Description: Long ago, Alma Towazu swore everlasting enmity against Kain R. Heinlein, holding him responsible for the downfall of his closest friend, Jiro Kasagi, into a darkness from which he harrowingly emerged. But Jiro is gone now, comatose perhaps forever, and old grudges -- even ones so sincerely born of love and loyalty -- seem petty in the face of the destruction in which all of Southtown's inhabitants shared. With Kain having joined the YFC4's efforts to revitalize Southtown, the Radiant Angel sees this as an opportunity to let bygones be bygones and take the first step toward a unified coalition of powers to save this city. But while words are worthy, Alma has never forgotten Heinlein's strength, and to know the man's heart he feels compelled to one more duel: a nail-biter in which Kain demonstrates his incredible ability and Alma proves, as ever, that pure passion can even the difference. (Winner: Kain)
To think that the sun would be out.
Evening settles, but later than usual, the light displaying an unseasonable resilience against the dark. On the verge of setting but not quite there, a fiery globe as yet overlooks a city bustling anew, and with it looks down Alma, standing on the brink of his community center's roof. One hand slipped into the pocket of his slim tailored slacks, still in the formal charcoal-gray suit from the business he has just concluded downstairs, the beautiful youth regards this city with the satisfied warmth of a protective older brother, the pose of a guardian akin to the pseudonym that has grown in use alongside his own fame: a Radiant Angel.
This city is warming. This city--
/His/ city.
~ How strange. ~
Briefly averting his gaze, he smiles with faint embarrassment.
~ Only a year ago, I would have never thought like that. ~
Alma Towazu is alone now, but the vision behind him teems with life. Before war raged through these streets, the YFCC roof, for all its share of visitors, was nothing to look at, a flat blacktop with a heating grate and metal piping. But when the decision was made to purchase that plot of land behind the building and make of it a garden, the volunteers who took up that responsibility chose also, during the renovations, to make the roof more than it had once been. Now white stone sheaths the quasi-parapets that make up the edges of the roof, a donation from a grateful businessman, and naturally uneven granite tiles form pathways between planters teeming with herbs and flowers. Many have faded in the winter, of course, and few blossoms remain, but the shrubs and bushes planted here and there in the corners of the roof remain strong, two stone lanterns glow with an inner light, and within the flowers a faint soothing trickle can be heard, an ingenious design that recycles the YFCC's water and purifies it via an artificial rooftop stream.
Alma's thoughts travel not to his surroundings, though he is grateful for them. He has invited someone to join him here, now that his duties have temporarily abated -- someone he never expected to see, let alone work with.
~ Kain R. Heinlein... ~
This man-- before, only he and Igniz were the men to whom Alma considered himself an implacable foe, if not an equal to their power. Their goals and ideals contradicted his own faith and philosophy; that would be reason enough to conclude, with unflinching conviction, that they are eternal adversaries.
So what has changed?
Alma has not, he does not think, though his role has grown, grown enough to make a presence already offensive to some all the more so. And he is not inclined to suspect that Kain's heart has changed, or that he would have done anything differently with regard to his crimes against Jiro -- which, for all the responsibility Jiro himself must take and has taken, Alma could never forgive Kain for. But circumstances have changed, and not just those that have thrust Alma, as if it were somehow his nature, into a more political role.
~ When was this ever /my/ city...? ~
Southtown has suffered devastation.
~ I suppose it's only natural my responsibility would expand-- ~
Differences must be put aside.
~ --as my strength, understanding, and ability have. ~
Even those forged in the deepest heat of one's soul.
~ I'm a leader, now. ~
There are many times when Kain prefers to make an impressive entrance. Instilling a feeling of awe into people is often a good way to begin proceedings, particularly if you want them to do something for you, or be worried and make mistakes. But this evening Kain doesn't feel the need for such theatrics. His footsteps can be heard before he arrives, stepping out onto the roof and into the evening breeze.
After a moment of looking around, Kain briskly makes his way in Alma's direction, the tail of his coat trailing behind him. "This is quite a nice place you have here." His tone isn't exactly friendly, but it's not completely cold, either. As ever, it's hard to tell what Kain is thinking or feeling. Even if it wasn't, it would still be some work to figure out why he even deigned to come here.
But Alma isn't the only one who thinks of Southtown as /his/ city. Kain grew up here. He knows this city from top to bottom, in more than one sense of those words. He has, however, come away with a rather less sentimental view. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about the city. It has importance to him. And Kain is capable of engaging in some very long term planning.
Of course-- there's more than one leader in this town.
"Thank you."
Alma looks over his shoulder, profile framed in the unfading light, to regard gentle-eyed a man he once feared and despised. He still fears Kain, of course, and the man's incredible power-- but righteous anger has given way to a strategist's caution, such as it is, and greater maturity. Facing that still overwhelming aura once more, any fantasy Alma might have entertained about Kain himself having changed is almost immediately blasted away. No-- most likely, any alliance between them will be somehow convenient. But that is fair. Alma would call it a necessity to enhance his pursuit of the good-- but even he knows 'convenience' would be a fair word for him as well.
"I appreciate your coming here."
As he speaks he steps down to meet Kain at the same level, gaze steady on the man's own eyes, and it is only then that Alma smiles slightly, with sincere gratitude mingled with careful restraint.
"I confess, Mr. Heinlein," he continues, as a light breeze sweeps between them, reminder of the inevitable return of winter's chill, "I did not expect you to join me in this endeavor." He nods once, inclining his head respectfully without lowering his gaze. "So I wanted to call you aside, before any matches are assigned, to thank you also for participating in this tournament."
~ Perhaps I underestimated you, Kain, and your concern for... how this city should be. Perhaps... ~
A lengthy pause, as the young man weighs his words.
"I am sure our ideals will continue to differ," he murmurs, glossing over the vast divide between them, "and there will always be issues upon which we will... disagree. But I believe, in these difficult times, it is in the best interest of this organization--" He looks away from Kain for the first time, to sweep his gaze across this new rooftop garden and its unobtrusive stone markers amidst the flora, down to the verdant garden behind the building where a weekend party was not long ago held, and an announcement made. "--to ally ourselves with anyone who shares the goal of returning Southtown to its height of prosperity, even remaking it better than before. And I sincerely believe... our interests can converge there."
His gaze, mild but clear-eyed, returns to settle upon his erstwhile foe.
"Whatever past we have between us," he continues, "has weighed too heavily upon my heart. That's why I wanted to be the one to invite you here, to set that past behind us, and work together to restore Southtown." That slight but open-hearted smile returns. "I have no ambitions to add to this organization's renown or my own, only to secure whatever power and influence is required to best perform its function: to support the culture and prosperity of this city, and to protect those young talents that might otherwise, in despair, harm themselves or others. Conflict between us would be of no use to anyone."
He steps forward, finally closing the distance between them.
"So--"
And extends his hand, to shake.
"I hope we can work together, from now on."
Kain extends his arm, grabbing Alma's hand with a firm handshake. "That's very good to hear. I'm certain that you're quite earnest in your desire to help Southtown and its people, so I'm sure we'll be able to work together to bring about that reality." He doesn't release Alma's hand right away, maintaining eye contact with the younger man. "As for any differences between us in the past, I maintain that you are misunderstanding some important concepts... but we can set that behind us, in the face of the greater good."
Then Kain does release his grip, letting his hand fall back to his side. "I'll be happy to assist in any way that I can. My own cleanup efforts can be somewhat time consuming, but I'm sure I can arrange time to help you with your endeavor." And to be fair, Kain really is engaging in activities that are helping to put back together the business and financial life of the city. He's getting his hooks into a variety of people and organizations in the process, true, but it's still helping.
If only Alma truly could read minds.
Yet his psychic abilities do assist him in one crucial capacity in his interactions with Kain: by never letting him forget the power of the man before him. Gripping Heinlein's hand sends chills down Alma's spine, that overwhelming aura mingling oppressively against his own awareness. Given that he is usually the, er, most radiant person in the room, the angel of the YFCC finds this a rare experience indeed; even as he continues to smile gently, blond hairs rise on the back of his neck, as though in the presence of static electricity or mortal threat.
"I'm glad to hear it."
They are both willing to gloss over their differences, and it would surely be fruitless at this juncture to bring them up, as likely these remain irreconcilable. Nevertheless, it takes every mote of willpower at Alma's disposal to let his hand simply fall to his side once Kain releases it; the urge to slip it into a pocket and surreptitiously wipe it off is embarrassingly acute, a combination of dark suspicion and the almost painful tingling he can sense from physical contact with the Ankoku Shinkuu-ken warrior. Triumphing over that visceral psycho-emotional reaction, the beautiful youth continues to stand with his usual poise, his limbs relaxed and hands at his side, and nods calmly when the man finishes.
"I'm grateful," he replies mildly, smiling once more his little smile. "And please alert me if the YFCC can be of any assistance in your own projects. I'll be in open communication regarding our efforts, lest we find ourselves at odds purely by accident."
It is only then that he steps back slightly, turning to the side to gaze toward a series of ordered and polished stones that have been planted amidst the now somewhat wilted shrubs. Potentially mistakable for the flagstones that form pathways through this renovated rooftop garden, upon closer inspection these unobtrusive markers have inscriptions: names and recent dates. Alma pauses for a moment, smooth brow furrowingly slightly, contemplating his words once more. "We have made it our mission," he finally says, "to make sense of the tragedy through constructive efforts. From our progress, and the flourishing of our members, I think we have met with success. But even reliving the memories of those days, I myself continue to wonder at what truly transpired during that chaos. I--"
He pauses, smiles again, and then turns to Kain with a wry expression.
"Maybe I shouldn't say this," he continues, smile widening a bit, "but when I first learned of Howard's association with the Syndicate, I hoped to use that knowledge against him to protect this organization's mission-- and a very close friend. I did not expect Howard's complete and utter downfall to render that knowledge moot, and such power unnecessary. But even with all the intelligence I gathered during that war--" And here his associates wondered why he undertook so many solo missions. "I could not understand why so many villains converged on this city all at the same time, or how even a tenuous and temporary alliance could have been forged between them."
Lowering his head, Alma maintains his gaze on the epitaphs.
"I have no doubts about my own ends," he murmurs. "But I do wonder if there's something I've missed... some answer I might unearth... to further instill with meaning the sacrifices of the fallen."
Kain glances at the stones as Alma does, reading the inscriptions on a few that are visible from his angle. He listens silently to Alma speak before commenting. "It likely would not have gone as well as you might have hoped. There were a number of people who were aware of Geese's true nature, but that knowledge was of little use without extensive proof to back it up. Even hard evidence could be covered up. It was only once he was beset from numerous sides that enough cracks appeared in his armor for him to be taken down. So at least there was some good that came from the terrible events that struck Southtown."
Even Kain can't help sounding at least a little bit happy when talking about Geese's downfall. "As for what caused so many powerful factions to strike at once..." He shrugs. "I'm sure there was some plan, but I heard nothing about it when fighting against the invaders." Strictly speaking, this is quite true. Extremely misleading, of course, but true. Even with the two of them apparently alone, Kain isn't about to go spilling any dark secrets. Recording devices can be hidden quite easily.
Indeed they can be; hidden from Alma, too.
"You may be right," the young man concedes, nodding his assent. "In that regard, at the very least, perhaps the situation did turn out for the best." If there's any barely-disguised glee in Kain's voice, Alma does not seem to notice. Who would not be happy to see evil exposed and justice done? Towazu himself is grateful that the Syndicate's forces were scattered with the fall of Howard.
"Yes... neither did I."
He allows one more lengthy pause, thoughts and gaze focused on the monument to the fallen before him, before Alma smiles abruptly and turns back to Kain, looking faintly embarrassed.
"Forgive me. I didn't invite you here to listen to my concerns."
Lifting his right hand to his breast, Alma flexes each finger inward one at a time, gradually forming and then unforming a fist, stretching the joints and working out the last of the aftereffects of physical contact with his guest.
"I was once reckless and presumptuous," he says mildly, "in challenging my fellows to duels, for the only way to know another's heart I was aware of was through battle. I wouldn't claim to be wiser now--" And here he smiles wider. "But I have learned less violent ways to express sincerity. Nevertheless--"
He spreads his stance slightly, straightening.
"I have never forgotten your power, Mr. Heinlein, and as we begin this cooperative effort, I would face it once again, to feel the strength of your will without reservation."
He inclines his head forward in recognition, and eyes focused on Kain's own already glitter with a rising inner light, in anticipation of potential clash with the mighty aura before him.
"I have grown a little since our last encounter."
The hand before him, still raised, glows faintly pale in the sun.
"Will you indulge me?"
If he were to answer candidly, Kain might consider Alma's challenge to still be rather reckless. But no matter! He shifts his footing slightly, settling into a stance more conducive to engaging in combat. Notably, this does not require a very drastic change from the stance he was already in. He holds his right and out from his side slightly, flexing his fingers a few times. "I'd be happy to. In deference to our surroundings, I'll try to keep myself... focused. But don't worry, I should be able to do that without having to hold back. So please, show me how much you've grown." He smiles in an almost friendly manner.
What's considerably less friendly is the aura that surrounds Kain. Even when he's not actively preparing to fight Kain exudes power to those who are sensitive enough to notice it. When he starts actively channeling chi he's like a spiritual beacon. And one that clearly gives the message that he is not one to be trifled with.
COMBATSYS: Kain has started a fight here.
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Kain 0/-------/------=|
"I appreciate that."
Yes, speaking of recklessness, perhaps it would have been wiser to extend such a challenge in the garden below, where there would be no monuments of any kind to be threatened. Yet compelling Alma toward this challenge, just as much as his heartfelt desire to pit his will against Kain's own once more and that visceral psychic pull to match the aura before him, is the very sacred space in which he now dwells. Under that logic -- where the very circumstances endangered by this fight are what demand it in the first place -- Alma is able to justify his decision to himself.
Though justifying it to his assistant afterward is another story.
But there is that aura again, that exuded power, nearly blinding Alma's second sight; for a moment he even squints reflexively, though it is not his physical eyes that are so assaulted. Yet such power in the hands of his adversaries has never struck fear into Alma's heart; always, inevitably, his soul is stirred by what seems intuitively like an opportunity. For a person potentially so alienated from the world by his own gifts, to be in the presence of someone able to challenge him so -- who must assuredly speak the language that he does -- is like a gift, regardless of their nature. It is a reminder of the possibility of the forging of meaningful bonds, even for one as different as himself.
"Very well, then!"
And perhaps that is the real reason why power in the hands of evil is so abhorrent to him: not because it defies a premise of his faith, but because to see such possibility in the hands of someone to whom Alma cannot grow close -- with whom he cannot forge the intimacy that such a potent aura seems to beckon toward -- is a kind of betrayal, a rejection, an ultimate denial.
"Prepare!"
And Alma's passion cannot be denied.
Soulfire erupts about his fist almost in spite of himself, the presence of Kain's growing energy opening the floodgates within Alma's spirit, awakening the sea of flame ever smouldering within him. Pearly psychic luminesence wreathing his arm, the suit-clad YFCC administrator plunges forward across the flagstones, feet seeming to barely touch the rooftop as he hurtles toward his opponent-- propelled, almost, by the lance of blazing power that emerges from his fingertips, aiming to smash directly against his erstwhile foe's formidable defenses.
COMBATSYS: Alma has joined the fight here.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Kain with Self Expression.
- Power hit! -
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Alma 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Kain
No matter how weak the opponent, it never pays to underestimate them. Even a completely hopeless fighter could still manage to jam a knife into your back if you pay him no attention at all. And Alma is far from hopeless, so Kain raises his guard as the younger man charges at him. Of course, taking the fighter seriously doesn't mean that it's going to be /difficult/ to deal with them, and Kain finds himself fairly easily able to track Alma's movements, putting his raised arm in the path of the energy that shoots forth from his finger tips. And he does manage to deflect it. Unfortunately, the angle is such that it deflects upwards, right into Kain's face.
The new crime lord of Southtown stumbles back for a moment, shaking his head. And when he looks back at Alma he doesn't seem angry, although it may be hard to tell since he's already in motion for an attack back at Alma. He takes a running step, then leaps toward Alma with his right leg leading. Black flame springs out from his leg and billows out behind him as he races toward Alma with an explosive kick.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Kain's Schwarzer Stob.
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Alma 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Kain
True passion cannot be denied-- but luck helps.
Alma doesn't fool himself: whatever advantage of surprise he may have had from his exponential increase in ability since their last duel is likely already gone, and he can't count on Kain making mistakes. Against the torrent of power already heading toward him, it is all he can do to steel his heart and brace himself against the coming storm.
That explosive kick tears against Alma's defenses, searing at his very mind as -- with a flash of white and gold -- his latent auric shield absorbs some of the incredible impact of Kain's attack. Yet, shockingly, if only through iron resolve, Alma's guard is maintained. His arms, though numbed by pain and heat, protect him from the true potential of that strike. Nevertheless, momentum is momentum, even to those psychics which can seemingly defy the laws of nature. Alma is sent skidding back from the force of the blow, out of range of his opponent.
But he is able to react instantly as Kain descends, and with gaze clear and steadfast, he thrusts out a flame-wreathed glowing hand out at his opponent, aiming to catch him before he can fully return to his ready stance. A beam erupts from his fingertips, a channeling of the incandescent passion raging within him and the sacred energy he believes himself to be taking in. This is his home turf, after all. This place--
"Uuurrrraahhh!"
--and this fight.
Yes; this is what he understands.
The bolt forged of his conviction carves through the short distance between them, a manifestation, if there is any such thing, of Alma's righteousness. He feels it to be the influence of his philosophy upon his world, formed into a strike, the heartfelt feelings of an angel upon earth -- and if it is indeed such divine intervention, then perhaps it is all he can rely on to give him a chance of defeating Kain.
COMBATSYS: Kain blocks Alma's Divine Intervention.
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Alma 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Kain
Although the impact isn't as solid as Kain might have hoped, he's still able to kick off from the collision with Alma, flipping back to land on his feet. A good thing, of course, since Alma managed to remain standing. And this time Kain is ready for the beam of energy Alma unleashes. He swings his arm toward it, and there's a flash of blue as the attack strikes Kain's aura and finds it quite difficult to punch through.
Kain doesn't just wait around, though. Even before the flash fades his hand his filled with dancing black flame. Then it's just a matter of snapping his arm in Alma's direction to send it leaping forth as a ball of fire that races back along the path of Alma's Divine Intervention. And there's definitely nothing divine about /this/ energy.
COMBATSYS: Kain successfully hits Alma with Schwarze Flame.
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Alma 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Kain
That's for sure.
Alma's plan backfires: unable to exploit any vulnerability during Kain's recovery, he himself is unable to return to his stance before that black flame erupts toward him and explodes against his body, sending him hurling back along the flagstones. Rolling neatly, Alma manages to slide smoothly to his feet after a few tumbles -- still trailing the flames of Kain's chi -- but appearances can be deceiving: his previously clear eyes are glazed and his body trembles with effort from how quickly he forces himself to stand. The sheer amount of damage he has suffered from that one technique is overwhelming.
"Rrrrrrraaaaahhhh!"
Yet he remains unrelenting. The fire within him has awakened, an experience long missed but never forgotten, his own Soul Power streaming through his veins and numbing the pain, an all-encompassing need to push his own will to its limits in the face of incredible odds banishing all else from his awareness. Ignoring all hazards to his health he lunges forward again-- but rather than try to cover the now sizable distance between he and his opponent, and possibly fall into Kain's waiting attack, Alma stops several meters before impact and plunges his fist toward the ground.
"Haaaaahh!"
Unleashing his gathered power there, a geyser of scintillating energy, swirling flames of white and indigo and cherry-blossom pink, emerges from the ground angled up at Kain, aiming to consume him in glittering, blazing light, the fullness of Alma's being a bludgeon against the mighty warrior's mental defenses.
COMBATSYS: Kain interrupts Full Confession from Alma with Schwarze Lanze.
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Alma 1/---====/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
Although he may not have the train mind of a psycho power user, Kain is extremely strong willed, and that makes a difference. Also... Alma isn't the only one who has improved since their last encounter. Heinlein spots Alma's plan when he's already in motion, but he doesn't allow that to stop him. When Alma pauses to slam his hands into the ground, Kain keeps going. He drops low, in line with Alma's new stance, and thrusts forward, reaching out with his left leg and pushing forward with his right.
Black flame runs up the entire length of his leg, flickering around his body and chopping a fissure right through the erupting pillar of Alma's energy. Kain doesn't make it through the blast unscathed, but he does make it through without slowing down, allowing his foot to impact Alma's face at full speed, followed by the dark fire washing over the younger man.
It's brutal.
Needless to say, Alma's attempt at a triumphant soulfire release is abortive. Kain's lightning speed and initiative reveal him once more to be among the very best fighters in the world, cutting short Alma's ferocious assault with an infinitely more potent strike of his own. Whereas his opponent is able to maintain his poise and strike with agonizing power and precision, Alma is sent head over heels once more, this time sprawling with far less grace than before.
"...Uughh..."
Able to emit only a groan of suffering from the black fire wracking his body, the Radiant Angel half-collapses more than untucks into a kneeling position, somehow managing to avoid lying prone completely. Nevertheless, his head is slumped, low-hanging bangs obscuring his gaze from view. He leans dangerously forward, looking as though he might topple over at any moment.
And then he is gone.
"Huuuuuahhhh!!"
An explosive battle cry, at the instant of his strike, is the only indication of where he has reappeared: directly behind Kain, his arm afire with a white light to outshine the sun setting above. Teleportation: the ultimate ace up Alma's sleeve, an ability seemingly possessed only by psychics, and then only by the best. Alma can only wield it at his most desperate moments and during his most overwhelming strikes-- for which this situation most definitely qualifies.
Fingertips trace afterimages toward Kain's skull, aiming to unleash a deafening and mind-crushing wave of psychic energy, a raw outpouring of Alma's will, a rapturous release of his self. Eyes aglow with an eerie purple light, he will assault the battlements of Kain's resolve with every ounce of fire at his disposal, an invisible but concussive eruption that when released sends the plants around them swaying in the opposite direction and the wind to rush.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Kain with Absolution EX.
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Alma 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Kain
It doesn't take Kain long to figure out Alma is behind him, but it's long enough. The psychic images from Alma come into contact with Kain's head as he's turning around, and the blast that sends the plants swaying is nothing compared to the blast inside Kain's head. His eyes go blank for a moment, his body swaying before he falls to one knee. But after a shorter moment than Alma would probably like he shakes his head and starts standing back up.
"Well, I did say I would take this seriously..." There are ways of dealing a significant blow to your opponent without having to scorch the earth around them, even for someone who relies on overwhelming power, like Kain. And overwhelming is an appropriate word for the power that Kain summons next. His aura flares even more powerfully, then focuses on his right hand, condensing into a deceptively tiny ball of flickering black flame that seems to actually absorb the light around it. And then, with a flick of Kain's wrist, it shoots toward Alma so fast that it becomes a blur. Against opponents who use chi, this technique strikes right at the flow of energy through their bodies, burning them from the inside. Kain hasn't actually used it against a psycho power user before. The results should be interesting.
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Kain's Himmlischer Atem.
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Alma 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Kain
Interesting, indeed.
Alma's consciousness is singed from agony and his own intensity, acting now on a primal instinct enhanced a hundredfold by his deep spiritual awareness. Even with Kain reeling from his ultimate attack, the youth's respite is all too brief; yet it would take full minutes for his mind to return to its natural state. All he has to rely upon is his intuition -- and while such a mode of operation is imperfect, sometimes a man's subconscious is a better friend than his thoughts.
He can sense before he sees that there is a tremendous power coming, one that might destroy him utterly, impact with a terrible effect that even his honed instincts can only guess at. Trembling with the energy still streaming through him, still afire with light from his assault seconds before and at the pinnacle of synergy with his own psychic power, Alma faces the blindingly fast attack coming for him, and it is impossible for him, beyond his body's capabilities, to move away in time.
And so his mind must do the moving for him.
In an outrage against the laws of nature and defying all expectation, Alma teleports /again/, blurring out of existence and reappearing behind Kain once more after the man has already committed to his devastating strike, so that the orb of chi leaves the rooftop to fade out into the distant horizon. But this is no repeat ambush. Alma's own body resists this incredible act; immediately after manifesting once more, the Radiant Angel collapses to his knees, coughing violently, flecking his lips with his own blood.
Yet his will defies all of this, what remains of his resolve focused only on one thing, as ever: the clash of souls. Drawn with an almost animal drive toward the still-mighty aura before him, like a wave drawn to crash against a cliff, in a mere moment Alma has staggered to his feet into a new rush. Even as he wipes the blood from his mouth with his hand, he scythes out with his leg, a kick that explodes into white flame and buoys him off the ground, striking out toward Kain's head. Carried along by his own momentum more than anything, Alma will continue on if able, lashing out with a total of three roundhouse kicks before attempting to sail away, Soul Power carrying him some distance away.
COMBATSYS: Kain fails to interrupt Rising Fury from Alma with Quick Throw.
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Alma 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Kain
With Alma's foot swinging toward his head, Kain reaches up and outwardin an attempt to grab Alma by the ankle. With no solid footing to rely on, Alma should have no choice but to have his momentum used against him and be swung into the ground. But that assumes that Kain doesn't make a mistake. Alma's leg strikes Kain's fingers before he can be firmly grasped, and that's the opening the attack needs to blow past and make it the rest of the way to Kain's head. And then it's followed by two more.
Kain staggers back, shaking his head. It seems Alma's improvement has been even greater than he had been expecting. Well, better to find out about that now, instead of when it might really matter... He cracks his neck a few times, letting the ringing in his head calm down a bit and slowly turning around to face Alma while the younger man lands and prepares his next move.
Only passion fuels him now.
With his body breaking and his mind blown, Alma Towazu fights with primal fury, a ferocity that has forgotten the past between he and his opponent. What emerges now is the purest form of the will to fight, with no fear of death or shame in defeat. What arises within him is a raw defiance of the mortal limitations upon him, the chains of fatigue that bind his strength and the shackles of weakness that ebb his flame. In such a state, it might seem as though everything in his vision becomes merely an obstacle, as though Kain is simply a great challenge to be overcome.
But it is in the spirit of this most desperate yearning--
"Huuuuuaaahhhh!"
--that Alma reaches out, offering up his very soul.
Will respect be forged of this collision? Will death be defied and darkness be banished? The answers to these questions seem moot in the heat of the moment. Alma soars, kicking off Kain to spiral through the air, and the world appears to spin in slow-motion as he turns, sailing away, to regard his wary adversary.
The strike was supposed to carry him away, out of reach and briefly out of danger, his body demanding at least a moment to refresh itself. But Soul Power abruptly slows his travel, so that for a bizarre second he seems almost suspended above Kain, having rotating from his spinning roundhouses such that he is twisted almost upside-down above. And in this moment, in this all-too-temporary proximity, before they are torn apart once more, rising up irrepressibly from Alma's burning heart is the need to strike once more, to make that precious contact with -- whatever flaws its possesser may have -- a truly mighty soul.
A sword of flame emerges from his fist.
"K..."
And the Radiant Angel strikes from above.
"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIN!!"
The roar erupts from the depths of his being as though intertwined with the blade he has drawn from the forge within, and he slashes. As he is literally upside-down in the air above Kain now, that slash is downward, and if it connects will appear to cleave Kain straight down his prime meridian, cutting a line that would split him into perfect symmetrical halves.
Of course, the fire is psychic illusion, and the blade has no power to cut flesh. But the impact will be experienced as though it does-- and with it Alma will cut through, aiming right for Kain's heart.
COMBATSYS: Kain just-defends Alma's Blaze of Glory!
[ \\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Kain
Chi and psycho power can interact in strange ways, but one thing generally be counted on: when you throw out enough power, /something/ is going to happen when they clash. As Alma comes down, Kain's left hand reaches up, swathed in dark fire. And he actually catches the blade which has no physical existence. There's a moment of uncertainty, and then Kain's 'grip' tightens and the flaming blade is blasted apart in a flare of light.
Of course, Kain's right hand hasn't been idle. As Alma continues to descend, he will meet a wave of flame leaping from Kain's hand to meet him. If he'd had more time to think about it, Kain might have formed a fiery blade of his own. This blast is rather less focused, but still quite capable of getting the job done.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Kain's Schwarz Cutter.
[ \\\ < > ////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Kain
Flame engulfs him, and the Radiant Angel falls from the sky.
Yet he lands in a crouch, awe-inspiringly poised after all that he has endured, and the black flames fade to reveal that the youth's arms are crossed in front of his chest, having absorbed that blow in turn. Every nerve screams within him, every semblance of self-consciousness is gone. And still he is able to drive forward, lunging once more, putting up a relentless, no, an insane amount of pressure on his worthy opponent, seeking to finally shatter Kain's defenses for good-- and his composure with it.
He lashes out, a gout of soulfire that darts forward, as quick a strike as Alma can muster with exhaustion so weighing down his limbs. The wave of flame gleams bright, spiralling and weaving in an attempt to surge through the harried warrior's guard and force him back, pushing Kain against the edge of the rooftop as the psychic fighter continues his seemingly infinite assault.
"Uuuuaahhh!"
There is no end. There is no release.
There is only the fight.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Kain with Sacred Wave.
>> Decisive Hit!! <<
[ \\ < > /////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Kain
Even Kain is getting worn down at this point, and would prefer not to take blows head on if it can be avoided. Unfortunately he's not able to evade the latest blast from Alma, and in his gradually weakening condition it does end up being enough to push him back. But when your back is to the wall (so to speak), there's only one way out, and that's through whoever has pushed you there. And Kain isn't at all shy about crashing through an opponent.
And unlike Alma, he seems to still be quite calm, moving smoothly and with precision. Although somewhat less than at the start of the fight, it's true. But even if his body is feeling the damage, in the end it's not his physical form that is the real source of Kain's strength. The blue glue that surrounds his fist is just as strong as ever, as he closes in on Alma and aims a hook punch for his jaw.
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Kain's Medium Punch.
[ \\ < > /////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Kain
And the angel continues to fight like a demon.
With a burst of blurring speed to match Kain's own, Alma ducks and weaves just hairsbreadths away from Kain's punch, a blow that would have surely felled him in an instant. He does not pause; he does not hesitate. The youth, gasping a ragged and tortured breath, closes in, almost colliding bodily with his opponent in his desperate, semiconscious haste.
"Haaaah--!"
He slashes out with both arms, this time, and with it comes the remainder of the flame still somehow burning within him: an X of twin blades that emerge only for an instant, but long enough to potentially cut through Kain. With his arms flung wide, and feet stumbling, it looks almost as though Alma is attempting to embrace his opponent.
Embrace-- and in those flames, consume him.
COMBATSYS: Kain interrupts Blaze of Glory from Alma with Schwarzer Mond.
[ < > //////// ]
Alma 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Kain
When Alma lunges forward, Kain steps back. Just enough to get a little room, since Alma will close the distance again anyway... except that what Kain needs the room for is to flip backwards, lifting up his right leg in the process to drive a flaming kick up into Alma's jaw with enough force to continue right on through, knocking Alma's head back so that Kain can complete his flip. His landing is somewhat marred by the fact that he still gets struck by the two blades of psycho power, though.
Even with that, however, Kain manages to land on his feet. Given the nature of Alma's attacks, he actually isn't looking as bad on the outside as one might expect, certainly not enough for him to be slowing down as much as he is. He's definitely feeling the damage adding up on the inside, though. It would be a good idea to make sure Alma goes down and stays down until he stops freaking out.
Alma is knocked clean off his feet by the powerful flip kick, spiralling up into the air and twirling head over heels once more, tossed like a ragdoll with no stamina left to preserve him. Yet his collapse is into a kneeling position once more, rather than splayed across the ground as he should be. For a moment it seems like this might merely be an accident of fate. The fires around him are completely extinguished. He appears unconscious, sunk in on himself, slumped.
And then, as if in a trance, he rises.
But unlike the undead, which at this point he might very well resemble, Alma seems to have actually regained some of his poise. With the flames that have wreathed him this entire battle now vanished, he seems calmer-- if a seemingly unconscious person can be said to be 'calm'.
But conscious or no, he rushes forward once more, his moments liquid and expression more serene than dazed. In this final rapturous moment, utterly consumed by his own fighting spirit and beyond all misery, he hammers out with a final blinding assault of punches and kicks, expertly weaving into a deadly and forbidding dance.
And no matter what the result, upon its conclusion, he will slump once more to his knees again, sinking back into that apparent slumber-- this time, not to rise again.
...Finally.
COMBATSYS: Alma can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Kain 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Kain dodges Alma's Stream of Consciousness.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Kain 0/-------/---====|
When it comes down to the end, Kain is still in better physical condition than Alma, though the gap is not as wide as he'd like. And he's also in a clearer state of mind. Not to mention a gap in sheer ability, although it seems Alma has managed to bridge that gap rather well through sheer berserker rage. But this final assault of Alma's isn't up to his usual standards, even though he's able to follow the motions, and Kain is able to slip through the weaving blows, stepping aside as Alma collapses to the ground.
Kain pauses for several long moments, catching his breath and then neatening up his appearance as much as possible. Then he takes his leave, since it seems Alma won't be getting up for a while. On his way down he's nice enough to inform someone inside that Alma could possibly use some assistance up on the roof.
COMBATSYS: Kain has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:40:38 12/13/2009 by Alma, and last modified on 16:52:23 12/16/2009.