Description: The unlikely team of Tenma Kiryuu and Mizuki Kamigawa face off against Adelheid Bernstein... ON A BRIDGE. Blood is flung, shrines are maidened, and genocides are cut. But in the end, Adelheid's opponents feel the PAIN down in Africa. (Winner: Adelheid)
The Victoria Bridge - stretching an astounding breadth over the tremendous gorge just downriver from one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The Victoria Falls. One of the largest waterfalls in the entire world thunders down from on high, casting spray far, and mist farther. 'The mist that thunders' it is called, and even removed from the bottom of the falls from on high, the namesake holds. Audible rumble is nonstop from the powerful descent, and the gorge is encased in an ever-shifting, saturating mist. The view atop the bridge would be one for the history books, a vision of miles of unspoiled natural beauty, if not for the fog that presently leaps up around the bridge, alternately obscuring portions of the panorama.
It has been some time since Adelheid Bernstein showed up for a SNF event. His current endeavors in building his own private army eat up a lot of his time, but there is little to no excuse for not pushing oneself in unpredictable situations... testing oneself against warriors from outside one's usual partners, pushing the boundaries of comfort and preparation. It's a lifestyle the young warrior is well accustomed to, and one which, this afternoon, he arrives fashionably late to satisfy. Barring similar tardiness, it's likely that Mizuki and Tenma are already arrayed on the bridge to witness the rather unconventional transport that carries the Prince of War to this out of the way battleground.
The thrum of engines comes moments after the tingling signature of chi, a beast of metal and mysticism displacing ample air as its self-diffusing engines become more and more tangible in its descent. The behemoth in dark armor hovers over the gorge, above the bridge, burning with energy both natural and artificial - as if the entire construct were alive with chi. A descriptor that could be applied to the prodigy who rappells down a zipline from the aft of the vessel, as well, the platinum blonde dressed crisply in blacks and silvers, a perfectly pressed uniform from the double-breasted jacket to the heavy, polished boots. As he drops from the line, Sky Noah ascends, drifting back into mist and cloud, at least for the moment.
It's a beautiful place--not only the bridge, one of the marvels of modern engineering, but the natural area around it... Mizuki actually arrived early, just to take a look-see around, being a little touristy before she had to face one of the lions of the fighting circuit. Though he hasn't been seen in public in a while, the man known as Adelheid Bernstein is, as she well knows, quite formidable. This, in and of itself, is not as much a cause of concern for the young woman as it once was; where she used to view such fights with trepidation, she instead thinks about what she might learn from the encounter.
She is, in fact, at the other end of the designated area--sitting where the SNF officials have set up the holding area, a place of white tables, folding chairs, and orange water jugs. She has a paper cup in her hand, filled with cool, clear water, and she's just finishing it off as the Sky Noah appears. Of course it's audible before it's visible, the thrumming cueing her to lift her head and look, her blue eyes tracking Adelheid's descent.
"Seems as if it's time," she says, and she straightens her own clothing--a short-sleeved, half-bodied jacket of red, trimmed with black and gold piping, over the white tee-shirt she wears, black leather gloves with padded handguards and lacking fingers protecting her hands, dark blue jeans and sneakers completing her fighting outfit--before turning towards the 'arena', and walking out to it, her steps crisp, light, confident.
To be sure a man of Adelheid's skill and power is going to be quite the challenge, but now she's looking forward to it. To testing herself. No more, she tells herself, will she be afraid of what might happen, be afraid of pain and injury. Such things are not useful for the her she wishes to become, only useful to the her that she used to be. So she meets overwhelming odds with a smile, stopping a respectful distance from Adel, bowing at the waist.
But where, you might ask, is Tenma Kiryuu?
The Gedo swordsman is already present, along with his supposed partner for this particular match, and he's also in the 'holding area', seated on one of the folding chairs with a bored expression on his face, his bokken leaning up against the table top, and a magazine in front of him. Anyone looking /at/ the magazine will note that it's all glossy photographs, of various, er, well-endowed young women, usually in bikinis or slightly more. You know, for... Educational purposes.
The appearance of Sky Noah, however, gets his attention; partially because the hovering vehicle's arrival blows the magazine away.
Tenma lets out a slow sigh, his dark blue eyes narrowing faintly. He stands up, leaving the folding chair where it is, and takes up his bokken, walking towards the bridge. As he walks, the tall young man bites into the flesh of his left thumb, dragging his bloodied digit down the wooden length of his sword, forging the initial chi link; a moment later, he sweeps the blade through the air, completing the ritual and activating the link, a smoky aura of crimson blood and chi emanating from the blessed bokken.
"Heh," Tenma mutters to himself, tilting his head slightly as he regards Adelheid with a wolfish smirk. It's not like this is the first time he's ever faced off against Adelheid, you know. Though hopefully this time goes better for his partner than the time with Ayame did, huh?
Adelheid touches down smoothly on the surface of the bridge, dropping gracefully to one knee with the rapid drop, fingertips pressing to the reinforced surface. Crimson eyes snap upwards first, followed by the rest of the youth as he rights himself in a fluid motion, returning Mizuki's bow with an acknowledging nod, a thoughtful gaze passing from her, to Tenma. No, neither of the opponents today are new fighters to Adelheid. He's faced off against both on several occasions, but it's a new team, a different dynamic - a varied set of styles to accomodate, to be sure. Adaptation is one of the young Bernstein's most intense focuses, however.
"It has been some time." The Prince of War observes in a cleanly projected, cool and confident baritone, "I will be interested to see what the two of you are capable of, now." The unspoken portion of this, of course, involves showing them just what he is capable of, in turn. The officials involved make sure the onlookers are ushered to the ends of the bridge, while the announcer gives the infamous countdown, calling for the ultimate fighting to begin again. Adelheid all but bolts from his starting position, blurring into a sudden-near glide of a sprint as he launches himself through the air at the demon-hunter, one heavy boot leading around in an aerial spin driving it in for Tenma's skull. The other whips upwards as he suddenly descends, momentarily suspending him in the air as the kick axes upwards for Kiryuu's chest and the underside of his jaw, cleaving a silvery, ragged arc of windhsear along its forceful path.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has started a fight here on the right meter side.
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|=------\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Tenma has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Tenma 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Mizuki has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/-------|
Is she capable of more, different things? In some ways yes. in others, no. Evolution is a slow thing, for the most part--little steps here, and there, until all of a sudden it's a big leap. She's made those leaps before... but not yet, not yet. Not since she last saw Adelheid. Still making small steps... steps are what she's making now, though, bigger steps--circling away from Tenma, as the Prince arrows in at Kiryuu. It isn't that she doesn't want to make a stand against Adel, with Tenma, but she has to do it in her own way.
The young woman waits a heartbeat, and just before Adelheid is about to impact, she launches her own attack. A halfstep back, and then forward, through a step, lunging forward into a low, horizontal flying kick, her sneakered right foot thrusting outwards as she leans back to put more force into it, her left leg left low to provide a landing point. Not nearly as flashy as Adelheid's attack, of course, but it will do; she's still looking for that balance of aggression and defense, where the fulcrum point is to make things work for her, but she is trying to be less passive about fighting.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Tenma with Grosse Stob.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/----===|
"Whoopee," Tenma says, twirling a finger in the air; either he legitimately doesn't care one way or the other about demonstrating his progress or whatever to Adelheid, or he's just too much of a delinquent to show it. Maybe even both, somehow. It's quantum physics.
When Adelheid charges at him, Tenma twists slightly, and with both hands on the hilt of his bokken he holds it in a high to low defensive position, intent on blocking the son of Rugal's kick with that aforementioned chi-empowered weapon; unfortunately, he underestimates the amount of power Adel is putting behind it, the first kick breaking through his guard. The second kick, then, hits him cleanly, with the windy chi following it, driving the King of Blood into an impromptu backwards flip, from which he barely lands on his feet..
...And then stumbles...
...And then rights himself. "Hey, I almost felt that," the dark-haired young man blusters, before lunging at Adelheid in turn; his bokken is fully extended, bloody chi focusing directly at the tip as he aims to 'catch' Adel with it. In fact, it will stick to Bernstein if given half the chance, allowing Tenma to use himself and his bokken as a lever to turn and hurl Adelheid away, releasing him from the bloody grab.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid just-defends Mizuki's Aggressive Strike!
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Tenma's Asura.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/----===|
Whether Tenma cares or not really doesn't impact Adelheid's interest in the bout. It's more for his own benefit than for either of theirs, after all... he's just kind of selfish that way. While his own attitudes about gaining strength may be quite different from Rugal's, there are some fundamental similarities between the two that one would be well-advised not to bring up to Adelheid, most likely. Even as Mizuki's well-timed assault flies in, the Prince of War demonstrates an almost uncanny sixth - or perhaps /SEVENTH/ sense, already twisting about mid-descent to face the aerial fighter. Her foot thrusts in, just in front of Adelheid, cutting through the air where he was a moment before, a slight, smooth reverse arc to his drop.
Both arms thrust forward, forearms connecting with a deceptive lightness with the Kamigawa's lower leg, a gusting breeze seeming to erupt from the point of contact, as the young warrior all but launches himself clear, Tenma's seeking bokken thrusting through thin air when it seeks him, its target's fast egress carrying him clear of his paired opponents.
Clear, but not far - Adel launches himself back in, thick muscles tensing as his right arm snaps straight outwards, fingers splayed as they seek to snap around the landing Mizuki's features. Should his painful, ironclad grip be found, the lithe Bernstein would demonstrate remarkable strength, first in lifting Mizuki almost effortlessly off her feet, and then in thrusting her bodily forward, an erupting column of jagged silver wind shearing point blank through her very skull, seeking to blast her back down the bridge with dangerous force.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Mizuki with Scorpion Deathlock.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/----===|
The way she's stretched, recovering takes a moment, and that's a moment she really didn't have, not against a fighter of Adelheid's caliber. He arrives just as she is snapping back up to standing, and that gloved hand grips her face. She doesn't even attempt to try to avoid his grip--it's too late anyways. She does try to break his grip, before he can complete the act of throwing her away.
It just doesn't work; she's propelled away, flying along the length of the bridge, impacting on her back and rolling over to her front, painfully. "Unh," she complains, as she pushes herself back up to her feet. "Haven't forgotten how much getting hit by you hurts," she says, to herself, shaking her head to clear her mind. As she rises, she's testing her limbs for soundness, and she nods slowly. Still good... though that hit was quite the painful one.
"Time to get back in the saddle, right?" she says, charging forward again, moving quickly to get back in range with Adelheid. Regardless of what Tenma may attempt, she's seeking to put her hands on the Prince of Bernstein--both hands, really, attempting a double palm-strike on Adelheid's torso, her hands flaring with ice-blue energy.
Honestly, this could probably be going better for his team, but it's not like Tenma Kiryuu is the sort of person to even consider giving up. So, Adelheid is strong, certainly stronger than either of them... But that's never stopped Tenma before. The idea that his own victory is impossible is utterly alien to the Kiryuu heir's mindset. Instead? Instead, he just fights harder.
Taking off like a shot, Tenma goes after Adelheid again, and his intent is to strike as closely timed with Mizuki's own attack as he can. When she goes for that double palm strike rife with icy chi, Tenma swings his wooden practice sword /down/, a streak of bloody power following it.
He slashes at Adelheid's back, letting the momentum of the swing play itself out fully before he reverses the blade, and swings back /upwards/, making a narrow V-shape in blood and chi.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Adelheid with Kouryuu no Kiba.
- Power hit! -
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Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Tenma's Ungyou.
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Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/---====|
Being caught between two adversaries is always a risky position to be in. As Mizuki is blasted one way, Tenma flanks the other, coming around behind the Prince of War. Sure, Adel knows what's likely to come - but anticipation and perfect action don't always go hand in hand. After all, both his opponents are fighting with their all, striving onward despite the blows dealt out. The young warrior would have it no other way. Eyes of darkest crimson narrow, muscles snap taut, and the prodigy prepares to move. Blond hair flutters, footing shifts... and Mizuki comes in quickly, powerfully, catching him in the side of the chest mid-motion, nearly driving the young Bernstein's feet entirely out from under him as he twists.
Adelheid wastes no time, however, and as Tenma's blade lurches in from overhead, the lithe Bernstein launches himself like a bolt, nearly straight upwards. In a flash of motion lost to the crowd, the blonde is airborne, the reaving blood-chi ripping through the space he stood moments before. Feet kick upwards, executing a smooth, singular backflip that arcs his flightpath backwards, aiming to drop down abruptly behind Kiryuu...
... and snap a hand around the back of Tenma's neck, a heavy boot kicking harshly for the back of one ankle as Adelheid wheels about, seeking to plant the demon hunter facefirst into the unforgiving ground, pushing right past the rising bruises on his chest, the momentary sting in his side. Like the others, Adel refuses to be stopped - or even slowed down.
Stopping Adelheid is going to take a lot more than a single hit. Just as taking the duo of Tenma and Mizuki is going to take more than a few hits from Adelheid. Her strike landed, she wastes no time in continuing to assault the young, silver-haired man with the silver chi. Her impact lets her rock back, planting her right foot--sinking down, bending her knee--and then pushing off of it, transforming potential energy into active energy. She straightens her left leg as her right snaps out in a textbook roundhouse aimed for the master of the Sky Noah's face.
But the kick doesn't stop there; she kicks through and plants her kicking leg, using it as the fulcrum to whip around, bringing her right leg up and hooking the heel around in a second kick. The risk is, of course, that the extended combination attack leaves many openings--she's trusting on Tenma to keep Adelheid distracted long enough to let her complete the kicks without getting utterly destroyed by Adelheid.
COMBATSYS: Tenma fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Adelheid with Intercepting Strike.
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Mizuki 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-======|
A faint annoyed huff of air escapes Tenma as Adelheid vaults over his attack like that; overextended by the slash, the Kiryuu heir stumbles a few steps, and he can pretty much guess what's coming next, even if he couldn't feel the intent as Adelheid remains in his 'zone'. So, as he regains his balance and the other young man's hand moves towards his neck, the Gedo swordsman is already stepping back /into/ it, lashing out by stabbing behind himself with his bokken.
It doesn't, unfortunately, work the way he was hoping; Adel's speed is difficult to compensate for.
Instead, as he's caught, that chi-emanating bokken just barely misses the son of Rugal, and unfortunately this is neither horseshoes nor hand grenades. Instead, Tenma gets driven facefirst into the bridge, which draws a grunt out of the gang member befor ehe can roll over, and start to get back up.
"Okay," says Tenma, spitting out a steaming gob of blood. "Time to stop playing nice."
Whatever, Tenma. When have you ever, ever played nice with anyone?
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Mizuki with Genocide Cutter.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-======|
"Well past." Is Adelheid's only response to Tenma's assertion. Of course he shouldn't be playing nice. If he is, well, Adel has missed it - but still, he agrees with the Gedo youth. Very agreeable of him, isn't it? Similarly agreeable, if painful, is the skilled timing of Mizuki's assault. As Tenma is hurled free, the Bernstein heir twists to half-face the charging fighter, eyes tracking her motion as she launches into that twisting, forceful kick. Adelheid, like Tenma instants before, steps into the strike, begins to drop low.... but it connects moments before he calculated, a scant hair's breadth seperating Mizuki from what he had planned, but it is enough.
The strike sets him reeling backwards, giving Mizuki time to bring around the second kick, which drives the Prince of War back. One knee drags painfully along the ground, his fingers dragging along the bridge as he seeks to stabilize his footing, finding it again after a haphazard moment of uncontrolled momentum, a slow nod paid to the girl, "Well timed." He congratulates simply, though it's far from an admission of defeat... aside from the trickle of blood marring his lip, the fair blonde seems quite prepared to fight on, pushing back to his feet and raising his gloved fists once more.
Mizuki's smile is honest, as she nods to Adelheid. "Thank you," she replies. There's no harm in being polite, whatever Tenma might think; she recognizes that his congratulations on a well-timed assault do not constitute anything other than exactly that. She's sure that Adelheid similarly recognizes that an assault must be followed up on. Momentum is one of the most important intangibles in a fight, and to relinquish it is not something a fighter should do easily. And yet she can't bring herself to just attack with abandon, the way Tenma is. It isn't in her style, and it isn't in her personality.
So she calculates, for an instant, what to do, moving forward on the prince as fearlessly as she can, kicking low, a forward step into a turning left low roundhouse--a kick meant to miss Adelheid's feet--only to plant that kicking leg and spin forward on it, putting her real effort into a snapping knifehand strike for the young man's neck.
Again, it isn't flashy, but she doesn't want to be flashy, she wants to be effective--maybe it's her turn to provide the distraction for Tenma to strike. She's trying to work with the young man, in as much as she can.
It's also possible that Tenma's pride is a little hurt, given that Mizuki seems to be the only one between the two of them managing to accomplish much, here. But surely, he's not going to let a little thing like that stand in his way, is he?
Giving his neck a roll from side to side now that he's got his footing back under him again, the leader of the Guardian Kings turns his attention directly to Adelheid. He's /aware/ of what Mizuki is doing, at least on the edge of his consciousness, but he can't give her much more than a hair of attention; he can't /afford/ to let that much of his attention wander away from Adelheid, he's too strong for that, so.
So.
Tenma comes in at a rush, swinging his bokken... Back behind himself, keeping it out of his way and slanted up along his back so that the blade pokes out over his left shoulder. Instead of lashing out with the blade, Tenma strikes with his left fist, aiming for specific points on Adel's body: Points where the flow of chi through the human form can be disrupted. His footwork is essential, too, as he tries to herd Adelheid, to create a more advantageous position.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Tenma's Flow Breaker.
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Mizuki 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid interrupts Medium Punch from Mizuki with Medium Kick.
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Mizuki 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-======|
It's an advantage not to be discounted, the one held by Mizuki and Tenma: Each can focus their attention fully on their opponent, on seeking to surmount the fighting ability of the lithe Bernstein. Adel, on the other hand, is forced to divide his between the pair of assailants. It's an equalizer that can serve them well at a moment's notice, and also a wildcard that the young warrior is fully aware of, himself. The blonde Bernstein twists to align a bent arm sidelong with the potent strikes launched by Tenma, turning the herding effort to his own advantage as he steps with each strike a half-instant early, forearm aligning to deflect them wide one after the next. The jarring impacts land on resilient, tensed muscle, driven from their intended targets even as Adelheid is moved farther into Mizuki's path....
But as the girl feints low, and strikes high, Adelheid just takes one more step in on her. As her hand jabs into his throat, the same moment echoes across the misty bridge as his heavy boot leaves the ground, his other foot lifting slightly as well with the sheer force that's driven with a resounding shockwave into the Kamigawa's solar plexus. It's force that would crush bone, even kill a lesser fighter - even for Mizuki, it is an unenviable position, turning her precise, efficient blow into a painful, grazing sting as she's driven away from her opponent with a singular, forceful kickboxing maneuver, Adelheid's arms tightening at his sides in energy-focusing balance.
She can't even cry out in pain--the impact drives the breath from the young woman's lungs in a sharp *whoosh* and she doesn't so much stagger back as get hurled back about three steps before stumbling back a few more. She's fighting for breath, her eyes bugged out as she finally draws a ragged, scraping breath, her right hand going to her chest. Another moment, and another breath, and she tries to center herself. That exchange was Adelheid's, completely, a show of his mastery of battle tactics and flow.
But he isn't invincible, and that's what she keeps in mind as she finds her feet, shaky but servicable. She gets underway, moving as smoothly as she can, once again approaching the young Bernstein fighter--her left hand snaps out, seeking the man's guard. Regardless of whether she can open that guard by pulling his arm free, she attacks with her right hand, aiming a series of three knifehand chop attacks for his chest, in rapid succession, her right hand flaring with glowing blue chi once again.
She puts all thoughts of winning or losing from her mind, attempting to focus on the moment, on finding perfection in each passing moment... and in dealing with things as they come.
It's still not the result Tenma was hoping for; his quick, jabbing blows are deflected, keeping them from doing their real job... And his attempt to control Adelheid's location just puts the other young man in a position to kick the jellybeans right out of Mizuki. Were Tenma not, you know... Himself... He might actually show some sort of sympathetic reaction to his 'teammate' getting hit like that. But instead, the Kiryuu heir just focuses on what he's doing. Keep moving forward.
As Mizuki lashes out with her quick knife-hand attacks, Tenma actually takes two steps and leaps up /over/ Adelheid, hoping that attacking from an unexpected angle might have a better effect. As he inverts, mid-flip, Tenma swings his bokken in a chi-charged strike aimed right at the back of Adel's head, before presumabl landing on his feet on the far side.
You know, barring... Events.
COMBATSYS: Tenma successfully hits Adelheid with Fierce Strike.
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Mizuki 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to reflect Kouryuu no Renda EX from Mizuki with Dark Barrier.
- Power fail! -
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Mizuki 1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-======|
The aforementioned splitting of attention... it can go horribly awry when the opponents are in remarkable synch. The synergy of Tenma and Mizuki's attacks leaves Adelheid with few options, and so: he pushes forward. His palm thrusts forward, towards Mizuki's energy-laced hands, but in the instants before the shield manifests into being, his attention diverts just slightly to Tenma's ascent... and the blurring flurry slips through. His focus disrupted, the young Bernstein is driven backwards, hammered repeatedly as the ripping strikes tear through his defenses... just before a similarly potent crack of Tenma's bokken announces the blood-laced smack to the back of the Prince of War's head.
A spray of blood leaves his mouth, as the lithe Bernstein is suddenly driven to the ground, ears ringing with the pain and aftermath as he closes his eyes tightly and shakes his head, once, seeking to clear it. There's little else he can do for the moment, aside from seeking to recenter himself, and find his bearings before the fight can turn against him further, eyes snapping back open to track his opponents, muscles tensing in preparation to move... if he can just buy a couple, precious moments.
Those are moments they can't allow him to have. It's become more increasingly common for Mizuki to not let up on an opponent; times where she might have stepped back, subconsciously, given her opponents the time they needed to recover are now times where she elects to continue to attack. She's sure that Tenma, finally tasting a successful strike upon the Bernstein scion, is unlikely to let up either.
And yet the fight is not yet won or lost, not in either direction--possibilities remain to the last second of a fight. She is acutely aware of this--fights are won by denying the possibilities to an opponent. She takes a few steps, half-circling around, not quite fully flanking her opponent before driving in towards him, a little hop giving her the clearance she needs to scissor her legs, bringing her left down in a classic axe kick, aimed to impact her heel into Adelheid's shoulder.
There, right there.
Tenma can /feel it/, moments before it happens, that his slash is going to strike.
He hasn't been able to grasp the pulse, the ebb and flow of energy in the fight up until this very moment, a surge of elation running through the King of Blood as his weapon strikes Adelheid cleanly. Tenma lands easily, getting his feet underneath him and bending at the knees to absorb the impact, but a wolfish grin pulls at his sharp face, and the 'demon hunter' has no intention of giving Adelheid even a moment to recover his equilibrium or his momentum.
Instead, moving in concert with Mizuki's attack, he comes in low as she goes high. He rushes forward, and lunges in low; there's little room to slash, so instead he stabs, striking repeatedly with the chi-emanating blunt end of the bokken, a brief but relentless flurry of jabs.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Mizuki's Fierce Kick.
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Mizuki 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Tenma's Medium Strike.
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Mizuki 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/-======|
Adelheid is a man brought up under the tender mercies of Rugal Bernstein. Trained to fight in his family's adaptive style, by its very founder. Really, his mercies are not tender at all. Adelheid expects no quarter, intends to give none in this final stretch. He had the instants he needed, breath filling his lungs, strength finding its way into his bruised body. Focus into his rattled skull. As Mizuki's foot axes down, he barely looks at her, instead throwing himself to the side, a tight, singular roll bringing him up in a stable crouch. The first brutal thrust of Tenma's bokken meets a vertically aligned forearm, slamming it to the side even as the crimson chi rips into his arm, tears through his uniform's sleeve.
In seemingly the same motion, Adelheid pushes to his feet, backs up a step: it's a game of deflection and pacing that's repeated for each of the relentless combination of dangerous thrusts. He drives them wide right, then wide left, takes a half step back.... and then leaps clear, arms reaching straight out to his sides. That's when it happens.
Within the curling fingers of each open palm, brilliant spheres of silver bordered by black rip into being, force rushing outwards due to the sheer intensity of the hurricane gathering within his grip. With a luminescent fluctuation, each charge of energy erupts outwards, growing exponentially and suddenly slammed forward, colliding in outstretched hands, arms tensing wildly as a crescent of energy easily as large and wider than Adelheid himself rushes outwards in a cleaving tidal wave that seeks to rip anything in its path asunder in a maelstrom of cleaving blades.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Mizuki with Crown Prince+.
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Mizuki 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
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Tenma 0/-------/-======|
Her eyes widen; the redhead feels the power buildup an instant before it happens, and she knows--she knows with utter certainty--that she's not going to survive this. But she tries--she tries anyways. For the briefest of briefest of moments, she protects herself, drawing her aura in, bringing her arms up. It is like trying to block a semi truck. Something, she reflects with a detached part of her mind, that she once tried to do to protect Hotaru. That didn't work out as well as she had hoped then, and it certainly didn't work out now... that brief moment ends, and her high-pitched shriek is lost to the sound of the gale-force wall of chi slamming into her.
There's an explosion of pure impact and that hurls the miko a good thirty yards away, her body arcing with uncommon grace, through the air... all the chips are down, and as she approaches the ground, it appears, so is she. Until she manages, somehow, to get her feet under her--almost. Several rapidly stumbling steps slam her back against a parked car. She tries to step forward--and collapses onto that knee, and it's with all her determination, the last shreds of her concentration, and a whispered benediction that she pours blue-green energy at Tenma, a warm, soothing chi that knits wounds, that heals torn muscle fibers, that strengthens... but even as she's sending it out, the very act of it cuts her circuits and she falls to the decking of the bridge.
Almost immediately, the SNF medical team moves to drag her off the field of battle, the girl so thoroughly exhausted and battered that she's not like to wake up for several minutes at least--no sense in leaving her on there, especially as removing her won't affect the tide of battle. Strangely enough... she still has a smile on her lips.
COMBATSYS: Mizuki can no longer fight.
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Tenma 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Mizuki successfully hits Tenma with Iki no Nagare.
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Tenma 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Adelheid
Skidding back after his attack is deflected by Adelheid's guard, Tenma quickly gets his stance back together, his chi-emanating bokken at the ready for further attack or defense... But it seems that, in this case, the preferred target is Mizuki Kamigawa. And what an attack gets used on that target!
At this point, Tenma actually does wince a bit in sympathy, shaking his head slightly; of course, a more pragmatic part of him thinks 'better her than me'. He might feel a little guilty about thinking that, especially when the girl's chi washes over him in a healing wave, her last act in this fight. He moves a bit more easily, but his blue eyes don't move off of Adelheid.
"Tch," Tenma mutters, managing to somehow sound put-upon. "Guess I'd better make sure it counts, huh?"
Hopefully, Adelheid hasn't completely recovered from his own attack as Tenma goes on the offensive, lunging in at the 'prince' and slashing quickly; once, and then again, both feints, before he retreats two steps, hoping to lure Adelheid in before lunging with a stronger slash, aimed at the side of the other young man's neck. "Just you and me, White Hair!"
COMBATSYS: Adelheid parries Tenma's Power Strike!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tenma 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Adelheid
No quarter. The intent was to take Mizuki out of the fight abruptly, entirely, efficiently. For the most part, it was a successful initiative, though the last gathering of energy does complicate things slightly. Still, Adel has seen what the healer is capable of... so at the least, his efforts were thorough in stymieing the potency of that restorative focus. Chi bleeding off his fingertips in greyish, smoky waves, the young Bernstein shifts his stance, and regards Tenma evenly: at last, his focus can narrow to a single point, one objective, one threat. The answer to Tenma's observation is a simple, slow nod. Crimson eyes remain level on the Gedo warrior, studying his features, the force of his motions.
Throughout the feints, Adelheid scarcely moves. Muscles shift, one foot slips back, but he is unfooled, apparently growing wise to the tactic. It is not hesitation, however, and when the mighty lunge comes in, Adelheid sidesteps towards the side where Tenma prepares the slice, stepping a hair's width out of the way as it reels around, weaving just under the strike. One gloved hand launches up, an open palm slamming into the 'blunt' end of the bokken, intent on throwing Kiryuu further off balance. There's so much energy still in the motion that it seems to reverberate around the Prince of War's grasp, as if the blood-chi fueling the blade somehow were amplifying his own with the impact, the blade's arc wavering just a moment as the young warrior's other hand drifts to his other side.
It's not as much energy as was gathered moments before: not quite. Still, the voluminous focus of windshear is remarkable as his hands once more launch forward, seeking to blast the demon hunter at near point-blank range with a brilliant, body-cleaving, ragged edged crescent of pure energy, "And we're not finished!!" he concludes the kiai issued by Tenma with his own punctuating thought... and blast of wind chi.
COMBATSYS: Tenma endures Adelheid's Kaiser Wave EX.
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Tenma 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
This is probably bad news.
Tenma's feint doesn't pan out in the least, and instead he winds up providing Adelheid with all the opening he needs to launch a powerful attack. The younger fighter is knocked off-balance, and then that Kaiser Wave is hurled at him at point blank range. There's not much chance for the Kiryuu heir to do much about it, all things considered, but that doesn't mean he's about to lay down and die, or anything. Instead... Instead, that grin of his broadens a little bit, and the King of Blood actually moves /into/ the blast of Adelheid's chi.
For a moment, the world is enveloped in light, and searing pain, as that crescent of power shears through him, tearing at clothing and flesh, scattering droplets of steaming blood everywhere, but...
"/You are/," the dark-haired young man says, throwing all of his weight and strength into a single sweeping strike of his bokken, fast and sharp enough to stun his opponent. If he manages that first hit, then what follows is a brief assault as Tenma brings knees and feet to bear, as well as his free hand and a few extra slashes with his chi-emanating bokken, driving the more experienced fighter back... And in the end, he finishes it off with a single, lunging headbutt, smashing his forehead directly into the face of Adelheid Bernstein. "GRAAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Tenma's Dead End Breaker.
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Tenma 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
It's the kind of gusto that Adelheid has come to expect from the Gedo crew. Even so, the actual display of the fearless intensity is something that would shake all but the most stalwart of fighters. Luckily for the young Bernstein, he falls into this category. Brows arch abruptly as Kiryuu barrels through the brilliant cleaving edge of windshear, and the Prince of War has only mere moments before impact, so he goes with the path of least resistance. Throwing up his arm, an aligned elbow and forearm crashes into the initial swing of Tenma's bokken, Adelheid's footing sliding back along the bridge as the following flurry further punishes his guard, raising bruises beneath the slashed arms of his uniform, battering the muscle defending him.
Teeth gritting, breath coming heavily, the graceful blonde leaps back several steps... clear of the headbutt, and for the moment, Kiryuu himself. There's a wide, wolfish grin that flashes on the young Bernstein's face, a clipped chuckle leaving his lips, "Is... is it, Kiryuu?" Adel inquires, just a bit flippantly... probably seeking to push Tenma just a little bit farther, "I hope that wasn't... all you've got." There's the tangible tingle of energy as the young Bernstein focuses his reserves, seeking the strength to push on... just a little bit farther. "Because we're still not /finished/."
COMBATSYS: Adelheid gains composure.
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Tenma 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
In truth, that was an extremely dangerous gamble that Tenma just took, and it didn't entirely pan out. It probably could've gone worse, to be sure, but Tenma can't help the surge of irritation and disappointment that follows naturally from it, but...
"Ohh?" Tenma says, brows raising. "Well, I guess that's what I get for writing you off just 'cause you looked like a beaten dog." He doesn't let his irritation, or anything else, show; even if he isn't top tier as far as fighting strength goes, if there's anything Tenma Kiryuu /is/ world-class at, it's controlling his words and demeanor, whatever his whole 'hot blooded' behaviour might suggest. It's one of the few lessons his father beat into him that Tenma has held to.
Never let them see you sweat.
The question is, what to do next? He can't just sit here while Adelheid prepares himself to do... Whatever he's preparing himself to do. There's no choice here but to keep going all out. Nodding once to himself, Tenma rushes directly at Adelheid again, weaving slightly to keep the angle of his attack concealed as long as he can, before he strikes: A single slash from overhead, with both hands on the hilt of his bokken, aiming to blast clear through Adelheid's defenses.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid effortlessly dodges Tenma's Heavy Strike.
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Tenma 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Tenma's control is noticed - even respected. It's more disciplined than he had expected from the Gedo ganger, and it garners a bit of appreciation from the Prince of War. Still, it was the attack that he sought, and the attack comes. All-out, all of Kiryuu's strength behind it. Dangerous, to be certain: and also exactly what the young Bernstein had prepared himself for. The bokken cleaves downward, and the lithe blonde twists aside, turning his side to Tenma, and then stepping back, cleanly and precisely out of the path of the blood-imbued blade in the same blurring instant it descends. The weapon cuts through air, and the Bernstein prodigy drops into a crouch even as it nears the ground.
If he's bothered by the insult? Well, Adelheid doesn't show it either: unless it's present in his action. His right leg launches up, around, a tremendous rising kick intent on carrying Kiryuu skyward with it, boot roundhousing about in a ripping arc, a crescent of crimson-edged silver torn into being along the path of that heavy footware, augmenting the destructive potential of the singular, efficient.... brutal motion. "It will take more than that!!" Some predators are at their most dangerous when cornered, pushed to their limits. One doesn't survive years as a Bernstein any other way.
COMBATSYS: Tenma fails to interrupt Genocide Cutter from Adelheid with Ungyou.
> //////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Tenma can no longer fight.
> //////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Once again, Adelheid's speed and precision prove to be more than merely problematic; Tenma hits nothing with his slash, and then he has to deal with, well... Adelheid having his turn, as it were. So, in comes Adelheid with the kick that has stymied the hopes of so many people who fought his father, and Tenma sees a pretty limited set of options in dealing with it, once again. Little choice but to keep going all out, to hope that he can manage something. So Tenma steps /into/ the kick, bringing his sword down and...
Whoops, right, the getting /kicked/ part.
Tenma Kiryuu gets well and truly Genocide Cuttered... Genocide Cut? Something like that, anyway. Adelheid's attack strikes cleanly and completely, and that takes what fight was left in Tenma right out of him, as the Kiryuu heir crashes to the bridge, rather more limply than he would like. "Ha ha," Tenma chuckles, stirring and attempting to rise. "Ow," he decides instead, flopping back; nearby, the aura around his bokken dissipates, with a sound like a slowly exhaled breath.
There are certain things that one just doesn't usually want to step into. Of course, the Kaiser Wave generally qualifies on this list, as well. Twice over doesn't prove to be a charm for Tenma today, however, and the Genocide Cutter carries Adelheid on a far more graceful trip skyward than the one the Gedo demonslayer enjoys. There may be a bit of turbulence on this flight, and Tenma's ticket just doesn't happen to include a seatbelt. In fact, it's safe to say his tray table isn't in an upright and locked position, either. At least, not anymore. Booted feet thunk heavily to the bridge, the young Bernstein chuckling a quiet note to answer Tenma's.
"Well fought. Both of you." The ex-heir to 'R' offers simply, though Mizuki may or may not be aware of the events in her current medic-attended state. "We'll cross paths again." A button is pressed on a small module on his belt, and the thrum of the uncanny aerial battleship returns, parting the mists as it drops out of the clouds along a new vector. Without further ado, the Prince of War leaves much as he arrived, stepping off the side of the bridge fearlessly, and dropping some distance before catching hold of a tactical ladder dropped from the underside of the dark vessel, which rapidly ascends once more, leaving the mists for the clouds.
Log created on 16:46:27 12/06/2009 by Tenma, and last modified on 18:36:35 12/12/2009.