Todoh, at least.
COMBATSYS: Kain gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Kyo with God Press.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Kain
A shocking turn of events!!
It's Kyo's turn to be caught by surprise, as he's just about to make some smartassed remark in Kain's direction when suddenly Adelheid attacks him, grabbing him by the throat and bearing him right off the stage like being dragged behind some kind of rocket car. Yeah, rocket car. Shut up. The impact with the far wall is a little less than pleasant, and it takes even the great Kusanagi a few seconds to recover from /that/, but recover he does, popping his neck as he gets up to his feet, looking directly at Adelheid.
"You know... It really /has/ been a while since I beat the hell out of a Bernstein. They say it's kinda like riding a bicycle." At this point, Kyo takes a step towards the other young fighter, his eyes narrowing faintly. "Tell you what though, Junior. You go get back in line, and I'll whoop your ass so bad even your dad'll feel bad about it, when I have the time." After all, Kyo has bigger fish to fry. Bigger, more luxuriantly haired, black flame-wielding fish.
Kyo's next move is to simply dash to get /around/ Adel, then throw himself up into the air. It's the fastest way to both get back in the ring /and/ attack Kain at once, after all, so Kyo leaps through the heavens, tucking one leg in and extending the other, turning himself sideways in midair to bring his extended foot towards Kain's head in a wide arc. "HEADS UP, SPARKY!!"
"You must not have read the fight card." Adelheid observes, turning to track Kyo's aggressive momentum as he charges past the younger blonde and back in at Heinlein, "Not that I'm surprised, there were a lot of large words." Kusanagi's attack is perfectly executed, dangerous... to Kain... but what goes up, must come down. It's as he lands that Adel moves to continue his assault on the Kusanagi scion, launching forward with a vicious, unhesitating elbow strike even with Kyo's skull, "THERE IS NO LINE!!" his knee follows, his weight thrown behind the attempt to double Kyo over.
At that point? If Adelheid gets his way, Kyo is in for a very uncomfortable ride. A vicious uppercut would be added to the woes of his ribs, before a stepping kick snaps for one of his knees, a most vicious takedown indeed. One which /explodes/ with windy chi, a jagged windshear of greyish razors, ripping upwards from the arena mountaintop and seeking to tear Kusanagi's legs right out from under him. This confrontation is one that Adelheid has been waiting for for a while... Kyo doesn't get to just blow him off! Besides, talking about beating his father... true or not... is enough to inspire him all the more. As far as the Bernstein heir can tell, this fight is basically every man for himself... barring Todoh, at least. The pendulum may be swinging back the other way soon... but a narrow window just reinforces his enthusiasm.
"YEH HAH HAH HAH... HAH HAAAAAAH!" That terribly annoying laughter will echo through the arena once more tonight as his descent eventually brings him back to the slate that will be the deathbed of the good mood of at least one person.
The greatest jogger of the Todoh Way (or, arguably, the greatest Segway scooter rider of the style, come to think of it) lands lightly enough on his feet although his garb can't completely hide the signs of winding. Or his breath. In, out, in, out, a mad little dry-eyed glare of angry old man murder. Do you think he's forgotten about the time you humiliated the family name right here in this very spot months ago, Mr. Heinlein?!
Adelheid adds in his own favored color of chi (and element), gray, giving those whole battle, for the briefest moment, an eclectic clash of lingering chi colors as they all eventually fade back into the world fighters pick clean for the sake of bright, shiny, deadly colored assaults. Ryuhaku edges a ways from Kain with his back turned... what?! First the bunny ears, then the blatant betrayal, and now he expects to turn his back and not exepct anything bad happen?
Considering the fact the elderly of the two infamous Todoh style fighters incidentally of the family name Todoh is still alive, maybe he doesn't quite have that much to fear. He edges ever so closer to Adelheid, socks scraping against the slate in some ill conceived attempt to disguise footsteps when the action itself may be considered noisy while rising and lowering his arms slightly with the approach. Neither of the supposedly 'higher' tier fighters are pleasant to approach when you're so familiar with when chi is being thrown or about to be thrown, but the little breeze from Adelheid makes it slightly more... secure, if there's a way to put it.
But there's always some fun to be had when he just casually cocks back the arm of the hand with the palm that is slightly less sore than before and just swings it straight for the back of Adelheid's head with nothing but the waving of eyebrows twice to say to the audience 'look at me, I'm so clever' and gives out a sharp kiai to punctuate the punch to the back of the head.
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Kain with RED Kick.
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Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Kain
Perhaps Kain would have had better luck trying to emulate Kyo's response to a kick from above. As it stands, Kain takes a kick to the head from Kyo, stagger as his ears ring from the impact. Things could be going more smoothly, it's true. But Kain isn't out of the fight yet! He takes a moment to clear his head while Adelheid is attacking Kyo, then turns his attention back to the Kusanagi heir. It's about time to start getting some payback...
Kain holds out both of his hands, and with a thought they are surrounded by black fire. He brings both arms back for a moment, then whips his hands in Kyo's directions. Twin fireballs leap forth, spiralling around one another as Kain attempts to blast a hole in Kyo's defenses. He needs to do /something/ to try to get himself an edge, because if things keep going the way they have been, he's going to get too worn down to keep up with Kyo.
COMBATSYS: Kain successfully hits Kyo with Schwarze Flame.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/---====/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Kyo with Grosse Stob.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
Hell yeah, booting Kain in the head is good clean family fun. Everyone should try it. But the Kyo does indeed have to land once that's done, which puts him in a bad situation, as he's got to deal with attacks from both Heinlein and Bernstein, and they're both quite good at what they do... Not even Kyo can deal with everything perfectly, every time.
Instead, Kyo's attempt to deflect Kain's flames fails, the blast getting through and driving him... Right into Adelheid's attack, getting him doubled over and then taken right off of his feet by the younger fighter's assault. For a moment, a long moment, Kyo is sorely tempted to get all retributive on Adel's skull, but there's /also/ an incoming Todoh to consider. "Yeah, that's cute, now get back to the kid's table," Kyo informs Adel, as he hops up to his feet, his knees twinging what with the whole wind shear cutting thing, hoping the old lunatic will be able to keep the red-eyed youth busy. Meanwhile, Kyo is actually going to take just a second to sort himself out, because he really had a bad few minutes there. And things were looking so good before that!
COMBATSYS: Kyo gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Todoh's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
"The... kids table?" Adelheid inquires, as Kyo picks himself up. He does withhold further assaults for a moment... there'll be another time, after all, and he has other things to deal with, "Have you /seen/ the other fighter in this match, Kusanagi?" Duuuuhr. Old man. Todoh. Oh well. No one ever accused Kyo of higher learning. Any further retorts are cut short by the arrival of said aged warrior, his practiced strike slicing through the air with plenty of force.... in the same instant that Adelheid darts aside, weaving as if intuitively away from the would-be ambush, and twisting mid-step to come about facing Todoh, not far off at all, "Time for another round is it, old man?" Adelheid asks with a grin. He has /some/ idea of Todoh's relative strength and style now.. this turn may be lucky for Kain, but for the moment, there aren't a lot of options.
Adelheid lunges in, trying to pass by Todoh's guard while he's caught off guard by his failed surprise attack, and if he succeeds, well. Todoh won't be the one looking clever as he's hefted by his FACE, the Bernstein heir's fingers clenching into his features for a moment before literally swinging him around and heaving him across the arena with a point-blank, explosive column of ragged energy blasted squarely through his skull.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Todoh with Scorpion Deathlock.
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Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
Swing and a miss!!
Fist meets thin air where pretty thin-but-deadly Bernstein heir was like moments ago but for all intends and purposes, Ryuhaku Todoh also held a spectacular grudge against this patch of oxygen and now feels at least one entry on his little black list can be safely crossed off, which is just BS because missing Adelheid to begin with accomplishes nothing but one supposes he has been skating on a silver lining for years by now!
"You betcha!" He sneers as he draws his hand back. "You'll never win against my bestest buddy in the whole world, K--" Who?! The world will never know because Adelheid finally gets in a clean grasp on his face. Well, not entirely clean, he does lean his head back a little so Adelheid would have to reach the extra inch, but the extra inch is more than covered and now his head is full of prettyboy hand and his feet are full of the oxygen he was spiting that now does not feel compelled to cheat physics (oxygen so has feelings of its own) and the eldest one of the quartet gets a non-stop flight ticket to burning his heels against the slate when he does try to stop the momentum and then the wall suddenly crumples on itself as a Todoh-shaped outline underneath the ragged energy column, making his hair stand on end in enough directions to count as a temporary afro before he simply pops out of his own accord and hits the battleground, sizzling.
Is that the last the fighters will have to deal with him? Are the officials ready to ring the bell? That seems a little too /easy,/ even for /him,/ but there's not much movement. Curious!
COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
Well now, blasting Kyo with fire was so effective, why should Kain be in a rush to close in on his opponent again? Why not take advantage of the situation while Kyo is catching his breath, and Adelheid and Todoh are busy dealing with one another? And so Kain decides to soften Kyo up a bit more before going in for the kill. Although if this manages to blow him to pieces, Kain won't complain.
Heinlein puts his hands close together and a moment later there's a flash of golden light from between his palms. This quickly expands to fill all the available space between Kain's hands with crackling gold energy. He shifts his arms so that his palms are pointed toward Kyo and that energy continues to expand, forming a giant sphere of raw energy, churning about and generating enough wind to set Kain's clothes and hair to fluttering behind him. Suddenly it pulses and then leaps forth, zooming toward Kyo with a crazy, erratic pattern through the air.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Kain's Himmlische Macht.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 Kain
It's probably a pretty close thing; while Adelheid and Todoh busy themselves doing... Whatever it is they do, Kyo's focus returns entirely to Kain. Obviously, he's not going to get more than a moment to catch his breath, so he has to make do with what he can manage; especially since Kain is about to send a lot of pain in his direction.
The incoming sphere with its raging power stirs Kyo's clothes and hair in turn as it closes with him, but he manages to, at least, get his arms up in the way of the energy, deflecting the brunt of the harm instead of just outright eating it. Of course, between Kain's attacks and the ones he got from Adelheid on top of that, Kyo's not looking too great... But don't think he's done yet.
"What, are you having an off day or something?" Kyo wonders of Kain, giving his numbed arms a shake to loosen them up... And then he lifts his right hand high in the air, where it catches on fire. ...And then so does the rest of him. Orange-crimson fire envelops Kyo's form, tendrils of power rising off of his body as it intensifies, focusing on the flame in his hand... And Kyo's focus remains direclty on Kain, for the heartbeat it takes to collect his power...
And then suddenly Kyo is all but sliding forward, swinging his upraised arm back and then forward in a wide arc, releasing all that gathered Kusanagi flame, in a raging torrent that seeks to overwhelm Kain entirely. The flame that surrounds Kyo pours into the wave as it howls forth, strengthening it yet further. "...EAT THIS!!"
Well. Perhaps he hit Todoh a little TOO hard. He's not as young as he used to be. But then, neither are men like Rugal and Geese and.... no, mustn't even ponder Takuma's name. It will bring the wrath of the Todoh. Kyo and Kain exchange massive amounts of firepower, no pun intended, and it's hard NOT to be distracted. Luckily for Adelheid, he's still on his feet, and Ryuhaku is making no immediate play to get back on his feet and strike back. Adelheid simply holds his ground, and watches the titans clash, his own intense energy gathering, suddenly redoubling, almost as if he had been holding it back throughout the fight... and only now building to a true crescendo.
A tangible wave of energy flows outwards, a torrent surrounding him a rushing in a cyclone of purest force, the raging gale gathering, infusing him, fires intense behind his crimson eyes. Muscles tense, and his platinum mane flares wildly, a focused, intent eye to the proverbial hurricane, the power he's gathering not quite on the level of that executed by Kain and Kyo, just now....
.... but at the same time, it is frighteningly close. Not to mention stealing a trick right out of Kusanagi's playbook.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Kain
Turning one's back to Todoh is... hm, well, depending on risk versus reward versus entertainment... let's not go into the hard math.
Some of the crowd gasps when they see Todoh's head rise up with that sort of spiteful old man rage everyone fears through all periods of their life! But yet, he brings himself up at a leisurely pace. The massive powers of Kain and Kyo at their finest are not to be underestimated, even from all the way over /there/ Ryuhaku suddenly has to duck his head, and the breezy power of the nearby Adelheid! But he's not intimidated, oh no.
If he had any sense of self preservation he wouldn't sneak up behind Adelheid on his tiptoes almost in a page taken right out of Looney Tunes, thinking he has the upper hand right as he creeps closer and closer behind Adelheid's little show of almost-as-awesome power. But can Adelheid's power hold against the most frightening power of the arsenal not of the Todoh way, but of all old men?
Such as when he suddenly thrusts a hand towards Adelheid's ear and tries to swing it around. "Quit standing around already and go ruin a perfectly fine fight already!!" But, would he even get the chance to say all that?!
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Kain with Orochinagi'.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Kain
Once again, things do not go quite as Kain had planned. The chi blast may have softened Kyo up a bit, but not enough to completely destory his defenses. And certainly not enough to keep him from striking back with a massive inferno. Kain starts bringing his arms up to defend himself, but the flames slam into him and sweep him right off his feet. Heinlein crashes down to the stone floor on his back, wisps of flame still burning across his body for a few moments before they are extinguished.
Kain sits up with a grunt, propping himself up with one hand on the ground. The other hand, though, starts to glow with blue light. And as Kain gets back to his feet, that light grows in intensity. If an exploding sphere of chi won't properly harm Kyo, maybe delivering the pain in another manner will work. The chi in Kain's hand flares up for a moment, then a beam of brilliant blue energy shoots out, flashing through the air toward the center of Kyo's chest. It doesn't last for long, though anybody who looked directly at it may see an afterimage for a bit.
COMBATSYS: Kyo dodges Kain's Himmlische Seele.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kain
Like most people, Kyo isn't super keen on getting hit with whatever gigantic crazy nonsense Kain decides he's going to toss at him; sure, Heinlein might dress like a goof and look like he fell out of a shampoo commerical, but dude hits hard. So when Kain levels that energy beam at the Kusanagi heir, Kyo does the only thing that he really can, and slips out of the way, the blast just barely missing him as he continues forward at a low run, rushing directly at Kain.
The epic saga of whatever the hell Adelheid and Todoh are doing, seemingly alternating beating up their teammates and each other, is pushed to the back of Kyo's awareness; right now, the Ankoku flamewielder is his target, and beating Kain's head in his primary goal. So it is that Kyo closes with Kain finally, and swings his fist in another hooking, fiery punch, but this one is clearly more forceful than the one he used before; if it strikes home, then Kyo twists around, swinging his other hand up in a short backfist at Kain's chin, more Kusanagi flames trailing behind his hand, summoned forth with contemptuous ease. And then, Kyo keeps on moving, leaping off the ground to hit Kain with his shoulder, intent on lifting the blond off the ground with him, before driving him back towards the stone fighting stage with a last explosive, fiery punch. "You're DONE!!" Kyo proclaims, possibly prematurely.
Alliteration is fun!
COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Adelheid with Quick Throw EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kain
Adelheid again senses Todoh's approach, despite his uh... amazing stealth.... but once his ear is snagged, things go decidedly NOT according to plan. Adelheid figured he could wrench free of that, or just resist... Todoh's grip can't be THAT strong, and sure, it'll hurt but... but oh MAN was he wrong. Lectured, yanked about, Adel grits his teeth and does all he can /not/ to scream about it as Ryuhaku goes off with his rather... odd brand of wisdom. It's not advice Adelheid heeds, however. Todoh has presented himself right at the front of the pack just this moment, and as Adel finally does twist free... all his attention shifts to the eccentric master for a moment, "You have GOT to be kidding me!" he exclaims, slamming his right arm upwards through the air with a dramatic 'whoosh'. One which pales next to the eruption the motion conjures.
The faux mountaintop explodes before Todoh, a tidal wave of rampant wind-chi rushing towards him with old man consuming force. A braced arm steadies the silvery mass, forging a cleaving blast out of the ether with sheer force of will... and some motivation from his hurting ear. It's a familiar technique to the other two in the arena... but perhaps not wielded by this particular youth.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Todoh with Kaiser Wave.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Adelheid 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kain
One must wonder how Rugal is going to take this when they see that this old man that the world just cannot be entirely rid of just up and manhandles his son as if he were of the same social status, perhaps even /species/, of human being to up and do that. During the swinging, ol' Ryuhaku moves on away from the wall to the point where his back now properly faces what may be the final exchange of blows between Kyo and Kain, but this is a team match... on whose side is who? The mind boggles! The crowd can't follow!
But they can follow when the right arm of Adelheid slams upward and dislodges Todoh's grip precious seconds before the MASTER OF ALL gets a killer windblown look in his hair for a photo op. Followed by one narrowed eye and one wide one as if to scrutinize the power that builds, leaning back just a tad because it's slightly difficult to breathe with it blowing so strongly.
And then there is a giant chi blast the likes of which many would be familiar with from a few others on the field, as is the loud scream that punctuates a flying old man blasted clean off his high horse. On the slate. Which is of the same elevation as every other square foot of slate.
"AIIIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" If there's any small talk between Kyo and Kain alike, it might take a back seat to the ever-obnoxious yelling as he goes to sail over their heads, but wait! In mid-flight, just right before he can cleanly pass over them and be caught gently (haha, no) by the opposite wall, once more his arms reach for the skies and the world gets to see another glimmer of the true untapped potential of chi, er, if you... don't... count the other three BUT WHO'S COUNTING, another nearly formless aside from 'blocky' or 'chunky' yellowish-orangeish chi that, in formation, leaves the elder Todoh's hands before he can ever properly guide it downward for that added 'oomph.'
But it's okay, gravity does the rest for poor Kain who is roughly underneath the tip of the iceberg. If icebergs were the color of illuminated urine and toppled totem poles made of chi. Yes.
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Kain with Dokugami.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Kyo 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Kain endures Todoh's Kasane Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 1/---====/=======|=======\=======\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Kyo 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Kain
Things just aren't going Kain's way tonight. It seems the beating he's been taken has slowed him down enough for Kyo to be able to see and avoid his chi blast, and the effort took enough out of Kain that he's not able to react in time to the Kusanagi heir's counter assault. He manages to get one arm up, but it's knocked aside as Kyo delivers blow after punishing blow before launching Kain off the ground and slamming him back down. As he falls, Kain is struck by Todoh's Kasane Ate, buried under a wave of orange chi.
But even as that orange washes over Kain, there's suddenly a hole punched through it by a gout of black flame. Bursting right through the Kasane Ate, Kain's last gasp shoots toward Kyo in the form of a ball of black fire sent racing toward the younger man's face. Even in the last few moments of conciousness, Kain doesn't give up.
COMBATSYS: Kain can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 1/---====/=======|=======\=======\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Kain successfully hits Kyo with Schwarze Flame.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 1/---====/=======|=======\=======\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|
Landing easily - or at least, as easily as he's going to manage, after the battering he's taken - Kyo is pretty surprised to suddenly see Todoh adding to the whuppin' that Kain has received. It's clear, at least, that the master of the Ankoku Flames isn't going to be getting back up... So all Kyo has to do is deal with whatever spiteful last gasp the blond might have in store. Piece of cake!
Except maybe not.
As the shot of black fire comes his way, bursting through the fading Kasane Ate, Kyo throws up his arms to try deflecting it... But he's simply taken too much damage so far, his reactions slightly dulled, and the flames blast through his guard, driving Kyo back with a grunt of pain. That kind of sucked a little, but in the end... Kyo is still standing, and Kain is not, so all in all he feels pretty good about himself.
Of course, there's still Adelheid and Todoh to be considered.
Truth be told, Kyo isn't even sure which one of them he's supposed to be beating up, anymore... But Adelheid looks like a pretty good target, doesn't he? "Hey, Junior," Kyo says, looking towards the red-eyed youth. "Looks like the queue moved up a bit." And then, Kyo closes the distance between himself and Adel at a dash, slipping into a baseball slide at the last moment to swing first one leg at the younger fighter's ankles, then twist and swing his other leg back the other way, intent on dropping Bernstein right on his duff.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Kyo's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 1/--=====/=======|=======\=======\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|
Kyo and Kain's brutal clash comes to the only conclusion it was likely to: both fighters battered, taxed to their limits. One stands, the other falls. Todoh.... Todoh not only still stands, he helps finish off his (current) opponent. Heinlein may not go down without a parting shot... but it's readily clear that Kusanagi is not finished fighting yet. Adelheid turns as Kyo charges, facing him sidelong. At the last moment he drops, dropping a barrier in the form of his knee in the way of Kyo's sliding kick, the Kusanagi scion crashing forcefully into the crouching deflection... but with little of the impact he desired, "Hey, Kusanagi." Adelheid echoes, planting a palm on Kyo's leg and shoving off, all but gliding away, back to a standing position. Unlike the others left in this battle... Adel barely seems winded. Granted, a lot of that is sheer luck, but it doesn't mean he's not going to play it up. Even if Kyo WOULD revert to being his ally any moment now, "Time to GIVE IT UP!!"
If the previous blast of chi was a thunderstorm, what follows is a raging typhoon. Both of Adelheid's arms flex, extending out to his sides, muscles tensing powerfully as his brow furrows, and a tremendous upsurge of energy centers in each of his grasping hands. The intense chi gathers in instants, and is forced forward as Adel slams his hands together before him, a brilliant, Kusanagi-cleaving crescent of devestating chi, tearing harshly through the (decidedly limited) space between the Bernstein heir and Kyo. The flaring mass seeks to end Kyo's participation in the bout rather dramatically.
.... before someone tries to insist that he /help/ the guy, again. Jeez.
Splat, goeth the Todoh, as he hits the opposite wall at last and slides down onto his side with a prolonged groan. It is broken by a smile a mile wide when Kain seems to struggle to get back up and fire his last(?) at Kyo. Yeeeeeees, that's what you get.
But wait! His face, as though there was an on switch, goes to blank confusion. Which one is he now?! The mind boggles as much as the audience as he pushes himself with a labored effort and a little headshake. Now now, Ryuhaku, you're the best there is, what do you do next?!
Play it straight, of course, what with Kyo and Adelheid both being oh so CONVENIENTLY out of immediate reach. "Hey, kid!! How about you help your best buddy in the whole wide world, THE Ryuhaku Todoh," then speaking off to the side to nobody in particular in a slightly more hushed tone, "even though your very father is a damned Kyokugen lover," and then back to bright and boisterous and loud, "finish this once and for all, eh? Yeh hah hah!!"
He edges closer and closer, withdrawing a fan and cooling himself in place of the finger steeple as to celebrate a premature victory of his super sneaky can't-fail tactic, only adjusting his course to wherever the Kusanagi heir may dance and prance in this last desperate pitched battle under so uncertain terms that few understand - except for Adelheid and Ryuhaku, of course. (But at this point, that may be... debatable.)
COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\=======\1 Todoh
[ \\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Kyo with Crown Prince.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\=======\1 Todoh
[ <
Kyo 1/-------/=======|
Not good; Kyo has had to deal with entirely too much big chi things so far thanks to Kain, and honestly he's not feeling super great by this point, however heartened he was by Kain's lapsing into unconsciousness. His reactions are still a bit sluggish as he tries to get himself out of the way of that point blank chi blast, but he can't manage it; it strikes him hard, blasting him away from Adelheid and tumbling over the slate fighting stage, but...
"Yeah, I bet you say that to all the boys," Kyo says as he pushes himself up into a woozy low crouch, unable even at the brink of unconsciousness to stop mouthing off. With his last strength, Kyo throws himself into a low dash, hands scrabbling on the slate tile to keep himself up and moving, and once he gets close enough to Adelheid he throws his right fist into that familiar hooking punch, trailing more of the flames of his bloodline; if he manages to catch Adel with that, slowed and telegraphed as it is, then his next move is to keep close, clinching up just long enough to swing a knee upwards.
Yeah, it's a nut shot. Kyo's a jerk like that.
COMBATSYS: Kyo can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|=======\=======\1 Todoh
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to reflect Aragami from Kyo with Dark Barrier.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|=======\=======\1 Todoh
Even in his weakened state, Kyo has more resilience than Adel gave him credit for. The blast of energy strikes true... but Kusanagi forges on anyway. Before the young Bernstein can raise a proper defense against the trademark technique of the older youth, he's slammed by the flaming fist, staggered backwards even as the chi he had been gathering to deflect it dissipates into the air. The follow-through strikes send him back once, twice. Doubled over and then blasted back by the searing hits. A stream of blood flies from his mouth, and he drops back in a forced three-point crouch. His lip is quite notably split when he recovers his footing... but he does recover it, unlike Kyo, who seems to have put everything he had left into hammering on poor Adel's face.
The Bernstein heir spits blood, and turns his head towards where Todoh stands, Kefka-laughing behind his fan, "What are you on about now, Todoh? Trying to get out of finishing this the old fashioned way?" There's a half-smile despite the pain in his head, right this moment, as he surveys Todoh. He's not in good shape, but uh, he is definitely not the other person in the arena who understands Ryuhaku. That job is reserved for the little gnome living in the eccentric old master's left ear.
Plus, inquiry buys him a few moments. Breathe deep, gather your wits. This isn't over yet....
When Kusanagi Jr. goes all 'suddenly I wanna eat the dust,' Todoh's advance halts. Well, more that Adelheid's windy chi blasts can be felt all the way over here and he is also summarily offended because Kyo has the audacity to collapse after telling him off. Grr! The amusement of a shot to the groin is dismissed with the sharp closing of the fan, narrowed eyes, and a loud exhaling huff that would have been a cough were he not of the mind to take it all home for himself... and whoever else would technically be his teammate!! (Right now, Kain.)
"Well well, young... ah... what's-your-name, it's been swell! But I, the mighty Ryuhaku Todoh," who has to the eyes of many so-called experts put on the least interesting show of technical prowess, draws a deep breath... "have you RIGHTWHEREIWANTYOUHOOOOOEEEYAAAAAAAAH!!"
With that call, his hands go up again. But no chi gathers in the air as some who have truly keen eyes would come to expect. Oh no, right as the arms sweep down with a forward kneel for added forward movement, a wave of ascending, thin, white-ish blue blades of chi erupt from the ground, expanding in a conic pattern as it extends far further than even the wildest dreams of those who seek the absolute pinnacle of chi evolution!!
Both have taken their licks, their hits, and their chances up against each other and those considered the cream of the crop of the entire fighting world, and now it comes down to this - a one-on-one match with a prodigy of a criminal mastermind, against... that... one guy.
COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Adelheid with Cho Kasane Ate.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Adelheid 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
Todoh's ultimate team-up is ruined! Or is it? Kyo manages his last-ditch combination and it does indeed plant Adelheid right where Todoh wants him. A bit dazed, in a fair bit of pain, and not quite quick enough to move before that shredding blender of the almost-legendary technique launches him up, up, and away. The platinum blonde gets a leg back, but can't launch himself away in time - it just helps his momentum as the blades tear painfully into him, and the next thing that registers after the disorienting trip through the air, is the harsh reunion with the stonework ground, the back of his head bouncing off it once before he manages to roll and right himself, panting a deep breath and snapping his gaze back up to Todoh. That... was not a good exchange for the young Bernstein, to say the least. Suddenly haggard and in even /more/ agony, it's all he can do to try to shrug it off, and maintain his will to fight.
Rather defiantly, the young Bernstein pushes back to his feet, and flexes one bruised arm out in front of him, taking up a ready stance once more, and levelling his crimson gaze directly on Todoh evenly, "Is that all you've got?" He inquires, and perhaps baits, just a little.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Todoh
Adelheid might be showing his signs of wear right on his sleeve - both of them should be. But what keeps this crazy old man who, based on virtually all his past performances, has no right at all to keep standing and boasting about how awesome he is, because he himself knows he is and that's all that should matter, right? The bookkeepers disagree. This is why Ryuhaku is going to keep the books for himself so they can go keep something else.
He thinks he has Adelheid's number after that last one, holding his downward guiding pose for a length only justifiable were it the winning blow. "What?!" How dare that kid roll himself up like that was nothing! For a guy that may scream 'underestimation,' he's sure done a ton of it himself. His teeth clench in a way that can't decide if it's frustration, a grin, or the beginning of outright laughter, or the start of something foul that should not be said on national television that so many kids might be watching!
Nope. "All I got? ...pah!" He claps his hands over his head, the sound echoing through the entire Arena which also drowns out a little whimper because now the hand that got kicked in right at the start feels all sore again, to say nothing of whatever he must have obtained slamming into a wall twice that he puts on the grand illusion of not being terribly affected by, and brings his hands apart up into the air again. The tell. But is the tell enough at this point?
"Th-this is... just the beginning!" Winded words from an all wound-up old man swing downward with a long stride forward to try and close the distance just enough, the formation of yet more of the stuff that defy the choice of many fighters nowadays to shape their chi in things like FLOWERS or BIRDS or WATER or BEES or RAINBOWS or KEVIN BACON. Just three chunks that will be what they are, barely tethered together by some obscure natural law of chi formation yet to be transcribed other than perhaps on a NESTS scientist's napkin, a straight trio which descends forth towards Adelheid where the elder man Todoh might be putting too much faith into being able to actually reach him.
...Oh, hey, it's not yellowish-orange. What color is it?! ...Don't be silly, that's not important right now.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid reflects Meiou Ken from Todoh with Dark Barrier.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Todoh
Damn this Todoh and his... haphazard arrays of long-range energy. The newest unconventional artillery barrage comes thwump-thwumping down on Adelheid as, by the grace of some divine guardian of fighters everywhere, the ringing in his head subsides, and at least for the moment... everything is clear. His senses return to the fore, and in an instant, the platinum blonde steps back, only once. The whipping bluish energy crashes down at him, and he meets it with a braced shoulder, and a flexing hand.
A swirling barrier of dark, crackling windshear coruscates into being in an instant, thrust forward to meat the trio of chunktastic chibombs without hesitation. The circular shield reverberates with each hit, the first blast sheared from its partners to explode out into the air, an impromptu firework soon joined by the second. A shockwave reaches the very edges of the Dark Barrier, and black arcs fluctuate along its length, the shield and the last of Todoh's energy barrage all but /exploding/ back outwards, a tremendous shotgun of returning shrapnel, the blues touches by silver and black, greys and arcs of dark lightning rending apart the attack, right back up the channel to its conjurer.
Poor Todoh is now looking down the barrel of a slightly more direct, weakened, and well-blended treasonous Meiou Ken. It's the least Adel could do.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Todoh with Reflected Meiou Ken.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Todoh
Huff, huff, huff, goes the Todoh en route to his one way ticket to sure victory with his arms still thrust down with the exact same presumptuous mistake which, to the ignorant masses at large, gives a showcase as to the potential of power that Adelheid himself wields in his arts as the ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF CHI POWER politely lets the Dark Barrier do its thing as to not hurt its feelings (so many lies).
Don't blink! One would miss Adelheid and Ryuhaku having a nice game of catch between son/surrogate mentor (pffthaha) where the three disconnected chunks fly back freeform yet directly into his breadbasket, one after the other. First it's doubling over followed by arcing back straight up and then a moment after he's outright reeling backwards, coughing up something unpleasant and then all but flopping over onto his face.
...If only!!
The old master's head rises up, mouth hanging open as he breathes out pure disapproval in carbon dioxide form. It's disapproval-imbued carbon dioxide! Adelheid may learn this special power in thirty or forty years next time some punk kid throws back something like it's nearly nothing in a show of clearly superior talent and tactical decisions made on the spot. How dare he, indeed!
But then he rises back up /again/, unsteady, his feet as though debating between themselves as the best way to keep standing and not fall over under dangerous swaying. "Ah... you little..." And isn't Adelheid a bit taller than him?!
Then all semblance of composure is thrown away completely, not even bothering to pull up those trousers a bit to take away the risk of tripping over them across the cold, unfeeling slate floor that has had it with these fighters being slammed so hard into it, a loud, angry yell as the old man tries to close the gap in distance.
His left hand swings up for Adelheid's throat in a blatant display of reckless abandon, looking to strangle the poor child for as long as it takes for him to work up the additional spite and hate while shaking the other hand in an impotently seething fist into, what else, a punch to the face.
Is it truly all but decided at this point?!
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Todoh's Strangling FACEPUNCH.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Todoh
!!!!!
... Keeping Todoh down seems to be more difficult than stopping a raging elephant. The stubborn old coot leaps right back up and throws himself back into the fray with reckless abandon. It's a good thing that ringing is out of his head, because this particular Todoh seems to be out for /blood/. The grabby choking-hand comes in fiercely for his throat, and in the same instant Adel drops low, sliding backwards, one arm going behind him to support his weight as he suddenly drops into a leaning crouch. He's trying to give Todoh all the encouragement he needs to follow his attack through to that decisive moment... and perhaps overextend for what comes next.
A flex of the grounded palm propels Adelheid back forward, and he seeks to catch Ryuhaku's ribs with a ferocious, direct straight, rolling into the singular, breath-stealing strike, "Don't get your diapers all in a bunch, it'll be naptime soon enough." is the only answer forthcoming for the suddenly volatile elder fighter. Is that wise?
COMBATSYS: Todoh fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Adelheid with Jab Punch.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Adelheid 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Todoh
COMBATSYS: Todoh has reached second wind!
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Adelheid 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Todoh
With raging elephants you can at least shoot them. There is no guarantee of success of this method against someone like Todoh!!
The grabbing hand chokes thin air. Yet, it's cupped as though he succeeded in going for the throat, the hand still shaking with that impotent rage which is probably a lot more potent than one would give it for if he's still willing to strangle the hell out of an absence of Adelheid as opposed to Adelheid, maybe he's grabbing his shadow. Your shadow's going to be spending time in the hospital, Adehlehid! (...er.)
He swings the fist anyway when Adelheid comes close, which is pretty dumb outright as it harmlessly sails over Adelheid's head (but what about his shadow?!) and his ribs all but shatter under the blow, the old man spitting up blood and saliva which descend in ironic groups of three like a bunch of mini body fluid Kasane Ates as his feet lift up off the ground with the blow.
It's... rather surprising to find that the sheer weight of the punch doesn't just send him down as he lands in about the smoothest crouch possible for the situation, one hand thrust down to prevent himself from doubling over entirely.
"Yeh hah... hah... hah! Kids giving old men like me... curfews! Curfews! CURFEWS!" Oh hell, he can still yell in all caps? His upper body sways as it rights up, even though he largely remains in a kneel because his legs are too unsteady, wheezing through his teeth while his arms them adopt his usual ready stance but could probably be better classified as 'mime gestures' given he just can't keep them steady.
Then he just grins and giggles in a way that no grown man ever should. When Adelheid becomes a full grown man, please don't chortle or chuckle or giggle like this. Please.
Todoh is still on his feet, that much is impossible to argue. Just how much of the old man's faculties are still there ticking along with his fighting spirit is up for debate, "That's right. Curfew time." Adelheid observes, more than a little surprised that that last punch didn't plant the eccentric master on his ass. The Prince of War flanks his adversary slowly, even sidesteps carrying him around the potentially delusional and almost definitely still dangerous Todoh, keeping his eyes locked on the last standing opponent the entire time. Even someone as stubborn as Todoh can only withstand so much....
And so the young Bernstein suddenly attacks. There is no charge this time, instead he whips his heavy boot around, spouting forth a reaving edge of silvery energy, the ragged blade threatening to rip Ryuhaku's legs right out from under him, yet another variation of an imminently famous technique. These Bernsteins certainly do study a lot of styles! ... and every last one of them is more famous than the Kasane Ate! The mercurial blast races, pouring from before Adelheid and cleaving the ground in a rapid, unrelenting course straight for its target.
And yes, he doesn't giggle, doesn't chuckle... just blasts another flare of energy at Ryuhaku, in the hopes of defeating the nefarious chortler.. once and for all.
COMBATSYS: Todoh dodges Adelheid's Reppukyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Todoh
The world will never be able to beat it out of the Todoh family head's head that he is completely awesome. This is a recurring theme throughout all his appearance on Saturday Night Fight (as is the fact that 'lack of students paying up' = 'need for money' = 'whoring out to Saturday Night Fight' = 'profit and advertisement').
Leg goes up. Windy kick slice goes forth. Todoh goes where he damn well feels like. Which, in this instance, despite all odds such as 'significant injury requiring medical attention as soon as possible,' involves him suddenly springing up into the air, just barely clearing the chi blast which whips his trousers about like the raging storm it may one day grow to be as it goes forth and then suddenly rips a long, flat cloth with the exact same pattern as the slate it lies upon in twain, sending the halves flying into the air and later into the stands. What is it and why is it there? Maybe it's a clue.
But nevermind that. All eyes are not on torn, ripped cloth suspiciously made to be perfect camoflauge against the very floor of Howard Arena. They're on the two last standing fighters who are not yet considered the top billing while the two heavyweights take a quick nap.
The future thanks Adelheid for not chuckling or chortling or giggling like Todoh. Todoh does not! He doesn't get a lot of forward distance off of this timely leap, straining to thrust his right leg out towards Adelheid with a fist clenched to stomach all the offense made to his personal honor as opposed to the excruciating debilitating make-you-cry-for-mommy-to-fix-the-booboos pain that he should be buckling under as the classical jump kick descends upon Adelheid with nary a fanfare other than a single cry of "DAH!"
...Which sounds strangely familiar to Dan's traditional first two parts of the Dankukyaku cry. Mysterious! Except that it's a flying kick. There's nothing mysterious about a flying kick at all.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid interrupts Medium Kick from Todoh with Genocide Cutter.
[ \\\\\ < > ]
Adelheid 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Todoh
It's probably a damn good thing that Todoh doesn't have more students, and has to turn to appeasing Geese and Company for money. The eccentric old fellow's way of doing things is damn likely to get anyone /else/ killed. Or at least badly brain damaged. The Todoh family skull is specially prepared for this kind of thing. Still, the Prince of War hadn't expected the old master to be able to move that fast, and whatever clues he leaves behind as to his arrival are quickly forgotten when he presents a very, very, very telegraphed flying almost-Saikyo Dah Dah boot to the head. Rather than trying to get out of the way, well...
Adel leaps /into/ Todoh's leaping assault, the kick glancing painfully off his skull and shoulder as he rises, but it does little to forestall the rotation, and the rising kick that redoubles his upwards momentum, and cleaves an ascending roundhouse right across Todoh, accompanied by a half-moon arc of rampant, shearing energy, a blood red edge leading along a luminescent silver blade..... and threatening to take Todoh more literally apart, as he is kicked up and back, to a far more painful reunion with the arena floor.
Kasumi and her father are almost legendary for how thick their skulls are. They might be some of the hardest heads there is in the business! Even Urien's scalp one day looked at the two of them and went, 'damn, they so thick' so maybe it's a good thing that scalps can't talk, imagine what would have happened if Urien himself heard it.
Todoh flies with a kick! But if only he had the sense to know why people don't regularly jump on top of Rugal, then he wouldn't be experiencing the reason why so many kids these days seem to keep their fights solely on the ground. It's because so they don't one day get sliced by the Genocide Cutter!! For those who want a more viscreal picture with the lesson, the foot and its trademark cutting chi blade slicing through the trousers and vest with an appropriate spray of blood and a grunt that understates the sheer 'ow' factor. This goes beyond the word 'pain!'
He's popped up higher, higher, and higher into the air before his trip to the sky, manly tears rolling down his cheeks with clenched teeth. To taste defeat by a young punk like this, like every other young punk to punk so hard that punk isn't even a word anymore by the holy lexicon of the little black book of favored English insults he has meticulously cribbed notes off of over the years for his own selfish purposes?!
Gravity doesn't give him time to reflect, although if Adelheid is paying attention he might catch the faint sound of a pained 'harrumph' as his hands are thrust backwards in the air, letting himself go into freefall with his back facing the ground. The sky is hazy, the lights blinding, the heartbeat defeaning, the sounds of Kasumi sighing in his head all too infuriating.
Unless Adelheid moves, Ryuhaku's dropping straight down on top of him, if maybe a little off to his immediate left. There's a flash of yellowish-orangeish chi, barely there, translucent, only barely tangible in any form other than what the eyes can perceive until the very moment Ryuhaku makes impact, arms thrown up like something of a ragdoll as he bounces twice against the cold slate in various positions that would do a yoga master proud but is honestly quite painful.
The more important detail is that three yellowish-orangeish chunks of chi do not descend, they ascend straight from the first point of impact, threatening to scoop up Adelheid right from below as Todoh's last ditch parting gift!
Some would say, this is the only reason Todoh approaches that adjective of 'skilled.' Maybe he doesn't move with the grace of some, or with the power of the strongest, or with the masterful touches of the true best of the best to those who would dismiss him - but he holds total blind faith in his favorite little trick that is really just a narrow focus of a much broader style and he believes it shall succeed in its innovation to strike true terror in the hearts of all who dare say they love Ryo Sakazaki!!
COMBATSYS: Todoh can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\ <
Adelheid 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Todoh's Kasane Ate EX.
[ \\\ <
Adelheid 1/------=/=======|
Urien, Krauser, Grant, and Todoh's skulls walk into a bar....
.... I forget the rest of the joke, but your mother's a whore.
The Genocide Cutter was meant to punctuate this fight... but what exchange during the last few moments can't that be said about? Adelheid's rapidly approaching ready-to-collapse levels of winded, and if the elder fighter doesn't cry uncle soon, he's not going to have many options left. As if on cue, however, the eccentric master's only further assault is that final, desperate blast of energy before he thwumps most gratifyingly into the rock. Almost too exhausted to move, the Bernstein heir simply crosses his arms before him, muscles flexing and his own considerable inner power centering, the blades deflecting outwards and around him as they cleave in, cutting painfully into his already punished arms, but failing to strike true, or knock him from his tenuous footing. Yes. Todoh hits the ground, and the last of his opponents stops fighting. There's a slow, hesitating sigh of relief... releasing some of the adrenaline and feeling more of his injuries.
Is that really it? Adelheid doesn't so much as wave to the cheering, astonished crowd... the platinum blonde simply steadies his footing... and begins to make his way off the arena stage. The medics will have to help the others up, tonight. He's almost in a daze - having fought to the absolute border of his endurance.
But endure he did.
Endure Adelheid did! The crowds go wild as the sole survivor of this all-out Brawl is none other than Adelheid, even with the confusion as to whose side either of the fighters were at any given time, nearly as intriguing as the fierce battle where Kyo and Kain both threw out their very all in order to claim their own victories with their constantly traitorous teammates who were more than happy to beat on one another on the interim. In fact, some of those acting as referees seem confused but eventually the victory is declared for the team of Adelheid and... Kain?! [citation needed]
Todoh lies prone on the slate, all but blacked out with blood dribbling out of his mouth. He'll be receiving his medical attention all right, but those at the security station are left wondering. That sheet, who brought that here? Was it Todoh? How did they not notice him using it, if it was indeed /him/? Uncertainty continues to abound as to whether or not there was a true victory in having him enter through the damned proper entry for fighters for once!
But we can all agree on one thing. This has been a most profitable weekend battle for the pockets of Geese Howard and friends and hanger-ons and hopeless groupies and sycophants.
Log created on 19:46:18 07/19/2008 by Adelheid, and last modified on 20:11:34 07/25/2008.