Description: This could be it: the decisive battle for this season of the Neo League. Alma Towazu, heroic psychic prettyboy, faces off once more against the noble and mighty savage he so admires, Blanka, for first place-- and this time it's on Blanka's turf, and not some silly tea house. Alma travels to the rainforests of the Amazon to face Blanka on his home ground, and together they learn that nature is not gone from within man's heart, and that one with passion, even the gentlest soul, can hear the call of the jungle. (Winner: Alma)
The view had been as breathtaking as the humidity. The helicopter ordered to take Alma Towazu to his final League assignation could not make the entire journey; he was dropped off at a nearby village, to be riverboated to a further destination. But the sights of the Amazon Rainforest, he was to find, were no less enthralling from the ground as they were from the air. Engulfed in the warm glow of the southern hemisphere sunlight, even a loose silk shirt and linen pants seem like too much in the face of the jungle climate. The young model becomes increasingly aware that this is a terrain he is thoroughly unused to.
He will have to get used to it, and fast.
Yet for all the strategic disadvantage he feels he is at, glancing up at the high trees around him as he walks along the moist ground with a contemplative air, Alma, psychic hero extraordinaire and current leader in the Neo League, does not feel uncertain. On the contrary, he can already feel the flames of his passion for the vaunted 'clash of souls' quietly coursing through him, the energy always latent within him rearing its lion's head in anticipation of the conflict to come. He knows who is opponent is, and remembers well the noble beast-man he competed with last season. Then, as they conversed in a most civilized fashion over tea before their match, Alma recalls that it was he who felt most at home. Now he is where his opponent arose and developed-- yet while this /place/ is not his home, the bonds forged through battle make him feel as though he is not in a foreign place.
Smiling at the thought, he almost trips over a root.
This won't be easy.
But he'll give it his all. It's the final battle.
He couldn't possibly do any less.
Stepping into a very small clearing, Alma finally reaches where the cameras have been arranged, the operators obscured by shrubbery. Through the trees is a fantastic view of the river which surely the audience at home will delight in, a fitting setting for a decisive conflict. But Alma's eyes are drawn to the trees themselves, and what they could hide.
Calmly, quietly, he awaits.
What could they hide? What could be within the forest, waiting for the Psychic Hero and leader of the Neo League, Alma? They could hide something, though - in this specific case, they do not. Sneakily, Blanka has managed to get behind Alma, and he sits above the man, watching from the branches whilst he finishes off a lovely watermelon. He's a quiet chewer when he wants to be, and he's taken the time for settling in and savoring the food, using it as a focus for his own thoughts. The most important thought, perhaps - why is this so important to him?
It's just a contest. A silly way to pass time.
But it's also more. For Blanka, the League has been a way to meet people, to show them who and what he is, to get them less scared of him, and to make new friends. Friends like Alma. Blanka's gotten a few acquaintances, but few people he'd thought 'got' what he thought about life. Alma's easy understanding and laid back acceptance seems to have been something that the Brazillian Beast needed and appreciated. In the end, it's what led him to accept thechallenge, to throw himself against the pure spirit of Alma once more. but.. enough of that.
From behind Alma, a tap on his shoulder. When and if he turns about, Blanka will be hanging upside-down and grinning, looking altogether too pleased, and offer over the traditional pre-fight melon slice. "Blanka been ... looking forwards to this. Good to see Aroo."
Focus.
Alma closes his eyes, chest swelling with the sweet, thick air of the jungle, six senses tingling with the verdant vibrancy of the world around him. Seeking to connect with the ambient energy of his surroundings, to synchronize the rhythm of his heartbeat with the natural rhythm of the jungle, he reaches out with his psychic senses, attempting to perceive any disturbances that might--
*tap tap*
"Wha--!"
Obviously startled, Alma turns abruptly to stare with bafflement at the hanging figure, then blink down at the watermelon slice proferred to him.
Guess Blanka doesn't count as a 'disturbance'.
Grinning a little sheepishly now, shoulders shaking with quiet mirth, the young man silently accepts the gesture and takes a juicy bite for nodding at the beast-man. "I've been looking forward to this myself, Blanka. It's good to see you too," he responds softly, the young man's voice as gentle and subdued as ever.
This peaceful moment is allowed to last until the slices are done, and indeed, the image is iconic enough to end up plastered on one of the DVDs for this season: Blanka hanging upside-down from a tree, gazing at Alma face to face, while they share some fruit before the fight begins, the beautacious river vista stretching out into the horizon behind them.
But it cannot last forever, except on the film through which it has been captured.
Soon, the announcer will call the fight to begin.
Alma will do something rather unusual for him at this juncture: he will take off his shoes. Digging his bare feet into the thick dirt beneath him, again he will breathe deeply of his surroundings. He cannot compete with Blanka for being one with these surroundings. But this is not about achieving a strategic edge towards victory.
This is about understanding his opponent's heart.
The language of combat can be spoken by all men, beast-like or no--
But every place has its own dialect.
Alma is determined that, even here, he will fluently express himself.
On Blanka's terms.
COMBATSYS: Alma has started a fight here.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Blanka has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Alma
Blanka is hardly a 'disturbance' in the home that he grew up in - he's learned to blend and to settle into the background, both through physical means and an innate sort of deeper function. In the end, he's designed to be part of this world, heat and humid and green. He drops down to his feet afterwards, spun around in an easy movement and drawing himself to his full height. Flexing his fingers, he takes in a few breaths as well, savoring the feel of air in his chest, and the 'peace' that Alma feels, though Blanka's is tinged with the blue-white power that flows deep down inside him.
As the Referee's hand drops, signalling a start to the battle, Blanka leaps into action. His speed has always been something to be surprised by, and he's gotten the drop on more than one opponent with it. He's suddenly a green and red blur, bounding forwards and then flipping himself head over heels afterwards, trying to give the young Alma a nice view of his feet - something that involves him meeting the other man's chin! Awh-roo!
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Alma with Backstep Rolling.
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Alma
Surprising speed, indeed.
Alma grunts in surprise as Blanka's blurring form crashes into him, his instinctive raising of his guard too slow and too unbraced to prevent the crushing blow from staggering him. He sees stars briefly, but as soon as he breathes in he feels his head begin to clear again, the essence of the jungle instilling his spirit with its undeniable vibrancy.
"Hhnn--!"
He may have to just rely on his reflexes, and his reflexes alone are not as impressive as when they are imbued with the subtle influence of his aura sense. That second sight is obscured by how Blanka seems to fade into his bright surroundings, rendering the sense nigh useless. Yet Alma knows they are not quite the same, that Blanka is more than just another pulse of life amidst this beauty. He will reach out, and grasp the beast-man's being, one that he knows is profound.
His right hand casts out almost of its own accord, his very body straining with the striving of his spirit toward Blanka's own, and unleashes a quick burst of soulfire even as Blanka leaps away, aiming to catch him before he is able to land and defend himself.
COMBATSYS: Blanka dodges Alma's Sacred Wave.
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Alma
Away and away again - 'Backstep Rolling' is a move that leads fluidly into a handspring, to give Blanka distance from his opponent. Distance and time - both are important when fighting someone as wily as Alma Towazu! He knows the sting of the man's spirit, and Blanka is very intent on not taking more than a smidgeon of that pulse-shattering fire! His first backflip turns into a second one, and then a third - more and more space given up in an effort to out-pace the burnin burst of soulfire. Just when it looks as if he'd run out of room, though - he changes momentum in a physics-defying leap, and bounds forwards, over the path of Alma's attack.
Landing in a heap, Blanka gathers up his momentum quickly, recovering the ground lost in seconds, lauching himself towards the other fighter - as he lands, his eyes glow white, a brief surprise and a muted rumbly growl as energy, bluewhite and vibrant crackles through him. He opens his mouth in a howl and lands right next to Alma, his maw blazing with electricity - something that arcs around his body and attempts to catch and blast the man away from him! Blanka's not taking this fight easy, oh no - Alma asked for his best, and Blanka's best he shall give!!
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Alma with Electric Thunder.
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Alma
Alma can tell.
He can tell that this is Blanka's best, and it shows. The plunge forward is far too swift; there is no way that the tall psychic will be able to dodge. Yet while he cannot exactly sense the nature of the attack and how it will come, he can at least detect the build-up of static charge and knows that the thunder will come.
"Ggghh--!"
But it's a little more than he's able to stand.
Still, knowing that the momentum is against him, Alma's bends every effort toward pushing through the shuddering electricity. Even as the thunder rains against him, shocking every synapse, he thrusts through with his right hand, a blazing lance of light kindling around his fingertips. Fire seeks to pierce that circle of crackling power, Soul Power meeting the natural force of the jungle.
Can Alma make his mark against this vast primeval power--
Or will he be consumed?
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Blanka with Self Expression.
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Alma
Buzzing, crackling thunder and lighting is Blanka's purview - it's his power to play with and show people. He's more than willing to share that with Alma, though he's quite often planning on using it in a defensive manner, the change-up of throwing it out as offense is always good as a mix-up, too! He starts to grin, a bold little look of pleasure as he gives Alma a fair amount of 'charge', then it widens in surprise as Alma takes the impact, moves with it, and then forces his attack through it, power meeting power - and knocking the beast down and away! Knocked a few feet back, Blanka is left a little dizzied, dazed - but still standing strong, jaw hanging wide and blinking as he tries to recover!
It's a momentary thing, though - something to still him and give him pause, something to give him the moment to recompose and focus his energy - to prepare Alma for a wild awm-nomming, perhaps. It's a dead give-away when Blanka actually makes the awm-nomming noises and chews his giant jaws together, all the while looking at Alma in a very bestial manner! This green giant has /plans/ for Alma Towazu! Tasty, /tasty/ plans!!!
COMBATSYS: Blanka focuses on his next action.
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Alma
Uh oh.
Well, Alma has managed to halt his opponent's offensive momentum for the moment, at least, but he has not yet acquired an edge-- only forced the beast-man back momentarily. And whatever is coming next is going to be big. And possibly sticky.
Shifting his feet through the rich earth once more, the beautiful blond focuses his gaze carefully upon his adversary, straining every sense towards the particular psychic strands that make up Blanka's unique signature. Like a chameleon he seems to fade in and out of his surroundings; in only a moment of stillness he seems to entirely disappear. Yet now that Alma has made contact, his opponent's character as perceived by that sense has been viscerally recalled.
Summoning up all the energy he can muster, taking in the spirit of the jungle and attempting to make that wild force his own and bring forth that breath of life to fuel his own inner fire, Alma Towazu gathers his will and prepares for the coming assault.
COMBATSYS: Alma gathers his will.
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Blanka 0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1 Alma
What is this?! Alma using time and tension, spirit gathering from the jungle and preparing himself for an onslaught that Blanka will probably quickly provide?! No, this cannot be! Blanka is the one who is supposed to bring the rumble from the jungle! This is ... well, okay it's not really an outrage, but more of a point of impressiveness for Alma Towazu that he's able to find himself at peace in so alien an environment - it's something that Blanka can never find in the cities of the world. Someday, perhaps!
Here, it comes down - Blanka /knows/ what the next moves will be - how each thing will play out. He knows how Alma will move to counter his movement, what piece will be moved and how this goes down. His mind isn't really able to bounce between further exesistentials - he's not some /psychic/ or something - but he has studied Alma's fights! Here, well - there's one thing to do! Blanka leans back and howls, an echo that brings his 'spirit' into sharp relief. He can draw on that enrgy, just as Alma can - but he can't do it in anything close to 'subtle'. His body seems to explode with energy, a rush of jungle power fueling him as he rolls towards Alma again. It's something akin to normal, but at the last second, his speed increases dramatically, and his body lights up again, another explosion of blue-white chi, pure as the deepest, darkest stream in Brazil!!
So much for awm-nomming!
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Blanka's Direct Lightning.
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Blanka 0/-------/------=|=======\======-\1 Alma
It's overwhelming.
Alma has not been able to successfully defend himself against the beastial fighter's relentless speed and power as of yet, and his efforts to link his spirit to the palpable energy of his surroundings have been mainly in vain despite his great effort. Presuming unconsciously that Blanka will go forth to throw himself into another physical assault, Alma, suspecting he will once again be unable to endure the sheer ferocity of that inevitable attack, poises himself to finally find a weakness in his adversary's timing and drive home what will become a reversal of the momentum that has thus far gone against him.
The explosion of energy is utterly unprecedented.
A spike in his awareness nearly blinds his second sight even as he flinches away from the bright blue-white chi, tingling crawling up his very spine as he perceives a raw infusion of energy into his opponent, some gate opened and some new power rushing in. The jungle-- truly, this fighter can hear its call, and summon its possibilities. Against something like that, what chance does Alma have? Blanka blazes forth, and Alma knows there is no weakness in timing to exploit.
The call.
Alma can feel it too.
Perhaps there is little of the jungle left in man. But perhaps too the call of the jungle is only that of nature everywhere, a nature that has otherwise been subdued to man's interests. And nature remains, and those who wish to be in harmony with the world must too be in harmony with the natural laws underlying it. Those laws are not foreign to Alma. And even if the raw vibrancy of nature here disrupts his subtle senses as a heady flavor disrupts the palate of a connoisieur, the parallel is there.
Purity.
Alma is not a man of the jungle the way Blanka is. But in this moment of desperation, as Blanka barrels toward him aglow with power, the purity of his surroundings fuses briefly with the purity of his heart, and Alma's will becomes as a shield.
The blaze of blue-white chi meets a blaze of gold and rose, the primal essence of Alma's own aura that he has only recently become able to access. Around his fists, building behind that auric shield, are his usual colors, bright white and cherry-blossom pink and royal indigo, and as though in a trance Alma thrusts forth through his own defense, eyes shining with his own power, to slam his hands downward and deep into the rich, welcoming soil.
"RRRRRRRAAHHHH!"
Unleashing his own bestial warcry, a howling celebration of their shared primordial state, Alma lets loose all that is within him, and brings forth a terrible geyser to explode beneath his opponent-- and engulf him, as well, in this rapture.
COMBATSYS: Blanka blocks Alma's Full Confession.
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Blanka 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Alma
Power.. EXTREME?! Blanka has battered Alma with his best, and the warrior doesn't seem to tremble at all - instead, he meets spirit to spirit, batters against the man's colorful energies. In the end, his attack is blunted - but not stopped. He knows there's been at least some effect, that his spirit forces and pushes against the other man. A force that suddenly explodes in his own face, Alma displaying that fierce strength and fire that Blanka himself contains - showing Blanka how well Alma has learned and adjusted to the jungle warrior's turf.
Power surrounds Blanka, pure and vivid. Blanka has no way to escape, no way to free himself save to endure through what happens, to throw his arms up and howl in response, to challenge Alma's spirit on a low level, awesome and intense. In the end, smoking but still standing, Blanka stands face to face with Alma.. and grins.
"Good.. so far." He speaks few words, and then just cocks back a fist and slaps it towards Alma's chest, trying to get some room and to knock Alma back against the trees, to line him up for his next attack. This, in the end - is not just a challenge. It's a sharing, a melding of styles - of learning fom Alma, much like Alma seems to learn from Blanka.
COMBATSYS: Blanka successfully hits Alma with Jab Punch.
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Blanka 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Alma
Alma grins back.
"...You too."
He's already exhausted. The uneven terrain, having to be just as aware of his surroundings as his opponent-- even the strength of the energy pulsing through him serves to weaken his control, lose sight of the distinction between his own Soul Power and the natural force, and consuming the latter to produce the former is a difficult task. Still, despite how much both he and his adversary have offered up already, Alma feels somehow renewed by the powerful clash they both just endured, both of them just managing to defend against the overwhelming attacks of the other.
Still, he can only grunt as he is knocked back against a tree he was unaware existed, attempting to endure the strike but slipping again and half-tumbling back. Instinctively, he knows he cannot let this state of affairs stand for more than a split-second. He reacts instantly, his body straining yet further.
"Urrraaahhh!"
Kicking off the tree with his left foot even as he hits it, Alma attempts to rebound unexpectedly, lashing out with hooking kick with his right leg, a plume of white soulfire erupting around the limb-- and, if he is able to connect, he will continue, shifting into a series of two more powerful and flame-imbued roundhouse kicks.
COMBATSYS: Blanka fails to interrupt Rising Fury from Alma with Electric Thunder.
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Alma
Urrah! This is the sound of the jungle, given voice by Alma Towazu! Blanka can hear it - can /feel/ it - the feel of cool water on his skin, of warmth and light on him. The /feel/ though - Blanka isn't sure he can protect himself against it - and this time, his spirit quails in just that one moment. That one instant, and the kicks strike true, knocking him upwards, and then away. Away from Alma, away from the fight - to land in a heap in the nearby bushes.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" He's laughing, nonetheless. In the end, this is the fight he wanted - the important moment that he lives for. The meeting of spirits, the clash there - that's more important than the actual battle. In the end, he has met Alma's spirit. He cannot quail from /that/. Instead, he thrills in it - the meeting of a friend, the battle with someone he relishes. "Come.. fight more!!"
How can Alma refuse?
This is it. To his own surprise, Alma can feel the rhythm of the jungle strongly beating within him. Who would have expected that this mellow, good-natured youth had the potential to harness such a wild, sensual energy? Yet this, if anything, is proof of his passion, and of its capacity to reach beyond the normal boundaries of the heart to the potent unity underlying it all.
He's not even sure he could stop if he wanted to.
But he knows that Blanka would not ask him to stop.
He's felt that spirit.
Still grinning again, a heartfelt grin that softens his eyes even as he lands from his fierce attack, emotion swells within Alma's breast and chokes off words that could not have expressed his feelings in any case. This exceptional man, having come from such an exceptional place-- Alma will offer up everything at his disposal.
He nods once, and does not stop moving for even an instant.
Sweeping low, he seeks to cut Blanka's strong legs out from under him before the beast-man can fully regain his balance, and take him to the ground before he can take to the air.
COMBATSYS: Blanka dodges Alma's Light Kick.
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Alma
So quick! Blanka is /almost/ caught off-balance, the giant beastman's expression of laughter turning serious in a heartbeat. He feels his feet caught, and as they start to go out from under him, Blanka's hands catch and grab onto the tree he's nearby. It's instinct, but it keeps him up without any worries, and balances him as he feels his feet leave the ground.
With another giant grin, he lets go the tree with one hand, to wave at Alma, incongrously cheerful for a second or two. He's not /really/ in the air, Alma got that much right! With his feet off the ground, he just tries to wrap them 'round Alma's head, to chuck him to the side and to the ground, following up with a stompy stomp or two, as he regains his balance and returns to the ground!! "Good!'
COMBATSYS: Alma endures Blanka's Light Kick.
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Blanka 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Alma
"Hrrnn!"
The rhyhtm, it beats stronger.
Alma is tossed toward the ground as Blanka lands.
He can feel this call burning within him. Now that the fires within him have begun to feed upon the energy surging all around him, he can no longer contain the spirit that clamors to be released. As though succumbing to sedation, the young man feels his conscious mind recede into light...
The beast-man's compliment will fall upon deaf ears--
And the beautiful youth will never touch the ground.
In an impossible moment, he flickers, and vanishes.
Absorbed, it seems, by the vibrant growth around him--
Consumed by the jungle.
And then...
"Haaaah!"
The cry is sudden, exultant, cast toward the heavens-- and toward the earth, that has so inspired him with strength. Alma, his eyes glowing with light, no pupils visible and without them no human emotion, seeming in this moment an avatar of the spirit burning within him, appears directly behind his opponent.
Teleportation.
Having cast his aura into the embrace of the world, and been cast back to the place that his heart called for, in the moment in which he could push Blanka the hardest--
Alma brings forth his fingertips, alight with white-hot psychic fire, to touch him gently.
And send /his/ interpretation of the call of the jungle tearing through the beast-man's psyche, and bring them closer together than ever before.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Blanka with Absolution EX.
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Blanka 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Alma
Those crazy jungle beats are something intense, alright. Blanka's caught completely flat-footed, having dropped down to the ground after kicking Alma - only to see him vanish into a blaze of white light. There's something about the moment that strikes the bestial Brazillian - and there's just a single second where he /knows/ where the other man is - and gold eyes meet white as he turns his head to prepare..
But who can prepare for the jungle? The jungle eats and consumes all, in the end - it is primal, it is overwhelming.. and it buries its children when it is done. That much, Blanka knows. He's seen the circle of life - and he feels that call that Alma sends into him, white-hot and blazingly powerful.
Blanka sinks to his knees afterwards, smoking and stunned. He's almost out, his dazed and dizzy expression showing through. His head slumps forwards, and he's the picture perfect poster boy for a loss by submission. And then... he starts to quake.
".. heh. Heh. Heh. Blanka see.. Alma understand Blanka. But Blanka.. .show more." As he speaks, his head quakes, body trembling as he begins to laugh in his knelt position. One giant hand reaches blindly out, scraping grass and leaves, finding the embrace of one of the giant trees. His fingers grip into the bark - and he digs in, a crackle of power showing as muscle ripples and rattles the tree. High above - something snaps. High above.. something falls. From the skies, melon after melon tumbles and collapses, carefully planted above the battlefield for just this moment. He'll offer it up, and as soon as Alma looks away from Blanka - he'll vanish, into the treeline - only to launch himself downwards in a giant falling arc, following the melons in their fall. "Raaaaaaaaaaaaawr!"
COMBATSYS: Blanka keeps on fighting!
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Blanka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alma
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Blanka's Tropical Hazard.
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Blanka 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Alma
Alma feels one with Blanka, and one with the jungle.
The light fades from his eyes, and he arises from a waking slumber, cognizant of all he has done even if none of his acts were consciously intended. He gazes softly at his slumped opponent, and listens quietly as the beast-man begins to chuckle. The young man would smile, but he feels too much at peace. Truly, he has achieved all that he could want from a match, and more-- as he would surely expect when meeting an opponent from this.
Alma understands Blanka-- but not perfectly.
Not well enough to see /this/ coming.
Bewildered, Alma glances up at the falling fruit, only to then realize that the beast-man has vanished from the ground, quite suspiciously. Has he fled? Is this a parting gift? He reaches up to block the shower of melons-- and almost, /almost/, misses the green blur falling with them.
"Ggghhh!"
Barely, just /barely/, he musters his guard in time to deflect the impact of his powerful foe, staggering under his weight and strength yet thrusting the fighter away nonetheless. Just as Blanka somehow keeps on fighting, so too does Alma somehow refuse to collapse-- both of them, perhaps, fueled by the rampant energy around them.
"Bl... Blanka!"
The beast-man's name emerges as a gasp of surprise, a declaration of affectionate friendship, the proud approval of a peer. But it is also a war cry of a sort, as Alma brings forth his right hand once more, as if he is also saying: I have more to show, too.
A gout of spiralling fire emerges, seeing out Blanka's fleeting form, aiming to catch him one last time as Alma's soul shudders under the intensity of this competition and this crucial moment.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Blanka with Sacred Wave.
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Blanka 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Alma
Uh-oh! Blanka really didn't have much left in the tank after that last show of power and force. He's not quite where he needs to be to survive the incoming attack, the pure display of power that Alma gives up. He'd managed to avoid this the first time, but this new onslaught catches him in mid-dodge. Blown back, he slams up against the trees, caught between nature's embrace and the reality that is Alma's power. It finally causes him to slow, to stop - and there, he finally slouches and his eyes close. He's done.
Well, ok - not really. He allows himself one deep breath, and then throws himself towards Alma again. He holds his arms out wide, as if to congratulate the other fighter - to reward him for a fight well done. There's another element to it, though - and that is power, a brief flareup of Blanka's jungle energies. He's only surrounded for an instant, but as he reaches out for Alma, it's certain to be a shocking sort of embrace indeed! Lost in the crackle of lightning, are the jungle man's words. "Good.. fight!"
COMBATSYS: Blanka can no longer fight.
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Alma 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Blanka's Electric Thunder.
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Alma 0/-------/-======|
Just... a little more.
Alma accepts that final shocking embrace; he has no choice. He does not have nearly enough agility or stamina left to spring aside, even with this as Blanka's last effort. Every fiber of his body strains against the power pulsing against him, the last of his own spirit pushing back with all his might and all his heart.
He sways, staggers, head tilting back to the sky.
Blanka falls.
And Alma stands.
Just barely.
He manages to wait until the fight is called before he falls to his knees, panting heavily, his breaths silent but deep. He won. He maintained his league, and defeated a truly worthy adversary. But Alma has no delusions about this victory; he and this beast-man, he is sure, are evenly matched as fighters. This fight came down to the wire. It could have gone either way.
But, even in the jungle, Alma was able to strive his hardest.
He made the home of his rival his own home.
That this was possible...
That is the proof of what they share.
"...You too... Blanka."
/That/ is victory.
COMBATSYS: Alma has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:23:36 01/02/2009 by Alma, and last modified on 19:50:34 01/04/2009.