LLK Act IV.Fin - Fin : My Blade As My Pride

Description: Three young warriors, all seeking to free Gedo High from the grip of NESTS--Flora, Mizuki, Kaida. Can they prevail against the force of Diana and Vyle, or will the defenders fall to impromptu teamwork?



In Gedo, there's many a room set aside for such nebulous and worthless activities for the unworthy student body. Such a worthless room put to such a better cause is a sight for sore eyes. It's fitting, really, to Diana. To see such a wasted, violent and crude section of the School turned into an organized, and important, part of the NESTs work within the city.

The heart of the communications network within Southtown for the NESTs Cartel sounds almost alive. The humming of various equipment moved in, various sections staffed by the operatives that move from channel to channel - relaying orders, receiving eye-witness accounts and losses/victories, and then relaying them through.

It's important. The padding on the ground lays somewhat flattened by the metal that has been placed over it, machines spread out across the room. Wires hang from the second floor, down to the first. More machines on the top floor - as well as devices to transmit, placed here and there. Without this, the Cartel would be blind, deaf and mute.

Which is why, from above, one of the members sits on the railing. Legs hang lazily over, in a way that a rather well meaning lady .. wouldn't do. If anyone looked up ... well, they'd see legs. Her dress hangs as well, split down the sides of her legs, hair puffed in the afro-like ball, and with .. quite a bit of flesh. The humm of machines is starting to wear on her.

With the current state of affairs, the guard isn't light. They're taken up positions at the entrances, and Diana watches like a hawk. She's not the only one here, obviously. An important message 'unknown resistance in area', just made it to them.

"Now.... it's just time to wait, isn't it?" She notes to another member stationed there.

"They don't know what they're even doing .. do they? What they'll cause by tossing us out. After all we gained... to lose the future we were so close to obtaining." A thin grin spreads across her face. "It seems there'll have to be .. a few sacrifices for it."

"A future born from bloodshed...." She trails off.

To be honest, though...there was some charm to the dojo. At least for those whom violence, however organized, was a virtue rather than a problem. Still...Vyle hardly held any love or respect for Gedo. He barely knew of it anyways, but something about the place just annoyed him. He really couldn't peg just what, however.

It DID annoy him, however, that he'd been stuck around here. However annoying Gedo was, he was fairly sure NESTS annoyed him more. At least...what of it he's seen here. STrange Utopian (or Dystopian, he's not sure which) cult freaks with way too much assurances of their 'future' in their own minds. The luchador was half tempted to spit in disgust as he leaned against a wall, watching the machines hum, and surveillance...surveil. "I don't know why I was sent here to work with you freaks, just know that whatever happens here falls on your guys heads, I got nothing to do with it." He WAS here from a tip that some kind of organized resistance was coming back to take Gedo again...no idea who, no idea when, just the inkling that someone was coming. And that annoyed Vyle even more. And when he gets annoyed, he gets...acidic.

"So, Foxy Gothic, while you're there back in 1972, can you tell me if I should be worried about actually having to DO something here?"

Something had to be done about this invasion. Kaida had been there when it had first broken out, but since then she's primarily simply tried to survive and look after her own family. But now she realizes that just waiting it out isn't going to work. If this siege, if that's what this is intended to be, is ever to end people are going to have to rise up against the attackers and do something about it. And since she can ostensibly do something about it- surviving a direct hit by a tank shell mostly unharmed will do wonders for ones ego, she's decided to pitch in and help as best she can.

And a place she knew was having tons of trouble was Gedo High. They'd been all but taken over, the word on the street was, and apparently it was busy enough that it was a likely place for an enemy command center of some kind. Kaida had no clue about that sort of thing though. She was far from a general or strategic genius, and her mind didn't go much further than 'A lot of the invaders are here, so there might be something worth disrupting.'

It just so happens that other people had the same sort of idea as her- to go where the enemy is and attack. She'd seen them in the courtyard after simply sneaking around a bit and rushing right in through the main Gedo entrance, something easier than expected, though she'd been noticed. "Hey!" she called out, looking at the other two, "You two don't look like the kinds of people that'd work here. I'm Kaida- I go to Taiyo." Before she can get too much further with introductions a NESTS guard shows up, thinking shooing some girls ought to be an easy task, and immediately begins assaulting the green haired teen, who pulls out a pair of bokken and does her best toward off the attack and start fighting back. "I hope I was right about them..!" It'd be pretty bad for her if they -did- work for these people and jumped her right now.

Gedo isn't her school. Justice is her school. But Gedo is where NESTS is. Gedo's been compromised since early on--but finally, the tides are turning. Getting into the school wasn't easy--Mizuki is -not- a ninja, not by any school of thought. But she managed--and while she's usually quite pleasant, if a bit formal, today she's traded some pleasantness for some harshness.

That is to say, there are some grunts downed. They won't have lasting injuries, but some will have headaches, some a bit worse. Or a lot worse. She'd wondered if she was doing this alone--but that wondering has been solved, as she sees Kaida and Flora. Kaida introduces herself, and Mizuki offers a brief smile and a nod. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Mizuki. But I think we'll have to talk later--we've got more of these guys to deal with!"

The hall seems to lead right to the dojo--and here come the guards. As Kaida comes in with her bokken, Mizuki lunges in tandem, her only concession to the war being a pair of gauntlets, essentially leather gloves with metal plating on the back of the hands and along the forearms--mostly for defense, rather than offense...

But she's still striking hard and fast, taking guards out.

Flora is from neither of those schools. /She/ is the representative, if that is the proper word, from Seijyun; the giant girl has been seen around a few places in Southtown recently, mostly against NESTS, and has actually been fighting back.

Getting in for Flora was hard. She is about as non-stealthy as you can get; she's so tall she stands out anywhere except possibly behind Gan. But she at least has a ranged weapon; she uses her blunt-tipped arrows, aiming at wrists to numb the hands or heads to knock them out. Her quiver is absolutely loaded today.

And there are others. /That/ was surprising. She expected to go in alone, but Flora - always kind of timid at everything other than fighting - is glad for the company. She actually smiles briefly at the help. "I'm Flora," she says, "from Seijyun." The uniform with its skirt was probably a giveaway.

Flora draws another one of her blunt arrows and aims it down the entry hall, at someone at the far side. Good aim, even at a distance.

"Whatever we know.. is shared between us." She turns towards Vyle, shaking her head. "I'm sure you know very well your employer would like to be kept up with our information as well.. Or you could go and goddamn tell him yourself, how about it?" Her grin spreads. "Or even go and find it out for yourself."

Reports begin to filter through the air waves. They're 'here'. 'Look out!' 'There's some kind of bow user h-'. The guy that Flora pegs breaks through the door, tumbling over the other soldiers as he topples to the ground, winded. The other soldiers are knocked away as well - "Move what you can." She speaks to them, still sitting above, on the second level. "As for you." She notes to Vyle, glancing over, "Why not help with this then.. I'm sure you'll be perfect for the job." Mindless, crude, violent.

He seems to be the 'tough guy', one that Diana despises. There's no venom in her voice - because it's already unpleasant enough as it will get, with him.

Finally, she kicks off, 'wings', blue and butterfly like, materializing as she goes. The woman vanishes - and amidst the hallways, re-eappears, standing before the three that have broken through. The wings appears once more, fluttering, before vanishing as she stands. "As foolish as youth tends to be .. I never expected you to encroach on the future like this..." She notes, sliding a hand down her leg.. and pulling a blade free. The butterfly handle slides out, brought to bear from underneath the cutaway dress, and held forwards. Pointing at the intruders.

"Whatever you're here for .. it will only harm what we're so close to achieving.. If you refuse to pull away... I would hate to stain the new future with the blood of the young." She kicks backwards, vanishing - re-appearing at the other end of the rather wide hallway, blade still held outwards.. watching.

She's irritated, a look of distaste at the 'heroines'. She knows what they think they are doing. It's .. such a lie, to her. She only stands, ready, blade held outwards.

Waiting.

COMBATSYS: Diana has started a fight here on the left meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Diana            0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Diana calculates her next move.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Diana            0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki


COMBATSYS: Vyle has joined the fight here on the left meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Diana            0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Flora has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Flora


COMBATSYS: Kaida has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0            Kaida


Vyle snorts a little at Diana. "Right, right," he says, giving her a rather dismissive wave. Somehow, he's not sure it's so necessary for this kind of information exchange...but he's not about to go back on things for now even as annoyed as the whole NESTS environment is for him.

It's good that something picks up to cut through the possible tension growing between the probationary Shadaloo employee and the NESTS agents surrounding him. Seeing the agents battered busting through the door, he snorts a little. "'Bout time. So...which of you idiots is gonna help hold the line?" he asks, cracking his neck. No need to even ask, as Vyle's been fairly eager to make some damage. SUrveillance is boring...mayhem is fun AND profitable.

His exit out to where the three girls bust in isn't quite as flashy as Diana's...in fact, he does his best to try and sneak his way into some hidden cubby around the machinery and monitors stacked up in the Dojo. He does his best work when he can surprise someone after all. Eeny, meeny, miney, mo...who of these chicas should be first to go...

Luck is with the Taiyo student today- the other two are here to give the Gedo invaders a serious beatdown. Their presence also explains Kaida's ease of entry- after two people managed to come in and attract a bunch of attention people weren't paying much attention to the entrance anymore, allowing her to sneak right in. "Justice and Seijyun huh? Then lets make our schools proud and kick these guys asses!" With help she's able to really go on the offensive, outnumbering the guards meaning that constant attacks can keep them off balance and almost too busy to retaliate.

She beats her way through the hallway to the dojo with Mizuki and Flora, and before long they go crashing right through the door. Unfortunately that also means that the time for beating on grunts is over. A flash of blue butterfly 'wings' and then nothing. Where'd she go- Oh, over there. "I... I think this one has a bit of an advantage over me." A vast understatement. "I'm sure glad I found you two when I got here, I don't think any of us could handle her alone." Never mind Vyle, who she hasn't even noticed sneaking around, so focused has she been on the teleporting swordswoman. "Alright," she tells herself. "I'm probably the most experienced at swordfighting... so here I go! Back me up if you can, you two!"

Quickly retrieving her second bokken she charges in, rushing towards Diana and swinging hard for her rapier-like blade to attempt to knock it away and then slash for her stomach with the other weapon immediately afterwards, trying to knock a bit of wind out of her early. Despite this she's definitely and obviously being cautious, hoping to keep the sword she parried with open to deal with any counterattacks.

"YOU...!" comes Mizuki's hissed sound of barely-contained anger. Oh, she remembers Diana, quite well. Kaida's little pep talk doesn't go ignored, but... dammit! Well, they knew they were coming. Diana herself? Might just enough to hold off all three girls, but that probably isn't a safe bet. So, Mizuki is left wondering if someone else will make an appearance--and left hoping it isn't Igniz.

Mizuki has no further words for Diana--no boasts, no promises, no discussions of philosophy, future, and godhood. They had those discussions. Mizuki knows where Diana stands, and Diana knows where Mizuki stands. There's only one thing left, now--to attack.

"Flora-san, please be our rear guard for a moment!" calls the miko, who is not giving orders, so Flora may willfully decide to ignore the request/advice--that's up to her. As Kaida comes in high, so Mizuki rushes to catch up, to come in low, aiming a quick, simple sweeping kick at Diana's feet, to knock her down--and if that hits, she'll simply kick outwards, aiming for Diana's ribs.

"Be careful," she says, quickly, to Kaida, "she's -very- dangerous..."

Flora is good at breaking in doors. It comes with her size. She has /leverage/. And weight, although she won't generally admit that part.

Flora does not know Diana. She doesn't want to charge in against someone who has a sword, though, even if it is a little rapier; when she's asked to stay back and block the door, Flora nods, doing just that and with another blunt-tipped arrow in her hand.

"Right," she says, and draws back, covering the others and looking around; she's the scout, apparently, even if she's in the back. She stays there for about three seconds... and then, perhaps unexpectedly, twists to one side and fires the arrow at an angle, aiming into one of the little hollows.

Apparently she, at least, saw Vyle, even if the angle and need to hit him immediately forced her to take a quick shot rather than take her time and aim a little bit better. "Watch out!"

She may be too late, if Vyle runs fast.

COMBATSYS: Diana dodges Kaida's Random Strike.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Diana blocks Mizuki's Combo Grapple.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0            Kaida


A bit? Oh, Diana isn't going to take any praise from the likes of them - even if it may be justified. The researcher stands, awaiting assaults - and they certainly come. Kaida leads, claiming she'll lead - the most experienced at sword fighting indeed. Diana grins a bit as she seems so sure of herself - claiming that she'll need to be backed up.

The twin bokkens are swung towards her, and Diana brings the rapier forwards, each strike deflected with a bit of grace behind it - swung quick, but in minute directions. Just enough to stop the blow without moving into it. She falls backwards a few steps, keeping her footing out of range - but there's only so much you can do.

Mizuki comes as well. The hiss is heard, rather easily, even as it blends in with the humming. She'd have preferred the humming. "How nice of you to pay me at least that lip service." The agent of NESTs notes, watching as the kick slams for her ribs. Her arm raises, taking the blow, sending her rocking backwards, but pushing the strike backwards. It's enough to give her some room as she takes the blade, swinging it around in a heavy arc, towards Kaida.

"I'd rather you have leaved... the young shouldn't throw their lives away." The arc blurs, as does her arm, as she pulls in closer, blade darting for her side, to dive in and out once, then again, into the girl's side. Sweeping strikes, intending to force Mizuki to keep her distance as well.

COMBATSYS: Vyle dodges Flora's Medium Shot.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0            Kaida


Looks like Vyle was spotted...but seemed like he wasn't planning on staying hidden for long. And when he sees the quick blunt-tipped arrow shot toward his direction, he leaps out and away, rising above the arrow and letting it thump into a wall in his stead. Better the dojo than his chest, after all.

"Cheeky, huh? Amazons always this impulsive, or the testosterone making you impatient?" he asks, landing on the floor near the attacking trio. "So...I guess you want the school back or something? Well, suppose you'll need a little wake up call, won't you?" he says, sneering as he rises up from his crouch, trying to drop kick Flora right in the chest.

COMBATSYS: Kaida blocks Diana's Crushing Strike.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Diana            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////////////////   ]
                                 |=------\-------\0            Kaida


The hissed exclamation from the miko dressed Justice student is enough to tell Kaida that these two clearly have some kind of history. Whether or not that'll work to either of their advantage she has no clue, but she can hope that it works to Mizukis. The quick attacks end up being deflected with extreme ease- not something that makes her terribly happy when she's using heavier wooden swords against something as light as a rapier. There's got to be some serious strength in those arms.

At least she can find some consolation in herself by the fact that Diana has to deal with Mizuki's attack in a more difficult manner, even if it doesn't seem to inflict much actual harm. "Very dangerous, got it!" she lets out quickly. She gets her chance to feel Diana's strength for herself immediately, as the NESTS agent swings her weapon powerfully towards her. This is why she held one of her swords in reserve- it immediately rushes up to parry, only to find the motion twisted and changing. She alters the angle of her sword and manages to catch the point of the rapier just in time, the her own sword bashing into her side and causing what will easily be a nasty bruise later. The second stab is met with a full swing of the sword, taking almost all her strength to knock it away, but managing to succeed in the end.

"You weren't kidding!" she manages to get off to Mizuki, backing off a short ways. "She'd tear me to pieces if it were just me and her." A quick look behind herself to Flora, and the now appearing Vyle. "So there was another one... It won't be easy, but we've got to do this!" It's terrible to have to back off so quickly, but some things just can't be helped. She knows she can't take another attack like that from Diana so easily- time to play keepaway. Her swords momentarily flare with white energy, and she quickly slashes them one after another towards Diana, the chi leaping from the paired bokken and launching forward at high speed. "Twin Moonlit Swords!"

"You'd kill us anyways. We don't fit in your 'utopia'," is Mizuki's reply, sounding scornful. She didn't mean to open her mouth... it's just that she can't let that comment pass. To Kaida, she gives a brief nod. "That's why we'll work together." She doesn't mention how Diana nearly destroyed her--before Igniz stepped in to finish the job. That would just be demoralizing.

For now, she'll trust Flora to take on Vyle solo--but the odds, while uneven, are still not great for either of the girls solo... she stays on Diana now. Though the wild swings do keep Mizuki away for a moment, she's in there soon enough, so to speak--taking a moment to gather her own chi, she lashes out with a hand, carving a line of blue into the air, which then extends into a narrow triangle of glassy ice chi, spearing out for Diana--an attack the woman's seen before.

"This is going to be tricky," she murmurs, half to herself--got to stay in the moment, don't let yourself get overwhelmed, the miko says to herself.

COMBATSYS: Vyle successfully hits Flora with Light Kick.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Diana            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////    ]
                                 |=------\-------\0            Kaida


A lot of people think Flora is an easy target at close range because of her bow. No archer, they seem to think, can possibly be well-versed with defending themselves from being kicked in the head!

And apparently this is at least partially true - although Flora isn't hit in the head, she's hit in the chest with enough force to make her take a step back despite her ability to brace herself in the doorway. "I'm not an Amazon," she objects, shooting a glance at her surprise teammates - mostly to make sure they're not going to die while she's busy.

Taking half a step back to get some more distance, Flora draws another one of her arrows and fires it. There's barely enough room between her and Vyle for it to have the desired effect; two other arrows made of greenish chi split off from the one sh elaunched, forming a tight cone. "Hey, hey, are you guys all right over there?"

COMBATSYS: Diana dodges Kaida's Twin Moonlit Swords.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Mizuki
[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////    ]
                                 |=------\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Diana with Hyouryuu no Kiba.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0           Mizuki
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////    ]
                                 |=------\-------\0            Kaida


Kaida plays keep-away, the blades swung, white energy shooting off the slashes - slicing through the air towards her. The chi leaps from the bokken, high speeds right towards her. Diana, having just swung, is almost caught offguard. Almost. She kicks into the air just as the blades are swung, the chi leaping off.

She leaps up. Energy is displaced - but she lands a bit from Kaida, almost choosing her target differently..

Save for the sudden burst from Mizuki - the miko launches the glassy ice chi, the blades cutting into the older woman, causing her to clench her teeth as the blades dig in, tearing against the cloth and skin alike - red blood melting the chi on contact. She can't protect against that - even if she attempts to.

A fatal mistake.

"A common mistake... we don't need to get rid of you for the new.." She shoots off, blurring again, before she appears once more nearby Flora - blade swinging about, a wide and heavy arc from behind, intending to bring the blade scraping against the sword-girl's back, before spinning once, slicing in the opposite direction.

"You just fight.. and we have to fight back."

COMBATSYS: Vyle dodges Flora's Split Arrow.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////////////////    ]
                                 |=------\-------\0            Kaida


Regardless of whether Flora is as good up close as she is at a distance, it's obvious that Vyle's going to have to get in rather close himself to do any damage to her. Unfortunately for the archer, he seems to be doing pretty well at that.

Flipping over after hitting her with that quick drop kick, he smirks, stance low to the ground as he tenses for the response to come. "Right, right, what was I thinking. Freakishly tall, bow and arrow, walks and talks like a butch...totally not an amazon, my apologies," he snorts, grinning as he tries to slip in close.

When the splitting arrow flies, Vyle drops in lower, almost slithering underneath the shot in order to scramble closer to the Seijyun student. "How about we shake on it and call it even?" he asks, lurching out and reaching for Flora's arm to try and yank her forward, then trap her arm into his own armpit as he hopes to drop her into a nasty little armbreaker.

COMBATSYS: Diana successfully hits Kaida with Memory of Gaia.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0            Kaida


Kaida's attack is yet again easily dealt with, this time avoided with ease. There is some good that comes out of the attack, as Mizuki is again able to take advantage unleashing some icy chi and apparently doing some real damage in the process. If only her own chi attack had hit- but no, she can't let start feeling sorry for herself, it'll just get in her head and drag her down. "You just fight back, huh?" She comments. "What part of invading a city and ruining the lives of millions of people is 'fighting back?' Your words are meaningless and hollow!"

It's cute when someone makes an accusation like that and then is immediately cut down- that's what happens hear. As Diana blurs out of her vision Kaida doesn't realize where she is until she's already on her, a last ditch effort to shove her bokken in the way resulting in a large gash slashed into her back, blood immediately soaking into her clothing before the second slash rips her across the arm and shoulder. "Aaaah!" A piercing scream is let out in the moment that the damage is done, the girl shaking a bit as she does her best to recover. Luckily being hacked up by swords is a part of her training regimen, or she'd be in much worse shape.

To Flora she gives a shout, "C-can you help Mizuki for a moment? I need to gather my wits, I've been nothing more than a distraction!" She can't go on just wasting effort, but at the same time it'd be terrible to leave Mizuki alone with such a powerful opponent. So she'll make that request, and hope it will work out as she tries to get a read on Diana. There -has- to be a way she can hit her. "Everyone has an opening... where is hers?"

COMBATSYS: Kaida focuses on her next action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0            Kaida


It isn't Mizuki that's being overwhelmed, it's Kaida--and the girl deals with it in an unexpected fashion. They're trading off? Maybe that will help... Mizuki shakes her head, briefly, momentarily--moving into place to prevent Diana from going after Kaida. These two might be fighting with weapons and Mizuki not, but she's faced Diana before, weaponless. She used to use a weapon--but it was at odds with her philosophy of the martial arts...

She sets her feet, presenting as imposing a figure as she can (which isn't really -all- that imposing, let's be honest). Again, she doesn't have much to say--her eyes say it all, burning with determination and passion and anger. As she stands, chi flows up around her feet--Diana's seen this before, to be sure, blue-silver chi flickering in an undulating circle around the miko's feet.

She seems almost rooted to the floor, more solid, in contact with the Earth. "I'll hold her for a now, you two take him down!" And then it'll be three on one.. if those two can manage...

COMBATSYS: Mizuki gathers her will.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Flora dodges Vyle's Strong Throw.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Diana            0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0            Kaida


"I move like a girl!" Flora objects, shooting a glance down at herself. Well, she's still girl-/shaped/, and she's wearing a skirt; you'd think people would accept this! "And I'm not an Amazon, anyway, I think they cut off half of their - "

She looks up fast enough to see Vyle's arm coming for her. Flora darts to the side - further in the room, in fact - so fast she almost seems to blur. Ordinarily she would stop after a step or two; this time she keeps running, although at a much more normal pace. Diana teleported closer to her, which means Flora can use that to her advantage.

Flora lets out a quick strike with the lower end of her bow, holding it as if it was a slightly curved quarterstaff. It is a feint; she hammers down at Diana's shoulder and chest with her full strength a moment later, striking hard and fast and once again using her long arms and reach to her advantage.

COMBATSYS: Diana parries Flora's Power Strike!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Diana            0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0            Kaida


The piercing scream is one Diana gets no joy from - infact, she most certainly does not gain any joy from it. It's a thing she would rather forget - the scream of the young one, shaking as she tries to recover. She calls over her friend - Flora is her name? "I do not prowl on the streets... I take no pleasure from this either." The blood stained blade is pulled backwards, held back. There is no reprisal, Diana blurring once more, appearing farther down the hallway.

More of that flickering force, rising upwards and about Mizuki. She has indeed seen it before. It only means she is preparing for something. "Hold me for now?" The blade is swung back and forth, Diana letting it trace in the air, wearily, back and forth.. back and forth. She's preparing. Then comes Flora.

The NESTs agent notices - her eyes wide open as Flora lets out that quick strike, full strength hammering towards her with the strike, attempting to use the long arms of hers as an advantage. A nasty one at that. A split second decision is made - the girl is hardy. A simple blade will only stall her.. but it will leave her no better. Such a move, simple. Her foot kicks off the ground, tilting to send her kicking backwards, as she vanishes, blurring during her movement again.

The quarter staff is grasped, using Flora's strength to send her about, a quick motion that only leaves a little tug against Flora's arms, due to her motion on the staff, sending her through the 'air' of the hallway, her motion still in a blur as she advances towards Mizuki.

Landing, her strike and landing is as one motion, her body and blade coming down, towards Mizuki's arms, bringing it heavily down at the girl, the wide sweep being dragged against her or her limbs, swinging a wide arc up and around, and then away from the miko. Only to come around and thrust towards the chest of the girl, the blade attempting to dig into the girl's midsection.

Well, that didn't work out so well. Seems Flora is much faster that Vyle gave her credit for, the way she blurs away from his attempted arm hook. Instead, the luchador ends up stumbling slightly, a glower as the tall girl shoots aside to try and smash the afro-puffed NESTS agent. With Flora focused on a new target, Vyle is on a search for one himself...

And finds it with the heavily gashed Kaida. Grinning, he tries to scramble behind her as she holds back, looking for an opening on Diana. He'd be tempted to quip something about openings...but right now, the venemous one is focused on one opening in particular: that large gash in the back she bears. With all intents, he tries to slip in behind the green haired girl...and give her a little more green, a spray of ugly verdant mist spat toward that wound in hopes of aggrivating it even more with the wrestler's Venom.

COMBATSYS: Kaida reflects Venom Breath from Vyle with Stoic Refusal - Spiral Blade.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Diana            0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |======-\-------\0            Kaida


Oh dear. That did not go quite as Kaida hoped. But then it hasn't gone completely out of control, either. Mizuki seems to have a different idea of how things should go than she does- have Flora keep attacking Vyle alongside herself and try to take him down so they can all face Diana without a problem. In truth, the green haired teen has no idea which is the better plan, but in the end it isn't her decision to make. It's Floras, and she responds as Kaida had asked, not leaving Mizuki alone to face. Diana and her powerful sword techniques. Unfortunately the attack seems to be dealt with even more easily than the ones she was using herself, and Mizuki is going to have to face down a rather serious assault. Time to find out of the miko can handle it, and for her sake Kaida hopes she can.

But as she watches it all go down while trying to find a fault in Dianas form the more... despicable member of the Diana/Vyle duo decides to take advantage of her turned back. Having specifically been trying to make herself more aware she catches it just in time. "Not going to happen! Spiral-" instantly one of her swords is shoved back in its loop on her belt, the other extended outwards as she whirls around, sword swinging through the air rising from the ground upwards and sweeping through the venomous mist, sending it back towards him by- well, lets just call it a powerful air current produced by the swinging sword, shall we? "- Blade!"

Afterwards she gives Vyle a defiant look, followed by looking quickly towards Mizuki, "Hang in there Mizuki, I believe in you!"

COMBATSYS: Diana successfully hits Mizuki with Soluminous EX.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Diana            0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |======-\-------\0            Kaida


The blade bites in--twice--and yet Mizuki doesn't cry out. Blood flowers along the cuts--deep cuts, a stab wound. Mizuki's eyes tighten, trembling with the urge to cry out; her hands curl into fists, so tight that her knuckles are bloodless. The tension trembles up her arms and back down. And then the moment is past, the wounds still painful, still bleeding, but that sharp edge of pain gone.

No more running, she seems to say, silently. Forcing her body to move through the pain, the miko moves to her left, facing Diana... shifting around, her blue eyes shifting as well, taking stock of the situation. There's a lot of equipment in the room, that's for sure, and the miko's considering whether any of it could be of any use... and then she spots a certain section.

he lunges to her left, hopping up, planting her feet on the corner of a large metal cabinet, and pushing forward, tucking her legs in and twisting to her right, firing a quick, two-kick combination--right roundhouse to left spinning heel kick, aimed for Diana's torso. Or head. She's not super-particular.

Flora is rather abruptly vaulted down the hallway whether she wants to be. For all her size, though, she is reasonably acrobatic; she manages to land on her feet, although she slams into a wall rather than fall over afterwards.

Switching her grip again, Flora reaches toward her arrows. She grabs one of the blunt ones and fires almost immediately; this time it's aimed at Vyle, just like her first one.

But this time the arrow blurs and vanishes the way she did, so fast it's almost invisible. It impacts barely an instant after she releases it, either with Vyle or the wall; if it hits the wall, it's hard enough to break the arrow in half.

She feels bad for the ones getting hurt. Maybe if she tries to draw attention to herself... "Hey, you!" Flora yells, not clear on whether she means Vyle or Diana. "Come and get me, why don't you?" She barely believes the words coming out of her mouth, and starts to redden.

COMBATSYS: Diana dodges Mizuki's Fierce Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Diana            0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |======-\-------\0            Kaida


Turning to watch Vyle, Diana tch's. "Least you found out what she can do." She'll give him that. So she's skilled in such assaults.. something nice to know. The blade finishes cutting through Mizuki - the miko still facing her, still shifting around - and still focusing on her.

Mizuki's quick - but the woman has had plenty of time to survey the area before hand. Even as she fights, she takes stock of the are that they fight within - and she continues to press her advantage.

Mizuki lunges - feet launching for her upper body. "..So predictable." She kicks off, letting Mizuki flail at the air, body blurring in her constant motion. She manages to duck, before leaning back, even if Mizuki might not see it. She refuses to stay still, which is proving to be a problem for all three fighters, it seems.

That doesn't mean she doesn't hear Flora. "Why, I should make up for what he hasn't done.. shouldn't I?" The voice comes from behind Flora - blade attempting to strike her back, to pierce into the flesh before she dives, to grasp the back of the tall girl's leg and then pull her off her feet, to drag the blade down her back as she falls to the ground, face first.

"... That was terrible of me... I really only mean the best for you young ladies."

"So leave."

COMBATSYS: Flora successfully hits Vyle with Secret Hunt.
- Power hit! -

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Diana            0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |======-\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Vyle blocks Kaida's Reflected Venom Breath.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Diana            0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |=======\-------\0            Kaida


Well, that was fun, wasn't it?

It's a surprising turn when Vyle has his Venom Breath suddenly blown back against him, the sweeping air from Kaida's sword blasting it back into his direction. IT's a good thing that Vyle is fairly desensitized to his own poison, but even them, taking most of it on exposed skin of his arms to keep it from getting into his face is....not a fun burn. "Nnn...you little......

And then Flora turns things around, and aimbs back at him, the arrows blurring as fast as she did in her earlier evations. That quickness is what takes Vyle completely off guard, driving into his left shoulder like a laserbeam. He nearly falls back from the sheer impact of it embedding into his shoulder, before the blunt projectile falls away. "GHHGNnnnn....." Clutching his left arm painedly, the luchador glares at the archer, eyes narrowed. "Oh...you are all going to so #*$&*#&$ pay for that..." he mutters, shooting in and trying to come in low on the tallest of the group, hoping to snatch her by the ankle and simply yank it out from under her to send her toppling over. Not much...but perhaps a set up for things to come?

So much for cheering for your team! All it seems to have done is distract her! Or, well, maybe she didn't hear it at all, but the encouragement obviously didn't -help- since Mizuki got clobbered with that rapier. Meanwhile Vyle manages to cover up, seeming none to pleased to have his own dirty tricks thrown back in his face. But he does manage to hold them off, it seems. Again Kaida seems to play second fiddle as the arrows come barreling in and smacking Vyle. But if nothing else she can tell herself that her distractions are working quite well.

The swordswoman watches the pair of them team up against Flora and immediately fears the worst. That is not a good situation to be in. However, she poignantly does -not- speak up and cheer her on. Don't worry Flora, Kaida doesn't like you any less than Mizuki, it's just that it didn't work the first time! Instead she'll simply act, charging Vyle as he turns his back on her. A quick run up behind him and she takes a double handed grip on her singly wielded bokken, letting out a quick kiai as she lashes out, trying to bring the wooden weapon down onto the center of the Luchadors back.

Despite herself, Mizuki smirks. Predictable.. "Just like you, old lady," she replies, landing from her missed kick combo. Diana decides to go after Flora, as does Vyle--and then Kaida's after Vyle... Mizuki still has a score to settle with Diana, though. She immediately pushes off again, rushing forward, putting on just a touch more speed than she maybe would normally... and leaps in a low, flattened arc, aiming to come down jsut behind Diana.

Then she reaches out, seeking to snag the rapier-user by the back--by her clothing, if necessary--and yank -hard-, to hurl the woman to the ground. She'll follow her down, if she gets that far, and just drop an elbow into Diana's sternum, one sharp strike, before rolling away, to get at least some distance between herself and the rapier-user. Because that blade hurts yo, for reals.

Hopefully Flora survives... if not... well... it would be unfortunate. Kaida and Mizuki can't afford to be one-on-one with these two.

COMBATSYS: Vyle successfully hits Flora with Quick Throw.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Diana            0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Diana successfully hits Flora with Armed Combo.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\-------\0            Kaida


Well.

It worked.

Everybody on the other side turned to Flora. Flora is, thankfully, tough; she /knows/ she's better at taking a beating than her partners probably are, and she is fairly certain she is going to be able to withstand this. That doesn't mean it's fun.

Vyle yanks her off balance. She doesn't quite topple; Flora swings forwards, catching herself against the far wall of the hallway with her hands reflexively. This leaves her back open; Diana slashes down it, leaving a rip in her shirt and a bloody line.

Flora gasps as she pushes herself up, one hand to her back as she steps away. She's going to run out of hallway if she keeps backing up... so she doesn't. She stands there instead, waiting painfully, staff held like a staff again and not a bow.

She is /definitely/ waiting for something now.

COMBATSYS: Flora focuses on her next action.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1           Mizuki
[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Diana blocks Mizuki's Hyouryuu no Koki EX.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Diana            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\-------\0            Kaida


"Tch... Old lady?" Diana remarks, as she pulls away from Flora, who decides to stay put and stand still - a useful technique, at least. Something out of the corner of her eye .. makes what Flora does a bit odd. Her reaction - that of standing still .. is not just so simple. She plans for something, she waits.

Mizuki lunges in.

She dips downwards, seeking to snag her. Diana is a bit too loose, clothing wise, to be effected by the yank. Her rapier is held on to, and she's rolling with the movement, an elbow dropping to her sternum - but she manages to protect it with her arm - the aches shooting through it once again. Those she can ignore.

"Wasting your energy still?" Diana asks of her as she lands. "..I'm sorry it's coming to this." She pushes Mizuki off, but aims, as well, to strike with the blade, to simply prick the girl and drive the blade a small ways in - intending to keep Mizuki still for a moment?

"Just a moment though..."

COMBATSYS: Vyle counters Power Strike from Kaida with Antidote.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Vyle             0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Diana            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  ////////////////              ]
                                 |=======\=------\1            Kaida


Seemed like Diana and Vyle were on the same wavelength, and it didn't turn out well for poor Flora.

Well, tough crap for her, it makes Vyle pretty damn satisfied that he helped manage a nice hurting on Flora (even if Diana did most of the damage on that one). Gives him a nice feeling of momentum, and momentum is the last thing you want a wrestler to get. Even without a crowd behind him, the luchador gets into a nice little rhythm...and that's when he's dangerous.

Kaida finds this out well enough, as she tries to slam her bokken down into the wrestler's back. Hearing someone coming up from behind him, Vyle quickly turns, sliipping away from the strike swung at his spine and quicly pulling his own arm up to thread underneath Kaida's, and across her chest. Without his characteristic taunt, he brings his other hand up to her leg, hsi grip to leverage Kaida up...and then drop back down into a sitting position to crash her tailbone to the floor and jaw to his shoulder. Cure for the common life indeed.

Kaida seems to be right on target one moment, and the next she finds herself in a tight hold that she can't get away from. A moment later she's lifted up followed by a jarring impact that cascades through her entire body, not getting quite the same type of shriek from her that the cut did but a lower, shocked sort of breathless gasp as the breath is knocked from her for a short moment. That... that was -not- pleasant. That was about the last thing she expected to happen and it caught her completely off guard.

She desperately struggles to get away, trying to get her feet back under her so she can pull away from Vyle. After a moment she manages to tear herself free, immediately backing up to try and put some distance between herself and the wrestler as she gasps for air. Going defensive she reaches down for her second bokken and pulls it free, white chi immediately flaring up around it and leaping from the blade as she unsheathes and swings in a single motion, her original sword slashing through the air only a moment later and sending a second chiblast flying towards him. Looks like she suddenly decided fighting close too him wasn't such a good idea after all!

COMBATSYS: Diana successfully hits Mizuki with Random Strike.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Diana            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |=======\=------\1            Kaida


Diana's rapier, it seems, cannot fail against Mizuki; her strike bites in, again, even as Mizuki attempts to fade with the strikes, to keep the damage to a minimum. The redheaded miko wrenches herself off the blade, hissing under her breath. "You're sorry... does that even mean anything? You shouldn't say things you don't mean," she replies, smiling sardonically. The miko's injuries are starting to take their toll, of course, but she doesn't pay attention to it, to the blood trailing down her shoulder, over her arm, dripping off her fingertips.

The fingers of that hand clench into a fist, the miko relaxing the fingers after a moment. She does take a quick look back to see how her impromptu comrades are doing--and then returns her attention to Diana.

"I don't mean to be rude," she says, "but if I never see you again, I'll be a much happier person. If, however, I must face you--again and again--then I will, no matter how many holes you punch into me with that weapon of yours."

Mizuki feints a left step--then actually steps left, planting her right foot after the step, and twisting around afterwards, firing a swift heel kick from her left foot out at Diana's jaw.

Neither of Flora's partners are doing very well right now; it's just her choice of which one to support. Mizuki is involved in a match against Diana's fast-moving rapier; Kaida is applying her swords to a wrestler that seems able to partially shrug it off.

She drops her guard some long moments later and tenses, switching her staff grip so that both hands are closer to one end of the long, wooden weapon. Flora stays still, tight, tense for a few more seconds -

And then she blasts forth, yelling suddenly (and surprisingly; even she doesn't know where she gets the volume). Flora leaps into the air, her body travelling in a long, low arc towards Vyle; she swings her staff overhand like a giant two-handed club, smashing almost straight vertically downward at his head and putting the momentum of her descending flight behind the blow.

She hopes Mizuki can hold out a moment longer, but even Flora can't be everywhere at once.

COMBATSYS: Diana parries Mizuki's Aggressive Strike!

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |=======\=------\1            Kaida


Facing off Mizuki does not mean Diana is un-observant of the world at large around her. To do so is to be at her own risk. She notices Vyle striking - no - grasping a young schoolgirl. She's certain he might have prior practice with how seemingly simple it looks to be. Yet, as she reaches for the bokken, swinging again, Diana recognizes it.

Aha, once more.

Flora's rage - her yelling as she tries to smash Vyle against his head with such a powerful flow, oh, she hopes he can handle it.

Mizuki fades with other strike - to keep the damage to a minimum, and Diana manages to use the setup as planned. However, it seems only Mizuki is the one that is necessary to take care of. The miko, at the end of her blade, claims she would be happy to never see her again. Diana, staring back, closes her eyes for a moment - keeping the blade, and Mizuki, at that exact distance.

"How sad.. I would be happy to see you in the future.... I am the same way .. but I wish we could meet at a better compromise." Mizuki feints, stepping, twisting.

Still at that distance. Diana reaches out, the left heel kick being launched at her. Diana kicks off the ground, pushing off Mizuki's shoulder, flipping into the air, seeming to almost float in the air for a moment as she twirls, about face and right-side up, to face Mizuki's back.

In her off hand, she flicks a smaller blade into her hands. It has no handle, held between her fingers, as she tosses it - sending the somewhat thick, but certainly sharp, blade towards Mizuki as she lands.

It's thrown in a way that would make whatever part it strikes.. feel it in the future, certainly.

COMBATSYS: Kaida successfully hits Vyle with Twin Moonlit Swords.
- Power hit! -

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |=======\==-----\1            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Flora successfully hits Vyle with Leaping Surge.
- Power hit! -

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |=======\==-----\1            Kaida


You win some, you lose some.

The key to living by this little fact of life is to focus not on losing, but to make sure you win more than you lose. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work. Take Vyle, for example. He managed to stop that big shot Kaida had cocked and aimed at his jack. That should have kept momentum in his favor. Sadly, that momentum doesn't stay with him for long. PUlling himself up after his big counter to Kaida, he narrows his eyes, lurching and grinning with a predator's smile at the swordswoman. "Like that, chica?" he asks, sneering...until she pulls out a second bokken, and suddenly sends a pair of twin chi blasts from those woodden swords. The sudden attack forces Vyle to twist away and leap...

...right into Flora's overhead clubbing, her bow/staff slamming him in the top of the head, planting him where he stands and leaving him stunned enough to be slammed into by those chi slashes flung his way. Blasted aside and into one of the main surveillance consoles on the ground floor, Vyle looks quite messed up. Groaning, his shirt nearly blown apart, and scratches from the ignominious collision with the machinery, he may as well just be gone and out of it at this point.

So why is he laughing? "Hehehehehehe....what...tha-*COUGH*....that's it? I've been hit harder by a spring breeze...I suppose...that's all you can expect from future Planned Parenthood posterchildren." Is he implying...well, whatever he implies he just...well, sort of lays there, daring, looking nowhere near fresh, but still defiant to all ends.

COMBATSYS: Vyle gains composure.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             1/--=====/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |=======\==-----\1            Kaida


That worked out. Kaida looks really, really relieved as the chi blasts smash into Vyle after Floras overhead smash, that combination seeming to be exactly what the situation called for. Managing to get her breathing back to normal she looks over to see how Mizuki is handling Dianna. Answer: About as well as she expected any of them to do one on one against the rapier wielding woman- poorly. A quick look to Flora and Vyle then. "If we can wrap this up with him quickly we should be able to take her down together." She takes a small breath, and nods to herself.

"Alright! Give me a second and I'm positive this guy is a goner." She strikes a pose with her swords held out, focusing herself. White energy begins to swirl about her form, twisting inward towards her limbs and body, the more sensitive of the fighters in the dojo turned communications nexus sensing that she's drawing chi in from the world around her. "Yeah, we've definitely got this..!"

COMBATSYS: Kaida gathers her will.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             1/--=====/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////               ]
                                 |=======\======-\1            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Diana's Blade of the Amazon EX.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Vyle             1/--=====/=======|=======\====---\1           Mizuki
[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////               ]
                                 |=======\======-\1            Kaida


Frustration? Never! Mizuki's kick is parried away, and the miko spends a precious moment moving with the shifted momentum, spinning around and regaining the ground, making sure she's balanced, tracking the flying Diana--just in time to see Diana leaping away, twisting, hurling a small, thick, short blade at her. As if in slow motion, she feels her eyes widen, and it's as if she just won't get away in time--only, somehow, she manages.

She crouches and then leaps backwards, putting even more distance between Diana and herself... and then she lands, amongst some equipment and such. That was a close one, for sure--this is a very dangerous time... Mizuki can't be careful enough. But being -too- careful... is dangerous, too. Diana has the advantage in reach, speed... from a technical standpoint, it's probably 'impossible'.

That doesn't mean she's going to stop trying--the miko starts closing in on Diana, moving swiftly, but keeping a balanced approach--taking quick steps, until she can feint again, an attempt to draw the rapier out of line so that she can step past it, reaching for Diana's body, shoulder and arm the targets. If she gets her grip there, she'll step past the rapier-wielding scientist, slide her right foot behind Diana's legs, and forcefully slam the woman to the flooring, following her down to drive a chopping strike into Diana's chest.

Flora's bow seems intact.

Flora's hands kind of tingle after that; she steps back slightly, shaking one hand and then the other to try to get the tingly feeling out of them. "You think so?" Flora calls back to Kaida. Take him down; is it that easy?

Vyle says something that makes Flora turn a rather interesting shade of red. She winds up as he lies there and stomps downward, repeatedly; Kaida can take a moment to charge, because Flora is kicking and stomping in an attempt to make sure that Vyle stays down. "Jerk!" she yells, not quite angry enough to go all the way up to 'asshole'. Not quite.

COMBATSYS: Diana counters Hyouryuu no Koki from Mizuki with Earth Guardian.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Vyle             1/--=====/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2           Mizuki
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////               ]
                                 |=======\======-\1            Kaida


Wrap this up? Diana hears those words, glancing over to Vyle.. who begins to laugh. She smirks. "Ah, so you're planning on getting rid of my compatriot?" Diana says, gently enough. "He does look rather bad.. you know what they say about cornered rats.." The implication is rather obvious. Diana watching the energy flow about Kaida. Oh, how terrible.

Glancing over to Flora, as Diana lands, the amazoness notices the other amazoness kick.. rather high. Even if she's kicking with an intend to stomp him to the ground. "With that skirt.. perhaps you really shouldn't raise your legs so high... perverts, you know." Especially those like Vyle.

He's just so vile.

Mizuki's attempt to pull away, distancing herself, leaves her with an opening. One that manages to be .. worthwhile to take advantage of. The miko pulls in closer, balanced steps, trying to draw out the rapier. The rapier, instead of being drawn out, is already waiting for Mizuki.

She steps past it.

The metal is thin enough, in such situations, it is capable of bending. At least, it seems like it does so. Mizuki strikes, reaching for her. Once again, she feels the cold metal sliding through her grasp, Diana twirling backwards, blade replacing shoulder, warmed metal, through her blood, sliding across the palms once again, as Diana pulls away, finally cutting into them.

She thrusts afterwards, driving the point of the rapier a bit into her midsection.

"...I really.. do not wish to hurt you." She puts a bit of force on the blade, towards Mizuki.

"Consider this over."

COMBATSYS: Vyle counters Heavy Kick from Flora with Relapse.
- Power hit! -

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Vyle             0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2           Mizuki
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|=======\======-\1            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////               ]
                                 |=======\======-\1            Kaida


Wrong move, Flora.

When she raises her foot up to try and slam into the rude luchador with some stomps, she finds herself instead on the receiving end of a foot instead, the Vyle one laying in wait before he pushed himself up from the wreckage to snap a spinning back kick straight into her jaw to send her up into the air. "Leave sleeping snakes lie, chick..."

Leaping up after the archer, both barely an inch away from the ceiling, he quickly grabs onto her, one arm around her head, the other grasping her leg and hooking her to his side as they drop into the fray once more. "Because he's just waiting for when to strike!" His aim...to give Flora a nice, big head on collision straight into the floor with one hell of a Northern Lights Bomb.

Perhaps... perhaps Kaida shouldn't have spent her time reading herself for a massive assault and instead helped one of her allies against their common enemies. "Oh jeeze." And she just said they were on the verge of victory. Now she's probably the one with the most left out of all three of them. And that is not good. "Stop it," she whispers to herself. No focusing on the bad things, this is too important. If it was a mistake it was a mistake, but now it's time to focus on completing her 'plan', even if it got her allies hurt. She'd at least better make their pain worth the cost!

"Hey asshole!" She shouts over to Vyle, "Forget about someone?!" At least that might give Flora a short respite. The energy glow around her doesn't fade, but changes in nature, going from energy flowing into her to energy emerging from her, flowing over her body and into her swords. She holds them out to her sides and then raises them both above her head, "Ultimate," and then quickly slashes the pair of them down together, a behemoth and dangerous looking energy blast erupting forward towards Vyle, who'd just proven moments earlier to be especially susceptible to her chi. "Moonlit Sword!"

"Ghh--!!" Clearly, Mizuki is... outclassed. She's barely done any damage to Diana at all--and the woman's been manhandling here at will. However... however. Mizuki stumbles past Diana, and drops to her knees. Then she starts laughing... even though it hurts. "Over...?" she asks, turning to face Diana, still on her knees--but sitting in the traditional Japanese style.

"No... it isn't 'over'... no matter what you may wish. As I told you... you can stab me with your rapier as often as you can... and as long as I am able to stand, I will stand. Even if I am completely outmatched--I've been there before." Her chi blazes brightly, now, flaring blue-green around her, streaming upwards into a spot just over her head, building until the pressure is just too great--and then the healing chi pours out like water, spilling over her.

~Hang on, you two--just--hang on...~ She's set herself against Diana, and she's not going to look away from her, but if her two friends--well, acquaintanes--need help... there's no one better-positioned to give that help than the miko.

Flora turns an extremely bright red at Diana's comment. It makes her a little distracted as she brings her foot down, and she perhaps is a little a bit off on her timing.

It leaves her wide open. Vyle launches her upward, and Flora is a little big and awkward to avoid it; her weight perhaps makes her a little harder to take up, but not /that/ much harder, and she doesn't know how to roll with the blow very well.

She smashes into the floor hard enough that she doesn't actually want to get up for a few moments, seeing stars. Flora rolls sideways and away from Vyle, still kind of star-visioned, and only then starts to push herself to her feet.

Flora fires one of her blunt-tipped arrows from her somewhat awkward position at Diana, perhaps encouraging her to back off from her partner and give her some breathing room. It has more power to it than finesse, as Flora puts her entire body into the heavy bow's pull.

COMBATSYS: Diana interrupts Power Shot from Flora with Armed Combo.
- Power hit! -

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Vyle             0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1           Mizuki
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////               ]
                                 |====---\-------\0            Kaida


The movement complete, Diana is allowed breathing space - she is silent afterwards, taking a step backwards, pointing the blade towards Mizuki as she moves past her, starting to laugh. She glances at Kaida as lances towards Vyle with that terrible assault - the blade of moonlight.. oh, she'll remember it. Diana certainly shall.

Returning her gaze to Mizuki, the amazoness glances at her. Stroking back her hair, mostly to keep it bouncy. It's better when it bounces. The butterfly handled sword still pointing at the lurched over girl. "You'll still stand... but your time now is up. At least for your friends." She notes, "Protect yourself all you wish... you can't protect them all... all you're doing by staying here.. is allowing them to be struck down one by one." She walks on, glancing over to Flora - that girl she gave advice to.

She's shooting at her. "You won't listen either? ... Then let me apologize." She kicks off the ground, launching herself forwards, vanishing for a moment. The arrow is pulled back, the blunt tip arrow then launched. Not as hard as Flora wants, Diana's body interposing itself between the arrow's launching room and Flora - too close for comfort, but enough to stop the force of the shot from being as terrible as it could have been. She's far, far too close. "You look like a smart girl."

She grasps the girl again, hand against her upper body - neck, most likely. "You should know, if left unchecked.. this world doesn't have a chance." Tossing her to the ground, bow and all, the hand other scrapes the blade along her arm, the one holding the bow, before piercing into her, and holding there.

"We're that chance.. Igniz can give us .. that chance."

COMBATSYS: Vyle dodges Kaida's Ultimate Moonlit Sword.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Vyle             0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1           Mizuki
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Flora
                                  >  ///////////////               ]
                                 |====---\-------\0            Kaida


Ahh...the sweet sound of a concussion. Makes the jarring fall onto Vyle's own back worth it.

That'st he problem with an aerial driver like that, it's kind of a hard landing for the attacker as well as the victim. Just...not quite in a comparable sense. In Vyle's case, it takes him a bit to gather himself after impact, but he's nto so much worse for the wear, unlike Flora.

Good ting, since when Kaida decides to redux on her little chi slash attacks, Vyle's got enough sense and time to work some magic. As the massive blast comes toward him, the luchador smirks...and runs away?

That's what it seems like at first, until he runs to a wall...and wallruns into a snazzy looking backflip that sends him clear over the blast, with only a slight singe of his pantlegs to show just what might have been. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...well..." As he lands, he eyes Mizuki...feeling the strange pressue from her. "Oh no...fool me twice, I get your ass," he finishes, flying toward Mizuki in an attempt to catch her arm with his legs and turn her over into a strange sort of armbreaker hold.

This falls directly into the 'what now' portion of Kaida's brain. She's left panting from exertion and simply watches her attack rush in towards Vyle, only to see him run right up a wall and then leap away from it as it crashes uselessly right into it. All that strategy and effort for nothing. She seriously expected that to be the last of him. "Dang it! What does it take to stop you people? This... this is getting ridiculous!" Mizuki and Flora are both wearing puncture wounds from Diana's rapier, and Vyle seems to be taking turns smashing the three of them into the ground.

But right now it seems that Diana is the greatest threat, the way she's holding Flora down with her sword. Time to stage a 'rescue'. "Get away from her!" She yells, sliding her offhand bokken once again onto the loop on her belt and charging almost recklessly. A double handed grip is taken on the remaining sword and she runs in as fast as her legs will carry her. She swings with all her might, chi flaring up around her weapon. She stops just as her sword swing begins, and she follows through with the blow, the muscles in her arms shoulders bulging as she eeks out every ounce of strength she can, the dull 'blade' of the sword arcing perfectly towards the tall womans neck, "RRRAAAAAGH!"

COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Mizuki with Iki no Nagare.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Vyle             0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1           Mizuki
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |===----\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Mizuki interrupts Improvised Throw from Vyle with Kouryuu no Kiba EX.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0           Mizuki
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Flora
                                  >  //////////////                ]
                                 |===----\-------\0            Kaida


'Fool' him? Mizuki isn't trying to 'fool' anyone. She's trying to survive this fight--and to win it. Vyle's approach goes almost unreactd to--until he reaches out with his legs. It seems almost deliberate, the way she allows him to snag her arm between his legs--but she's ready for his attempt. He does put a wrench in her shoulder, so to speak--but a minor one, as she slips her arm free of the grasp.

Of course, she's not letting him get away scot-free, either--as she rolls to her right foot and left knee, she's drawing her free arm back--which flares with blue-white chi as she hammers it into the back of one of Vyle's thighs, right near the knee. It isn't just a strike at the muscle tissue--the chi flares as well, sending a burst of icy chi from Mizuki into Vyle. Hopefully it's enough to keep him down...

Flora, for the first time in a very long time, wishes she had a sharp arrow.

She does not. Flora reaches for her quiver to draw another blunt one, but fails; by the time she gets there, Diana is already cutting a shallow slash down her arm, causing her to almost drop the bow with a startled gasp. The gasp turns into a startled squeal a moment later as the blade digs in, painfully.

Flora takes advantage of the proximity to reach with her good, unwounded arm and try to grab at Diana. Just yanking her closer, Flora then uses her height and size to heft up the other woman, pulling her away and getting the blade out (painfully) - and then she delivers a hooking sweep with her own staff, to smash the airborne Diana backwards.

Flora stands there a moment after that, lets out another pained gasp, and goes to her knees. And possibly further, although it'll take her body a moment to go all the way down.

COMBATSYS: Flora can no longer fight.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0           Mizuki
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Diana dodges Flora's Hunting Mantis.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0           Mizuki
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Diana            1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Diana fails to counter Rampage Swing - Intended Decapitation from Kaida with Ultimatum.
-* CRITICAL FAIL! *-

[                         \\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0           Mizuki
[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Diana            1/=======/=======|=====--\-------\0            Kaida


Flora's attempt - to heft her up - is left with Diana kicking backwards, She pulls away, getting the blade out - a hooking sweep with the staff is more than enough to send Diana into a quick movement - pulling herself upwards and away. It's just enough. It ends up to be .. not.

She turns to face Kaida during this, and Kaida's swing, roaring all the while.

So she likes to roar.

Diana pulls the blade upwards, moving the swing that was meant for her neck, instead, towards her body - and it is quite useful that she does. The rapier is, in a moment of her swing, knocked aside. The blade cuts deep, and Diana's so far 'perfect' streak is cleaved in twain, the amazoness being tossed backwards, bleeding, instead of 'cut off' at the head.

"Tch.. so you still want to fight .. after all the efforts I've given you all to pull away..." She watches Vyle as he is struck.. "Of course... leaving himself open like that." She's suddenly in no mood to argue.

Her blade comes up, pointing back towards Mizuki and Kaida, waiting - she's dripping blood .. but she is willing to defend her dream.

Perhaps farther than they are to prevent it.

Ok...so...that didn't turn out quite as planned.

Vyle seemingly manages to grab on the arm...but instead finds himself slipping off of Mizuki's arm as she twists a bit to slink out of his grasp. "The he-"

And thats then the big, chi-laden strike slams down into his thigh, driving him into the ground before he even gets the chance to land. "NGHHHHNN!!!!" The resounding impact, and seemingly debilitating strike to his leg is just about the end of it, it seems...but with Vyle...you know how that goes.

"No...it's...not...done...until..." Pushing up with what might be the last of his strength, the rather sadistic wrestler vaults his legs up. Even with one temporarily lame leg, he manages to pump out several driving upward stomps, hoping to give Mizuki something to think about...

COMBATSYS: Vyle has reached second wind!

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Vyle             0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0           Mizuki
[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0            Kaida


The all out attack Flora attacks Diana with seems to be just enough distraction to allow Kaida's full strength assault to work. For once brute strength seems to win out over skill, the heavy wooden blade knocking the light rapier aside and then smashing into tall afro'd woman. The effect is devastating, even if it doesn't hit the neck as it was aimed. Perhaps it would have been better if she had distracted for Flora's success instead, but this is about as good a consolation prize as she could hope for.

Panting from the exertion, Kaida pulls back from her overextension. Seeing red on Diana she looks at her bokken and sees- blood. For a short moment a bit of shock and anger passes through her, and a frown appears on her face. "Is there even a point to these if they are going to draw blood anyway?" A sigh. She needs to focus on fighting- forget this for the moment. Looking over to Mizuki and Vyle to make sure she's not about to get blindsided, she shakes her head when she sees the wrestler is still up and fighting strong. What would it take to stop that guy? He's tougher than she expected.

Stepping towards Diana she responds, "We aren't going to just quit because it's hard. Who do you think you are to come and attack a city and act superior for it? You've killed so many people, and ruined the dreams of so many others. Shut your mouth and fight me. I don't care what you have to say." Putting her money where her mouth is she moves in, trying to keep track of that rapier so she doesn't get stabbed as her two impromptu allies had been. At the range where the swords alone could reach each other she pulls her weapon back slightly as if to strike and then jumps forward, bringing her leg up and shoving it forward in a simple thrust to the gut, hoping the feint was enough.

COMBATSYS: Vyle successfully hits Mizuki with Riot Stampede.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0           Mizuki
[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0            Kaida


Vyle's heels find their mark--slamming into Mizuki's upper body repeatedly, knocking her away from him. She growls--the pain from those strikes is not nearly what she felt when Diana was stabbing her--but it's more than enough... to piss her off, royally. "Don't even know what you're doing here," she mutters, to herself... Still, she's wary--she keeps her distance from the man, backing to a tableful of equipment. She leans against it, for a moment, considering her options... considering what to do. She's seen Vyle do any number of things in this fight--she isn't sure what all his capabilities are.

But she does have to do something, doesn't she--she can't just hang around, so to speak, and let things happen. Fortunately, there are things here--and while she doesn't want to be any closer to the man than she has to be, she doesn't -have- to close in, either. Reaching back with her right hand, she finds a portable radio unit, the bulky kind--appropriated from the school, perhaps? It's crude but... maybe it'll do, as she straightens up, and snaps her right hand forward--aiming to just tag Vyle in the head with the object.

COMBATSYS: Diana interrupts Light Kick from Kaida with Intercepting Strike.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0           Mizuki
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1            Kaida


As Kaida pulls back, Diana waits still - perhaps the blood on the bokken wasn't intended - "There is .. but using it so carelessly.. with such a heavy strike. Do you even understand self-control? .. A blade can pierce with or without the sharp edge.. it all depends on the wielder." Diana exclaims - having been bitten by the blade a moment before.

Vyle is being assaulted still by Mizuki, the girl who seems to be bothered so much by her.. for reasons - a difference in beliefs to the very core. Perhaps a better day she would have seen eye to eye. The wrestler, Vyle, stands once more. "So you aren't out of it yet.. You certainly surprised me, at least." She doesn't really like him.

"I don't expect you to .. if you were so easily swayed.. you wouldn't be here would you." She nurses her wounds yet, but keeps one arm still up. For good reason, as well. "I'll do as you ask then.. but to let me focus..." She shakes her head. "As you wish."

Kaida keeps track of the rapier as she pulls her weapon back, jumping forwards, leg swung around to thrust at the gut.

Diana lunges, her arm thrusting forwards, her body leaning back, curving a bit around the foot, as it slams against her stomach - compared to the rapier now in the midsection of Kaida, a simple.. and yet probably painful thrust to the young girls midsection - it's thin enough to miss anything important, and Diana doesn't push it deep into her. She doesn't want to wound .. like that.

It's just perfect - she is a woman of science, as well.

COMBATSYS: Vyle overcomes Thrown Object from Mizuki with Venom Breath.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0           Mizuki
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1            Kaida


It seems that the Sickness still has some fight left in him. Isn't that always the way, once you think you've gotten rid of a disease, it rears its ugly head again?

That's what it's like to fight Vyle. Once he's down, you can't expect him to stay down. The rising kicks that push him off the ground come and pound into Mizuki's body, the luchador using the extra push off to vault himself to his feet. He seems shaky, but still just as smug and vicious looking as he was before.

"What's wrong...surprised? I'm sure if you pray to your god long enough, you'll get rid of a demon like me soon..." When the radio is chucked at him by the Miko, he frowns...and then suddenly SPITS. THe same ugly green cloud of poison that he had tried on Kaida comes forth again, the blast coming with such pressure it knocks the flung radio aside as it fliters through the air toward Mizuki's open pores and portals. "But not tonight, toots..."

As Kaida attempts to carefully assault Diana she's made aware of the fact that the skill difference between them is so great that things like feints have little point. As she comes in to kick there's a rapier blade suddenly in the way, and she practically throws herself upon it, the weapon sliding into her stomach sickeningly. So much for avoiding it. She jerks backwards, the weapon sliding free and causing a stain of red to quickly form on her dress. "Don't... lecture me!" she yells at the woman between waves of intense pain. She's being pushed to her limit now- she's on the verge of breaking down and she knows it, but is yet unwilling to give up. There's too much at stake here, she can't let this siege go on any longer.

While normally she tries to focus on careful footwork and the tenants of her families school of swordsmanship something else has proven to be effective, and for the moment Kaida will embrace it. If it will allow her to defeat Diana then so be it. Her hand tightens its grip on her wooden sword, and she reaches down for her other, a wellspring of chi surrounding her weapons as she lunges directly for Diana, caution thrown completely into the wind. She swings with all the strength in her arms, the white energy around her weapon flaring brightly as she swings, resulting in small explosions of white energy if she strikes, screaming as she goes, "I! HAVE! HAD! ENOUGH! OF! YOU!" With each word comes the swing of a sword, culminating with two final swings, the second finding Kaida rearing back with both bokken at once and bringing them down heavily towards Diana's shoulders. "GO... AWAY!"

COMBATSYS: Vyle successfully hits Mizuki with Venom Breath.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0            Kaida


Ew, spit. Fortunately, Vyle's breath isn't so much venomous right now as puketastic--the cloud envelops Mizuki and she stumbles back. "Ugh.... geez... that's -nasty-," she comments, eyeing Vyle. "What'd you eat, baby poo?" It almost sounds like a genuine question, even. Mocking isn't really her style, of course, but there's something about Vyle that tends to bring the worst out in people, it seems. Still, she remains exactly where she is...

And now she -does- take a second--breathing out slowly, recentering herself. Too often she loses herself in fights like these, letting her emotions get the better of her; after a moment, she opens her eyes, gazing at Vyle, looking calmer.

"The gods I revere wouldn't consider you a demon, and neither do I. You're just a poor human being... condemned to the same existence as the rest of us. That you even think you qualify for that title--'demon'--shows just how little you know of the world. I've seen far worse than you..."

As she speaks, she just releases some tension, calms rioting nerves. She might belittle Vyle's 'venom breath', but it's still there...

COMBATSYS: Mizuki gains composure.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0           Mizuki
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Diana            0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0            Kaida


COMBATSYS: Diana counters Fury Blades from Kaida with Zion's Retort.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0           Mizuki
[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Diana            1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0            Kaida


It's not surprising - Diana glances over to Vyle as he manages to spit away both the object as well as continue it going forwards. Now that's certainly something.

Disgusting, she believes describes it.

As Kaida asks for her to lecture her, she passes a finger across her lips - they're closed. She had asked for them to not open again, and she was done requesting her to listen. She will let her blade speak.. and it surely can. While the girl refuses to give up, so does Diana. Her beliefs are steadfast, like iron, or perhaps steel.

Igniz has had time to meld her into something where her beliefs are far better suited.

Kaida lunges directly for her, Diana letting the blade rest before her, upwards, in the air. The chi surrounds her blade, the wooden bokken, as she swings, small explosions all about it. The first swing touches the edge of the rapier. Diana moves, fluidly spinning around, the blade whirling about to slice against the hand that carries the blade, enough force to push the rest of the assault aside, cutting just enough, drawing blade against flesh.

She pulls backwards afterwards.. drained, at the moment.

Vyle snorts a little. "Not sure you're the one to be criticizing people for eating crap, chica. At lesat not after this."

With Mizuki still feeling the effects of the Venom, even as she seems to find a center to keep herself going, the luchador charges...well, not quite a charge. As beaten up as he is, he's not moving THAT fast...but he moves well enough to take a good few steps before leaping for her. This seems to be a bit of deja vu, but rather than try and wrap up her arm, his own arm whips out, trying to catch her around the head with a flying Neckbreaker Drop.

Where a moment before power overwhelmed skill now the opposite is true. With no Flora in the picture to serve as a distraction even this tactic seems to be flawed. Only a single attack meets any 'resistance', but that is sadly against a sword rather than a body, and her hands are cut up rather terribly as she continues her attacks, the swings all being diverted into clean misses.

With her hands hurt there's really very little Kaida can do. She's bleeding from her back, bleeding from her stomach, and now bleeding from her hands. It hurts terribly to even hold on to her swords. Trying to hit someone with them- that's flat out impossible, she'd drop them the second she hit something and lose all power from the attack. She looks at Diana and sees failure before her eyes. She can't go on anymore, but... A look over to Mizuki, that says little more than 'I'm sorry'. Left against both Vyle and Diana Kaida figures her chances are exactly zero.

Fading fast she rallies herself one last time. Weakly her arms raise above her head as she gathers the last remnants of energy she has left, pouring every bit of it into her swords before swinging them down, the energy leaping from the bokken and flying at Diana. Kaida falls as she swings, crashing into the floor and dropping her weapons as she does. She can't even lift her head to see the result of her last act of desperation.

COMBATSYS: Kaida can no longer fight.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Vyle             1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0           Mizuki
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Diana            1/-------/=======|


COMBATSYS: Mizuki fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Vyle with Hyouryuu no Fuki.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Vyle             1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0           Mizuki
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Diana            1/-------/=======|


Vyle's like a cockroach--and Mizuki is not an exterminator. When he leaps at her, she readies a response--but he's too fast. His arm loops around her neck and he slams her into the flooring--leaving her woozy... but she rolls away and springs up. She's still ready to fight--until she sees Kaida go down. "Dammit..." she hisses, and then, she ignores Vyle in his entirety. Her priorities just changed. Were she some serial hero, or villain for that matter, she'd be spouting some nonsense that might end with 'you haven't seen the last of me!' or 'I'll get you next time, Gadget!'... but she doesn't.

She abandons ship--and it's to her shame, her great shame, that she can't rescue both of her impromptu friends and teammates. Instead, she has to choose--and it's a choice that will, likely, haunt her for quite some time... as she realizes she can't take Flora with her, she summons what strength she has left to run and grab Kaida.

The power of adrenaline is what moves her, enabling her to even attempt the getaway, as she pushes herself beyond all her limits to get her and the bokken-wielding girl out of danger. Flora... Mizuki doesn't spare a look back, but the bow-staff-wielder is on her mind, certainly, weighing heavily.

COMBATSYS: Diana blocks Kaida's Ultimate Moonlit Sword.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Vyle             1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[                        \\\\\\  <
Diana            1/-----==/=======|


Kaida begins to fade - rallying herself, raising her arms before sending the massive wave of energy towards Diana. There is a good chance she may make it out of the way. It is a chance that she will not be willing to take this day. The energy crashes into her, the afro'd woman standing her ground, raising up an arm and being pushed across the ground by the force of the assault.

That's enough for now..

The energy vanishes, Diana looking much worse for wear. She doesn't have the energy - at least, for now. She shakes her limbs off, still burning from the energy, and glances to Vyle and Mizuki. She kicks up a radio - one of them still responding. 'We're under attack everywhere! Respond! We're losing ground!' Tch.

"Might be hopeless after all."

COMBATSYS: Diana gains composure.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Vyle             1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0           Mizuki
[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Diana            1/-------/=======|


Vyle doesn't die like he's ever supposed to. It makes for quite the annoyance, especially when you're on the receiving end of his attacks. Mizuki seems to find that out first hand after he drops her with that neckbreaker. He's slow to pull himself back up, still charred and with pieces of rendered metal hanging off his torn shirt from Flora and Kaida's tandem attack earlier. Slow enough to give Mizuki time to pull herself up, woozy head and all, and break into retreat. Sneering as he rises up from a knee, and watching her pick up Kaida, the rudo is tempted to make for a chace....before sighing. "Forget it, she's broken," he says, shaking his head and looking over to Diana.

"So...let me guess, this place is a lost cause anyhow huh?" he asks, overhearing the radio transmission she picks up.

For the moment Kaida is out of it enough that she barely has any idea what's going on. As she's helped along to an escape she eventually realizes what's happening and does her best to help herself along. A weak, "Thanks..." is all she can manage now, but she'll no doubt be a bit more enthusiastic about not getting left with those two after she's had a chance to recover. Then will come the Survivors Guilt and the hope that Flora will be alright.

The rapier is pulled backwards, slid against her side, and away. "Correct.. the place is a lost cause. It seems Igniz has fallen.. most of the other sections have been forced to withdraw as well." She looks about - Mizuki and Kaida having left - mostly by Mizuki. Flora, still there, will be carried to the exit - at least, Diana begins to move to the even larger amazon.

"So there is no other choice here." She adds, picking up the girl and then putting her down. "They'll find her here when they overrun the place." Diana begins to walk off - so this has been .. an interesting day. Wounded rather heavily - her steps are less than perfect, a bit of staggering.

"So that will be all."

Vyle hrmphs, shaking his head. "Guess counting on you guys to keep things locked down was too much to ask, huh? Weak links, and all that jazz..." he snarks, tearing off the rest of his torn shirt and throwing it aside, the small shards of metal still hooked on it clinking against the wrecked equipment around. "Figures." Digging into his pocket, he fishes out a small sphere, something dented from the fight but still unbroken...at least until he digs his nail into it, prompting a little smoke to come out of it.

"But I might as well leave a tip..." Flicking the dented, smoking sphere toward Diana, the luchador grins...before breaking into a run toward one of the windows, deciding to make his own getaway as quick as possible. ANd the sphere?...nothing acrid, nothing stinging or poisonous.....

But damned if the odor ins't foul. Did he really just flick a stink bomb toward Diana's feet?

The ball that is flung towards her gets an odd look - the stink bomb rather .. smelly.

How like him.

"Next time maybe I'll be able to repay the favor." Leaping into the air once more, the odd blue butterfly wings open - and she appears to blur before vanishing, as well, from the room. The guards.. useless.

They can be found. Those that can't escape.. she's in no mood, nor is it her best interest, to save them. She didn't create them, after all.

COMBATSYS: Diana has left the fight here.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Vyle             1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0           Mizuki


COMBATSYS: Vyle has left the fight here.

                                  >  ////////                      ]
                                 |======-\-------\0           Mizuki


COMBATSYS: Mizuki has ended the fight here.

Log created on 19:32:02 05/23/2009 by Mizuki, and last modified on 22:34:18 05/31/2009.