Description: Tran's merry menagerie, Team Malpractice, faces off against Gen's mysterious Team Enigma. Staged in unpleasant weather atop the ancient Strolheim drawbridge. Keeping the castle gate free of rabble, Team Enigma demonstrates precision teamwork and masterful tactics. At times, however, the unruly, cantankerous, or just plain determined mob seeking entry to the German fortress is too damn many to keep out. Just barely. ( Winners: Tran, Hotaru, Vince, Luc )
Strolheim is known for its beautiful scenery and lovely climate. Bracing mountain air and all that, the sort of thing that would put the place on the tourist map...if the locals were more geared towards ski resorts and quaint folk dances, instead of beating the utter crap out of people.
It'd be a beautiful place, if it wasn't for the violence.
Today, though, it's just as cold and miserable as the harsh fortress of Strolheim Castle. The ancient keep is an incredible example of Medieval architecture and artistry, the best-preserved example of such a structure in the entire world. It's a work of art.
It was also built for war.
The wind howls. Chill air blows across the surface of Lake Strolheim, with the frosty sort of rain just a notch below outright hail and snow. It's a cold morning. A wet morning. A dangerous morning.
The fortress of Strolheim is set upon a rocky island at the heart of that lake, a wind-swept island devoid of vegetation, all exposed to the elements. The spaces within its walls do give some shelter from the rain, but that's of little help as the fighters today are /outside/ those walls.
Gen stands beneath the arch of the great castle's gate, his feet flat on the ancient drawbridge that spans the final defensive ring around the walls - a deep and cold moat, of water that today looks decidedly murky. His long Chinese garments flap in the wind, sleeves and sash snapping in the breeze. Spots of moisture dot the rich purple of his shirt as he lifts his head, facing the rain.
The old man is solemn for a good long moment.
Then he speaks, without turning, to the two young fighters under his charge.
"It appears the Krauser boy wants us to be bouncers, hmm?"
It -is- a beautiful place, and that is at least partially down to the violence. At least, that's how Setsuka sees it. The cold morning in Strolheim is misty, damp, and without mercy--traits that she can admire and aspire to... though she might not realize what it really means to be like that. That Krauser himself is probably capable of more warmth than Setsuka might expect would certainly be lost on her.
But there's only one thing that she's currently worried about, thinking about--the fight. Defending the castle gates? It's a tricky proposition, to be sure--particularly against the forces that, the Strolheim people informed them, is quite strong, both in numbers as well as skill and power.
However... that is not in her mind right now. She is attempting to focus--to focus the way she was taught to, by her long-dead family. So, as the mist clears... there is Setsuka.
She is kneeling, next to Gen, and behind him, kneeling seiza... and she had forgone her usual dress in favor of... traditional robes, kimono and hakama... ivory white and then raven black, belted with a golden silk cord, wrapped around her waist, through which her blade is affixed. As the mist clears, she rises, her expression nearly devoid of anything but the utmost concentration.
If the mist seems to clear, it is not for long. At their first meeting, Gen introduced himself to the youngest of the Knights Templar by advising her to control her aura. Today, she is making no such attempt; quite the opposite. Fronds of mist linger still in the air, and as Chinese assassin and Japanese swordswoman mount their guard by the gate, it begins to thicken. Slowly, but perceptibly. The sound of brisk footfalls echoes through the rain, and as the steps gain in volume the fog begins to spread across the drawbridge.
"Tell me, Master Gen," The crisp English accent rings out, a moment before Amy strides into view in the centre of the gate. She pauses there, her long, black hair immediately stirred to a shifting turmoil by the rushing winds. "Does being on /this/ side of the bridge tell me I already have the boy's approval?" She glances to the side, focusing on the wily aged warrior. Then, her head dips in a respectful gesture before she shifts her attention to Setsuka. "It's been some time. When we met, I told you if we crossed paths again... we would /fight/ again."
The Templar smiles, though it is somewhat cold as the focus of battle begins to pervade her senses. Dark eyes grow still and clear as they leave the other woman, her gaze going out across the bridge, through the spreading mist. "I suppose that rings true. If numbers are against us, that just means the fight will be better. Let's show them what we're made of."
Some like it cold and damp and unpleasant. That's fine for them. For a high-octane international action hero like the incredible Doctor Tran, only the finest of tropical climates will do. This, here, in Strolheim? It's completely unacceptable for any man to endure it with his own power, and that's why Dr. Tran is drunk today.
To be fair, it's only a little drunk. His breath smells like cheap booze, but his eyes are about as sharp as they ever get. Today, they're focused on the other team, standing in front of him. Assessing them. Pointedly not looking at his own teammates, because even though only one of them is a schoolgirl, they're all young and dumb and annoying and maybe he should have brought the rest of the bottle after all. Too late now, though.
"Alright, kids." Tran chokes back his annoyance and manages not to make 'kids' sound too disdainful. "There they are. Have at and try not to embarrass yourselves." He takes a step forward, rubs at the bridge of his nose, and mumbles quietly to himself, "Not that any of you ever feel the slightest ounce of shame."
Assaulting a castle to gain entry. It's remarkable how some things can be so unexpectedly similar. Such as a preliminary fight-gone-opera, now becoming more of a noteworthy, team effort. Vince LaRose arrives at the opposite side of the bridge, mounted upon a brilliantly white stallion. Though the rain mats his typically perky feather to his hat, the winds cue enough of a dramatic scene for him by whipping his cape out behind himself.
Tran, however, is the first person Vince notices. The very... well... quirky doctor, as he seems to be. And woefully completely unknown to Vince. Blame it on him being French. Though quirky and disgruntled as Tran may seem, he can't be -too- far off with his last remark, considering Vince's attire. Nevertheless, he gets an incline of his head.
Oh, how strange his stay at Strolheim has been. Shifted hither and thither, only to wind up with this group of people he knows absolutely nothing about. But hopefully the others aren't quite as estranged as the good doctor here.
Vince's eyes peer across the bridge to the opposing team, and immediately he spies two individuals he's familiar with. One of which is Setsuka, a girl who earned his disdain a while back, but the other... Well, it's a shame that they placed Amy on an opposing team for him. Despite normal civilities, he offers no wave, no smile to the lady. He has a war to wage - pleasantries can come later, unless kicked out or somesuch.
Vince takes that opportunity to dismount the steed and strike its flank, causing it to turn tail and gallop away. He then draws his blade from its sheath, holding it down to his side at a relaxed angle. "I certainly will not be embarrassing myself today," he replies under his breath. For the sake of the LaRose and Rose Dansant, his team must succeed.
Strolheim. It's beautiful. Majestic. A truly, absolutely--
"****in' retarded-looking piece of ****, is what it is."
Eloquent as ever, Luc stares boredly out towards the expanse of Strolheim. He yawns loudly, scratching the inside of his ear with his right index finger in a slow, idle gesture of habit. He gives a sidelong glance towards Vince, squinting and frowning.
"Ugh," he manages to grate out, but nothing else. He doesn't know Vince. Actually, he doesn't really know any of his teammates.
That doesn't make him any more pleased to have to deal with them.
Flicking away errant wax with a musing frown, the German shoves his hands deep into his pockets, shoving past to lean down and stare at Tran. "Hey. Shorty." Luc points at Tran, just to make sure he's not confused about who he's speaking with. And then he poses an honest, concerned question:
"Are you only good for flapping your jaw like an idiot, or can you actually fight despite, y'know, the midget thing?"
This fight can only end well.
Stuck outside in the unforgiving weather, Hotaru can't help but let her mind wander to the far nicer accomodations within the world famous Strolheim castle. She had watched the weather morning, noting its shifts from overcast to clear, then back to drizzling. It seemed determined to be a wet bridge atop which they would fight this early hour.
But she had to put those things out of her mind. The weather can't be an excuse, nor can it be a distraction. What matters is her teammates and the opposing team. Gazing at them near the gate proper, her attention strays over each in turn. It is easy to identify the team leader. Imposing, not due to height or stature, but rather the way he carries himself and years of experience his wisened visage is evidence to.
She can't help but shift her attention to the team leader of her own humorously named Malpractice gang. The crisp German air only partially conceals the scent of alcohol and she shakes her head in quiet disapproval. Then Tran goes on to give his inspiring speech, that encouragement a good leader should be ready to give at a moment's notice... or, no, okay, he just wants them to not embarrass themselves too bad. "So," the girl responds, one eye narrowing slightly, "Are you saying that we shouldn't follow your example then? Or is our immunity to shame courtesy of your find instruction?"
She glances to the side to watch Vince's steed gallop off before regarding her new teammate with a friendly, "Hello Vince." Last minute arrangements leave her knowing nothing more than his name. And that he has a sword. And a horse. She'll work with that for now. She opens her mouth, intending to say something else, before being cut off by the articulate Luc. His question of Tran has her looking back to the team leader though. Respect isn't really a strong component of this team.
A deep breath is taken, followed by a slow exhale, as the pig-tailed combatant rolls her eyes and turns to face the opposing fighters. "Doctor Tran can handle himself," she states, secretly wondering if he fights better drunk or sober. Arms raised, feet slipping apart a little, the young fighter readies herself. "But I guess we're all going to have to find out real fast how well each other can fight. It's about to start."
Indeed it is.
Back on the castle side of the battlefield, Gen stands beneath the arch of the gates, flanked on either side by Setsuka and Amy. The old man observes the opposing team for a few moments, then spares a glance to his left and right - eying his own teammates.
The corners of the Gen's lips twist up into a grin, over a row of faintly yellow teeth. It is not a particularly nice smile.
"Mmn," he murmurs to Amy, without turning, "there /are/ more of them...but I suppose the Krauser brat has confidence in us, hmm?"
To both of the women, now:
"Let us not disappoint."
With that, Gen starts walking forward, coming out from beneath the stone archway. His footfalls are silent as he mounts the drawbridge, moving past the mounting rings for the great chains that hold it to the castle, walking out over the moat. Calmly, the elderly man approaches the motley crew gathered on the shore...a drunkard, a noble, a ruffian, a maiden.
"I suppose," Gen says, lifting his voice, addressing Tran's team, "that you would be the party of journeying heroes, seeking to cross this passage."
He taps one slipper-clad foot against the scarred wood of the drawbridge.
"And we, then, those who stand in your way...if I were inclined to be poetic about it."
The elderly assassin arches an eyebrow.
"But I am not," he states, eyes hardening.
He lifts an arm, the sleeve of his changshan slipping back to expose his slender forearm and hand. He raises thin fingers, making a small gesture - beckoning his two apprentices forward.
"SO BEGIN," Gen snaps, his voice cracking over the lake, loud as a gunshot.
His exposed hand flexes, forming into the distinctive claw of the mantis, two fingers braced by the thumb. Even as he does this, Gen accelerates, lunging forward with amazing swiftness for a wizened old man. He drives his arm forward, the shape of his hand focusing the force into not so much a physical blow, but a crippling pressure-point strike. He races right at his counterpart on the shore, the leader of the opposing team - the intoxicated figure of Master Tran.
Because...surely, he must be the greatest threat. To be leader of a Strolheim team, chosen by Krauser, he /must/ be powerful. And the intoxication is suspicious - perhaps a sign that the man has mastered the art of Drunken Kung-Fu.
Setsuka glances over at the mist-warrior... and nods. She did say that. And it is, in the most literal sense, true--thouhg they fight alongside, rather than with, each other. It is a change that was unexpected, to be sure, and yet... not entirely unpleasant. Still, the woman can't help but give a somewhat tart comment to the Templar. "See that you do better than our first meeting." It isn't delivered entirely unkindly, though; as the other team makes itself known, Setsuka turns to face front.
Reaching up, she shifts her hair--now plaited into a thick braid--over her shoulder and down her back. "Ah, the barbarian hordes arrive," she says, dryly, indicating the motley crew upon the shore. "It seems it's time to create fate and wield destiny. I hope you are ready." Gen certainly is; he leaps to the fray, so to speak, lunging for the midget. For her part, Setsuka glances at each of the others, before settling her gaze on Vince.
Him, she remembers... her lips curving into a wolfish smile. Though her style is markedly different from Gen's, both are, essentially, assassination styles--and both are meant to kill. If there is one truism about fighting, it is that speed kills--and so Setsuka suddenly accelreates forward, going smoothly from standing, to lunging, to stepping, to blurring towards Vince. She comes out of her blur a scant few meters in front of him, her blade already arcing outwards, the edge glimmering brightly as she slashes at his body with her katana.
Amy's first contact with both of these enigmatic fighters has ensured she has mutual respect for each of them; Setsuka for skill alone, her attitude and ethical values so far removed from the Templar's own that they should be enemies. Both are too pragmatic, and too driven by other goals, to allow this to be the case. There is no reason they cannot fight side by side. Gen is a different matter. Already, outside of combat, he has earned the right to be called a master. For his insight, his ability to focus the young woman and provide her the will to hone her talents. Now they enter battle... how much more will the legend become?
On the opposing team, three unknown quantities and one man whose path Amy has crossed. An acquaintance, and one it would be a pleasure to meet again. Her gaze flickers across the battlefield as Gen's command is given, barely pausing on each of the arrayed 'horde' before she settles upon a single point. A veil of mist obscures her a moment later, as tendrils vie subtly toward their mistress' call. Behind the shroud she prepares herself, waiting for the telltale sounds of battle on each flank before she surges forward herself.
Setsuka's words echo at the back of her conscious mind. Create fate... wield destiny. It is apt enough to inspire, and after three brisk lunging steps forward through the parting mist, great swathes erupting to either side of the dark-clad warrior, she launches herself into the air with a sharp hiss of breath. A lithely muscled leg slices up and outward in a thunderous kick, landing so far from the other team that for an instant she seems a joke; no threat at all. But the cunning may spot a further gentle shift in the mist, starting a ripple that runs a shockwave through slowly swimming tendrils.
A moment later it forms as is from nowhere, yards from the opposing team. The fog bursts with life, exploding into a wide curtain of energy, grayish-white murk feathering at the edges as a shadowy projectile howls toward an unknown quantity... the berserker, Luc.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Tran with Strong Throw.
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Vince 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
Dr. Tran can't help himself. He turns around to look at Vince's horse. He stares for a second, then looks down at his watch. "Fast. Well, I guess that whole idea's out the window."
Taking a deep breath, he turns back to face Gen and company except then Luc and Hotaru get all sassy. "You, the dumb sack of bricks, shut it. You, girl..." Tran starts to audibly grind his teeth, talking through it with an angry grimace. "I think I liked you better when you realized how ignorant you were."
And then, finally, Tran turns his full attention on Gen. He can practically feel the oncoming ass-whooping, just by looking at the aged master. It's not pleasant, but Tran laughs, a short, bitter bark. "Heroes? Have you looked at us? Come on." This was not an invitation, exactly, but Gen takes it anyway. He may be rather surprised to see Dr. Tran completely fail to even react to his attack until it hits, each of the pressure points hit flawlessly.
Tran takes a staggered step backward, eyes unfocused, and then drops to one knee, a hand held flat against the ground to support himself. He coughs, and a couple spatters of blood fly out of the edges of his mouth. The doctor laughs again, but this is more of a pained chuckle. "Thought it would at least take longer than that..." His fingernails scrape along the weathered wood of the drawbridge as he slowly draws his hand into a fist.
"Not that I'm complaining." Tran coughs again, and this time a burst of steam emerges, with just a tinge of pink. "The quicker we get this over with, the better."
COMBATSYS: Tran switches his Mindset.
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Vince 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vince blocks Setsuka's Yamikaze - Zan.
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Vince 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
"Greetings, my lady," Vince replies cordially to Hotaru upon seeing her. He isn't entirely sure he's met her before, or that they'll actualy have the opportunity to meet, but.. she's on the right side, anyway. He can afford niceties in her direction.
But things are in motion just that quickly, and the shorter man - their 'leader', he supposes - is assaulted. And horrifically, at that. He doesn't have enough time to lend a hand to him, however, as the woman who earned his ire is coming at him.
The blurred movement brings her right up to Vince, just as she intends to, and it would seem as though she's cut a swath directly through Vince's defenses - until the last moment. The rapier flashes up, catching the edge of the katana. Those tend to weigh more than rapiers, however, and it manages to push back the deflection enough to graze his shoulder - certainly nothing like what was intended.
"Is that -all-?," Vince chides. The blade is drawn back briskly, a swirling wreath of smoky gray energy encapsuling the length of steel. In an instant, the weapon is plunged deeply towards Setsuka's torso. The energy funnels into a lance of energy, thrusting before the steel to impale through one side and out the other - though the rapier itself soon follows.
COMBATSYS: Luc negates Raven's Wing from Amy with Aufruhr Kreuz.
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Vince 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
Beyond the passing question of, 'this guy is a doctor? /Really/?' Luc shirks it in favor of frowning most distinctly at Hotaru.
"And who the hell are you supposed to be, Snow White? You know what, whatever. I don't care." The German scratches the back of his head and makes a distinct grimace. "Always gotta pair me up with girls and idiots and /French/ girls. /Ugh./" They can evenly distribute just who they think Luc is talking about; he doesn't really care.
Apparently, Luc Schroedinger does not feeling particularly inspired being in the fatherland.
Rolling his neck with the faint crack of bones, Luc just mutters something unpleasant about oompa loompas underneath his breath in response to Tran. There's really no time to properly think of an insult; not with Gen suddenly sweeping in with the fury of ten thousand Trans, delivering that debilitating blow. Luc blinks. And then... he scowls.
"What the /hell/? You just got the **** knocked out of you by some hundred year-old Asian Santa wannabe! You worthless piece of crap, I'm gonna have to do /everything/--"
And that's when fog attacks him.
Luc responds purely by instinct; green eyes flaring with life, black flames sprout almost instantly across his arms. "What the hell is this?! GIVE ME A BREAK!" Those arms violently swing downwards in a cross pattern, /flinging/ twin blades of broiling black-blue chi fire into existence. The x-shaped mass of energy blasts forward, impacting against that gray mass of energy in one tumultuous BOOM of impact. Dirt blows past, and as the dust settles, Luc begins to slowly roll up his sleeves, giving an acidic look Amy's way, finally looking lively for the first time since he got to Strolheim.
"C'mon. Don't give me that girly ****. /Hit me like a man./ ... Girl." /Yeah./
Stretching, warmup having been completed earlier, all she needs to do now is to achieve a peaceful, inner focus. A zen-like state. A concentration on the match and nothing else. It's working pretty good too as Hotaru focuses across the bridge, thinking of nothing but putting her Kenpo to the test and doing the best she can with the makeshift team against the impressive trio of opponents. And then Tran responds to her remark and Hotaru's right eyebrow twitches a little as she tries not to look his way. Must stay focused, calm, can't get distracted...
Then Luc speaks up and all hope is lost. Looking toward him, eyes widened a little, mouth slightly agape, she looks caught completely off guard. "W-what? No, I just like to-" But he's already shifted focus to watch Tran get assaulted by Gen's opening charge and her voice fades out. It doesn't take a genius to see the skill disparity in play there. Deciding Vince and Luc are fine as is, the girl charges forward, going for the Mantis user.
Surely, just trying to blindside him isn't going to accomplish anything. A man of his experience should be more than capable of catching something like that. Which is why she slows, sliding to a stop just to his side, dropping down to a lower stance in the very act of moving into position. "YA!" Her one handed, open palm strike comes quickly, from her right hand, aiming high, for his right chest should he turn, or into his shoulder should he stay facing Tran. For all her issues with her leader, she is going to have to try and steer Gen away from him for a bit after an opening blow like that!
COMBATSYS: Gen just-defends Hotaru's Medium Punch!
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Vince 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
"Hmph," Gen snorts, at Tran, compressing a great deal of emotion into one wordless syllable.
His eyes narrow fractionally, lids shifting downwards, as he regards Tran. He's injured, unmistakably so. Gen's opening salvo hurt him, damaged his nerves and muscles. But the good doctor is still on his feet, and even now, doing /something/. Gen can /see/ the chi emerging from the other man's aura. He doesn't even need any special senses. The waves of power and pressure in the form of superheated steam are visible even to the naked eye, hissing from Tran's lean form.
It's a remarkable display.
But if the old assassin is impressed, he gives no sign.
"Enthusiastic, are we? Well," Gen murmurs, his voice almost casual.
As he speaks, he raises his arm, sleeve billowing in the rainy wind. Spots of moisture stain the fabric as he snaps to one side - into the path of Hotaru's palm strike. Their arms connect, knocking the girl's blow off-centre.
"If it's speed you want," Gen says, without turning to face his new opponent, "I'm sure we can oblige."
He disengages, then, pulling his arm back. His stance shifts, the balls and heels of his feet grounding on the timbers of the drawbridge. Gen's legs flex at the knees. Only now does his head come round, and it seems, for a moment, his gaze is fixed on Hotaru.
It isn't. He looks past the girl, instead exchanging a glance with his two apprentices. A wordless communique passes.
And then he -jumps-, a leap powerful enough that it shakes the whole structure, rattling the great chains that fix the drawbridge to the castle walls. He leaps over Hotaru, and into the fray where Vince LaRose is lunging with his sword. The young swordsman is fast, incredibly so. But he's committed to that forward attack. And Gen descends, now, towards his back and spine, twisting to deliver a pair of brutal high-impact kicks.
The assassin's smile goes predatory.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka blocks Vince's Venteuse.
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Vince 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
Or was it? Setsuka smiles, at Vince's mocking taunt... his chiding voice. She lets it wash away. He's trying to rile her up--but she's better than that. "Is that all?" she inquires, sounding almost polite, at least in her tone of voice. "Surely you don't think I'd give you -everything- on the first date... I'm not that kind of girl you must be used to," she quips.
Out of the corner of her eye she sees Gen moving, and instinctively, she understands what he's going to do... and if that seems like enough distraction for Vince's lightning-fast attack to strike, well, it isn't. She parries, as well--deflecting the rapier along the side of the blade. The aura is something she can't do much about, though; it stings, but there's only a slight clenching of teeth to indicate the pain.
"I think," she says, "My 'Master' wants a word with you. So... /adieu/," she says, as she turns and takes long strides towards Luc. She turns her loping stride into a crouch, then a leap--a leap that she turns into a tuck, and then a kick, her geta'd foot aimed squarely for the side of Luc's head.
When Luc snaps out that vigourous, explosive counter attack, it comes in tandem with the sharp thunk of leather against wood as Amy lands from her distant strike. Dark eyes remain upon the youth, however; she is watching him like a hawk. And there it is, the measure of her opponent. Little does she know how well that technique, in power and in attitude, might sum up the nature of his style. For now it is more than enough to go on - they may prove an ample match for one another.
So intent is she upon the berserker that she barely catches the glance of her master, but catch it the Templar does. Her hands shift onto the ancient wood and propel her into an upright stance with a quick application of effort. A smile slices upon her lips, and she keeps one hand rising, fingertips curling against the mist. Setsuka is already moving into her own attack when the knight-errant makes her own motions to an assault, digits lashing outward and then whipping out to once more indicate Luc.
Fight like a man? She fights as she has been trained to fight, and as the situation demands. For now that is subtlety, cunning and with intent to enrage the hot-blooded foe before her. Her smile appears more than a little mocking in itself, should he still be watching her. And should he not... it would have done him no good anyway. When the Japanese assassin's kick lashes forth, it is mirrored by a whiplash of mist on the opposite flank, the single tendril emerging from the dim haze and solidifying to attach itself to the berserker with substantial force. From there, a simple dropping of Amy's raised hand will bring him crashing to the hard wooden slats.
"Good to hear." Tran sounds a little bit better now; he's not any less hurt, but at least he's had a moment to cope with the pain, get it under control. He raises his fist slightly and punches the drawbridge beneath him at about the same time that Gen leaps away. It kinda hurts, too, but it's a helpful maneuver for getting super-pumped.
The doctor tenses, and then in an abrupt burst of motion stands up. Without someone immediately in front of him, or at least nobody from the other team, he's at a loss for a moment. This is quickly rectified when he catches a glimpse of Amy at work, the misty haze around her at beck and call. This is completely unacceptable. Steam is Dr. Tran's shtick, and even if mist technically isn't, it's close enough to demand action. Immediate action.
Tran charges, steam billowing out around him as his rage, already substantial, is finally unleashed in the form of potent energy. "HEY, CUT THAT **** OUT, WOMAN!" At a dead run, Tran raises a fist and tries to blindside Amy right in the side of the head with an explosive running haymaker.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Vince with Uken-Shakudan.
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Vince 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Gen
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Luc 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Amy
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Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
Rapier, though deflected, draws back into poise efficiently. The driving lance of energy seems to've done some damage, anyway, and that's pleasing enough. Though Setsuka's words get a pause from Vince, then a more disdainful look. "You may run, coward..," he mutters as she parts. "But-"
And thus, Vince is completely blindsided by old man legs. It's every bit as horrible as it sounds. They crack against his back fiercely, bringing him down to the damp, wooden planks of the bridge and tumbling him over. The only reason Vince doesn't say anything is for the fact that that hit alone knocked the breath out of him.
Slowly, the young noble pulls himself to his knees, gasping weakly. A look is shot to Gen... who will have to be dealt with soon enough. But take out the smaller ones to make a unified front. That would be more tactically sound.
Or he could be lame and just make a break for the castle gates and claim a victory. But it's supposed to be a fight. No honor in turning tail and running. He wouldn't be doing his family, nor his art any justice this way - and that woman, he just plain doesn't like.
So still struggling with the pain wracking through his hunched body, Vince's left hand lifts into the air. His fingers spread out... and the dense clouds above part just a hint enough to create a single shaft of light. A shrill avian shriek pierces the drizzling rain, and a form, at first indistinguishable amidst the gray clouds, rapidly descends.
And this form sweeps in a low arc, coming into view as a gray falcon with obsidian eyes.. and talons. Talons that are angled before it, indicative of prey-snatching or attacking. And this falcon is on a course with Setsuka's head, every intention to rip her then quickly ascend back into the heavens.
COMBATSYS: Luc blocks Setsuka's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Vince 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Amy
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Luc endures Amy's Quagmire.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Vince 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Amy
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|
Whisps of black and blue chi crack erratically around Luc's hands as he stares out blandly towards Amy; he doesn't seem to be intent on making the next move. His body isn't even tense. There's no sense of preparation for counter-attack in his gaze or his stance.
He's just waiting.
He doesn't have to wait long, however; green eyes stare at the mist while Amy seems to so deftly command it. He scratches at the side of his head, frowning.
"C'mon already, I don't have all day--" And then he notices Setsuka springing towards him. And then, the mist opposite. He grins.
"This is MORE LIKE IT!"
That latch of misty energy attaches flawlessly, but Schroedinger doesn't even seem to -try- and resist it. In fact, as Amy rips the tendril of mist -downwards-, Luc almost fluidly goes along for the ride, /moving/ with the momentum as the searing touch of energy (one he's all too familiar with by now) rips him straight down into the earth with a sudden crash. His body drags, and just as he whips upwards--
--he intercepts Setsuka's leaping kick with a single forearm, the other burning an ominous black and blue.
"Who the hell're you supposed to be?"
The question is accentuated by as Luc's free, fiery hand swings outward simultaneously, aiming for her face; before it can even hit, those flames expand outward to literally -engulf- her head, and knock her straight backwards in the wake of a single, vicious BOOM of an explosion.
With a wave fabric, Gen's arm sweeps Hotaru's incoming palm strike harmlessly to the side. It doesn't throw her off too much, as she had been careful to not overcommit with the attack. Her forward foot pushes back as she tenses up into a standing ready position, expecting to need to defend herself from quick retaliation from the far more veteran fighter. Azure eyes study his, attempting to read his style fast enough to defend herself, hoping to identify that split second moment that will make all the difference.
But he isn't looking at her. With a chain rattling leap, Gen takes to the air, going after the noble swordsman. Whirling around as she's left in the dust, Hotaru has plenty of opportunity to take in the state of their team. The devastating hit wrought by Gen continues to leave him as clearly the biggest menace on the bridge and the one she determines to try and keep pressure on.
Trying to concentrate with all the insults being flung about - primarily by her own teammates, is a challenge unto its own, but one she's trying to cope with. This isn't anything like she envisioned it being - a series of matches of esteemed, respectable fighters, facing off against each other, working together as teams. Instead she's got an angry mob on her side who try to augment their attacks with verbal spears to boot. "Che." she sighs, shaking her head, staying quiet as she focuses once again on Gen.
Moving forward again, this time she keeps the speed on rather than slowing down. Drawing her hands in closely, to the side of her stomach slightly, it may seem as if she's looking to catch his lower torso with a double palm strike. But the instant the teen fighter is within range, she goes for his arms instead, attempting to secure Gen's wrists tightly enough to keep him from defending himself against a series of rapid, rising stomps, one after the other. If successful, his shoulders will serve as a spring board from which to propel herself into a forward flip, intending to land somewhere behind him. "Ya, ya, ya!"
COMBATSYS: Gen blocks Hotaru's Shin-Jou Tai.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Vince 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
She's fast. Very fast. For a moment, it seems like the girl's taken the old assassin by surprise, weaving in with a feint, grabbing hold of his arms, and then slamming kicks into him as she goes up and over. But when the barrage stops, when Hotaru disengages, the ancient fighter is /still standing/, both his feet planted soundly on the timbers of the drawbridge, flexed at the knees. He straightens, after a moment, his spine losing its arch, his shoulders rising. Tension almost visibly drains from his hardened muscles. He lifts one leg off the ground, chambering it in the ready position of a crane stance, his arms shifting outwards to match the movement.
"Not bad," Gen remarks, "actual hand-to-hand skill, hmm? I wonder---"
But whatever Gen planned to say, he doesn't finish.
He twists his head just enough to catch the twin blasts of furious spiritual energy, racing to engulf Setsuka. A shrieking bird, what must be a carefully shaped construct...and a raw explosion that's almost the antithesis, just pure chaotic force. But they've got one thing in common. Neither bodes well for the swordswoman.
"SURVIVE, GIRL," Gen yells. It's not much of an encouragement. Not much of one at all.
But it's as close as he comes.
He snaps his eyes to Amy, then, giving a quick toss of the head in the swordswoman's direction. Work with Setsuka.
He doesn't need to say it.
He takes his own advice, then, breaking off from Hotaru. No time to comment on the young woman's form. He moves to intercept one of the two men ganging up on the besieged Setsuka - attacking the swordsman he already struck earlier. Gen's hand whirls out of his stance, a closed-fist blow, an almost spinning motion aimed at slamming solid knuckles to the ribs and spine.
COMBATSYS: Vince successfully hits Setsuka with Spirit Falcon.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Vince 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Setsuka fails to interrupt Wutend Stob from Luc with Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Vince 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
The words from Vince -are- heard; she pauses, just a moment, to glance back at him. "You need better patter," she comments, simply, having rebounded off of Luc's leg. But, she should be honored; suddenly she's the focus of both young men. Unfortunately, that is pretty much the worst thing possible for her; what happens, happens in the fraction of a second, but the end result is Vince's spirit falcon rips into her head--no physical damage, but pain a plenty--and then Luc...
Her body moves instinctively, before she can even consider what she's doing--her blade arcing around. But the impact of Vince's attack leaves her slow, and instead, Setsuka is impacted with that black explosion, flung straight back.
It is with the barest amount of ability that she avoids slamming into something hard and cold; she manages a flip in midair, and lands on her feet, shaky.
"Coward, mm? Do you consider yourself honorable?" she says, to Vince, with a sardonic smile. It's just a guess, slightly educated, but a guess nonetheless.
"Is 'honor' fulfilled by doubleteaming a woman? By attacking from behind?" If her patter is not up to snuff, forgive her; her head is a little muzzy from what she just went through.
COMBATSYS: Tran successfully hits Amy with Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Vince 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tran 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
With so many people involved, the battle is verging on chaos - particularly in the eyes of a relatively inexperienced fighter. Amy's battles to date have been against single opponents, only her training and sparring matches ever providing any knowledge of how to track and handle multiple foes. She's got a fast enough eye to follow most of the action, but despite all appearances she still requires a high level of focus to maintain her manipulation of the mist.
Tran's approach is noticed with ample time to prepare thanks to his crude scream, but her eyes are still tracking Setsuka's plight and Gen is motioning her to take the fight in that direction. It causes a blunder, Amy's feet moving a beat too slowly to carry her out of the doctor's range - like a deer on the road she is caught mid-bound, and hurled head over foot to the floor of the bridge, shaking the structure with the impact and bouncing back into the air. It's enough to give her some impetus for a response.
By the time she flips to her feet, legs curling in an overhead arc to provide gyroscopic force enough to do so, she has lost track of the battle in hand. Her head is pounding, blood trickles from her brow and into her right eye. But she glimpses a dim shape, a shining sliver of steel. With a thunderous rush she throws herself instinctively forward, a hiss escaping her lips as she approaches Vince in a flash of motion. Gen appears in her peripheral vision as it flashes back into clarity, and the mist is following her as if unbidden; the subconscious is a powerful thing. Gen strikes, and Amy sways past Vince on the other side.
Massing tendrils of grayish chi plummet forward, no longer following their mistress but now trained upon the point at which she shifted her motion... and at whatever lies beyond. The impacts will be many, each solidifying tendril an annoyance by itself, heaping up to something rather more formidable in the half second it takes the collective blows to land.
Dr. Tran is feeling moderately satisfied, after delivering an exploding punch to the head. Moderately. He skids to a halt afterward, shoes sliding on the wet wood. He turns. The happy, contented feeling vanishes quickly once he looks back at the rest of his team again.
Lips set in a tight line, Tran takes a determined step forward, and then breaks into a run again, this time aimed at Gen. Arms pumping furiously, Dr. Tran is going at a full sprint, and to his credit, he doesn't even scream to announce his presence or anything!
Not that he really needs to, moving at a dead run, trailing what has thickened into a positive cloud of steam behind him. It's distinctive. Or it would be, if Amy didn't have her own cloud.
Spreading his arms wide as he approaches the wrinkled old man, Tran tries to throw them around him, looking to grip him tight in a hug. There is nothing friendly about it, especially since if Gen doesn't wriggle out of it somehow like the sneaky codger that he is, Dr. Tran is simultaneously going to squeeze as hard as he can and also detonate. Steam chi exploding upward and outward, taking the shape of a mushroom cloud around and above him.
Heck, even if Gen does escape his grasp, Tran might just do it anyway. That's just the way he rolls.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Vince with Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Vince 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Vince dodges Amy's Stormwitch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Vince 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
A smirk draws over Vince's lips at Setsuka's comment. It's these things that let him know it's getting to her. Though she isn't awarded any sort of response, other than, "It's pointless to argue honor with the honorless."
Which is primarily a neutral response, since it's one he can allow to go either way. In other words, it's meant to diffuse chit-chat. He has other things to focus on.
Like, y'know, blinding pain. Gen's fist drives into Vince's body, getting a sharp cry from him and dropping him to the bridge again. He hits it hard and skids over a few feet, cape getting thoroughly mussed in the process. But the moment he raises up a little, it's in time to see Amy - the one he'd hoped to not have to engage at all - attacking him. The tendrils of mist surge at him, and Vince hops bck to his full height with a burst of energy. He weaves from side to side fluidly, evading each one as it comes. When they begin to truly assault en masse, Vince throws himself to the side to hit the bridge on his shoulder and tumble over his back to end in a crouch.
With his icy blue eyes intensified - glowing.
"I'd hoped not to do this to you, Amy..."
His left hand lifts again. With no warning whatsoever, the bridge beneath Amy's feet erupts to life with a swirling, torrential tornado of smoky gray. The massive cyclone rages high into the air, whipping raindrops around wildly, and intended to capture the girl and toss her deep into the shredding winds.
If successful, Vince lunges himself into the tornado as well - though unlike poor Amy, the winds do not shred or rip him. He, instead, rides them to meet her. In that position in midair, he turns aside and his sword arm... disappears. Or all but disappears from sight, save for a few blurred glimpses. Stab after stab is driven at her body, each grueling stroke ranging from legs to shoulders, numbering far too many to count.
The end finally comes with a severely hard stab aimed to drive into her stomach to launch her out of the tornado. Vince, meanwhile, glides out of the winds himself to land gracefully on his boots again.
Rolling his neck irritably as Setsuka is blown backwards, Luc spits to the side, glaring at the fight that continues on all around him. Rubbing the back of his head, he seems to have returned to his typical, dour self, green eyes rolling towards Amy, and then the fallen Setsuka, and then...
... Gen.
"Hh," the German begins with a slow grumble, rotating either shoulder with sequential popping sounds. "Stupid old people. Always complaining about shit." The irony of this statement is lost on Schroedinger as he squints, eyeing the old master who seems to effortlessly flow through combat like some sort of really hardcore dancer.
"Wonder why this jackass isn't dead yet."
Luc's fists clench. His eyes begin to spark with life again as an enthusiastically unpleasant grin blooms across his lips. His legs tense... and then, he is EXPLODING forward in a sudden burst of unholy speed, chi sending gouts of fire racing down his legs and internally speeding him up to points that he should not be able to normally achieve. Blue-black flame snakes around his right leg--
--and he leaps.
"LET'S FIND OUT, HUH?!! GRAAAAAAAGH!"
Luc Schroedinger then /explodes/ towards Gen in one jumping kick, a corkscrew of energy wrapped around his right leg as he seeks to -slam- the sole of his shoe -right- into the old man's face with nary a care for manners or even forethought on how this might be a bad idea. He doesn't have time to think of 'consequences' when he's releasing all his pent of chi in one burning wave of black-blue fire, after all.
"C'MON!!!"
She thinks the move connected cleanly. His defenses weren't even detected, each stomp delivered with the punishing speed she is capable of delivering when forced to machine-gun fire each strike in rapid succession. But as she flips through the air to land, her feet sliding a short distance before she twists, sliding to a stop, once again facing Gen, the older fighter seems no visibly worse for the wear. Once again on the outside of the brawl, the girl scans her teammates, finding each to be doing pretty well... except for poor Vince.
By the time she realizes the reason Gen isn't tearing into her with his powerful attacks is because Vince is about to get smashed across the bridge, it's too late to even call anything out. It will just simply have to be. Wincing, she encourages, "Hang in there a little longer!" Each moment counts, each second they can stay standing is a chance to drive this fight in their direction.
Looking away from the young man as he prepares his next attack, the Kenpo artist focuses once again on the real terror of the battleground. Gen.
He's doing a good job as a leader. She's noticed the little nods to direct the two girls, the menacing way he navigates the battlefield to back them up... He's tacitcal as well as powerful, and the job he's done to Tran and Vince are evidence of that. She wishes she didn't have to keep charging from distance, since it appears to give him time to prepare for her attacks, but with how mobile he is, she's left with little choice. Taking in a breath, the girl starts forward again.
Going for simple, quick, rather than recklessly aggressive, she sprints in, aiming to get close enough to seize only his right arm this time. With a tight enough hold, she'll twist his arm up and over as she spins then bends forward, aiming to roll him neatly over her back and slam him to the ground with a somewhat classical Judo-styled slam. "YA!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Gen with Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Vince 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Gen endures Luc's Tyrant Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Vince 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tran 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Gen interrupts Dr. Tran Visits Satan from Tran with Shuuga.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Vince 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tran 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
Most wouldn't call Luc an insightful, thoughtful sort of fighter. But he's right in at least one thing. So far, in this fight, the old man named Gen has been moving like a whirlwind among the combatants. That can only last for so long. He takes a beating, now, as Hotaru gets a grip on his sleeve and sends him spilling to the ground, just as Luc gives a blazing kick to his face. Gen's head snaps around, the ends of his beard almost smouldering from contact with the chi-charged flame.
For a moment, it looks like the old man is going down - straight into the oncoming bear hug of one Doctor Tran.
Except.
Except there's a smile on the old man's face.
And there's the fact that he deliberately let his body go limp after being thrown by Hotaru, twisting /into/ the path of Luc's strike. Just so that now, he's flying into Tran just a little too quickly for the doctor to get a secure grip...
It all happens at once.
The mushroom cloud of explosive steam obscures both the team leaders from view. Both masters vanish in a scalding burst of spitting fury, a superheated mist that hisses wildly against the wind and rain coming from the Strolheim sky. Vapour rolls across the battleground, engulfing the drawbridge.
Then there's motion. Coming from above, out of the apex of that steam cloud, pushing it aside. Somehow, in the confusion, Gen's managed to reverse the hold on Tran. And now he's all but STANDING on the doctor, riding the man down from above, looking quite composed for an elderly gentleman treating a medical practitioner like a surfboard.
The impact, when they both reach the drawbridge, is enough to split the wood, sending fragments flying into the moat.
Gen gives a harsh, almost barking laugh, the sound ripping from his chest and throat.
Has she been forgotten? Presumed dead? She might as well be--but at least she's been left alone. She has some time to take stock of the situation, to let her brain unfuzz. But it won't be enough. Already, aches are compounding on injuries, making it unwise to move. She is one of those types of personalities that -does- enjoy pain... but not like this.
She bites her lip to not groan, forcing her battered body to move, joints popping back into place. If there's any one thing she -doesn't- want to do, in this fight, it's disappoint her Master and her team. It's rather perverse--she doesn't like either of them, but as long as they're on this team together, then that's the only thing that matters to her. Communication... lines of communication. She catches eyes, makes glances. Assumptions. And she nods to herself... and turns towards Luc.
Her eyes narrow. This man... loud, slightly crazy, rude... almost her exact opposite. And powerful, immensely so... but Setsuka has power of her own. She lunges forward, again, for Luc... her body blurring slightly, as she gathers Psycho Power into her right hand, glowing cold white and purple-blue at the edges.
She attempts to dash past Luc, to 'slap' that energy onto his chest, and if she makes it, as she comes to a skidding stop behind him, that will explode in a brief, small sphere of razing power...
COMBATSYS: Amy interrupts LaRose Storm from Vince with Wyrm Waker.
[ \\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Vince 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tran 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Amy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|
Battles of skill, battles of honour, and battles of sheer bloody-minded will all rage upon the drawbridge. As she lunges past Vince, emerging in a tense crouch behind him, her legs coiled beneath her and arms shaking through sheer pressure of effort, Amy forces herself to become more aware of her surroundings. She can hear the movements of the Frenchman behind her - but knows she is safe for the moment. Energy rises on all sides, only the graceful Hotaru not seeming to explode against the senses. It seems slow, but in an instant awareness fades in. The Templar awakens.
Vince's dulcet tone reaches her almost immediately as she spins about, raising her hands against the mist-wreathed air, fingers no longer shuddering but tight and prepared as they curl in toward conditioned palms. "Do /what/?" The power in her voice surprises the woman herself, her own tone unbroken by the crushing force of Tran's earlier blow. It seems to have passed an age since already, blood in the eye and pain in the head be damned. She can deal with that /later/. Now, a smile flashes onto her lips, challenging the LaRose duellist to give her his all, and it is a challenge that goes not long unanswered. A storm comes. The mist bucks and twists, rippling across the entire field of combat.
"I'm not helpless, Vince LaRose!" Her cry rings out as she steps forward and twists herself into the eye of the tornado, lashing one arm violently upward in an uppercut toward the fencer. Her words are defiant, but her eyes blaze upon him with the ready determination of an equal talent. Her skin is torn, numerous cuts and gashes welting pale flesh, but she cares not. The mist billows wildly for some form of control, but as it does so it merely works it's way outward toward Vince, encircling him by the time the woman gains enough strength and steadiness to launch herself in an explosive jump forward. She meets Vince's incoming sword, meeting her own energies as they travel with him into the hurricane.
His arm may disappear, but hers remain very visible as they lash out. The pain raised by his first few cuts is immense, his speed is almost unbelievable through the haze she now occupies. But Amy manages to secure a grasp, and whips the younger warrior over her shoulder. It causes them both to leave the ground, carried upward in the wind, but from all around she summons grayish fronds of chi to follow the overhead circle of her arms. Vince is carried aloft, and then tossed toward the floor. The Templar spins away from him with an empassioned cry, sent into a wild flight as she releases all her effort into the throw... and into the final focusing of energies, devastating tendrils of mist cracking down into her opponent with enough force to tear muscle and splinter bone.
They will both land uncomfortably, but the damage is done. His destructive assault is weathered.
It is to Dr. Tran's extreme detriment that Gen decides he doesn't like hugs. The old guy's subtle movements go more or less completely unnoticed, or at the very least completely ignored, as Tran plows ahead regardless of consequence. And oh, what consequences they are.
Tran is more or less helpless putty in Gen's hands, up to the point where he is driven painfully into the drawbridge. The loud cracking is almost certainly not entirely from the wood. Dr. Tran, in a clinical, detached portion of his mind, wonders how Gen can apply that much force to a man's ribcage despite being old and shriveled.
The answer is not forthcoming, as Gen stands on his fallen foe and cackles like a hyena. Tran, fading fast, turns his head toward his 'students'. "See? This guy knows what's up. You ask him a favor..." Here Tran starts coughing again, on account of how he's in such terrible shape so very quickly. But he continues, "...and he delivers."
Strangely enough, the steam around Tran is not dissipating. In fact, it's getting thicker around him. Intensely thick, so that in mere moments, he resembles nothing more than some kind of big fat ghost worm. His voice, muffled slightly, echoes out of it, weak from the effort. "Thanks."
Then Dr. Tran's fists explode out of it as he tries to one-two punch Gen right in the junk. To clarify: the motion of Tran's fists is explosive, and the fists themselves are ALSO explosive, on account of being wrapped in super-pressurized steam chi. The kind of chi that, upon contact with something such as an elderly gentleman's gentle parts, will detonate, the focus of chi so tight that the backlash sends rippling waves of power flowing back down over Tran, who by this point will probably be way too unconcious to care.
COMBATSYS: Tran can no longer fight.
[ \\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Vince 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Amy
Amy's counter.. was unexpected. Vince is taken out of the tornado prematurely, and dashed against the drawbridge. The chi she wreaks upon him gets a pained cry from the duelist, and the tornado ceases.
It looks as though the torrent of mist might've actually killed him. There's no more movement from him. Only stillness for a few seconds.
But then.. there's a chuckle. This bubbles into a strained, weak laugh. "Amy... you've grown," he says. "But.. so.. have I..."
Vince opens his eyes, this time BURNING with the icy blue. White is no longer present in his eyes - only the blue, with energized steam pouring from them. The wind in the area picks up substantially, bringing the drizzle to a fierce gale.
The hand doesn't lift. The tornado simply SURGES into the air again, picking up where it left off, but following Amy.
And should it hit and toss Amy into the air, Vince pools what strength he has left in his arms and legs to leap into the fray with her again. And once more, the pride of Rose Dansant is displayed with the unending strikes from the rapier, ending with the downwards thrust through her midsection...
COMBATSYS: Vince can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Setsuka
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Amy
COMBATSYS: Luc endures Setsuka's Yamikaze - Doku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Amy
Luc blinks, feeling something off the moment his foot makes impact. He can tell when these things are awry -- he might not be particularly smart, but he's good at one thing: fighting. The very second his shoe smacks against the side of Gen's face, there's too much give. His leg tenses, bending at the knee -- and then, in a surge, he's simply pushed back in the raw fury of Gen's attack. Spiraling backwards, Luc lands in a crouch, watching as the old man goes to town on his teammate. And all Luc can do is... well--
"GAHAHAHAHAHA! THAT'S GREAT!" Laugh. A lot. "That stupid old man took the hit!! Man, he's tough! I wanna take a shot at him!" In fact, Luc is preparing to do just /that/--
--which is about when Setsuka falls upon him like a bat out of hell. Green eyes widen as the woman suddenly invades his personal space. It would almost seem she's moving too fast for him to keep up with, especially as that energy rips right into Luc's chest.
Except for the fact that his eyes are focused -right- on Setsuna.
Blood sprays from the gaping wound that distinct Psycho Power /sears/ into Luc's chest, the explosion blowing away much of his nice button-up shirt. The damage is all too obvious in the wake of that brutal explosion, and yet -- he's still laughing. Loudly, snidely -- full of terrible life and vigor. And Setsuka might note, as she begins to land, the small lance of black, crackling energy in Luc's palm.
"I don't wanna deal with you anymore... so GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY WAY!"
The very /second/ that Setsuka lands, that spear is thrust, absorbing itself into the ground... before it /EXPLODES/ outward just underneath her feet in a massive, searing GOUT of broiling black-blue flames, seeking to engulf her in the horrible burning mass before a sudden and deafening explosion simply knocks her back and away from the still-laughing Luc.
"AAHAHAHA!!"
Her hand releases Gen the instant she's finished rolling him over her shoulder, but what happens after that most definitely doesn't go as Hotaru had expected. A whirlwind of action, steam, mist, chi, and psycho power later, and she's left standing with only the completely obnoxious Luc as her partner. Not working as intended! Taking in a short breath, she shakes her head, watching as Vince and Tran give their opponents their final regards for this match.
A glance is cast toward Luc for a moment. There's no way she would have thought she would end up needing to rely on /his/ help. She'd muster some remark about manners and respect, but really, the fight's going too fast for talking, and expecting him to listen is just folly anyway. Tensing up, she decides to follow up Vince's valiant charge toward Amy, darting forward as well.
The girl ducks low from a yard out, waiting for Vince's attack to pan out, arms out at her sides, feet apart, one leg beneath her for lunging power. The moment she sees an opening, however, she springs, uncoiling into a mid-air spin, aiming to smash into Amy's guard with two swift palm strikes in an attempt to batter her defenses and slam her backward before landing in the same low stance she had been in when she attacked.
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Tran's Here Comes Dr. Tran!.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Setsuka
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Amy
All's fair in love and war. A tactic's not dishonourable or ridiculous if it works. Nevermind the fact that Gen's probably not had significant use for his lower regions for decades, beyond the boring day-to-day function of waste disposal. That's not the point. It'd still HURT.
Or at least it would. If it connected. Because Gen exercises the prudence all men know in guarding what's most important. He slides to one side. Tran's steaming fist scorches the sash belted round Gen's waist, but it comes no closer than that.
In a dry voice, Gen says, "My apologies, 'Doctor' Tran, but I do not need -that- examination."
With that said, Gen lifts his head, and studies the battlefield through narrowed eyes.
Droplets of water splatter against the fabric of his long Chinese robe. The weather's starting to pick up, rain sluicing through the sizzling steam left behind by Tran and the damp condensation of Amy's mist attacks. Then there's the wind, howling across the castle drawbridge, far colder than any twister summoned by Vince's chi.
Gen ignores this. It doesn't matter. If these conditions continue, the surviving fighters are soon going to be chilly and soaked through. The wooden surface of the drawbridge is going to get increasingly treacherous.
But this fight might not last much longer. His two apprentices are injured. That's obvious. He looks to Amy and Setsuka, both of them being pressed hard. Gen makes a small motion of his hand. The fingers of his right hand flick, once, visible beneath the trailing edge of his sleeve. A signal of some sort, hanging in the air for a moment.
Then he moves. The old man lunges forward, his robe trailing behind him in the rain and wind. He's not quite fast enough to intercept Hotaru before she reaches Amy, but he does his best to strike her hard with the stiffened fingers of a Mantis strike, aimed at her side, towards the critical junction of lower ribs and flesh.
COMBATSYS: Luc successfully hits Setsuka with Uberlastung Lanze.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Setsuka
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Amy
Eerily like another fighter she's studied--perhaps with more chi--Setsuka is reminded of tapes she's watched (okay, internet footage, this -is- the modern age) of a certain Shenwoo. That comparison, however, is made in the back of her head. The front of her head is trying to deal with the massive surge of pain as she's literally exploded out of Luc's way, just as he expected her to be.
Or is she? Certainly, she's been blasted into the air, and very certainly, she's going to be unconscious--far into it--in just a moment. But, as a certain popular video game would put it, the soul still burns. It's an almost unearthly movement, really, Setsuka's body flipping over, moving on instinctive autopilot... altering her trajectory to take her down right onto Luc. She has no words--she isn't thinking, not at a conscious level.
And she's reaching for Luc with both hands... her Psycho Power flaring brightly, for a brief moment, seeking to envelop him in a massive explosion of that power...
COMBATSYS: Setsuka can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Amy
COMBATSYS: Vince successfully hits Amy with LaRose Storm.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Amy
COMBATSYS: Amy endures Hotaru's Enryuu Banda.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Amy
Amy is not a hard woman to follow with such an attack. Her form is scattered willy-nilly through the air, arms and legs flailing as she struggles to regain control following the maelstrom. The mist that has crashed upon Vince billows outward once more in 'natural' form, no movement made toward it's mistress. She is left to fend for herself, teeth gritting and hair flying in a dark swathe as she tumbles. Finally, so close to the ground, she thrusts out a palm with desperate vigour. It smashes against the drawbridge, a section already splintered by Gen's demolition of the good doctor. The Templar cringes as sharp wood enters tensed flesh, but she lowers her feet nonetheless...
The thunderous clap of her boots against the thick planks heralds the second coming of Vince's storm. The surge catches his foe, propelling her once more off her feet. This time she fights for control to no avail, blood flying in gasps of hot crimson as her lithe form is notched and serrated by the endless stream of cuts. The finale draws a feral scream, a pure expression of pain that seems to bring the Templar some fearsome second wind. Her eyes, closed against the agony, /shoot/ open, meeting Vince's as he falls away from her. Her spine slams a furrow in the bridge a second later, and somehow.. some way... through sheer will, she springs up from this, rolling into a crouch and coming to face Hotaru.
As the LaRose tornado dies, the mist is re-emboldened. Scattered about the bridge, it begins to drift eerily toward the wild woman. Her dark eyes blaze, fire burning in depths that should be vague and uncertain. She should be unconscious, she should be buckling, but she meets those fluid palm strikes with a pair of grunts that are passionate for all they are understated. She is weathering the blows, forcing herself to stand even as she falls away. Shaking legs catch her weight before she topples, and her right hand fires out before her. Fingers splay against the air, and as black hair settles about her shoulders the Templar brings fingertips into her palm.
The motion's brutality is astonishing. Nails dig deep, drawing further blood, and the energy-fog circling the battlefield responds with similar vigour. Tendrils lash up into the air and then plunge downward in cresting waves of hard, bludgeoning force. As if a thousand fists struck the bridge at once, it quakes underfoot, not a single combatant spared Amy's own storm's attention. This is her final cry - it is all she has. And when it settles, the mist dwindles and begins to fade. She lies unconscious, her breath shallow. Crushed, in the end, beneath the weight of her own assault.
COMBATSYS: Amy can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Luc blocks Setsuka's Yamikaze - Kuu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Amy successfully hits Luc with The Dragon's Breath.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-----==|
The second tornado, more fierce than the last with the added winds raging around them. The final stab - her scream - seems to bring Vince back to his senses. Amy, to Vince, is a certainly respectable girl. And hearing her pained in such a way is certainly -not- what he had intended.
Though he -did- intend it, in a sense. He did at the time, anyway.
Conflicting thoughts shroud his mind as he drops from the swirling vortex of winds. When his boots touch the planks of the drawbridge, he blinks his eyes. The churning steam and glowing icy blue is gone in an instant, replaced by his typically cool, but ultimately more innocent eyes - looking a tad lost. The tornado silences itself, dissipating. The raging winds die back down to their natural state with the drizzling rain. The young swordsman staggers a step, blade lifting briefly... only to lower again as he drops to a knee.
"I-I've done what I can, my lady...," Vince says, gaze turning to his female teammate. "See us through."
His eyes, starting to cloud and shadow, drifts to Amy. "..Be well, Amy."
And then? There's an explosion, unexpectedly. What little energy Vince had left is blasted out of him, driving him against the drawbridge firmly and leaving him unconscious, facedown.
"Maaaaaan," mutters Luc as he slowly comes back to a full stand, oblivious to the strong smell of burnt flesh rising from his chest, "I wasted way too much on that stupid girl. Dumb shit, why'd you have to get in my way?! What a bit--"
And then Setsuka is descending right towards him like a bat out of hell.
"Oh, fuck /that/--"
Hands grasp and, in a flash of motion, Luc -swings- his own forearms up to greet her. Psycho Power meets chi in a clash of raw power as tongues of chaotic flame rip forward against Setsuka's raw surge of power. To his credit, Luc is able to dispel much of it through that last-minute expulsion of fire.
But 'much' of a tidal wave still leaves far more than wanted.
The remaining explosion BLOWS past Luc's guard the second those flames are overpowered. Psychic energy burns away at him, shredding up the sleeves of his nice shirt and lacerating his arms in a series of burns and deep cuts. He is blown straight off his feet -- leaving him a sitting duck to Amy as she makes her own, last-ditch effort. Luc can't really do much of /anything/ as those tendrils POUND against his body like a million hammers at once. Distantly, he hears a bone breaking. Pain would normally tell him where the break is, but, well --
He's far past that, at this point.
Crushing into the ground with that bludgeoning force leading the way, Luc caves inward, coughing up a mass of blood that splatters over his jaw and chest. Distantly, he stares upwards at the sky. His eyes roll, to look at the castle.
"... god I hate this place."
He remains prone like that for roughly fifteen seconds. At about the fifteenth, Luc suddenly remembers something, eyes snapping wide. "Oh yeah! That senile old loser!" Only a second later, any pain of injuries forgotten (and likely exacerbated), Luc RIPS upwards, fire still burning around him in erratic sparks and sputters.
"LET'S DO THIS, DUMBASS!"
And, with those his potentially last words, Luc sweeps forward and -punches- the ground, rupturing the earth in a series of fiery black-blue geysers of chi that rip a path /straight/ for Gen. "RAAAAARGH!!"
COMBATSYS: Hotaru parries Gen's Strong Punch!
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru full-parries Amy's The Dragon's Breath!
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|
Her palm strikes delivered, Hotaru attempts to batter Amy back down, hoping to finish the punishment met out by Vince's last hurrah. Not the hardest strikes she can dish out, but finesse and speed seemed more appropriate given the situation. Her feet touch down, the girl exhaling softly as she gets ready to back up and defend herself. Amy is still standing. That's the first surprise. The second is what she does next, digging her nails into her palm, drawing blood. The brutal motion is echoed in the powerful manifestations around the bridge, mist gaining strength, clearly threatening to crash against all the fighters present on the bridge. She needs to think fast.
Similarly stressing is Gen. She senses him moving swiftly, intending to dig his hand into her side with bone crushing force. The space within which to react is narrow, but she manages, standing up straight, swinging her left hand out then drawing it back just as quickly, blue energy flowing along her limb and leaving a visible trail of azure in the path of her arm. It solidifies, if just for an instant, not unlike the chi manipulation she can bring to bear in redirecting the energy of others.
That single length of solidified chi provides just enough resistance to slide Gen's strike wide, his fingers barely grazing her Chinese styled top in passing. Hotaru is still moving, however, not pausing for an instant, as she springs backward, whipping into a purouette. Her hands extended, her fingers tear through the all present mist, drawing an abundant amount of chi out of it for her own defense. The moment the storm descends for its crushing finale, Hotaru lands out of her spin, tucking down low, body twisted, arms out to the side, feet folded beneath her, creating a shell of energy that lasts but for an instant, allowing the chi driven mist to crash down around the girl but leaving her unharmed.
Gritting her teeth, she twists back to standing, continuing the fluid motion with which she had just defended herself, whipping her right arm through all that built up chi, collecting a swath of it along the length of her limb in order to power a shimming projectile of concussive force she sends flying Gen's way, the energy gathering speed, risidual chi trailing behind it like a comet unleashed. "YAA!"
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Hotaru's Hakki Shou EX.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Gen parries Luc's Aufruhr Gemetzel!
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Amy's The Dragon's Breath.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|
Smoke rolls across the castle moat, rising from smouldering patches of chi-flame left by Luc's last attack. All around, wisps of spiritually-charged mist evaporate in ghostly trails, the last vestiges of Amy's final assault.
Gen inhales. When he lets it go, it mists in the chill Strolheim air, the natural condensation of breath, not the unearthly tendrils of power that Amy unleashed just heartbeats before.
The drawbridge sways dangerously, the ancient wooden timbers badly damaged by the fighting, and all the more so by that last apocalyptic exchange of attacks. The rivets and joins holding the bridge together are starting to come apart, and even the huge chains that connect it to the castle gate are looking...rather worse for wear.
But it's upon those chains that Gen now stands, crouched high up on the links of steel. He crouches there, having moved so fast that to any lesser observer, he'd be just a blur. A twist out of the way, evading the blast of mist from Amy. Another twist to dodge Hotaru's burst of energy, and finally a leap to carry him out of range from Luc's fiery assault.
He might be /old/...but it's clear that age hasn't slowed him down any. Not at all. Not in the slightest.
"Impressive," Gen murmurs, from his perch, "I -am- impressed."
Gen's two protégés are down. But so is half of the good doctor's own merry band, including the man himself. The German boy looks to be barely standing, as well - it's obvious he's only running on fumes and sheer Teutonic bloody-mindedness.
The girl is a wildcard. She's fresh, unbloodied, and -remarkably- skilled. From the few blows they've exchanged, quite possibly the most talented one here.
"But," Gen asks, "are you good enough? Is that -all you have-, hmmm?"
First things first. It might be cold, but it is rational, and oh so very pragmatic.
He goes for Luc.
The old man lunges off the chain, running down the thin length of interlocking metal, his robe trailing behind him as he glides like some hellish parody of a tightrope walker. Faster and faster and faster until he's right upon Luc and all but tackling the younger man, his hands formed into claws. Aiming to collide with him, grab him, haul him in. Into the path of a brutal snap kick. One that, if it lands, would take him clean off the field of battle, into the chilly Strolheim moat.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Luc with Houzen EX.
[ < > ///////////////////// ]
Luc 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Gen
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|
It might be cold.
But it is exactly what Luc Schroedinger wants.
"BLAH BLAH BLAH! C'MON ALREADY, YOU DUMBASS OLD MAN! QUIT GABBING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL! Or is the PROSTATE CANCER slowing you DOW--"
Crunch.
That's the sound of Luc's ribcage caving in before he even knows what's happening. Clawed, gnarled fingers jam into his body with fluid and unswerving aim, deadly accuracy. Luc's eyes go wide; his mouth widens; blood seeps from his mouth.
But he doesn't even try to move out of the way -- even if he /could./ The look on his face says it all.
This is just what he wanted.
Sternum cracks inward with the snapkick that ploughs into Luc's torso like a thundercrack. He flies backwards like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, just as intended. But, as he goes? His hand lifts up again. That lance forms once more, is thrust /forward/ towards the ground at Gen's feet--
Black-blue flames explode outward from the ground in a burning vortex as Luc Schroedinger laughs all the way off the drawbridge.
"FUCK... YOUUUUU--"
Splash.
The very second he hits the water, Luc is out like a light, dreaming sweet dreams of him punching midgets and old men and stupid half-Spanish half-Irish girls in the respective heads over and over.
It's a nice dream.
COMBATSYS: Luc can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Gen
Hotaru draws her hand back, lowering her arm, the risidual chi that had been put to use fading slowly. The mist has cleared some, though the air remains damp, the bridge's surface slick, her clothes soaking. Everything is moving so fast. Just trying to spot where Gen landed following the three pronged attack is a challenge. She notices him, that final moment, descending like a berd of prey along the chain in order to plow into Luc. The violet blur passes, aiming not for her, but the loudmouthed young man. She's there to see it all, the crushing blows, and, more disturbingly, the way her teammate seems to be getting precisely what he /wanted/.
The crunching sound of bone is sickening and the girl can't help but blanch slightly as she's left to contend with Gen all alone. Somehow she knew it would end up like this - her facing off against the veteran master, her teammates having done what they could, as one by one they were removed from the fight. With a half second to prepare herself, she focuses harder. She hears Luc's fading curse before his yell and oddly timed laughter are cut off are muted by a splash. After that it is simply the waves below and the subtle sounds of water dripping off of higher ledges onto the bridge.
Azure eyes stay focused on the veteran fighter. "No, that isn't all." she declares, her tone firm, collecting her wits after the jarring display of brutality against young Schroedinger. And then she's on the offense, sprinting forward through the falling drops. Her bold charge proves not to be so direct once she gets close, for she drops down quickly, arms out to her sides for a moment, her right foot sliding forward in an attempt to trip Gen up. She follows up by spinning out of the strike, hooking her right leg back into his side heel first as she rises to standing. "KYA!"
COMBATSYS: Luc successfully hits Gen with Uberlastung Lanze.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Gen
COMBATSYS: Gen dodges Hotaru's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Gen
It all happens at once.
Gen leans to one side, his footing shifting, slippered feet sliding across the battered surface of the increasingly unsteady drawbridge. He evades Hotaru's strike, but before he can retaliate, the delayed burst of chi-fueled flame explodes beneath his feet, punching from beneath the drawbridge. Consuming Gen. And coming dangerously close to incinerating the girl as well. But it's the old assassin who takes the brunt of the damage.
He falls back to earth, crashing against the timbers of the castle entryway. The whole structure shakes with the impact, creaking and groaning against its overstressed moorings.
Gen breathes, heavily, his ribs heaving as he rises. Smoke curls from his body. But he's still drawing air. He's not dead, not quite yet, despite what Luc might have tried.
His eyes, however, are closed.
He speaks to Hotaru, then, his voice soft, barely audible over the sound of settling debris and the howling Strolheim wind.
"Indeed? Well, it seems, then..."
He lifts his left leg up, bending it at the knee, bringing it high to his chest. His right leg supports his weight, the ball of his foot balancing upon the battle-scarred timbers of the ancient drawbridge. His spine curves, his torso tilted forward. One hand shifts, fingers curling into a meditative pose. His other hand pulls back, formed into a fist.
"...I have little choice."
For a moment there is nothing. Just utter...
...stillness.
Then Gen's eyes open.
"Defend yourself."
He moves. Almost sliding across the ruined drawbridge, his whole body angled low to the ground. One arm trails behind him, still formed in that focusing seal. But his other arm, his /striking/ arm, is at full extension.
When his movement finally ceases, he's on the other side of Hotaru. As if he's gone not just past her, but /straight through/ her.
But that can't be the case. After all, Hotaru's still standing.
Did he even touch her?
If he did, then a heartbeat later,
everything
stops
.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Hotaru with Zan'ei+.
+ Epic Hit! +
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Hotaru 1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0 Gen
He slips around her two kicks deftly, but Hotaru was careful to not overcommit to them, expecting punishing retaliation. Her stance affords her the chance to back up, springing two yards away from where she attempted to connect her heel with his side. For his age, his speed is formidable. If he was fourty years younger, his speed would be literally unbelievable. /At/ his age, it's inhuman. Whirling around, she finds him recovering from the impact of Luc's parting shot. Something went right, at least.
He issues a warning, then makes his move toward the diminutive young fighter. Defend was the command - but defend from /what/? His speed is faster than she's seen the entire fight as he charges her. Rooted to the spot, she brings her arms up, intending to weather the worst of what he has to give her, eyes squinting in trepidation at what unholy pain he's about to unleash. A moment later, he seems to have slipped harmlessly by. She didn't even notice the touch, the contact needed to convey that seal into his victim. She almost starts to turn, her mind trying to makes sense of what transpired, trying to predict an attack from behind, when it hits.
It registers as a thousand strikes, painful blows wracking her from within. Organs, joints, muscles, and bone, all cry out at once as her face becomes ashen and the teen fighter collapses to her knees. She didn't even know what she was defending against, or what he had done. Eyes frozen open, she starts to slump forward, catching herself with her left hand, a hacking cough leaving blood on the beams beneath her face. She thought what he had done to Luc was horrifying to watch, but that pales compare to what she finds herself suffering now.
Her shoulders slump, the girl growing weaker by the moment. But her bracing left hand holds firm. Slowly she lifts her head, eyes still open, blinking slowly as she tries to regain focus on the world around her. Her right hand, not used to prop herself up, is elsewhere. Resting over her heart, a soft aura of pale, sky blue visible in the dim grey light. She starts to breath then, wet coughs between breaths, but breathing all the same, her mouth curled into a strange smile, rendered morbid by the blood at her lips. "That's what he meant," she whispers softly. That's what she had to defend, more than anything else.
Lowering her hand, she rises, whirling to face the master martial artist. Her breaths are rough, but growing stronger by the moment. He tried to defeat her with a touch, but she won't be finished that easily. Hands clench, teeth grit, a swell of blue energy collecting around the young Kenpo artist. The power swells around her, but in her eyes, everything is calm - before the storm to come as she speeds back at Gen with relentless determination.
She closes the distance with all the speed her body can muster, dropping into a low crouch, forcing all that potential energy to discharge, to power a chi-laced flip kick that marks the opening to the most punishing combination the girl can demonstrate. "Ten-shou..." she whispers, her voice too horse to exclaim as she tries to drive both feet into the older fighter's chest.
The rest would be a familiar sight to any who had seen many of the fighter's matches should he be hit cleanly. A mid-air tackle, a sliding landing against the bridge, sending mist spraying out to the sides, as she pins him just long enough to challenge a massive, point blank explosion of chi directly into his chest, using her small arms as conduits to funnel it accurately.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Gen with Ten-shou Ranki.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Gen
The drawbridge shatters.
Ancient timbers are reduced to shards of spinning wood as the entire structure caves down beneath the incredible spiritual force released by Hotaru's attack. It slams into Gen's lean chest and ribs, compressing them so hard it draws blood flecked with phlegm from his mouth and lungs. The power crashes through his body, through his spine, and into the bridge beneath.
Already so badly damaged by the destructive energies unleashed by the fighters, even this relic of Strolheim Castle cannot stand.
Forced through the rent in the broken bridge, Gen's limp form drops into the moat. There he lies, floating on his back amidst shattered shards of wood and torn links of chain. Half-submerged, his chest visibly rises and falls, fitfully, as he coughs and gasps for air.
Then he stops.
He speaks.
"Good, good," comes Gen's whisper, "but..."
Water geysers, bursting in all directions. In the blink of an eye, perhaps less, he's gone, leaving flying droplets and chaotic ripples in his wake.
"...I'm not..."
From above, now, as he pauses for just an instant atop the battlements, over the castle gate where all this began. He's resting at an impossible angle, perpendicular to the ground, crouched against the sheer vertical stone wall.
"...dead YET!"
Like a whirlwind he drops. He impacts against the remains of the drawbridge surface, shaking it to the foundations with a groaning of wood and protesting steel. But he isn't stopping. He's just building momentum. Like a runaway train he barrels towards Hotaru, aiming to /lift her up/, carry her with him into the air.
Before twisting her round and driving her towards the ruined drawbridge, down, down, down, his feet planted painfully on her spine, his hands clapsed together with deceptively serene poise.
COMBATSYS: Gen successfully hits Hotaru with Jakouha.
[ \\\\\ < > //////// ]
Hotaru 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Gen
Her attack connects and as she finishes unleasing that bridge-destroying energy of hers, the young fighter springs back, using her new found strength to gain sure footing on the portion of the ancient architecture that hasn't just fallen into the moat below. She gasps for breath, having poured so much power into her signiture technique. But she steps forward all the same, standing at the edge of the gaping ruin to peek down below. Is he finished? Is that it?
He stirs, speaking, shooting up admist a storm of geysers, then assumes his impossible position on the side of the battlement. "That's because," the girl replies, turning around to face him directly. "Unlike your techniques, mine are not meant to kill." It didn't register at first, the brutal nature of his strikes. Of course, she wasn't the target then. Now she knows better. The sternum crushing force delivered to Luc. The technique she struggled to survive. She can tell now just how gravely serious the old man takes his fights. The smart thing would almost be to surrender right then and there. Stop this fight before he goes for a killing blow. But she can't do that. Her teammates gave their all to get them this far. She can't let them down. She can't just give up like that.
He descends then charge, hooking the helpless girl before she can even respond. She struggles to free herself at the last minute, but there's nothing she can do as he twists her into position and, following a stomach churning descent, slams her body back against the bridge, his feet driving into her spin with punishing force. The girl cries out, arms scrambling, not even really sure what is happening as she twists to the side, back spasming, eyes clenched shut.
She rolls again, landing on hands and knees, spitting bloodied saliva to what remains of the bridge. Lifting her chin, the girl glares back at Gen, arms trembling as they get ready to give out. Time is fleeting. It's now or never. She lunges again for Gen, this time hampered by the injuries of a body hoping for release from the torment it's been put through. A spring into the air has her twisting back into him, a pair of rapid palm strikes aiming to crush through his guard. She tries again, a second time, another pair of strikes before her feet touch the ground.
Crouching, she lunges at him shoulder first, attempting to take advantage of any opening her volley might have created, only to finish with an aerial spin kick before dropping back to the bridge in a three point stance, gasping for breath...
COMBATSYS: Hotaru keeps on fighting!
[ \\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Gen
COMBATSYS: Hotaru successfully hits Gen with Ten-ren-ge.
[ \\\\\\ < > //// ]
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Gen
"...haaaa..."
It's a laugh. A painful, harsh-sounding laugh, scraped from a throat filled with equal parts blood as much as any other fluid.
Gen lies slumped against the wall of the castle, on one side of the grand gate arch. He would look a lot like a man simply sitting down for a moment, taking a rest...if it wasn't for the sheer destruction around him, and the fact the stone is cracked and cratered behind his back. Shards and fragments, dust and debris, staining his robe. His shoulders shake as he laughs again.
He opens his eyes. They are nearly white, shot through all the way with the unmistakable discolouration of advanced cataracts. But despite that, the old assassin's gaze somehow manages to be piercing all the same.
He looks across the badly devastated battlefield, beyond the unconscious forms of the combatants, some lying on what's left of the bridge, a couple in the water. There's only one figure left standing, that of Hotaru. Even Gen doesn't really have the strength left to get back to his feet.
He laughs.
"But..."
The word escapes from crimson-flecked lips, soft enough that Hotaru would have to strain to hear it.
"...you aren't dead either..."
He smiles.
And then he rises.
He shouldn't be able to. His frail form trembles as he stands. Shaking all the way. No. He shouldn't be able to do this.
Somehow he manages, all the same.
He sways, as he regards Hotaru, bone and sinew barely supporting his form.
"...are you...girl?"
As he speaks, Gen's legs flex at the knees, bending for an instant before they uncoil, muscles all the way to his spine pushing him forward with one final burst of speed.
One last pass.
The wood planks of the bridge /shudder/, the support chains rattling as Gen explodes forth, the very stones of the gateway arch reverbating as he leaps, twists, and swings - one leg snapping out in a heartbreakingly perfect example of the martial art, a single frame, a snapshot, his entire body flowing behind him.
And then he falls.
Tumbling to the ruined drawbridge.
COMBATSYS: Gen can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru dodges Gen's Shakudan.
[ \\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|
She pushes up to standing after brief seconds of respite. His words, his laugh provoke a blink of surprise, Hotaru caught off guard, arms raised. His words are barely audible, but she can make them out, eyes reading his lips, adding to the limited sound to identify the words. A slight shake of her head is the answer. No words are forth coming now. She can barely breath as it is.
And then he moves. In spite his condition, there is no perceivable lack of speed as far as the girl can discern. He's still unnaturally fast. But this one time, she proves to be the faster. Her right foot stomps down, the girl springing up into a forward flip, landing behind Gen as he falls. A half beat later, and her light frame lands. She's silent, her breath held, not even looking behind her, but rather listening. Crouching, she tries to discern the slightest movement, the rustle of splinters atop the bridge.
She is met with only silence. And then she stands, turning around slowly to face the fallen master. Her hand comes up to wipe the blood from her lips. She needs to get medical attention. But that seems far from her mind right now. The world - frozen as if in a bubble in which time cannot pass for the last few minutes, suddenly starts to move again.
The water drops, the minor but present zephyr through the mist laden skies. The waves below and the creak of additional timber possibly getting ready to give way. Her hands come together, her head bowing toward Gen. She holds that pose for a long, quiet moment, as if nothing else mattered.
COMBATSYS: Hotaru takes no action.
[ \\\\\\ <
Hotaru 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Hotaru has ended the fight here.
Log created on 21:37:26 11/22/2008 by Hotaru, and last modified on 14:56:06 11/23/2008.