Neo League 801 - #811: Mr. Big vs Kula

Description: If the dinosaurs on display weren't already dead enough, they sure will be by the time Southtown Syndicate's Mr. Big and NESTS' Kula Diamond are done with it. A harrowingly close, brutal Neo League match might be more than Big bargained for when the League sets him up to take on the young ice wielder, but it's what he's going to get! ( Winner: Kula )



Welcome to Dinosaur World!

Located atop a bluff overlooking the western outskirts of Southtown, the museum dedicated to ancient natural history used to be a thriving tourist attraction. For years, Southtown children of all ages would be brought through on school field trips. Exhibits of all sorts can be found just off the main, circular concourse.

Some display the reassembled bones of some ancient plant eating creature - prey for the giant predators of the past. Some display the fossilized remains of a humongous fish. Another display recreates a battle between a model velociratpor and its meal for the evening, the boar-sized protoceratops. The center of the concourse is occupied by the prize display of the site, however. The skeletal remains of a Tyrannosaur leaning forward, its clawed feet affixed to fern and vine covered rocks, its mouth open, displaying its menacingly long teeth, as if it has been thinking about biting the heads off tourists for ten years now but just never made the move.

Dinosaur World has seen a lot fewer visitors in recent times. The economy being what it is and children generally hating all things that don't have to do with Hadouken'ing each other, the center had been closed for months. Until tonight, that is. Tonight it will be hosting a Neo League match.

A warmer winter storm has blown into the region during the previous hour. A few degrees too warm for snow, it is instead rainfall and hail that falls outside. The domed, class roof of the concourse has kept the inside dry while the sound of countless beads of water pounding against its surface rattles throughout the interior, accompanied occasionally by the rumble of thunder. Lights have been turned back on, bathing the exhibits in soft glows of various colors. An orange, neon sign located over one of the entrances has several burned out letters in it - inviting tourists to DI UR WOR.

Kula Diamond stands beneath the giant head of the dinosaur, hands clasped behind her back, gazing up into its frozen maw. Lighting isn't the brightest within the structure, and the black sky visible through the glass ceiling isn't helping any, but it's easy enough to see that she is clad in a black, form fitting body suit with a violet leather jacket and matching protective chaps while thick, insulated, yellow gloves cover her hands. Her hair is long, light auburn in color. Violet eyes remain fixated on the menacing mouth of the center's main exhibit but after a while, she shakes her head. "I've seen scarier."

It isn't just everyday that the likes of Mister Big -- the very Sultan of Southtown -- is drawn out for a fight in the Neo League. And for good reason, considering who his boss is, and the lucrative Saturday Night Fight contract he also signed. But every now and then, there's just something that calls to the Biggest Man of Them All, and draws him to the other fighting league.

Because sometimes, he's just too busy on Saturday Night with the ladies, and he has to get some aggression out on someone he doesn't exceptionally wish to sleep with. Yeah, the man was very adamant in regards to the specifications on who his opponent should be.

So here he is, drawn out to Dinosaur World where cars are in danger. Stepping out of the light rain, he has a beauty on each arm, and a broad grin on his face as he ambles over towards the area designated for the brawl. From the way they giggle and fawn, he must be all hands, whereas they're all umbrellas, keeping the trio safe with two very large transparent plastic shields, no doubt purchased from one of the many 100 Yen shops that line the city.

It kind of looks like http://www.fightersgeneration.com/characters2/mrbig-bg.gif in fact! Just add umbrellas!

Don't worry, there won't be any more of that as Mister Big sends the ladies away. They detach from his sides, each expressing how happy they are, and how the opponent -- clearly the unattractive girl over there in front of the main exhibit -- should be careful who she's messing with. He laughs jovially as they walk off into the background, to support him should he win -- and likely flee if he loses, for a defeated Chrome Dome Don is something they won't want to be around.

The mirth dries up as those mirrored rims take in the opposition. "Hooo, they were quite scary back in their day, you know. So you're my opponent, hmmmm?" he sounds in that deep voice of his, reaching into the voluminous insides of his spectacular coat to withdraw two long, black fighting sticks. Just how the lady's like them, right?

"Luckily for me I've learned the hard way that appearances are deceiving," he casually converses, stepping into the makeshift arena proper, lifting both arms into a big shrug. Those sticks hang loose at each wrist, easily pulled back into the palm of his hands by the leather loops that encircle each massive wrist. "Just like our poor friend here, you shouldn't underestimate the potential." But it seems he grows tired of such talk, opting instead to get down to business. "Well, whenever you're ready," he adds, his loafers brushing against the floor as he gestures Kula on, towering opposite her in front of the dangerous exhibit.

The lack of lighting certainly adds to the ambiance, as it seems a battle between the fragile doll and a big bad man is about ready to begin! And the gracious gentleman known as Mister Big seems willing to let Kula get her best shot in right off the bat!

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big has started a fight here.

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Mr.Big           0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Kula has joined the fight here.

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Kula             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mr.Big


It's impossible to miss the arrival of Southtown's Sultan, with his giggling ladies, fancy car, expensive clothes... Turning away from the monsterous skeleton, his waifish opponent looks back at him evenly as the two women prove that in spite the way they clung to the powerful man, they are quite capable of walking on their own. His opponent barely gives them notice, eyes flickering after them only briefly before settling back on the only person she needs to worry about here.

Her expression is netural, passive, the girl looking neither excited nor nervous. This is an exercise for her. Another chance for NESTS researches to gather more data on her combat abilities, as well as to provide the kind of challenge they are unable to recreate back at the safer locations of the NESTS labratories. "They were scary, perhaps." the engineered killer replies, a flicker of amusement in her tone as she smiles just slightly, "But in the end, not even the tyrants of the world could beat the cold."

She takes in a breath, eyes closing for a second, before she starts to exhale. The change made manifest by unsealing her combat level potential is obvious. A sliver of white energy rushes up over the girl, from toe to the crown of her head, before vanishing. In its wake, her hair is left a frosty shade of blue and a flurry of small ice crystals swirl about her figure. Anyone who's paid the slightest attention to the fighting sport of the last six months would be well aware of the girl's elemental chi, but to see it in person is to experience the small drop in temperature in the area around her.

When her eyes open again, they have taken on a crimson hue, contrasting against the now brighter colored hair. When he draws forth the fighting sticks, a cursory inspection is made of them both, as highly efficient, passive combat routines estimate the reach they will give the crome dome'd fighter, as well as a quick review of possible techniques a dual wielder may utilize.

Her own steps are light, the soles of insolated boots pressing softly against the stone floor of Dinosaur World. Her ready stance seems to be the very lack thereof, arms resting against her sides, body relaxed, idle, as if content to just stand there like a little snow maker, ice crystals drifting to the floor at her feet. "I'm ready." she declares as he seems to invite her to show what she can do.

When she kicks from stationary to rushing forward, however, there's no denying that she is in fact ready to fight. Her feet seem to slide over the stone, as if the girl was skating toward him rather than running, becoming a violet blur of motion for a brief moment. She takes to the air from a few yards out, snapping into a spin, driving her right foot forward, the sole threatening to impact flatly against Big himself.

The real threat isn't the incoming kick from the waifish girl but rather the blade of ice centered on her foot, however. A blade that she seems quite ready to slash into Big with. With this opening glimpse of how she fights, hopefully he isn't too attached to that specific, spectacular coat.

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big blocks Kula's Medium Kick.

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Kula             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mr.Big


"Ahh, clearly they needed expensive coats then," Mister Big quips back about the tyrants and the weather, a mirthful grin spreading across that broad face of his. Even in the dim light, his head seems to shine. The grin slips somewhat as the girl puts on a minor display, only to declare her readiness. Has he boned up on his opponent prior to the fight? Lord knows, he won't bone up with her after; she's entirely not his type, and he's more than willing to smash a Lolita around.

He wouldn't be Mister Big if he wasn't willing to get his hands dirty, after all. When she indicates her readiness, that grin reappears, a brief surge of eager excitement taking him as he waits to see what she'll give him.

And for a first strike, she doesn't disappoint. Charging right at him, sliding forward only to take to the air and deliver that potentially devastating kick. But from behind those shaded rims, the Biggest Eyes of Them All (Ok that doesn't make sense) catch sight of the addition to her foot, the blade that extends out. With a grunt, he changes his mind; initially he was going to test her strength, but instead he moves to the defensive.

The sticks rise up, snapped into waiting hands as he buffers the strike, his forearms taking the brunt as the sleeve of his technocolor (not really) dreamcoat (not really) is slashed. Knocked back from the force of the strike, he exhales a laugh, waggling the sticks at Kula as he checks the hole in his sleeve. "Oooh, you're a sly one, aren't you? But I know a trick or two myself," he finds time for chat, before throwing himself back into the fray.

Taking a half-step forward, both hands rise above his head. Somehow, those two black sticks link together, forming a long staff as he performs a full 180 twist. Thrusting the staff forward, he aims to drive Kula back with a solid strike to the stomach, aiming for that vulnerable spot two fingers beneath the sternum.

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big successfully hits Kula with Medium Strike.
- Power hit! -

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Kula             0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0           Mr.Big


His defense proves solid, deflecting the worst of what was in store for him from her opening charge. Her feet are quick to correct for the change in trajectory and she lands gracefully. The icy edge to her right foot shatters into fine, white powder as her foot touches down, but beyond that simply lingers on the ground, very much like one would expect of real ice.

She's ready - or so she thinks - for him to strike back in that narrow opening left by her touching down, but it seems the weapon user has something else all together in mind. She doesn't answer his words, chosing instead to stay silent, eyes on the sticks. It's the first time she's had to deal with a style quite like this, and the inexperience with Big's 'tricks' ends up costing her.

As he combines his two weapons into one and sweeps around, she takes a step back, blinking as she determines she's out of range of the initial swipe. Deciding to strike before he completes whatever he has in mind, the whisp of a girl's right foot slips forward, her right arm drawn back, a small surge of white energy flowing readily over her finger tips...

As she lunges right into the staff stab. It stops her short and sends her stumbling backward, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. She felt that one. The energy in her right hand flickers and fades, her left hand going to press over her tummy. Her cheeks, pale to begin with, lose even more of their color as the girl seems to gag, breathless and quiet. She takes another step back, not wanting to be open for another punishing blow in her moment of vulnerability.

It's more a defensive reaction than attacking that leads to her next move as the girl brings her right hand to her mouth, palm up, fingers toward Big. He might recognize it as someone about to blow someone a kiss. Those who have fought her before probably recognize it as the opening to a blisteringly cold attack. A sharp exhale, choked slightly by the previous strike, becomes a fierce gale wind as it passes over her now chi infused hand.

Rather than a kiss, Big will find a small snow storm of razor edged sleet, jagged ice needles, and sharp rings of frozen matter swirling toward him at frightening speeds!

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big blocks Kula's Diamond Breath.

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Kula             0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0           Mr.Big


There's a hint of satisfaction crossing the broad countenance of the World's Biggest Man (?!) as his strike homes in true, catching the lithe NESTS agent off-guard. That grin is close to predatory, spreading across his face as he watches her stumble back, close to gagging form his well-placed strike. With a wave of his hand, the stick detaches back into each individual fighting stick, for Mister Big is truly a magician. Watch out for his slight of hand, for he may steal many a virginity when one is not looking.

"Oooh, a kiss?" he points the obvious out as Kula's hand rises up, before considering otherwise; maybe she's about to projectile vomit. Kids do that, don't they? He doesn't want projectile vomit on his coat.

Thus, when it comes flying out -- a veritable flurry of icy chi in all the colors of a snow and ice storm -- he already has his defenses mustered. Leaping back and into the air, he pulls his legs in, making himself the smallest possible target as he moves out of the storm's reach and further away from his petite opponent.

Landing, he slides backwards on those expensive loafers of his, shaking a hand to get some warmth back into it. "My, you're a frigid teen, aren't you?" he asks, letting the sticks hang limp at his wrist as he reaches into the insides of his wonderful coat. "Spare me a moment, I need to warm up after that frosty reception." The puns, they're not going to stop.

From the coat he pulls a pre-cut cigar, lighting it with a flick of his fingers. There's a faint feel of chi in the air from him there, the man creative as he contentedly puffs at the expensive cigar. Watch those smoke rings blow! But while second-hand smoke is certainly lethal, it isn't his intent to harm Kula as he simply gathers his energy, waiting for the opponent to move in.

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big gathers his will.

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Kula             0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0           Mr.Big


She lowers her hand, the glove now encrusted with ice from empowering the frigid breath attack. Clenching her fingers closed, the caked on ice crumbles, falling to the floor. With his retreat, there's plenty of time to observe the manner in which the man defends himself. At least he knows it wasn't a kiss now! At his observation of her chilly nature of combat, Kula smiles fleetingly, trying to ignore the lingering sharp pain in her stomach. "It's how I was taught."

He takes a moment to whip out a cigar, but there's more to it than that and she can tell. "Should've warmed up beforehand, because it's too late now," she replies, showing no indications that she's going to give him much of a reprieve. The NESTS operative begins to stalk forward, waving her hand out to the side. The scattered ice left over from her two attacks begins to swirl up off the ground, joining additional energy coursing over her right forearm.

Combat algorithms continue to try and make sense of the Southtown Syndicate leader's style thus far; the way he defends, the less than predictable nature of his strikes. All of it fed into the almost instinctual thought processes of the crafted assassin. More chi swirls up around the girl - pristine white as newly fallen snow. Taking a few more strides forward, she picks up the speed, leaping into a high arc, taking all of that potential energy with her.

It's at the apex of a forward flip that she spins around, leaving a blizzard-like storm of particles in front of her before kicking the entire collected mass of it back down toward Big. What drops out of the sky may not seem menacing at first - a giant snow flake of translucent crystal - but a sharp eye will notice the ridges lined with jagged spikes, the tips as sharp as a swordmaster's blade.

And to make matters worst, the entire thing is set to explode into a hemisphere of painfully freezing energy the instant it impacts with anything at all. Even if Mr. Big doesn't end up falling victim to it, the glass display cases nearby most likely will! For her own part, Kula is content to drop back down to the floor, landing lightly, already preparing for another display of destructive power.

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big overcomes Diamond Shoot from Kula with Double Ground Blaster.

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Kula             0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0           Mr.Big


There's something to be said for the regenerative purposes of a cigarette; there's absolutely none, but Mister Big is left feeling oddly energized after sucking down some of those sweet, sweet Cuban fumes. "Mmm," he sounds, watching as his opponent starts towards him. The display she's putting on is somewhat impressive. And there's something about this girl that just doesn't seem right to him. Probably the lack of breasts, he decides.

Blowing a smoke ring into the air, he exhales a whoosh of hazardous smoke forward, waiting to see what Kula Diamond has in store for him. Certainly, the girl doesn't keep him waiting long, leaping into the air with all of that gathered, potent and potentially deadly energy with her!

"Not so fast!" Mister Big declares, the sticks snapped up into his hands. He moves hten, with a pimp-like burst of speed. But given that he's holding the cigar in his mouth, and having to state the words around that thick girth he sounds a little more like: "Nuts sew faft!"

Deadly words, and hazardous for Kula's health as the Southtown Syndicate's Steersman goes beyond mere alliteration, taking a half-step forward as he unleashes his own potent chi. If she's all ice and snow, then he's fire and brimstone, striking sparks as he runs his deadly black rod against the floor of the exhibit showroom not just once, but twice! Igniting the air itself, the potent opposite to the NESTS Agent's kicked flurry rises into the air, aiming to simply overwhelm the oncoming strike -- and with the second gout of flame, catch Kula as she descends back to the ground!

If she doesn't destroy the scenery, then he certainly will! Death to all dinosaurs! Uhh??

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big successfully hits Kula with Double Ground Blaster.

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Kula             0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0           Mr.Big


The collision of ice and fire ends in Big's favor, as the massive collection of chi errupts against a barrier of power it can't quite cut through. Ice shards fly in every direction but against Big himself, covering the floor in a display of powdered white. But the stray icy sharpnel is the least of her concerns as what remains of the flame that catches her off guard.

Bringing her arms up, it's far too late to defend herself and again the fighter finds herself buffetted backward before sliding to a stop several yards away. It seems she didn't even manage to put the cigar out with her last giant attack. Well, waste not, want not. Extending her arm again, the girl calls home all that expended energy.

The scattered ice and melting powder becomes drawn back to the young thing's palm, gathered in a sphere of shimmering power hovering just over her hand. Frowning slightly, she inhales deeply then exhales, the sphere collapsing into a more fluid-like nature as it conjeals to her arm then vanishes all together, drawn back into the construct that created it.

Her moment's reprieve isn't spent idle, however, as she studies her opponent intently. She might have dismissed him as being all pomp with no real power a bit too hastily. There's still time to correct for this mistake, however!

COMBATSYS: Kula gains composure.

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Kula             0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0           Mr.Big


Watching the impact, there's a soft smirk on the face of the Syndicate's Steersman, who realizes that that didn't do much of anything. They're sort of negating one another, he realizes; but it's not going poorly either. How long this seeming even-Steven routine will last though, he'll just have to wait and see.

Or maybe he'll just have to strike and see instead!

"Ahh, there's no time to be resting!" Mister Big admonishes his opponent, watching the energy re-gathered. He can't let that go on, can he? It's fine when he wants to pool his energy together, but it's not fine when the opponent wants to. That's the kind of equality a mobster dictates.

So with remarkably swift feet, the Biggest Man of Them All runs right at Kula, the sticks merging together once more to form that long, sinuous staff. Or straight staff, anyway. And for a man his size, he closes the gap swiftly, only to swing the staff across his shoulders.

With both arms looped over the weapon, he begins spinning in swift circles, letting the length of the staff do the talking for him as he spins. His face smushes to one side as he spins, but that doesn't stop him; let the spinning staff knock Kula senseless, for great justice!

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big successfully hits Kula with Spinning Lancer.

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Kula             0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0           Mr.Big


Reclaimed energy restores reserves and even perhaps knits together a bit of the hurting Big has been putting on her thus far. By the time she lowers her hand, she's starting to feel like she's recovered from that opening stomach jab. Unfortunately for her, Big isn't too keen on letting her have that reprieve as he comes back her way with an impressive amount of speed.

He moves quick for a big man, and that really is some speedy spinning he's demonstrating! She doesn't want to loose even more ground, so at first the girl tries reading the momentum in order to step around and through it. It works - at first - as she ducks down and around the staff spin, ready to retaliate against Big quickly.

But she misreads a step and the error costs her severely. One thunk to the side of her sky-blue hair covered head leads almost instantly into a second one then a third. By the time she stumbles out of the whirlwind of pain, she's seeing stars. Dazed, her left hand goes to rest on the side of her head, feeling the mosture of an open abrasion injury. Gritting her teeth, young Diamond shakes her head, crimson hued eyes coming to rest back on Big once again.

She actually just about IS ready for a rest at this rate. The exercises her handlers put her through didn't remotely prepare her for this fighter's ability with Escrima. Maybe she can fight back with something similar. There has to be a way around his tricky range. Flicking her right hand, it only takes a small splash of energy to solidfy into a quite sharp, long knife, handle and all. Tossing it once into an easy flip then catching it again, she studies Big thoughtfully for a moment before taking action, perhaps hoping her instincts will come up with any good solutions for dealing with him.

Her expression is grim as she darts forward, leaning in, left hand leading as distraction before her right hand slams forward, attempting to literally shiv Big right in the side!

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big endures Kula's Medium Punch.

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Kula             0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0           Mr.Big


Spinning around in circles is fun and all, but for Mister Big it's been a long, long time since he's pulled this move out for the use in combat. Nearly, he forgets his forgotten training as a young ballerina, learning to pirouette with the best of them; always keep your gaze on one location, or you'll end up on your ass! So he does just that, those shaded rims keen on Kula Diamond's form as he spins, and spins, and spins. He feels the resistance to the staff thrice; he knows he's found his mark.

Thus, when he spins out of the circle, that broad, almost condescending grin is on his face again. Masters thought matching him up against a little /girl/ was the best action available? It's no wonder the Saturday Night Fight is the superior brand of sports entertainment.

"Hooo," he muses thoughtfully as she generates that long blade into the palm of her hand, throwing it around. The attempt at a feint may well have worked as she darts in, but it's hard to say as the Biggest Shoe of Them All simply stands there, actually leaning towards her as he takes the strike right into his right side.

Only, it hurts a little more than he anticipated.

Fighting back a grimace as pain blossoms out from his side, he exhales a hiss as he seeks the advantage that his positioning -- and sheer height -- offers as the staff comes whistling down in a painfully transparent strike. Only, it's destined to clatter into the floor on which they dance, as his other hand seeks to seize the front of the NESTS agent's outfit, and rather crudely throw her right over his head!

"Goodbye!"

COMBATSYS: Kula interrupts Medium Throw from Mr.Big with Crow Bite.

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Kula             1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0           Mr.Big


Well, that worked out nicely. Big is going to be a nice guy and just let her stab him! Hopefully he remains this agreeable throughout the remainder of the match. It will make her job a whole lot easier! The instant the opening is there, she goes for it, showing no reluctance to shed some blood. It isn't even just a matter of getting him back for the bang up job he just did to the side of her head. It's just something she needs to do, according to her combat logic, and that's all there is to it.

She doesn't even draw her ice knife back out. She's got plenty more ice where that came from, he can keep that one in his side as a little present for the next little while for all it matters to her. If she had any idea the full meaning of that condescending grin the Southtown Sultan bore, she might be a little incensed. No one gets to take her lightly! But for right now, in spite all the aches and pains, she's keeping her cool. She just needs another opening, she muses as she starts to step back and refactor her next step.

She cringes as the staff descends, moving to step to the side out of fear of getting clobbered yet again... but he changes tactics and goes to get a grip on the protective leather jacket she has on instead! There's little she can do about being picked up off her feet. It's all so sudden and a split second later she's got literally no traction to work with. But what she can do is get a left handed grip on Big's arm as he seeks to toss her over his head and put an early stop to her trip, using his own limb as a fulcrum by which to pull herself back down to a hard landing right at Big's side.

The position is perfect. Her left hand loosening its hold on his arm, her right hand flaring to life with a vibrant display of white light as she draws it back, bends her knees, and tenses up for the retaliation to come. It all happens in a blink of an eye before the girl is tearing back into the powerful man with an uppercut with her right. What was just vibrant energy an instant before solidifies into an ugly guantlet of jagged, spiked ice.

Countless needle-sized spines of ice augment the attack as she shoves her fist into the exposed side of the much larger fighter. The force behind her springing attack is enough to take her into the air, spinning with the momentum, before turning back down several yards later and whirling back around to judge the real impact of one of her more fearsome techniques!

The staff slams down with a reverberating clatter up his arm, the pins and needles he feels worth it as he feels his fingers sink into the leather top the girl wears. That condescending grin escalates as he lifts and then--!

-- that does not go as planned! Mister Big's attempt is brought up short as the petite combatant proves that underestimating her is quite the mistake. "What!!" he manages to exhale as the reversal takes place, his attempt to loft the lithe girl going awry as she spins about, exposing his side to that sudden icy gauntlet and the very potent strike it releases.

She goes one way, and he goes the other.

With a clatter, the terrifying exhibit meets something even more terrifying as a thoroughly pissed off Mister Big slams into one of the beast of old's legs, toppling the whole thing down on top of him. A moment later the pile of bones bursts, parting like so much driftwood to allow the Biggest Man of Them All to exit.

Chest heaving, looking very red in the face, he corrects his lopsided sunglasses as he leaps out of the debris. Blood streaks from his side, the wound from the knife only enhanced thanks to that monstrous uppercut. "You've got some power under the hood," he says as he lands, fists clenching tightly around those big black rods of his. While the gap may have closed, he closes it even further, crouching slightly before he leaps forward yet again.

Whatever else he attempts to say after that is cut off, simply a growl of words as he spins through the air. Both hands out in front of him, fighting sticks leading the way, he seeks to drill right into Kula's body like a human drilling machine that drills other humans! "Argh-ghghgghg-ghhh!!" Translation pending!

COMBATSYS: Mr!Big knocks away Kula with Cross Diving!
- Power hit! -

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Kula             1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1           Mr.Big


Landing out of her uppercut, Kula whirls around to watch Big. Eyes narrow as she watches him explode back out of pile of collapsed ancient bone. Well, the punishing hit didn't put him down. There's more work to be done here. Readying herself, the girl studies his condition, adding additional parameters for her combat routines to make the most of.

When he begins to advance, however, she finds the space behind her limited. Instincts suggest backing away but with a wall in the way, she settles for moving to the side. Unfortunately for the NESTS agent, Big's trajectory is dead on and when he leaps, she's already committed to an evasive step that will do her no good at all. Her foot comes down, eyes widening as she realizes it won't be enough. In the next moment she's sent flying clean off her feet. The force is worse than his previous strikes, folding the featherweight girl in half before sending her flying through a glass display window.

Crashing through a plaster dinosaur model turns it to dust from the forces at play. Planted against the back wall of the display, the wirey girl peels off, dropping to her hands and knees, coughing as her lungs struggle to regain the power to breath again. She isn't quite down, but getting up seems to be a challenge. Teeth grit as her eyes narrow back on Big. She has nothing to say to him, only more force to display.

The flare of white energy churning over her entire form might be an indication that she's about to let Big have it with everything she has left. Most of that energy seems to be coursing along her arms, channeled into the floor of the display case, as she watches Big from behind the shattered glass. A trickle of blood works its way down her cheek from where a cut was left by flying glass, but compared to the injuries her leather jacket is concealing, it isn't likely to even go noticed for some time.

A rumbel coming from the ground might be the only warning Big gets of what's coming next as suddenly massive spires of ice errupt up out of the floor. Millions of sparkling slivers go flying up into the darkened room as the giant spike of ice literally tries to stab into the man. If that wasn't bad enough, another one surges up from his left side. Then another from behind him at an angle, each covered with jagged, sharp edges, each made of ice as strong as diamonds, as the girl attempts to engage Big from range with one of her most deadly attacks!

COMBATSYS: Kula successfully hits Mr.Big with Diamond Edge.

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Kula             0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1           Mr.Big


As soon as his spiral strikes, Mister Big pulls out of it, one knee resting against the floor as he slides the rest of the way forward. He watches, a spectator with a front row seat, as the opponent is lofted back and into another display. This place must definitely be hard up for money, if they've allowed such a destructive fight to take place with such valuables nearby. It's not that far from the mind of the Sultan of Southtown, because money always talks.

Through the shattered display case, he watches her -- and he sees that she's ready to do something else to him, another of those strikes from afar no doubt. Thus he begins to go through with his original plan; follow-up instantly, use the moment gained from the lunging strike to capitalize and interrupt the opposition.

But then he changes his mind, when he realizes that her creation -- her sudden upheaval of spikes -- is manifesting too fast for him to evade. Instead he does the opposite, his instant of offense instead going to defense. On instinct, his body curls, seeking to cushion the damage from its true potential... because try as he might, her attack is too sudden. His defenses do not properly muster.

Skewered from one side and the other, Mister Big is launched higher into the air, knocked up only to land flat on his back like most of the women he spends the night with. He bounces once, only to land again, a heavy thud on a most uncomfortable flooring. "Fuck," he curses quietly, rolling forward into a light crouch.

While it's odd to do this so late into the piece, the Chrome Dome Don opts to take a moment out of the fight, hands stanching the flow of blood as he takes a few calming breath. He's a street fighter, one of the dirtiest; he'll be fine in the long run. Just give him a moment, and he'll show Kula Diamond what he's really made of.

He'll show her who's harder.

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big gains composure.

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Kula             0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1           Mr.Big


As the third spire surges up from the ground, the energy coursing over Kula into the floor diminishes, coming to a rest. It seems that creating three of those monsterous, sharp edged mounds of ice was her limit. The combination of so many attacks from so many directions at once seems to have felled the mighty man, and for a brief moment Kula begins to breath a soft sigh of relief, her breath visible as vapor for a fleeting moment. The giant spires of ice remain in place, temporary monuments to the destructive techniques exchanged between the two fighters. They'll melt eventually...

But it's going to take more than that to keep him down. Lifting her chin so that she can watch him in spite her wearied, bruised condition, she's staring at him as Big rolls up into a crouch. Eyes widening slightly, her arms tremble, keeping her propped up lest she fall flat on her face at this point. The child fighter's expression shifts gradually from surprise to grim resolution. If that last attack wasn't enough, then she'll attack again. And if that isn't enough, again. The man, tough as he may be, can't be invincible. Everyone has their limits. She just needs to find his...

Taking in her breath, she pushes herself up with a grunt, leaning forward as she steps back through the shattered pain, feet coming down to crunch the scattered shards beneath them. A pain in her left arm catches her attention and she idly reaches over with her right hand to pluck out a larger shard of glass and toss it aside, letting blood spill down over her jacket sleeve. Her first steps are slow, as if her body is still trying to figure out why it's still going after all that.

But after the first couple of steps, the NESTS experiment picks up speed. Gradually at first, her right hand extended out from her side as she draws a significant portion of the ice residue left by her previous attack back into her control. Mist, dust, and small shards are drawn from the tilting spires, culminating in a sphere of translucent, frozen matter over the girl's right hand.

By the time she passes through the jungle of ice-spikes, she's back to full speed, a violet and blue bullet screaming toward Big like a bird of prey descending upon a spotted target. Her right hand drawn back, priming for a vicious strike, she skids to a jarring stop about a yard away from Big and swings. Rather than get into melee range with the man, the girl attacks from that spot, pouring all of her forward momentum into slaming her ice-covered right hand forward.

From the half of the sphere facing Big, three lances stab out in rapid succession. Of varying length and position, the girl attempts to run the Southtown Syndicate made man through with steel-strong spears. Given her condition, this may be her last strike... but if so, it would appear she really intends for it to leave a mark!

COMBATSYS: Kula successfully hits Mr.Big with Critical Ice.
-*- DEVASTATING HIT! -*-

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Kula             0/-------/---====|=======\======-\1           Mr.Big


Everyone has their limits, and sometimes they hit them at the most unexpected of moments. She gathers speed, a thundering train of determination barrelling towards him. It isn't a white light at the end of the tunnel that he sees, but the gathered energy around Kula's fist, drawn back to the point of origin for yet another strike against the Biggest Man of Them All.

And Mister Big, he does the logical thing in the face of such a linear strike; he tries to get the fuck out of the way. Problem the first: he's very tired. Problem the second: his feet aren't on solid ground, but rather some ice.

So he leaps, but he does not leap nearly fast enough. His intent was simple in turn, to simply clear right over Kula and evade the strike, but instead he simply leaps up to allow the trio of spears to stab forward, piercing his precious garments and potentially piercing the reason why they call him Mister Big.

His wallet!

Tumbling back, he shatters an exhibit's explanation case, glass and ice shattering in all directions as he bounces back. Is he done? Is this the end?

It seems not, as a violent buzz of electricity fills the air, the smell of ozone rising amidst all the destruction as the strikes of Mister Big strike against one another. In a viciously underhanded ploy, when it seems he's down for the count, the Syndicate's Steersman seeks to strike at Kula when she least expects it!

Rolling onto his back, he slaps both sticks against the floor, a ball of chain lightning slithering forward to try and catch Kula right in the ankles! A fitting end, for an ankle-biter!

But with that sapping the last of his energy, he seems content to simply lie there for a while and stare up at the dome overhead, and the pitter-patter of rain beyond in those darkened skies.

The likes of Mister Big, put against children who ruin his clothing. Another reason for him to prefer the Howard brand, beyond the fact it's the same name that signs his cheques.

COMBATSYS: Mr.Big can no longer fight.

[                      \\\\\\\\  <
Kula             0/-------/---====|


COMBATSYS: Kula blocks Mr.Big's Blaster Wave.

[                        \\\\\\  <
Kula             0/-------/--=====|


She holds the pose for a few seconds; leaning forward, right arm extended, fist encased in the sphere of ice to which the sharp lances were attached. As her hair settles down around her shoulders, it becomes clear that her eyes are closed, having shut as she forced herself through the final yards in spite the injuries felt beneath her jacket that she suspects include at least one broken rib. She starts to move only gradually at first, her extended arm trembling, her left hand clenching as she forces herself to stay standing...

That the attack was horrifyingly successful takes a while to register but as crimson eyes open at last, she lifts her chin, looking forward toward the newly destroyed display case. If the center wasn't thinking of closing down already, they might just have to when the repair bill for this match lands! Drawing her right arm back, Kula releases a pained gasp, struggling to breath, forcing herself to stay standing.

It seems she can't let her guard down yet, however, as movement warns her that Big is still hanging in there, forcing her to deal with one final all out assault. This time, rather than jumping around trying not to get hit like she failed to do throughout most of the match, the NESTS operative settles for rooting herself in place. Ice forms around the soles of her boots, securing them to the ground. Both of her hands are raised in front of her, palms forward, as one final burst of her power is put to use in creating a thick barrier of ice between her and Mr. Big.

When the broiling ball of incoming energy crashes against it, she leans forward, pouring more power into that barrier. It isn't enough, in the end, the barrier breaking and what's left of the attack splashing against her guard, but this time she stays on her feet, smoke tendrils rising up off the sleeves of her jacket. Dropping her arms to her sides, young Diamond releases a soft sigh of relief, bowing her head, closing her eyes again.

A second exhale and the power she was using for the duration of the match is at last sealed away. Her hair, previously vibrant blue is left a damp shade of auburn, rests flat against her shoulders and all the icy mess left by her variety of attacks begins to melt rapidly into a giant puddle. Opening her eyes again, they have regained their violet hue, her expression neutral. No gleeful smile, no cheer of exhaultation at victory. She did what she was told to do, and now it's finished. Given how hard she was pushed, she can see why the man commands the respect he does from the Southtown crime element. Igniz will no doubt be interested in what she has to report.

COMBATSYS: Kula has ended the fight here.

Log created on 19:05:18 12/22/2008 by Kula, and last modified on 00:07:27 12/24/2008.