Description: Discipline meets chaos, meat meets sheer psycho psychics, and two tyrants clash in a test of mettle in the second half of the Strolheim vs. EVIL POWER battle. (Winner: NO ONE)
It's a question of the ages, one played out more times than the Lord of Strolheim cares to remember. Discipline, unrelenting strides for the epitome of mankind's potential... and the diametric opposition of unhesitating application of a single being's will. Igniz personified such selfish course - but perhaps even more exemplifying that dark path is the Shadaloo Tyrant brought here tonight. There is no spectacle made of the bout except for the fight itself. This is not about proving anything to his people - the warriors of Strolheim train in the yard, in the mountains, sparring and testing themselves as on any other day. Yet the chamber on the second story of the barracks, settled into the shadow of the mighty castle, is anything but 'typical' tonight. Or is it? Vega would be brought to the 'testing chamber', his partner conspicuously absent, already intercepted by another of Wolfgang Krauser's agents. There is no pomp and circumstance about the chamber itself, either. Gray stonework, all four walls reinforced with unforgiving rock, the floor below them smoothed but similar, a single window looking out towards the mountains. In places, dried blood that never quite came clean can be seen. It is not the chamber befitting a Lord, and indeed, it is not to entertain or impress that motivates Krauser to bring Vega here, this afternoon.
It is a test. The Lord of Strolheim arrives fashionably late, after he is sure Vega has been properly shown in - and left. His garb is as anachronistic as the man's lifestyle itself - golden platemail accentuated by red metal and silk, a circlet about his broad brow, the form-fitted metal shifting with every motion as the knightly head of Strolheim passes through the heavy wooden doorway to cast his harshly stoic gaze onto Vega, wherever he might be found. Another step into the room, and the Kaiser wordlessly begins to unhook his breastplate.
Where can the leader of Shadaloo be found? Where can the Despot of Thailand be reached, when Krauser finally deigns himself 'ready' to approach? Oh, never fear - Vega is /right there/. For minutes, he'd been left aside - he'd been told that his team would be fighting again, only to find himself left alone in a simple rock room, with walls that he could eventually punch through, given time and enough annoyance. However, he waits. It's a frustration - an amusement, that his 'team' has done as well as it has without him saying more than three or four words to Vice. Their styles far different enough, he simply could not care if she were there or not, no matter how skilled in battle she was. And she was, truly. He'd felt Mature and Vice's claws on him more than once, and those scars took time to fade. Her effort with the last fight was a fluke, certainly - and maybe, were he to look deep down, he might have enjoyed the concept of fighting by her side here.
But no. Again, he's forced to confront an opponent on 'equal ground', the worst kind of ground there is. Krauser's appearance does nothing for Vega's mood, the Shadaloo Lord rounding about on him as he begins to remove his armor, eyes narrowed, white gaze full of rage, emotion battering at the stoic demeanor of his opponent. His voice is twisted, bitterly angry in the way only a miffed dictator or a jilted girlfriend can be. "This is no 'team', is it? Fine. Fine! Show me what you have, Krauser. That's the only reason I came here. Whatever happens now, I'll see you crushed in my grip. That much, and only that much, I promise!"
COMBATSYS: Vega has started a fight here.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Krauser has joined the fight here.
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Krauser 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Vega
Ah, rage. It was the predictable response to bringing Vega here, particularly when left to wait in that spartan, grey little arena still fresh from the honours and rigours of battles long and not-so-long past. Krauser's stern features twist with the smallest of smirks, and he drops the reinforced plate to the side, seeing little need or point to the cermonial armour against an opponent of Vega's nature, and magnitude, "Ah, 'Lord' Vega. Captain of all he can squeeze into a very small box." the Kaiser muses, "Commander of the small minded, and vacant. Lord of the Narrow and Ignorant." He sweeps into a mocking bow, the bare barrel-chested German striding forward to stand before Vega in the center of the room, nearly dwarfing even the mighty Shadaloo Tyrant in his gigantic presence, "I have met your operatives, Vega. Even had several dissected." He'll borrow from one of Igniz's little ploys, here. It's all too amusing to feed that burning rage within the man, but not in the way it wishes to be fed... Krauser remains deadly confident. A difference in his reaction to this beacon of unholy power, and the aforementioned stolen energies of the God of NESTS.
"Shells, vacuous and damaged by nature or expression of your dark will. Even to the highest levels, you build a house of cards on the shoulders of imbeciles. A monument to your own inadequecy." Cracking his neck, thick as a three hundred year old oak, from one side, then the other, Krauser is suddenly, almost inexplicably airborne, the towering Kaiser launching himself into a graceful, high velocity rotation as he throws one heavily plated heel around, arcing down at Vega's skull as he descends, voice all but booming, "DO NOT MAKE PROMISES YOU CANNOT KEEP!!"
COMBATSYS: Krauser successfully hits Vega with Leg Tomahawk.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Vega
How does that man get that high?! Up into the air Krauser goes, and Vega doesn't have much a chance to lash back before he's suddenly slammed down upon, the jauntily-tilted Dictator's hat on his noggin doing very little for protecting him from the plate-clad boot. He's axed and dropped, down to a knee that digs into the stone from the transferred force, and it's a long moment before he recovers enough to speak. When he does, harsh words are met with amusemtn, losing rage in a moment, calculating, crafty cunning overlaid. "You're as much the blowhard as you claim me to be, Krauser. You pretend to be above all of the rest of the world, but your hands are just as dirty. Admit it - this is all a game to hvae people bleed and die for you. It's what you enjoy, deep down. Don't lie to me.. I know!"
Whatever pain he's just been given, Vega plans on returning it in spades. From his knelt position, most would not be able to move out into an attacking posture - driven down like this, he's at a disadvantage - or would be, were he not suddenly fading into his purple and black aura, and seeming to vanish. Where he reappears, well - it's 'behind' Krauser, where he attempts to swing a wide punch at the back of the German's head. Wrapped around his hand - well, that's all that anger, made physical by the power of Vega's will. And certainly made all the stronger by the indignity he's just suffered!
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Krauser with Psycho Vanish.
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Krauser 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Vega
Fast teleport is fast. Vega may be dropped to the unforgiving floor - but the Shadaloo Tyrant is anything but grounded. The sudden, blurred motion brings Krauser about far quicker than the assertions made by the rage-fueled dictator, but despite himself the searing smack to the back of his skull staggers him, as well. Momentarily, the Kaiser loses his footing, stumbles forward mid-rotation. Then his gaze snaps back to Vega, "Your senses are faultier than reported, then, Lord Vega." the Lord of Strolheim observes, turning to face Vega fully once more, pacing a single step back as he considers the deadly dictator intently.
"Our goals and methods are anything but analogous. Your problem is that you cannot see anyone else with any accuracy, behind your skewed spirit. All you see is your own reflection in those empty eyes, the worst of humanity. The worst of yourself. I do not claim you are a blowhard - no, your power is anything but hot air, your threat very real." Wolfgang Krauser scratches his chin once, moustache twitching with intense consideration....
"That you think it a game, or about me... only proves how overdue you are to exit this world!!" With that, the mighty German rushes, as if led by one massive fist, a fearsome cross levelled with his right gauntlet squarely for the bridge of Vega's nose, a gutteral shout accompanying the motion, air rushing outwards beside the rushing Kaiser.
COMBATSYS: Vega interrupts Fierce Punch from Krauser with Psycho Wave.
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Krauser 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Vega
So, he's a threat. That's - good. Vega likes being a threat. People thinking he's tough and evil is a little feather in his cap, one that he plans on taking with him when and if he finally meets his match.. again. Hmn. As Krauser blathers on, Vega does try to follow - perhaps he'd thought wrongly about the tournament, and it's choices? Perhaps he'd made a wrong assumption into what Krauser was seeking with this set of battles...
Not that it truly matters.
As Krauser steps in, Vega's hands come up into the air. He holds them up, foregoing defense for the ability to call power out of his psyche, to give the mighty German something to think about. As the fist crashes past his 'guard', and hits the side of his face, Vega's hands draw down, and that sickly purple and blue Psycho Energy erupts behind, a veritable wave of the emotionally potent stuff wrapping over and around Krauser's form. Though Vega is rocked back on his heels, he still stands, and though the blood flows freely from his nose, he is grinning all the more. "F-fine! 'Educate' me, Krauser. /Why/ this tournament? What /do/ you seek in it? Prove that you're right, and that I can't understand..!"
Threats, threats. Always there are threats, evil masterminds, deadly warriors. Krauser does secretly like it -that- way. The raw Psycho Power washes back over him, and he is all but blasted away, launched to the ground and sliding on knees and hands away from Vega even as he clips him with the mighty blow. Yes, his assessment of the Shadaloo Tyrant seems to have been correct. Krauser smiles darkly, and pushes to his feet, brushing himself down momentarily as he draws a deep breath past the pain - shaking it off as best he can, "Here I thought you were a mighty psychic, Vega. Your uncertainties disappoint me." Krauser's eyes narrow, his brow furrowing - this is a dangerous bout indeed, not an engagement to be taken lightly, particularly if he wishes to see all that the Lord of Shadaloo is capable of. The Kaiser flanks slowly around the outside of the room, all his attention remaining centered on Vega, and Vega alone. There were more reasons than adding insult to injury to hold the fight in this quiet, unassuming grey room.
"Can you truly see no purpose beyond selfish amusement? No goals beyond 'proving' something to those who arrive? You merely prove my words true, Vega. Your self-centered reflection will not serve you here." Clearly, the Kaiser does not intend to helpfully enlighten Vega as to what he's taking from, or giving to this little invitational. Skin reddened, body already aching, the Lord of Strolheim still stands steadily, eyeing his adversary, "Perhaps brainwashing little girls really /is/ all you're truly good at." He postulates, as if in serious, let down cosnternation.
Man, what a bummer.
COMBATSYS: Krauser calculates his next move.
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Krauser 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Vega
A lack of places to run, most certainly. A lack of places to hide, no where to gain aid from - Vega is bearding the lion in his den, no doubt about that. However, this lion is up against something more than mere prey. In this situation, Vega will find himself the victor - of this, he is certain. No matter what the niggling little voice at the back of his head whispers.
"No, there are always reasons - but I wish to know /yours/." Vega's not quite as thick as most would assume, not driven by solely one goal. He could think of a hundred reasons why a man would offer up his home to a test of other warriors - he himself has done it, for reasons obvious and less so. To keep an eye on one and only one person, to study techniques that he would not wish to have used on his own person. Tons of reasons. That Krauser would not answer him, well - it is to be expected.
Striding forwards, Vega makes his move. It's a quick one - simple and brutally effective. He lunges forwards, trying to catch Krauser by the face. Should he be able, well - there's something to be said for a point-blank projection of his indomitable will, directly into the psyche of an opponent. Something.. explosive!
COMBATSYS: Krauser fails to counter Psycho Fall from Vega with Gigatec Cyclone.
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Krauser 1/=======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Vega
"I'm sure you do." Krauser observes, deep voice quiet, but intensely resonant. He is not so foolish as to lay his cards on the table in front of his inevitable adversary, however... nor particularly afraid of being slain in his own abode. Rumours of his lack of reinforcements, even, may be greatly exaggerated. Regardless, one thing is certain - Vega is deadly, and Vega is powerful. Krauser is not so arrogant as to believe such a meeting of masters the be-all and end-all tale of triumph, but there is no denying the dire straits he suddenly finds himself in. As certain as Vega is, in this instance the Kaiser has little to prove... and much to learn about the Overlord of Psycho Power.
Vega's hand snaps in, and with a flash, Krauser's rushes across to grasp for it at the wrist... he has a plan, oh yes, a good one. Vega is coming in much too slowly to....
FWOOM. The psychic force erupts across his face, across his chest, the explosion hurling him through the air, despite his girth, as the massive German meets the far wall with a building-rattling crash. His back seems embedded in the stone a moment before he slides to the floor, barely managing a crouch at the moment, "Ngggh." He groans through gritted teeth. It's been some time since he's been hit the way this fellow seems capable of. Good. That's definitely worth noting, and makes this meeting all worthwhile, "You are certainly adamant. One sees that rather often, when there are such severe and recent setbacks. At least, it is common in the mentally ill." Vega is like a little autistic kid! Alright, maybe the better analogy is a serial killer only a half-step ahead of the noose.
"You really think this will change anything? Do your worst." Krauser invites, showing little fear, despite the immense pain.
The taste of victory is suddenly ash - paste in his mouth, bitter and arcid. Yes, he's blasted the other man farther back from him, left his mark on the man's spirit - but in the end, it really doesn't seem to phase Krauser at all. Narrowed, angry eyes watch the German draw himself back up, and Vega's hands fold against his chest. Pondering his words, and giving them the weight that they probably desrve. "Of course not - because I am not /looking/ for this to change anything. You've asked me to show you my power, bandied about insults - and yet I still stand. Today isn't important, Krauser. I jump through your hoops for my own methods - and if I give you something you're looking for, spectacle or sport, fine. So be it."
Insult him or not, Vega is starting to settle - to focus on what he must be and do to win this. No matter what he says, winning /is/ important to him - testing his might against the mighty, feeding their words back to them on a plate full of pain and psychopower - /that's/ what makes him feel truly powerful. It's a sick, twisted thing - but it's all he has. "All that matters to me, today - is showing you a hint of what I'm capable of." And that, well - is that.
'What Vega is capable of' is a wide and varied thing - he steps in now, foregoing the usual techniques of evasion and strength, instead settling in with a furious pace, trying to keep Krauser up against that wall, in fact seemingly intending on embedding him deeper into it with a series of straight punches aimed at the man's solar plexus. He's borrowing from one of his underlings with this - and if it works, he might even give Michael a raise. Maybe.
COMBATSYS: Krauser fails to counter Fierce Punch from Vega with Phoenix Thrust.
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Krauser 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Vega
Unphased emotionally, perhaps - but Krauser is certainly feeling the rigors of being subjected to the unrelenting, fiery fury of Vega's Psychic gift. The searing energy is, truly, unlike any he's felt before... this man, this entity, is indeed the threat he had assessed, and more. So much more. It doesn't change his opinion of the man's methods, but right now, all he can do is seek to wrap his head around the Lord of Shadaloo's vicious style. Or, in this case, wrap his chest around. It's like hammering into a fully stocked metal keg, which is of course filled with fine German lager, but what Krauser has in resiliency is, here and now, made up for by Vega's anger and sheer ferocity. Blow after blow rains home, smashing through his attempted deflection, and instead of putting Vega into the wall as he wished, the Kaiser pushes out of his landing spot into the full fury of the Tyrant's flurry. Hammered back time and again, Krauser's back again meets the stoney wall, his frame rattled as he slumps earthward, gritting his teeth and barely able to keep his feet under him at all.
"Hah. A hint, is it?" Krauser clearly doesn't buy that, but takes some measure of amusement in Vega's bluff, even as he spits blood onto the floor, to mingle with that of student and master in the room that has seen many trials. But seldom one that is the Lord of Strolheim's, "But I'm glad to know you've gotten into the... spirit of this martial celebration." He muses, managing to keep his attention on Vega, despite the agony in his bones, the blackness that Psychic Force threatens to impose upon him.
It's not over yet... let's see if he can also give Vega just a small 'hint'.
Ok, so he lied. It's not a hint. Vega is almost wheezing by the time he pulls back, effort lining his face, along with the blood and sweat from the previous beating that Krauser'd given him. As he draws back knuckles freshly raw and bleeding, the Dictator gives a shark's smile to Krauser's words - even though the Lord of Strolheim is battered and bruised, he doesn't lose that attention and focus - it's something to be impressed by - or if you are Vega, to try and crush. "I strive to test myself against others - you know that, Krauser. You say you know what I am, what I do - grant me that much credit." How could he not rise to a challenge such as this?! How could he simply fall back and be overwhelmed by Krauser's experience and strength! No, no - Vega refuses to fall into /that/ trap. Instead, he continues his attack, though gives his hands a rest by chambering his leg and sweeping it low, then high - aiming to hit the other man's knee and head with brutal shots indeed.
COMBATSYS: Krauser blocks Vega's Medium Kick.
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Krauser 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Vega
Krauser remains knelt as Vega approaches. Perhaps he is acknowledging defeat? Holding his ground for the expected, honourable resignation to the killing blow? No, that is not to fall now. Muscles tense, and if ancient marble pillars could FLEX, this is exactly what it would look like. Vega's kick sweeps in, but despite the unexpected turns of this fight... the Kaiser's chi is centered, his body is strong, stronger than belief. The metallic boot CLANKS home against dense muscle, Krauser's crouched posture providing ample defense, in this situation. The leg wheels around, whips for his head, to put a punctuation mark on this brutal exchange.... and the Lord of Strolheim's own gauntlet meets it, an even sharper ring, the screeching of metal on metal, protesting with volatile fury as the Shadaloo Tyrant's strike is violently deflected. Perhaps it will put Vega off his guard, perhaps not... either way...
Against all odds, Wolfgang Krauser rises. Like an angry phoenix of legend, but German, and covered with flambe'ed beefsteak, Krauser shoves to his feet, and directly in at Vega, seeking to clamp one vicelike hand around the Dictator's throat, and drive his knee into Vega's gut once, twice, shoving off with the second brutal strike, "The will to dominate is not the same as the will to OVERCOME!!!"
COMBATSYS: Vega endures Krauser's Medium Kick.
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Krauser 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Vega
Ain't that the truth. Vega's already impressed by Krauser's steadfastness in the heat of battle. The pain he's inflicted on the man hasn't slowed him, stopped him - instead, it's just driven Krauser all the more on. It causes him to rise to the occasion, where Vega himself might falter and turn away in disgust. It's something to think about - something for another time. Now and here, Vega plans only on what he sees before him, and in that moment after. Long-term plans in the midst of battle are for others, not for him.
He recovers quickly as Krauser's gauntlet catches and deflects impact after impact - but the deflection causes his balance to fail, and he's easily caught by Wolfgang's giant hand about his throat. Chin forced back, Vega can only look at the roof of the empty, bloodstained room as those knees slam home, knocking wind and vitals about and around inside his ribcage. The shove slides him back, pressed against the wall himself - and giving him the location he wanted, needed.
"Fine... OVERCOME THIS!! PSYCHO CRUSHA!!!!" Without warning, without ado, Vega /explodes/ into a firey cocoon of psycho energy, launching himself at a blurred speed towards the other warrior, towards Krauser. Today, he tries to drive those fists into Krauser's chest, and quite possibly back out the other side. This is what he lives for, the back and forth of epic proportions - the aches and pains of combat that allows him to prove his own worth to himself and to the world. Though in this room, only two will know the true outcome - that those two are he and another warrior he should hold some sort of respect in - he'll offer up the pinnacle of his technique..
As a gift, of course. Signed, sealed and delivered.
COMBATSYS: Vega knocks away Krauser with Psycho Crusher!
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Krauser 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Vega
He's seen this technique a hundred times. Krauser knows it is the end for most warriors, and indeed, the very last he will be able to fight, himself. He does not move, he does not falter. Even as Vega keeps his footing, /explodes/ back into the bout, the Kaiser leaps -into- the fray, the searing torpedo exploding across his frame. Maybe not the wisest course, but he holds to it, though he has little choice once the Vegamissile blasts him backwards, the Lord of Strolheim crashing into the wall once more, stone shrapnel exploding outwards as his back is ground into the ungiving wall, as his entire frame is illuminated, irradiated, utterly punished by the impossible, evil power. Yes, this is motivation at its purest. Undiluted, unrelenting - Krauser soaks it all in, even as it razes him like a wartorn forest. He drops to his knees, as Vega lands before him, but what is this?!?!? Krauser's inner chi /skyrockets/, his hands out to his sides. No, ladies and gentlemen, he is not doing the Stations of the Cross.
Raw, surging chi roars from his fingertips, fills his hands like a tidal rush, the dams bursting within him as it all forges outwards, gripped in two massive paws as if he could reach out and wield a tidal wave itself. Which is, of course, exactly what he does. He slams his arms forward, and the torrential gale of rampant energy rushes together, blasts outwards in a cleaving, ragged edge that's larger than even Krauser himself - it fills nearly the entire room from floor to ceiling, and half its expanse, in gleaming, blinding light that threatens to rip Vega, perhaps literally, in two. Blood spatters his mouth, sprays, leaks from his many wounds as the Lord of Strolheim all but screams it....
"KAIIIIISEEEEER.... WAAAAAVE!!!"
COMBATSYS: Krauser can no longer fight.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vega fails to interrupt Kaiser Wave+ from Krauser with Final Psycho Crusher+.
COMBATSYS: Vega can no longer fight.
Oh, this feels good. He's beaten the Lord of Strolheim - he's crushed the man's spirit, knocked him to the ground with the force of his will. He's done everything he really wanted to do, and in the end - he's given himself another reason to move on and fight another day. He considers this a challenge well-fought, and in the end, it was well worth the pain and suffering that he'd gone through.
... Too bad there was still more to come. Krauser's Kaiser Wave is all that and more, the sudden explosion of room-filling chi swarming over Vega. He stands in the midst of it, throwing up a barrier of his own energy, but he's overextended himself, and relaxed his defenses in the anticipation of his win. Again, long term planning does not work well for Shadaloo - even if it is just a moment or two past 'now'. When the fire fades, Vega is gone, vanished as if vaporized. He isn't, however - there's a niggling little projection of his voice in Krauser's noggin during the silence after, a pleased sort of chuckle, tinged with all the pain that Vega has just suffered.
<<Well fought - but when we meet again, things will be different. Thank you for allowing me this chance to test myself. I'll be ready when the next round is announced.>> With that, his 'voice' fades - probably because conciousness has left Vega somewhere nearby.
That's the problem with the little joys of life. They never quite /last/ forever, now do they? Krauser is indeed battered, beaten bloody, but his spirit burns true, true indeed. The explosive force wielded by the Lord of Strolheim has felled many a warrior as well, and that Vega earned it at all carries with it an honour of sorts. That it was a skin-of-his-teeth break is not lost on Krauser, nor is the fact that it could've gone differently... such are bouts between men of their power. Someone like Vega, well... Krauser wasn't fully sure they still existed. The Kaiser slumps forward, as he's suddenly left alone in the room, though not in his own mind.
A hand presses to the floor, then gives way, and he allows himself - if he had any choice at all - to fall fully to the floor, drawing breath slowly. The Shadaloo Tyrant's malevolent emotion is not lost on him, and well fought it was indeed. While agreement may be rare between these two men, and is likely to remain as rare if not rarer than fine filet mignon.... Krauser can concurr on a secondary point as well.
"... it will be different indeed."
Log created on 21:20:21 12/19/2008 by Krauser, and last modified on 00:00:49 01/17/2009.