Description: In the Jungle (of the Tropical Rainforest Exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo).... titanic forces do battle. Rolento Schugerg, the infamous mercenary, and his 'teammate', Mizuki Kamigawa, must defend their position against the ravening gorilla forces of Alex and Hinata Wakaba. Whose might will triumph?!? (Draw Match)
The twenty foot reticulated Python stares with unwavering menace. Its reptilian eyes hold steady, maintaining a silent predatory vigil over this most recent intruder into its sweltering, humid prison. In quiet contemplation it assesses this competitor, determining the breadth of this threat with cool, ophidian intellect. And, perhaps, just how many weeks it could live off its carcass should it manage to conquer this new foe. The monster serpent hangs from a massive gnarled branch, massive coils hanging lazily from multiple tree sections as its wedge-shaped head lies at eye level to those arrivals beneath the canopy of its home away from home.
Cobalt, all-American eyes snap that gigantic snake a single look.
The python makes for all due haste to the highest point on the tree it can slither to.
Alex's reproaching stare, having conquered the tropical predator, returns to the sprawling jungles before him. A perfect rendition of the Amazon, cared for and maintained in the decidedly non-tropical Northwestern United States.
He should know, the Titan's been there before. Fought some guy in a gorilla costume in some damned tournament.
Or was it a costume? He forgets. Eitherway he had a hell of a right cross, Alex remembers that much.
"Don't go too far there, Sister." The monolithic warrior comments off-handedly to his smaller charge. Powerful hands sinch the bindings at his wrists with calm resolve as he looms as steadfastly as any tree in this forest. His words and gaze distant, thoughts preoccupied and focused upon the match mere moments from ensuing.
Rolento.
The word flickers through his mind like a curse. Lips eternally configured in a grim frown. Radiating a palpable, menacing determination that every predator in this jungle desperately crawls away from.
Well.. All except one.
The jungle is a dark and scary place full of all sorts of animals that would happily evicerate you and eat you. The jungle is the sort of place where people who wander in too deep simply vanish, never to be heard from again and some isolated tribe that some documentary group finds is noticed to have a pair of Nikes and a Rolex for some odd reason... The jungle isn't to be taken lightly.
Hopefully that isn't true of this false jungle, because Hinata Wakaba doesn't seem to have gotten that memo. The ever-cheerful Taiyo girl is not dressed for survival in the deep dark jungle, no she's... well, she looks like she's trying to be Tarzan.
Straight out of the Taiyo High Theater Department's costume collection, Hinata is wearing a fake leopard fur loincloth and, for modesty's sake, a wrap around top over her chest, even if there are those who might argue that there's no real point in bothering with that. While those go well toward setting a mood, the fact that she's also wearing a great big pair of tennis shoes doesn't really help with the illusion.
Regardless, this is just another fight for the TV crowds, a chance to give them something to get all excited about. It's a fight for fun (and a pay check to help fund Hinata's continued subscription to Dan Hibiki's correspondence course). She isn't taking things anywhere near as serious as Alex, and all the wild animals seem to only be able to stare at her, especially after she told a troop of monkeys that they should try to enroll in Taiyo...
There might be someplace worse in the planet for engaging Rolento Schugerg. If there is one, none come to mind. The sleek commando survived for years in the brutal Mekong Delta, where one broken twig, one snagged leaf, one wayward rustle, could spell death from the incredibly perceptive Viet Kong. They made the Americans fear the jungle, and Rolento made the Koreans fear him. A predatory cycle, if there ever was one. Really, Mizuki has been on her own for some time now. A simple request to 'keep the other girl out of his way, and distract them', and in a leap that barely disturbed the trees, he was gone.
He's been following for a fair amount of time now. Neither are particularly apt at stealthy, the only question being when his compatriot will give him the opening he wants. Alex... a man of enough repute to be wary of. First strike, first blood, ambush, such are defining for battles based on guerilla warfare. He slithers further along a thick branch, nothing in visible sight; he is working completely with his ears at the moment, and giving no sign of his own where he might be. Alex's confident tones ring out like a radar, narrowing white eyes...
Slowly, he eases out his knife from his sheath, bringing up the steel and drawing his tongue across the edge... It is up to Mizuki now...
IT'S THE JUNGLE. Or maybe not really. It certainly feels like it, or at least what Mizuki Kamigawa thinks of as the jungle. She hasn't ever really been in one before. She isn't -overly- concerned that there are going to be any animals here, save the animals she'll be fighting--and possibly the animal she's 'teamed' with.
Rolento Schugerg is not an easy man to find information on, and Mizuki doesn't have a -lot- of resources... but his name has been tossed around in the media before. She has ever reason to believe he fights with grenades, amongst other things. It's probably more of a owrry for the owners of the preserve than for her... at least in the long view of things.
Like Hinata, she's trying to not take it -too- seriously. Unlike Hinata she's not taken to wearing Dr. Livingstone, I Presume garb, instead decked out in her 'usual' fighting outfit of late--a simple, short-sleeved, heavy cotton tee shirt in white, slim blue jeans and sturdy sneakers. Not exactly jungle-appropriate but it'll do. She also has -no- idea where Rolento is; she entered where the officials told her to, and made her way along the path to where Alex and Hinata stood, standing across from them. Her expression is not the carefree one she once wore, but is somewhat wary, tense. Not a good way to enter a fight, or so she's been told.
This may be a problem.
Normally, by now, the guy has made his intro. Showed up and given some speech. Whooped and hollared like some cowboy or crashed through a wall like the goddamned Koolaid Guy.
Of course, Rolento may well have ditched. The man is easily in the top five most wanted by every alphabet soup agency on planet Earth with a badge and a gun. Some of them with just the gun. The guy may have gotten wise and decided not to show himself in public.
Instinct tells Alex that cagey bastard is here.
Alex has no idea where Rolento came from. He has no idea what kind of Hell that man was forged in and became monster. Only thing he knows is the guy's got a military background and loves plastique like Honda loves noodles.
There's something in the wind. Something in the subdued sounds of the wildlife. Its too quiet.
Alex ain't no ranger, he ain't no ex-Green Beret who took a double-shot of the Dark Side. But he's been around Military all his life and he knows when something don't add up in a fight.
For all his Spartan reserve, Alex hasn't tried to rain on Hinata's parade. Though the man is in his usual fighting attire of a tight shirt and unlooped overalls, he ain't saying word one to the kid about getting her Tarzan on. Hey, that's part of the show. He's been in a Penguin suit once. Don't ask.
Movement in the corner of his vision and Mizuki reveals herself. Alone.
Something definitely ain't right. Using the girl as a distraction maybe?
"Go say hi to Mizuki, Sister. Watch yourself.." Alex states quietly. His eyes slowly surveying the surrounding treeline with a discriminating squint. Not even paying attention to the shrine maiden.
She's good people, or so he's heard. He can't blame the poor girl for getting the short-straw and being forced to hook up with that maniac. Jane here and she should be a good match-up, they seem like good kids.
Now to make sure they don't get hurt.
Pointedly, Alex slowly takes a few long-strided steps backwards from the other two. Giving them some space as he slowly turns around, eyes alert. Ears straining, sorting through the conflicting, confusing sounds of the jungle.
"...Where are you, you son of a bitch.." Alex whispers to himself quietly.
Oh hey, there's her opponent!
Hinata isn't a total novice when it comes to the fighting world. She knows that not every fighter who gets involved in tournaments or shows is neccessarily just in it for the joy of fighting like she is. Or even just a pay check like some other people. No, she's had the unfortunate opportunity to learn first hand just how much trouble some people can be...
But clearly this time it's going to be different. Right? That old guy who it turns out was a bad guy may have let all sorts of crooks into his games, but Ken Masters is in charge now. There's no way he'd let the first Saturday Night Fight under his leadership be filled up with people who are going to do something wrong!
"Oh, you must be Mizuki!" comes the super energetic girl's response to seeing the girl who must be one of her opponents. "I hope we have a good fight and put on a good show." Hurrah for having a good time, right?
Well... there doesn't seem to be a referee here to start things off (unless he's wearing a gorilla suit), so now that she's got someone to fight, there's no reason for the Sunshine girl not to start things off. In a flash she's blazing in towards Mizuki, making it fairly apparently that things are about to get going. "HERE I COME!" She cries out as she leaps up into the air, whipping her leg around in a perfect whirlwind kick... a good 20 feet from the other girl.
A complete whiff on her first attack! ...wait, where's her shoe?
COMBATSYS: Hinata has started a fight here on the right meter side.
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|-------\-------\0 Hinata
COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinata
COMBATSYS: Rolento has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/------=|
Picking his way along the rooftops, from the area where the branches can barely support his weight, still Rolento gives nothing to belie his subdued presence. No flashes of tan or crimson beret. No sounds. No falling leaves. No disturbed wildlife. This would entail making a mistake, and in some matters, such is simply never done. A few times one white eye peers from behind a few leaves, getting the bearings of where the pair are. Like some monster in a film, breath held, his line of sight each time placing him further and further around Alex's flank. Before at last, he is in the tree directly behind, and finally threads his way down. Mizuki alone would see the sleek form drop to land in a crouch as Hinata approaches and speaks, a couple meters behind. He can hope she does nothing to betray his appearance, if she wants to survive this encounter.
He approaches then, swift, long steps, flexing his free hand. Within his teeth is his knife, taken and twirled silently, held from behind. Looming like a mantis behind the other fighter, twisting, scampering, accomodating any twist or turn to look around -- Alex could even suddenly 180 to peer at the tree, and he could shadow the movement flawlessly. He is in his element.
First blood will be his.
One arm scissors out, sweeping like a reaper's scythe, to snap around Alex's neck from behind. Coiling like a serpent, to try and crush not only air, but Alex's very bloodflow from his throat. "I am right here." is evenly stated, as the gleam of steel flashes up. Aiming to rake the blade viciously across his throat, in a manner that might be rather bloody but not actually fatal; he has no intent of murdering people in a televised debacle.
COMBATSYS: Alex has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Hinata's Renkyakudan.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Alex
It's kind of nice, reflects Mizuki, to be fighting a cheerful young person. Someone who doesn't use deadly weapons, who doesn't have ulterior motives, who doesn't follow some crazy man's plan to become God. To just have a clean, honest fight against someone who announces their intention to attack. That announcement certainly helps Mizuki--she startles, and as the girl kicks outwards--from such a long distance--she can't help but move instinctively, ducking forward and throwing herself into a low dash.
That instinct saves her from a shoeing--the flung shoe smacks into the ground where she was and then Mizuki is crouching, leaping, attempting to catch Hinata in midair with a foot of her own. She utters a sharp kiai, further breaking the jungle's thick air--she sees movement out of the corner of her eye--Rolento and Alex. She isn't sure -who- she wants to win that clash. The competitor in her says Rolento--the hero in her says Alex. Conflicts, conflicts.
COMBATSYS: Alex interrupts Armed Combo from Rolento with Air Stampede.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Alex
Sometimes paranoid people are right. They really are out to get you.
Alex briefly turns his attention to the two girls. Wondering if it was a mistake to separate so completely from them ... On the even-or-better chance Rolento may try to pull some weasely crap on them to get at Alex.
Turns out, Alex didn't need to worry. Rolento didn't need that kind of 1970's comic book villainy to sneak up on his ass.
Eyes widen as that arm coils around Alex's throat, crushing his throat with all the power that python could have mustered. Even as alert and wary as he was, that sick bastard still managed to get the drop on him.
"Oh." Chokes Alex tersely.. The glint of steel flashing in the corner of his vison.
Rolento would be a God of Death out here in this Jungle amidst mere mortals. But the Terrorist finds out 'mortal' only loosely applies to the American Titan. The massive warrior's mighty hand darts upwards swiftly, letting Rolento throttle the potent muscles of his throat freely as he -clutches- the far more dangerous edge of that knife. His wrapped hand completely engulfing that blade with an audible slash before it can reach his throat.
Crimson slowly oozes down his wrist. First blood indeed goes to Rolento.
"Metro sends its regards." Alex growls.
The Titan -launches- upwards. Twisting about and -slamming- his rising knee directly into the Terrorist. Sending them both flying up and into a nearly cluster of thick branches, breaking every single one in a roller-coaster of shattering timber until the Titan -crashes- his foe knee-first into the ground.
Question now is ... Who'll get last blood?
COMBATSYS: Hinata parries Mizuki's Light Kick!
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Alex
Well, that didn't quite go as planned, but that's what fighting is all about! The thrill of the moment and getting a chance to see how well you can stack up against other people! It's a chance to see what your weaknesses are, what your strengths are, how you can improve yourself!
It's also apparently about losing your shoe in the middle of a make-shift jungle while two men fight for serious just over that way. Not that Hinata really seems to be noticing the fact that it's different from a normal fight at the moment. No, she's far too busy smiling at her current opponent in this match.
"Wow, you were pretty fast there," she cries out as Mizuki starts to hone in on the Sunshine Girl, trying to take advantage of the moment while she's in the air. It's a perfectly sound tactic, since she shouldn't have too many tactical options at the moment... and yet... As Mizuki's kick flies in, Hinata seems to surge with speed, her leg suddenly whipping around the knock the other girl's kick off it's course... and then bursting into flame as she starts to whip around in a forward launching tornado kick that seems to be trying to carry the other girl a good fifteen feet, extending things as each subsequent turn brings her flaming foot around again.
Well. Rolento expects no less. If that wasn't the case, then he'd not of so carefully ambushed the other man. Although in terms of raw physical strength, Alex might find that he doesn't overcome the powerfully built German as much as he might care to. Old or not, he is at the peak of human conditioning, and it shows during the brief wrestle with the knife. Yet the difference between success and hard fought failure is rather large, and he's still struck heavily within the chest, launched up into the air with a hiss of pain. Shattering leaves and branches are mostly ignored, as he allows the knife to fall away. The front of the other man's shirt is fiercely grasped as Rolento slams into the ground, dragging up his knees. Heels suddenly find the other man's stomach, his expression pained but amused.
"Are you another misguided fool who believes they understand what took place in that city?!"
And then he pushes off with all his strength, snarling loudly. Trying to send Alex flying backwards, towards the trunk of a nearby tree; it should hopefully give him some breathing room to roll backwards and slip back to his feet, trying to recover from the initial setback.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki dodges Hinata's Enbukyaku EX.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Alex
"Thanks, you were pretty--whoa!!" The Sunshine Girl is coming in fast, and Mizuki needs to be equally quick. Of course, actually -manuevering- in midair is often tough, even for the skilled fighters. So what does she do? She uses -timing-. Upon that first revolution of the flaming leg, Mizuki times herself... and when it comes swinging it, she actually puts her hands out--and down atop the burning leg, using her own chi to deflect that fiery heat.
Using Hinata's leg as a fulcrum, Mizuki swings herself around and down, arrowing for the ground; she lands and drops into a crouch, then turns to watch Hinata's descent. Well, she isn't just watching--she's following, and the moment Hinata is touched down, the miko is there, firing a hard double palm strike, hands striking out vertically. Looks somewhat like a hadouken, only... no chi, just two flattened hands.
"I gotta say," she remarks, even while aiming to punch Hinata's lights out, "I'm kind of glad to not be fighting some psycho with weird plans to destroy the world or something..."
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Alex with Quick Throw.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Alex
The American Titan may be younger than Rolento by some years, but any notion that this buys Alex advantage never occurs to him. Alex is young and powerful, but the scariest men on Earth are twice his age. The American knows, he's fought the best.
Rolento's cred is sound. By all accounts, the guy's a ruthless killer who doesn't lose street fights often. This is going to be a damned hard dust-up, of that Alex has no illusion.
The man would be enjoying the hell out of this if it wasn't for the fact that Rolento's a goddamned terrorist low-life.
That experience and skill reveals itself swiftly as Alex finds the bastard's boots shoved into his chest. With an audible grunt, the Titan is thrown aside with a speedy push. Feet briefly departing Earth before his back slams into the creaking tree behind him.
"Nah.." Alex muses, wiping his chin with his blooded hand. His off-hand pushing away from the trunk as it rebounds from the force, literally using the massive tree like a wrestler might use the ropes of a ring.
Wondering the whys and wherefores of psychopaths is always a mistake. Gotta be one to know one, or so Billy in 4th Grade told him. Alex ain't one, so he doesn't even try to figure out what makes a mad vet bumble-@#$% crazy.
The Titan charges forth. Attempting to close the regrettably large distance as fast as he can, attempting to grab onto Rolento and hurtle him sideways in a hasty body-slam into the Earth.
"...A fool just wondering.. Why you ain't rotting in Jail, you bastard pencil-neck!"
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Hinata with Strong Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Alex
Mizuki seems to be moving real fast if she can get out of the way of all of that. Hinata, on the other hand, seems to be at a bit of a loss. She can see the attack coming, but her shoeless foot slips into a muddy spot as she sets down, leaving her... kind of stuck in place, her attempt to jump out of the way does nothing but throw her backward and make her lose the other foot out from under her and start falling just in time to have both of Mizuki's fists slam right into the side of her head, knocking her back hard enough that she is, thankfully, pulled free of the mud and, unfortunately, sent flying backward into a tree.
The tree actually starts to keel over, sending a bonobo scattering through the branches as Hinata just stares up at the sky. "Whoa... that hurt."
It takes her a little bit to get back up to her feet, suddenly missing a sock but... oh hey, there's her shoe. The girl lets her foot slip into the footware with a smile on her face. "That was a real good one, Mizuki!" Apparently having her clock cleaned isn't enough to upset Hinata's attitude.
At the very least it's not enough to keep her from getting right back into things, soon blasting forward across the open ground once more to meet her opponent and... whips her fist forward at ridiculous speeds. In a moment it looks as if she's suddenly got a dozen arms, all trying to punch Mizuki out before she brings around her other hand in one final strike that explodes outward in a burst of sunflower shaped chi.
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Alex's Power Throw.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Alex
A large distance is an eternity for Rolento, who raises up with a slow exhale, rolling his shoulders and taking advantage even of the few seconds given from throwing Alex away. He wasted them building up momentum for the charge, although it's at the last moment he moves, slipping away from the American Titan's grip like water; the slightest graze, the mildest touch. Either Alex is far faster then Rolento thinks, or Rolento is far faster then Alex thinks. In practice, the truth is irrelevant. In a tight ball, Rolento bounces backwards across the brush, what might look comical to Hinata if she had bothered to be looking. Crouching thusly, his white eyes narrow, scarred visage grinning in a predatory manner.
"I was not attacking Metro City. I was attacking America. Those who suffered were the faceless corporations, the greedy insurance business, the soul-lacking banks. The citizens were only inhibited due to the brash intervention of aspiring heroes!!"
He then launches himself through the air, a graceful arc. Given he remains balled up, it's difficult to tell what he intends to do; before whipping around, one heel descending with horrific force, followed up by a full-force swing of his baton, snarling as he attempts to impact Alex about the head and shoulders with hopefully cataclysmic force!
COMBATSYS: Hinata successfully hits Mizuki with Rengekiken.
- Power hit! -
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Mizuki 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Alex
And in a burst, Hinata proves that her own speed is quite good, too; Mizuki moves to defend, but instead of successfully blocking--she misses, her heel catching on an exposed root and putting her off balance. Hinata's repeated punches slam into the miko repeatedly, the last hard punch bowling her over, sending her tumbling a couple of times before she flops onto her front.
And, just like Hinata, getting her clock cleaned is no longer terribly upsetting to Mizuki--she pushes off flipping back to her feet, and shaking her head to clear it. "Wow, nice one," she says, with a faint smile on her lips. Not that she -enjoyed- that... not exactly, anyways. But a fight is always about the give and take. Speaking of giving--she just took, so now it's time to give back, isn't it? But how to go about doing so? She considers for a moment, then nods to herself--sweeping her right arm forward, she unleashes a thin line of blue chi, which then suddenly extends into a triangular, icy, flat shard that attempts to spear Hinata through. It won't do any -physical- damage, but it'll still hurt...
COMBATSYS: Alex endures Rolento's Crushing Strike.
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Mizuki 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alex
Alex figured he was too far away but he gave it a shot, hoping disbelief might make the mad vet hesitate just long enough ... No dice.
Alex's mits swing through the air, but the American recovers swiftly. His boots sliding across the jungle grounds as he lowers into a readied stance. Rather than the image of a marauding berserker, the Titan is more of a thinking animal. Alert eyes processing Rolento's movements with thought and strategy .. Using his great strength to maximum leverage and effect, rather than swinging it around as a certain Russian bear-wrestler might.
The Big Z may be a commie and a loud-mouth, but Alex has more respect for that man than this monster.
Though, as Rolento rolls away as smoothly as a jungle cat, Alex is given pause. This old warrior is fast, that's for damned sure. The Titan stalks slowly closer to that evil-bearing foliage, his steel eyes locked to those filled with cold murder. Words are spoken, verbal attacks on his homeland as savage as any physical attack.
Those old eyes behind a scarred, etched face... They hold only the hate of a hundred wars, nothing of humanity is left there.
The attack is smooth and quick, belying the terrible power behind it. A decision is made in an instant.
The Titan stands. Weathering the bone-crushing force like a cliff, breaking the tides. The heel and baton smash against him with audible cracks of force, but the monolithic warrior is unmoving. His heels -driven- inches into the Jungle floor, snapping brush and stone with the impact.. But Alex goes nowhere.
Giving the youth a perfect chance to lift his arms and simply grab Rolento unless the old killer can slip away.
"America. Is. The People."
Then, the Titan attempts to -leap- high into the sky once again should his cargo prove unfortunate enough, up-ending him before -driving- him head first into the very country the terrorist swore to break.
The Earth will prove less forgiving than some.
COMBATSYS: Hinata blocks Mizuki's Hyouryuu no Kiba.
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Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Alex
It's starting to become official, the jungle is not a good place for people to fight when they like to move around a lot. There's not enough room to move, and there's mud, roots, branches, all sorts of things to get in your way.
Hinata is starting to figure this out, so when she sees that icy burst of chi coming straight for her, with trees all around, she doesn't even try to get herself out of the way, instead she whips up a hand in front of her to catch the blast on her palm. It's still enough to make her wince at the icy sensation, but at least she managed to keep it from hitting anything particularly vital.
"That was pretty good! Let's see if we can get to a spot with some more room to move, it's too tight in here." The cosplaying jungle girl starts to charge away, jumping up against one of the nearby trees and bouncing off of it... the force of her kick enough to send it toppling over slowly. Birds scatter, squacking through the air, and the bonobo from the last tree tries to leap for the nearest tall enough object it can... unfortunately that happens to be Rolento's head. An attempt to scramble up on the soldier's face would likely involve an awful lot of claws scratching as it fills the air with it's loud screeches.
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Hinata's Small Thrown Object.
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Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Rolento blocks Alex's Powerbomb.
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Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Alex
Rolento is a talented hand at many things. However, it's very possible for things beyond the scope of his perfectionist mind to take place. Hinata assaulting him was one thing in high consideration; kicking a tree and sending it towards him is so harmless that he almost ignores the result. Only the wild, chittering scream of the monkey causes him to tense, shooting to the side when Alex begins his advance. It misses, and does not pursue -- scampering off into the wilderness. The distraction is enough that Alex manages to get too close for comfort, cursing lightly as he engages in the grapple head on. "America IS the people!!" Rolento snarls out loudly in agreement, his tone full of strong conviction. His eyes have a fire that Alex would recognize, the very one he would have seen in the mirror countless times. "And I did not attack them...!!"
Losing the struggle, Rolento is upended, but Alex's grasp is far too weak. He breaks free, planting his hands upon the ground and absorbing much of the shock. Rolling away, he then twists and lunges backwards, further increasing the distance between himself and the other man. A flash of metal, as a pin spirals away; and a grenade screams onwards, aiming to impact Alex in the chest before erupting into flame and shrapnel, the sound deafening and causing many birds to take startled, panicked flight. "It is the political powers, the international business, the GREED and selfish complacence that is the enemy, and it is THEM I waged war on with Metro City my intermediary!!"
"Hey, wait--!" Only, Hinata -isn't- waiting. She's leaping off, using the trees as leverage and stepping stone. Mizuki is quick to follow--watching Rolento out of the corner of her eye, she kicks off with her own sneakered foot, bursting out of the trees pursuing the Sunshine Girl.
Sunshine meets Ice--almost seems like a foregone conclusion, doesn't it? And yet, nothing's decided. Mizuki lands on her feet, after performing a neat little flip to eat some of her momentum--she touches down close to where she came out of the trees, looking around for Hinata.
And then she decides... let Hinata come to her.
Mizuki plants her feet, roots them almost, and relaxes a touch, sending her consciousness out... calling the energy of life up, letting it flow up into her, through her. A silver and ice-blue circle beings undulating around her feet, the 'waves' reaching up almost to her knees, starting slow but speeding up... Of course it marks her as a target...
COMBATSYS: Mizuki gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Alex with Grenadier.
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Mizuki 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Alex
So that's why this man hasn't been caught yet. He's as slippery as an eel.
As Rolento worms his way from Alex's usually immutable grasp, the Blonde's eyes widen a fraction. Unable to complete the brutal transaction, the American lands upon the Earth once more in a low crouch, his hands quickly moving back into position as Rolento moves away. Teeth gritting, the sight of that steel instrument of destruction bouncing across the ground.
That damned bastard.
Unfortunately, Alex missed the fact that his teammate had hurtled something in Rolento's direction. This old warrior is absorbing every iota of Alex's attention, is the Titan is distracted for even a moment with this guy .. There is no hope. There may be no hope, but such things never deter a man of Alex's grit.
Alex would charge head-first into death itself, without a second of hesitation, to defend his country.
With such resolve, the youth charges -towards- the grenade between he and Rolento.
"Don't think-"
The explosion is deafening. Briefly Alex disappears within the cloud of mayhem. Splinters and flaming branches are thrown in all directions. Debris and sundered stone flying through high arcs as every animal in this tropical prison runs as far and as fast as it can.
Moments after.. Alex continues charging straight on through. His shirt blasted from him, cut in dozens of places, burned all over.. Stumbling and staggering... But still moving.
Blood pours from his lips, even as he keeps moving through a blast that would have killed a dozen men where they stood.
"..Don't.. Think.. There's a .... Soul in this country.. Who wouldn't die to protect it... From .. Men like.. You."
Alex is no exception.
The Titan reaches with far more speed and alacrity than a man blasted with high explosives has any right to. Attempting to get his inexorable grip upon Rolento one more time...
COMBATSYS: Alex successfully hits Rolento with Hyper Bomb.
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Mizuki 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rolento 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Alex
... And cease him Alex does.
Demonstrating most physically to Rolento that run and hide as he will, sooner or later someone will catch him. It may not be Alex, it may not be any warrior who fights today. But someone.
The Titan grabs Rolento and -flips- backwards. Slamming the man into a brutal suplex, only to flip over the old warrior, using him as a springboard into yet another back-breaking suplex.
Then another.
Each impact rocking the jungle floor with prodigious force, shaking leaves and loose branches from trees all around.
Until with a mighty, bloodied yell the American takes flight. Vaulting high into the air like a Shuttle in escape velocity, his quarry in tow..
... IMPACT.
An explosion of raw kinetic force sends a plume of dust and Earth high into the sky. The shock-wave rings outwards like a ripple in a pond, carrying away loose stone and vegetation many paces in all directions. An earth-shaking, tremendous blow.
But could it possibly enough to stop as vicious and potent a hatred as Rolento's?
Whoa? What was all that noise over that way? As the sound of an explosion rips through the air, Hinata glances away from her bouncing around from tree to tree to peer back at where Alex just was. That's... probably not good, but it's also not what she's supposed to be working with at the moment. No, she's supposed to be working with Mizuki, like Alex said.
Hinata bounds up higher into the trees toward the tree tops while Mizuki is down below doing... something or other. She startles a few more monkeys, and what birds weren't running after the explosion as she bounds from branch to branch, managing to keep from falling off them by sheer virtue of the fact that, for one she's not very heavy, and for two, she's moving pretty fast. This takes her all the way around the open spot as the Taiyo girl tries to find a good angle. Tries to find just the right way to make this work... and then finally drops down to the ground just opposite of Mizuki in the clearing. "Let's see how good this works!"
As Hinata's voice fills the air, she draws her hands back, cupping them around a small spark on energy at her side, slowly surging her own energetic spirit into it as it starts to grow before thrusting her hands forward. "HAA!" she screams out, throwing the still growing burst of chi flying straight toward Mizuki until it's practically right next to her... and then it explodes outward, blossoming into a giant, beautiful sunflower.
There is a fury in Rolento's eyes now, peeling back his lips, baring his teeth like an animal. "You...!!" But any diatribe he has will have to wait, as he's embraced rather painfully, too distracted by his fury to manage a more meaningful escape. The first tornado-like slam into the ground he absorbs rather well. The second elicits a sharp grunt. The third feels like it will break him in half. Helpless for the finale, the last, incredible slam causes him to be settled in a crator. He is still, still like many people Alex has struck with that onslaught. But he twitches, rolls over, pushes up to his feet.
"How dare you be so narrow minded and conceited... I went to Vietnam, to fight the war nobody wanted. For my country. I did what was needed to win. For my country...!! And they labeled me a monster. They refused to do what it took. Empty politics, paid for in American blood...!! Did you expect me to forgive that?! Did you expect me to go back?!"
He stands then, tall and proud, despite the rivelets of blood rolling down his face. "Enough... you are like many, blind to the truth... I shall execute you forthwith..." His hand grasps the air, before yanking. The sound of a helicopter, before a dull thrum in the cacophony of the jungle, suddenly roars as the vehicle descends on a cue from a button press on his radio.
The wire sweeps up, hidden in the debris, snapping for Alex's neck.
"Ready...?!"
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Alex with Take No Prisoner.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Alex
Once his throat is snared, Rolento leaps up, breaking through the branches. Finding the descended hook of his transporation with ease, and then down he goes. Alex shoots up through such, his shoulders slamming into the cold metal of the hook before the strangling begins. Rolento reaches the ground, but the wire doesn't; he begins to ramp up the pressure, pulling down harder and harder, the hum of tension audible. Then twirls his baton, tapping once; the wire snaps, allowing Alex to tumble head over heels towards the ground, as he glances over his shoulder with clearly murderous intent.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki blocks Hinata's Kikou Shoutei.
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Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Alex
Being stuck in this position means that avoiding ttacks is harder. Of course, defending against them is, conversely, a little easier; the sunflower of chi explodes outwards, meeting Mizuki's forearms and her own chi. Which is not to say that it doesn't hurt--it does, and it actually pushes Mizuki off the ground, forcing her back a step or two. Shaking her forearms out, Mizuki nods. "That was pretty good, Hinata-chan," using the girl's name for the first time in the match.
"Guess it wouldn't be fair not to give you something in return..." And she lunges forward, attempting to close the distance created by that burst of chi--her hands drawn back to her chest. Once again, Hinata finds herself facing a twin palm strike, aimed for her chest and abdomen--only this time, Mizuki's arms are flared in a blue-green chi aura, promising to add just a touch of pain to the technique, if it hits.
As she strikes out with it she utters a sharp kiai, the cry echoing through the small space they're occupying.
In the aftermath of the violence Alex had wrought, the Titan falls to his knee. Coughing a gout of blood from his lips, his mighty hands clutch the Earth to keep from fully collapsing. One eye stares slowly up at Rolento as the evil soldier gets to his feet once more. With a grit of his teeth, Alex realizes this guy really has fought longer than he's been alive. He really is American Military, as tough as they come.
If Rolento had chosen any other path, any other way, Alex would have been proud to fight him. Instead, Alex stares directly into the eyes of living proof that even the best of us.. Even the very best... Can still fall.
"Forgive.. empty politicians? ... No." Alex coughs again. Slowly pushing up from the ground, The Titan slowly rises again - degrees at a time. "... But you never.. forgave yourself. For what you had to do... Did you?" The Titan returns to his full stature, smearing the blood on his cheek with a useless gesture, ".. I'm only sorry the real.. You ... Died out there in that jungle. I'dve.. liked to meet him."
A helicopter? Alex's head tilts - Where the Hell did.. HRK!
The mighty one grips at his neck, the wire snapped around his throat faster than the eye could make out its thin gleam. His hands clutch at his throat.. Even as the Titan is lifted immediately into the sky. Hoisted by militant gallows for several long moments, massive legs flailing back and forth.. Actually managing to force the Helicopter to wave and adjust to the powerful American's flailing.
Until finally.. The line gives way and Alex crashes down to the ground with thunderous impact. The winds most clearly blasted from his sails as its all he can do to simply roll upon the ground, coughing and clutching at his throat.
There's something about helicopter garrotes that slow a man up.
COMBATSYS: Alex gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Hinata with Kouryuu no Kiba.
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Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=======\===----\1 Hinata
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Rolento 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Alex
While there are people who would say that Hinata never gets tired. Never slows down in the least... those people are a bit on the wrong side. Hinata does get slowed down, even if her energy never seems to run out. After taking all sorts of blows across her body, she's moving more sluggish than she should be. And the mud doesn't help, either.
As she stands there, looking ready to give it her all, her best shot. She just can't seem to muster quite enough speed in her limbs and that blow takes her right in the chest, knocking her backward, sending her flying across the open space until she reaches the end and finds herself slumped up against a tree, groaning slightly as she shakes her head dully. "Whoa... that didn't go as planned."
As she stumbles back up to her feet, trying to recollect herself enough to fight again, she offers a great big smile over to Mizuki, "That was a real good one!"
COMBATSYS: Hinata gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Alex
"I did nothing wrong." Rolento states, with absolute fervor. "What you might fail to realize is I became a monster to win the war. I became a monster to do what was neccesary for America. And they betrayed me, and abandoned me. Yet what have I done against the common man? Can you name one bombing? One hostage taken? Negative!! I attacked companies. I attacked the politics. Even Metro City, I kept the people well fed, watered, safe. Had nobody intervened, I would of left peacefully with minimal damage!!"
He simply grunts, twirling his baton and standing opposite Alex. Regaining his own composure, much like the man opposite. Victory is near; he has found he respects Alex, a man of great ability, willpower, and driving force. "It is a pity... that you are too closed minded to see my true dream. A world of freedom not being a word, but individual empowerment. Where the soldier is not left to rot..."
COMBATSYS: Rolento taps his baton into his palm, focusing intently on the battle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Alex
So, the eternal question: press, or relax a little? The answer for Mizuki is... as much as she'd like to give Hinata a rest, she really can't afford to. She's been too soft in previous fights--given too many chances. She really can't afford to do that now. ""Sorry, Hinata-chan," says the young woman, as she follows up her twin palm strike with a forward lunge, once again closing in on Hinata.
Maybe she'll suggest the two meet again, on non-combat grounds... after the match is over. For now, she attempts a two-strike combination--closed in with Hinata, she plants her left foot, bringing her right up in a sharp knee kick--and then extending the leg upwards in a high front kick. It isn't a power strike by any means--she's looking to keep the pressure on Hinata, to keep her on the defensive.
Alex and Rolento are out for blood--Mizuki's just out to do her best in the fight. The difference in attitudes is remarkable and sharply distinct. But she isn't about to say that she's doing it 'right'--they all have their reasons for doing what they do. Anger is one of them, often a prime motivator.
Hold that thought Rolento, Alex is working on getting some of that air stuff the cool kids are into.
After several long moments, Alex slowly manages to get back to his knees, a hand still at his throat with the other managing to keep himself up. The Titan can't help but notice he hasn't been hit with munitions in the last few moments, which is a strong indication Rolento has something more to say to him.
Well, consider the Titan all ears. Especially as he can't talk right this second and Rolento's got all the advantage in the world over him - In this moment.
Eyeing the man with slow determination, Alex absorbs his words and methods. The details of the Metro City scenario? Alex doesn't know. What else this madman has been up to since then? Alex doesn't really know. He just figured it couldn't have been anything good.
Under normal circumstances such explanations would roll off him like water off a duck's back, but a sound thumping is the surest way to get Alex to lend you an ear. If usually risky.
"That..so.." Alex finally manages to cough out a few words. The momentary pause in the battle likewise gives him a chance to glance over at the two girls, making sure they're okay.
Seems they're duking it out like pros. Good kids. Just stay over there..
Alex's momentary distraction evaporates as he forces himself slowly, leading foot shaking a moment as he coughs again, gaze squinting at the elder warrior, "I've.. seen a lotta monsters. I noticed somethin."
His fingers flex. Hands slowly rising, giving Rolento plenty of warning that this fight has not concluded yet and he better get his guard up. Sucker punches from left-field, Alex isn't into.
"Monsters don't dream."
Alex shrugs his shoulders, joints and bones grinding back into place as he spits blood sideways to the destroyed jungle floor around them.
"They only got nightmares they can't wake up from."
And here Alex was trying desperately not to understand and respect Rolento. Funny how the thing you don't want always tends to happen. Life is nothing if not ironic.
He was planning on trying to bushwack the man and drag him off to the authorities, or call in someone who can if Rolento got the best of him. But... Maybe he'll give this guy a little more time to prove Metro was some kind of .. Mistake.
"Lets finish this." Alex states boldly, without fear.
And with that, Alex launches his attack anew. This time sweeping his hand in a wide chop, hand igniting into a glowing arc of red and blue chi, "HRAH!"
COMBATSYS: Hinata blocks Mizuki's Aggressive Strike.
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Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Alex
A fight is a fight to Hinata, she enjoys all of them as they're happening. Every one of them is a chance to learn something new. To improve yourself in some way. They're exciting, they get the blood pumping. And for Hinata, it's always nice to fight someone new who doesn't just think of fights as a pay check, or a way to become more famous, or as a tool to be used to gain power. Fighting should come from the heart and...
Well, this is not a time for a speech about how you shouldn't be a jerk. She's fighting a good person for once.
"There's no need to apologize in a fight, just give it your best shot!" She's bracing up against the attack flying her way way as she says that, crossing her arms in front of her in an 'X' formation to absorb as much of the blow as she can manage, letting herself fall back as much as she can without getting pinned in up against the tree.
"That was a pretty good shot, but it's not over yet!" Her voice fills the air of the artificial jungle as she lunges herself back forward, dropping down low and skidding across the dirt in a manner that's sure to get her knees plenty dirty with her leg drawn back, focusing all of her strength into it before letting it flight forward like a rocket, aimed to take Mizuki right in the chest. The force behind it, if it does what she wants, is enough to send the Sunshine girl's high up into the air... and flying all the way out of the open zone. If the trees don't stop her, that is.
COMBATSYS: Rolento fails to interrupt Flash Chop from Alex with Fatality Package.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Alex
"Nightmares are for those with regrets..." Rolento snarls, as Alex advances towards him. He does not back down from his open challenge. He could escape; he could leap away, and finish the man off with ease. Yet this is something more. He is meeting the other man fearlessly, on his own terms, upfront. Something that can be respected, if nothing else. One hand surges out, spread fingers aiming for the man's throat. A string of grenades is hefted out. For a split second, they are juxtaposed. Feet sweeping through the sediment, eyes narrowing, the chi imbued hand rocketing down...
Alex hits first.
Were this repeated, it would be a coin flip. Half the time, Alex would be defeated on the ground. The other, is at it is now. Rolento impacted with boneshattering force, send into the ground before him hard enough to displace leaves and dirt in a wash, hissing in pain as one arm goes limp, baton clattering aside. But the fire in his eyes does not go out. "...I AM NOT GOING DOWN... SO EASILY!!" he roars.
Rolento snaps. The patient calculation breaks away, and the Monster comes out. Within his bared fangs, wild gaze, tense body. He is not psychotic. He is not insane. Simple, raw intensity, a burning will forged through heartless war.
Alex's true fight has begun!!
COMBATSYS: Hinata successfully hits Mizuki with Rival Launcher.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Alex
There's only one response Mizuki can give: "HNNGH!" That is the sound of her breath basically being shoved out of her in a single, explosive moment. She is, in fact, rocketed up and out--but not quite -right- out of the trees and the open area. One or two branches slow her down--and then she catches herself on a branch. That... hurt pretty damn badly, and Mizuki isn't all that keen on feeling it again. Not anytime soon. but what to do? What to do... well, for the moment, Mizuki elects to continue her assault.
From the tree she's in, she leaps out, and then is dropping down at a steep angle--aimed not to land -on- Hinata, but just in front of her. Of course, that isn't the attack--the attack is the double-fisted slam she's bringing down as well.
It's one of Sakura's signature attacks, one that everyone knows her for, and if it lands, it might just be a terrible, crushing blow on Mizuki's part.
"That... was a pretty good hit... Hinata-chan," she gasps, because her chest still aches from it.
This fateful, binary potential is a sentiment that Alex knows full well. The blood and pain surging through the Titan's form tells him that Rolento could have finished him off at-will earlier. The calculating, precise veteran Rolento may be all but invincible in matters of war and battle.
Alex can tell.. Looking the man straight in the eye, there's more to this than a cool, clinical military hit. A fire there, above and beyond simple, surgical brutality.
And there.. As the Titan barely manages to win the favor of the luck of the draw, the thing is unleashed from it's prison.
The madness and rage.. Lingering there behind Rolento's cold veneer. Its force surprises even Alex, steel eyes widening as the old warrior's determined roar staggers even him.
Rolento is a survivor, first and foremost, Alex knows this. Any man who lived in the Hell of 'Nam knew they had to do anything and everything to continue to live in that Hellhole. And a powerful man like this.. Had to be sent to the deepest, darkest of pits.
Even himself is not sure he could muster enough brutality to put a man like this down.
But, The Titan said it himself. This fight isn't over yet. The revealed monster looms in all its savage glory and Alex must confront it directly. Not only for himself.. But the safety of everyone here.
"ROLENTO!"
Alex roars, charging once more and swinging his mighty fist in a fast arc.
COMBATSYS: Hinata dodges Mizuki's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Alex successfully hits Rolento with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Mizuki 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Alex
Rolento attempts to snap to the side, but that meaty fist finds him regardless. A splatter of blood stains the ground, his head wrenched around and sending the mercenary toppling, catching himself with one hand. The fire in his eyes begins to go out... before white eyes narrow, and adrenaline surges through him. "Hrrrrgh..." His good arm drags across the grass, finding his baton. "NOT... GOING DOWN!!" is repeated, and he hurls it towards Alex with a sudden snap of the wrist; the baton screaming forth, aiming to impact with brutal force right between the other man's eyes. Getting back to his feet, he then attempts to disengage; hopping shortly backwards, spreading his stance and looking prepared to fight to the bitter end. No more fancy words. No more shared ideals. Both men, near defeat, on the final battlefield...!!
The problem with using one of Sakura's attacks against Hinata is... Sakura is one of Hinata's best friends. If there was anybody who had a feel for the other girl's style, it would definately be the energetic girl straight from Taiyo. Every time one of them came up with a new move, they'd have a sparring match to show off. So Hinata can tell how those moves work, and has experience in dealing with them. And while Mizuki is not exactly a slacker as a fighter, she's still no Sakura Kasugano.
As Mizuki's fists come flying in at her, Hinata gets a surge of recognition in her face and just rolls back, pulling herself out of the way of the strike and rolling back across the ground and springs back up to her feet with a smile on her face. "Oh, hey, that was a good one!"
Without delay, and still running strong despite all that's happened so far, Hinata just blazes back forward again, whipping her leg up high above her head and then whipping it right back down toward Mizuki's shoulder in a slightly clumsy axe kick. "Your chest doesn't hurt too much from that kick I gave you, does it?"
COMBATSYS: Mizuki interrupts Medium Kick from Hinata with Hyouryuu no Arashi EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Alex
It's true--she did use one of Sakura's attacks against Hinata. But maybe.. -maybe- that was part of the plan! Mizuki lands, and almost before she sees Hinata coming at her, she's backspringing. It forces Hinata to come in closer for her kick--to keep running--and it lets Mizuki prepare. She needs just that extra time--because now she has her response ready. When Hinata comes in with that clumsy axe kick, Mizuki shifts away from it--it still clips her, but the damage isn't too bad overall. And then she sweeps her arms up--and a flood of her icy chi just rolls over Hinata, a brief, focused storm blasting the young girl away from the miko.
The howling blast temporarily freezes some of the fauna around her, along the direction she just sent Hinata...
...but as it isn't real ice, the grass and other greenery should be fine.
No distress. Hinata'll be fine. She's a fighter, she'll tough it out. Probably not even knocked out yet--Mizuki has to stay on her toes.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Alex with Thrown Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\ < > /////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Alex
He hit him? Alex hit him?
The Titan is almost more surprised than Rolento as his fist strikes true, clobbering the warrior hard and sending him spinning about.
This angry beast ... No. If this was Rolento with his cool and wits about him, the Titan's fist wouldn't have hit. This monster is weaker .. Therein Alex may find opportunity in bringing the beast down. Its almost a pity ... In another age, Alex really could have called this man a friend. Such fire, such determination to survive and fight on. Its awe-inspiring.
To see it twisted so ... It wrenches Alex's gut.
Almost as hard as that baton wrenches his face.
Ow.
The staggering giant takes that baton upside the head, jerking his skull about as the man staggers away at a perpendicular angle. The world spins about as the American realizes he's reaching the edge of his endurance.
"..Neither.. Am.."
The Titan fully spins about, whirling in a full arc. His extended elbow sweeping in, alighting with arcing energized power as he seeks to bring its force to bear upside Rolento's head.
"I!"
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Alex's Slash Elbow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Mizuki 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\ < > /////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Alex
Whoa... why is it so cold? Maybe Hinata should have listened to her mother about dressing warm to go out to fight those people in that jungle instead of wearing her jungle girl outfit?
Wait, no, that can't be it. Hinata is NEVER cold. She wears her summer uniform all year round. It must be all that chi coming from Mizuki!
Actually shivering for once in her life, Hinata is left stumbling around for a few moments before she can regain herself enough to say, "Wow... wow, th-th-that was pretty g-g-g-g-good." Her teeth are chattering loudly as she starts to bounce slowly. Bounce, bounce, bounce. Her fighting stance is coming right back to her. "But... I n-n-need to warm up a little bit, how about you?" As she says that, Hinata darts forward, skidding on the dirt again before catching her feet on the ground right in front of Mizuki and... blasting off the ground. She goes flying up into the air with her fist rising up above her covered in flaming chi and on a course with the other girl's jaw.
Rolento is not too slow this time. He got hit once, which was more then a little bit of a wakeup call. Down he jerks, the blow nearly taking off his beret -- it's knocked askew, but Rolento does not back down. Instead he leaps backwards in a short hop backwards, which seems to be cowardly at first... until he suddenly surges forward in a tight ball, roaring towards Alex with a loud snarl. "GO!!" Twice the Rolentoball attempts to slam into the other man's chest, savagely striking him backwards, before unfurling while he's hopefully still staggered. His speed is not decreasing; evident in how he slips sideways, one arm still dangling at his side but the other yanking out a knife, twisting it around and reversing the grip, the raw will unreduced...!
COMBATSYS: Hinata successfully hits Mizuki with Shouyouken.
Grazing Hit
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\ < > /////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Alex
It's late in the fight--Mizuki's tiring, probably just as much as Hinata. Still, she jerks back, instinctively--and grunts in pain when Hinata's fist makes glancing contact. That and the chi... Mizuki staggers a bit, but doesn't fall down--and she recovers fairly quickly regardless. Drawing herself back upright, she once again tries to take to the air against Hinata, though in a much abbreviated fashion.
It's a bit of an effort to do so--but she balances herself, crouches, and then pushes off, leaping upwards, intent on burying a shoulder into the airborne Hinata's stomach. The impact should be enough to knock her away, if she hits--maybe even to finish the fight? She can only hope so--she's starting to lose her focus, in more ways than one.
"C'mon," she mutters, to herself. Gotta try and stay fresh, to think...
COMBATSYS: Alex blocks Rolento's Mekong Delta Attack.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\\\ < > ///// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Alex
Nimble and fast, even at the bitter end. Alex's sweeping arc of Chi misses the rolling warrior by a mile. The lunging movement forces the Titan to stagger drunkenly several paces forwards before he can dig his heels and recover. Blood paints his face in long streaks, his body yet burned and cracked from the multitude of explosions and vicious attacks he's weathered. The monolithic man looks like he's been through a War.
Fighting Rolento, that's not hyperbole.
Neither of the men are willing to admit defeat. Ready to go to the very edge to see and fight for their ideals with every iota of their being. While Alex's speed is steadily decreasing.. His resolve wavers not in the slightest. His eyes burn with as much ferocity as he possessed when he started the fight. The pain, the rage and the exhaustion deters him not at all. A dreadnought of American ideals.
The image of a man that perhaps Rolento once was. Before he became .. Whatever this nightmare is.
Alex's mighty arms lift, deflecting that quick attack with a guarded motion. Rolento bouncing away from the impact, doing little to Alex's rocked frame but every little piece of damage is adding up.
No more words exchanged. Each one has the measure of the other. Here in a jungle not unlike where Rolento's own ideals were forged, there is only violence left to do.
Alex staggers forth in a rush, barreling ahead without much momentum, shoulder-first.. But even the lightest bum-rush from a tank of a man like Alex will still hit with significant impact.
COMBATSYS: Rolento blocks Alex's Aggressive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Mizuki 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Hinata
[ \\\ < > ///// ]
Rolento 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Hinata with Aggressive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Mizuki 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Hinata
[ \\\ < > ///// ]
Rolento 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Alex
Hinata is battered and beaten at this point. There are a number of bruises marking her body, and she's still a bit overwhelmed by the chill she received earlier. Her joints are getting stiff, she doesn't seem like she can handle moving much longer, but she does her best as Mizuki comes flying in at her while she's still up in her rising dragon spiral.
It's a no go. She's too airborn, too roughed up to do much more than take the hit solid in her shoulder and she just goes flying forward to roll across the ground a good few feet. It looks like it's all over. How is she going to get back up again?
Well... there's one thing about Hinata. She never gives up until she can't move anymore. She's like the guy who did the voice of Buzz Lightyear and then did that movie that was a parody of Star Trek and he didn't believe in the words he said in the TV show until he was there for real and these aliens, who thought it was real, were totally relying on him.
Or... something like that. Regardless, Hinata pushes herself back up to her feet as much as she can manage, offering Mizuki a quick smile, "That was pretty good... let's see if I've got enough left in me." And then, in a flash of speed that she doesn't seem like she should have, she goes flying forward, throwing out an incredible flurry of punches at Mizuki, each one ending in an explosion of chi, each one coming in faster than the last until, she drops down to her knee. Is it over? No, she just finishes it all off by rocketing right back up again in the same move she used moments before, fist ablaze with flaming energy as she aims it right for Mizuki's stomach.
And then? She falls over after reaching the peak of her flight.
COMBATSYS: Hinata can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Mizuki 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Alex
[ \\\ <
Rolento 0/-------/---====|
Rolento is finally becoming sluggish, at least in terms of his attacks and reactions. The sheer intensity of his gaze has not remotely shrank; they are still alive, like that of a boxer against the ring, who's punches remain alive despite all odds against them. He lowers his shoulder as Alex retaliates with a charge, taking the brunt. He's staggered backwards; white eyes lidding, beginning to fall once more. But then slipping backwards with a deep grunt, allowing his knife to fall. "HRRRAUGH!!" He lashes out with his good arm, attempting to grasp Alex by the neck. Twisting, trying to hurl him, mulekicking to assist in the inertia to send him flying, head over heels, the last, desperate burst of his strength to cause the other man to impact a tree with hopefully sufficient force to end the battle...!!
COMBATSYS: Hinata successfully hits Mizuki with Hisshou Rengekiken.
[ \\ < > ///// ]
Mizuki 1/-======/=======|===----\-------\0 Alex
[ \\ <
Rolento 0/-------/----===|
Does she have enough left? Apparently so. Mizuki is dead tired--and though she tries to evade the flying, chi-infused punch, she just loses it. The strike she put on Hinata is nothing compared to the last-kiss whammy she just took--flung across the makeshift arena, the redheaded miko slams into the trunk of a tree.. and then peels off to land facedown on the ground.
She is well and truly out--so now it's up to the Bloodthirsty Boys to finish this out. But she gave her all, and so did Hinata, and that's about all that either of them can really expect to do, reasonably. Demands of winning always put a unique stress on a situation--sometimes good, sometimes bad. That demand is something that drives people to do what they do. For now, however, Mizuki is but a visitor to the Land of Nod...
COMBATSYS: Alex interrupts Colonel Carrier from Rolento with Spiral DDT.
[ \\ < > // ]
Mizuki 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Alex
[ <
Rolento 0/-------/=======|
This has been one of the most brutal, rough-and-tumble, dragged out fights Alex has ever been in.
And he's been in a lot of fights.
This old bird, he's a crazy son of a bitch, a world-wanted terrorist and a mad visionary ... And he's God-awfully tough. It's a hell of a thing, and Alex has needed every last break fate itself seemed to grant him to get this far.
Maybe Rolento was just testing him ... Maybe the mad veteran was holding back from outright killing the young world warrior. Maybe so ... If such a thing was true, then Alex gave the man everything he had. He held nothing back, putting his honor and faith in America on the line. Maybe even his life.
For Alex's end ... He did not expect it but he somehow managed to feel respect for this man. An understanding he had not predicted. What he's doing is wrong, Alex knows that by instinct ... But maybe the guy's heart isn't completely off-base.
Even if the heart is plagued by this ... Monstrous, ravenous hatred from a hundred wars and countless atrocities.
All thats left now, is for this to play out to its absolute conclusion. They've both lasted far longer than either could have thought possible. The fight could be over in any given split instant. And in this particular moment.. Rolento has the upper hand.
Alex again staggers, off-balance as Rolento deflects the Titan's blunt force. The taller man falls easy prey to that quick, twisting grasp.. But in this regard, Alex is no easy mark.
The Jungle may be Rolento's realm, but grappling is Alex's domain. In a moment of desperate invention, Alex's hand sweeps around - the very hand Rolento had first slashed bloody - and grips the soldier's shoulder.
For an instant, as that mule-kick is delivered, they spin around each-other like a whirlwind in mid-air. Twisting about in a ferocious circle of blood and battle... It could go either way.
Alex whirls with a mighty choked roar, hooking Rolento into a swift headlock before -DASHING- him headfirst into the ground. The young man also bounces there.. Flopping onto the ground, exhausted.. Barely moving.
Indeed, this has been one hell of a fight. Rolento cannot think of many that came down to this, raw willpower, tenacity, when bodies were broken and almost useless. The last one was Kyosuke, many years ago. This final exchange is done, titanic, one that Rolento will not be rousing from. He's tugged along, and smashed into the soil, but no. One last, defiant, hateful effort. He's lost, but he's trying to drag Alex into the abyss with him. He pushes up with a roar, twisting, hurling himself into the air. His good arm yanks free a blade. It is thrown, twisting, whistling through the air. From the vantage point, he could of launched it at his jugular, his eye, but it is sent at his shoulder -- a clearly purposeful thing. Even in his rage, he's not trying to take Alex's life. Breaking through the branches, his limp body hits the ground, bouncing once before rolling to a stop. The fight is concluded now... one way or another.
COMBATSYS: Rolento can no longer fight.
[ \\ < > // ]
Mizuki 1/-======/=======|====---\-------\0 Alex
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Alex with Stinger EX.
- Power hit! -
[ \\ < > ]
Mizuki 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\0 Alex
Is he down?
Alex can't be sure anymore. Not with how many times that old soldier got back up after taking everything the Titan could dish out and more. The younger warrior slowly forces himself to sit up.. Grunting with effort. His gaze sweeping momentarily about the jungle, scanning for his foe.. Hoping beyond hope that perhaps he's staying down this time.
Also, Alex notices the girls have stopped fighting. Spying their unconscious forms nearby... Huh. Looks like they had one heck of a scrap too.
"..Mnn.. Not.. Not bad.." Alex slowly admits to himself, a bloodied brutalized mess of a man.
That's when a blade -thunks- soundly right between his shoulder and neck.
Alex's gaze pans down slowly, almost puzzledly at the blade resting innocently between some pretty important stuff in his estimation.
"... Ah Hell.." The Titan muses with resignation. That dirty old...
Akin to a mighty timber crashing in the forest, Alex falls back to the Earth. Crashing to the floor as the brutal bloodbath is finally over.
The Jungle is serious, serious business.
COMBATSYS: Alex takes no action.
[ \\ <
Mizuki 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Alex can no longer fight.
[ \\ <
Mizuki 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Mizuki can no longer fight.
Log created on 22:19:23 07/11/2009 by Mizuki, and last modified on 16:45:44 07/12/2009.