Description: Billy Kane is back! Celebrating his return to the fighting scene is a charity match under the auspices of the YFC4, in which the Radiant Angel Alma Towazu and his too-loyal-for-his-own-good cohort Zach Glen must earn the staff master's money by-- surviving. A taunting condition, to be sure, but one well deserved, as Billy tears through the fighters in succession. Just over a minute of outrageous action earns the YFC4 $70,000 dollars-- and Towazu a serious hospital stay. What can we say? That's what you get when you face the Pimp Kane. (Winner: Billy)
Charity is in the air.
Alma Towazu, the Radiant Angel of Southtown, stands with hands clasped behind his back, pale and ruby-tinged locks fluttering in the faint breeze of ten-thousand bated breaths. His chin tilted up, chiseled features mild but hazel eyes bright with anticipation, he regards the packed stands, hears the buzz and the clamor, feels the energy of the audience, and knows that the Young Fighter's Community Center Charity Championship -- a title far too long to do anything but abbreviate -- has enlivened his city more than he could have ever hoped.
The streets are vivid with decoration, sidewalks full of visitors jostling. Southtown seems a metropolis once more -- and so it is that great fighters emerge once more from obscurity. Alma is satisfied enough to experience, as viscerally as only a practiced psychic and empath can, the dynamism once more present in his thawed and healing hometown. He is gratified to be a part of it. But the power that has come with his rise, the power not only to fight but to be a political presence, to /save/-- it has grown, and quickly.
Perhaps too quickly.
Alma Towazu, Would-Be Messiah? Perhaps; arguable. But with his conviction and charisma beginning to dominate a public stage, his motives become irrelevant. A power grab is a power grab, pure and simple, and there has remained a power void in Southtown for some time.
He is appreciative of the challenge he's received, and all the more so for the offer -- $10,000 for every round he and his partner "survive" -- but, his apparent composure here in the midst of Howard (awkward) Arena aside, a shadow of hesitancy remains in his heart. Billy Kane's position and influence in the city of Southtown pre-invasion remains mysterious to the Radiant Angel. How might he be interpreting Alma's actions this past month? Are there any ulterior motives involved here?
Well--
"Prepare yourself, Zach."
Whatever, right?
Alma smiles, glancing sidelong at his loyal volunteer.
"Billy Kane is a master of his chosen style."
There's only one way to find out.
And it's for a good cause.
Yes, charity is in the air.
Or is that a sense of foreboding?
Almost predictably, Zach is nervous and trying to hide it. He's heard of Billy Kane. Seen the man fight. Zach still remembers that look Billy gave after that Saturday Night Fight. He'd like to forget it.
"Like I haven't run into that kind of problem before," Zach answers flippantly. The nerves are slightly raw; first Maki, who had a serious case of "bitch be crazy" in Zach's mind, now this. "So why you throwing me at all the looney toons, Alma? Is it a theme or something?"
Zach gives his martial arts gloves a tug, nestling them onto his hands for a more comfortable fit. Screw charity, Zach thinks. Gimme a freaking book.
Billy was long absent from the fighting scene... it seems that his first public venture in months is going to be this charity fight. That adds significant weight to the prestige and popularity of the event, with countless people buying tickets. What sort of insidious ploy does Geese's right hand have for such an event? Nothing. He loves this city little less then Alma, although he has never been very proactive about contributing to it. Cashing in his worldwide popularity is an easy chore, although nothing in the itinerary said a word about the two succeeding. Billy has never once neglected in his training, and such will hopefully be showcased.
Indeed, his entry is rather explosive. Rock music roars through the speakers, and even a stream of pyrotechnics surrounds the fighting ring. A couple spotlights roar out and take in the denim-clad King of Fighter, hefting his crimson bo staff skywards. "HEY HEY HEY!" He then bolts into a run, low to the ground. Speed, agility and grace are more then significant in this subtle motion, hurling himself skywards and landing opposite the duo. A hand runs across his bandana, grinning ear to ear. "Put on a good show, eh...? We don't want a tournament sponser falling TOO easily..."
An oversized, cartoon-style rocket is wheeled over, easily twenty feet tall. The entire middle is made up of a gauge. The bottom says 0, and the top says 10:00. Every 10 seconds, a small line reads '$10,000.'
"LET'S GET THIS STARTED!!"
Billy points to the rocketship. It flares to life, LCDs and blinking lights going crazy. The 0 lights up bright green.
And then Billy launches himself towards the pair, not about to waste a single moment. Whirling his staff overhead, it descends in a sharp, brutal angle towards Zach, a no-nonsense blow trying to slam into his chest and send him rolling away across the ground.
...he never did say they got the first hit.
COMBATSYS: Billy has started a fight here on the right meter side.
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|-------\-------\0 Billy
COMBATSYS: Alma has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Billy
COMBATSYS: Zach has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Zach 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Billy
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
The shadows clear in a burst of light.
Alma finds it impossible--
"Mr. Kane!"
--to doubt his opponent's sincerity.
"It is an honor!"
Grinning widely, the beautiful champion withdraws his hands from behind him and shifts his stance, immediately beginning to sway to a faint rhythm, ignoring the pyrotechnics in favor of the scintillating aura before him. This man is incredibly powerful. The Angel's heart quickens, and he could not stop it if he wanted to.
"You've got to learn to enjoy it, Zach!"
The thrill of the fight; the clash of souls.
Who cares about eccentricity, as long as it's genuine?
But still, Towazu speaks too soon-- it's going to be hard for Zach to 'enjoy' this sudden attack, regardless of what he's able to do about it. And Alma, despite his unshakable composure and warm smile, can't help but widen his eyes slightly at Billy's supernatural speed. There's no way he's intercepting that strike. He does the second-best thing, and lunges to the attack, the crowd roaring all the louder.
"Uurrraahhhh!"
Passion overflowing, his soulfire readily ignites.
A lance of pearly luminesence, to pierce through Billy's side.
COMBATSYS: Zach blocks Billy's Power Strike.
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Zach 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
"Enjoy it, he says," Zach growls as Billy drops from above like some kind of paratrooper badger intent on his death. Zach reaches towards Billy, almost as if grabbing a chin-up bar. Violet light flares, and Zach meets Billy's staff with a staff-like construct of his own. The smaller man grits his teeth as he feels the impact all the way past his shoulders, sending him staggering back.
"I swear, I'm not sure why I stay in this line of work," he says as he sets, and hurls the weapon like a javelin right at Billy's head!
COMBATSYS: Billy dodges Alma's Self Expression.
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Zach 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Billy dodges Zach's Warning Shot.
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Zach 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
Indeed, Billy seems to be grinning ear to ear. It's obvious that the fighter is enjoying things... it's been a good while since he's heard the incoherent roar of a crowd cheering for him. The casual motion of his swing is retracted a moment later. The flash of psychic energy is dodged with a mere sway of the head, flashing off and dissipating in the distance. His weapon slams into the ground immediately thereafter, and he launches himself well into the sky. Alma's maneuver misses cleanly. Given the rarity of dodging in /that/ direction, it might take a moment to realize precisely what is going on.
DING! The Rocket Ship of Love has reached '0:10' and '$10,000' pops into view.
"GO TO HELL!!" Down he descends, bringing his crimson staff towards Zach like a guillotine, trying to crush him with a combination of weight and force into the ground. Intending to land in a spread stance, and launch himself backwards out of immediate range. "C'mon! You are moving in slow motion!!"
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Zach with Flying Assault Cane.
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Zach 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\0 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
"Guhh--!"
Whoa!
Alma can't remember the last time he's wiffed this badly. He blinks, wider-eyed now, as his lance of energy dissipates into nothing, only able to twist his head upward to see where Billy has leapt to now. The man's agility is simply surreal. But he's pursuing Zach again, and he cannot simply allow this to happen.
"Huurahhh!"
Alma leaps as well, aiming to cut Billy off along his line of attack. At first the beautiful youth's lunge seems to be taking him upwards, knees raised and fists drawn back, all power ready to be projected into a flying punch at Billy's head just as he streaks toward Zach; the timing is good, but he's heavily overextended, and in his rush to reach his much-swifter adversary seems as though they may simply collide headlong.
Yet immediately some invisible thrust of force, some subtle working of Soul Power, unexpectedly -- and almost impossibly -- shoves him down toward the ground, turning his juggernaut punch into a slidetackle kick. Now skidding almost /under/ Billy, Alma utilizes every ounce of momentum he has to take the staff fighter by surprise and twists his whole body upward, slashing out with a sweep-kick to trip Kane up mid-air, hopefully making it harder to strike Zach as well.
Though it may be too late for that...
Billy's staff very nearly bludgeons Zach's head clean off of his shoulders. He slams into the stage's stone face first with thunderous force. He stays down for a long moment before even stirring.
Precious seconds later Zach pulls himself into a sitting position, his eyes blurry with disorientation. His face is covered in blood from various cuts and scrapes. He looks around for a moment, trying to get his bearings. On the edge of his hazy vision, Zach feels the workings of Alma's will. Not well enough to figure out how Towazu is doing it, but enough to figure out roughly where he is in relation to Billy. Zach shakes his head back and forth laborously as he drags himself to his feet.
"Get bent," Zach says firmly as he finally jumps towards Billy, his right hand pulled back and alight with psychic fire. "POWEEEEEEERRRR!"
That right hand slams into the stage, burying itself up to the wrist. "GEYSER!" A massive gout of psychic energy bursts forth, hopefully directly under Billy's feet!
COMBATSYS: Billy dodges Zach's Storm Flare.
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Zach 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Billy dodges Alma's Light Kick.
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Zach 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
"...!!" Alma manages to succeed in making Billy's eyes widen. His awkward position as he prepared to leap made him incredibly vulnerable. Any normal fighter would of been slammed heavily, or at the very least be forced to interpose his weapon, or a forearm. But somehow, he just twists, and the foot grazes his chest... a mid-air shifting that seems to defy the laws of nature. Unscathed, he lands in a crouch and smirks towards Zach. "Wow... you've got a fair amount of power there!" he offers, matter of factly. Before he kicks off, and the eruption of psychic energy strikes nothing but the air. "But you are forgetting... I've seen the real thing, more then once. Imitating it like that..." He swishes forward, and then brutally swings out the end of his bo staff, twirling it and then bringing it down again to strike him in the head. "Kinda insults me, you know?!"
DING! 0:20. $20,000. It'll almost be enough to cover Zach's medical expenses!
This simply cannot continue.
"Z-Zach!"
Alma Towazu went nearly two minutes with Kain Heinlein; he knows what it means to duel an exceptional adversary. But it has not been since the invasion that he has been compelled to protect another in the midst of battle-- and he has never attempted to do so again such an overwhelmingly agile opponent. Were this a life-or-death scenario, his powerlessness might be occasion for despair; as it is, only awe and wonder consume him.
And it is not as though despair has much traction with Alma anyway.
In a life-or-death scenario, he would do no different.
Push past all limits. Fight until the flame within fades.
"UUURRAAAHHH!"
Forever.
His kick is fruitless, but Alma's momentum only seems to build: he lands in a cat-like crouch, but rather than skid to a stop his form /flickers/ and immediately stills, the stones beneath him cracking. Having transferred his velocity into the ground beneath him with the mere force of his will, Alma is able to attack immediately, and instead of leaping this time simply /blurs/ forward, leaving afterimages of white tinged with pale blue, seeking to project himself directly in Billy's path. Even with all this effort, it is unlikely he will be able to do more than give Zach a slight bit of breathing room-- though maybe it will be enough to help him avoid this relentless assault. But the halo around Alma is growing, a flickering light that obscures and confuses the barrage of punches he then unleashes at Kane's face and body.
"Face me!"
It's not that his pride is hurt. Or even that he's afraid for Zach.
But his passion is building, and as yet it has nowhere to go.
"KANE!!"
It will not be denied.
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Zach with Combo Attack.
[ \\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zach 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Billy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Alma 0/-------/-------|
Zach looks up in time to see the staff coming in for the first strike. He tries to move, but he can't get his hand out of the stone. Zach's chin goes flying upward, and he takes the return strike directly on the forehead. The sound is surprisingly dull.
Zach looks like he's about to try something when he wobbles a bit and slumps over, his hand still stuck in the stage. He doesn't get up. Alma can be sure it's not a stalling tactic. Looks like you're on your own, Towazu.
COMBATSYS: Zach takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Billy
COMBATSYS: Zach can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Billy
COMBATSYS: Billy effortlessly dodges Alma's Spring Shower EX.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Billy
Indeed, Zach did not quite make the mark. Enterprising viewers will see that he collapsed upon the churned stone at 0:26. A good thing he was not the forefront for this charity battle... it cannot be even said he put up a good fight, with only two clean misses to his name. Yet this is not just any fighter that is being faced -- Billy Kane is ruthless and knows little of the thing called mercy. And savage though his attacks were, he still felt he was going easy. His carefree stance and lazy motions are testament to such. His eyes listlessly follow Alma's rush, and all he does is leap backwards. There is no real flair in this evasion. Truly, the ease in the motion underlines the incredible gulf between the pair. "Face you? Don't talk like we are equals, Alma. Letting you stand in the ring with me... that's pretty charitable in the first place, isn't it?" He only sounds to be half-teasing. How many countless people wish to measure themselves against a King of Fighter, someone who is not aiming for the best in the world, but one of few who stand on the summit?
Billy then slowly spins his staff in his free hand. Eyes narrow, and his feet spread apart. Suddenly, his tremendous chi roars out, the air displacing from the increased temperature. Blasts of heat impact Alma again and again, seeming to be timed with each full rotation of his weapon. "I crushed the insect you had tag along... you milked out your thirty grand with him. Don't get me wrong... I'm doing this for Southtown. But that doesn't mean I want to be fucking bored to tears. Think you can help with that?!"
DING! 0:30, $40,000.
And like the bell of a prize fight, that incites Billy into action. The distance between him and Alma becomes nothing, ducked so low that his denim-clad back is nearly at the model's waist. His weapon is held paralell to the ground, and just one eye and a smirking grin are visible. Before he launches a devestating upward swing with the weapon, the very air groaning in outrage at being displaced so violently!
COMBATSYS: Alma fails to interrupt Fierce Strike from Billy with Divine Intervention.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Billy
Alma Towazu grits his teeth.
The crowd's roar is oppressive.
"Zach..."
There was nothing he could do. So much for fighting loonies; Glen never stood a chance. Alma thought perhaps they might be able to work in unison, but the two of them are very different styles of psychic, and he realizes too late that they never practiced nearly enough together to be able to work in sync. Another Glory Hound, perhaps-- a mere fellow at the YFCC, not even.
Bored to tears?
Alma's body begins to tremble uncontrollably.
"...Ha ha ha..."
Yet his laughter sounds almost-- relieved.
Far from angered, Alma empathizes. He can only suspect that Billy seeks the same thing he does, albeit experienced, of course, in a very different way: to clash against a worthy adversary, to truly test his mettle. Were Alma at such a monumental level of skill, he too would take no pleasure in facing such opponents; he might even avoid such a waste of time, so counter to what he sees as the fundamental purpose of such contests. He does not see Billy's taunts /as/ taunts, though they do degrade him; he agrees. Alma must offer up what Kane seeks.
Perhaps that is way he is too hasty.
"/I'll try./"
He intones these words sonorously, their sound resonating against the very stone, and seems to grow, as though the whole world is focusing in on him; his eyes become fields of light, white flecked with cherry-blossom pink and royal indigo.
And the staff streaks toward the center point...
An explosion, a blinding flash of light. The audience cries out in wonder and apprecation, for a moment the result of the collision invisible, a dome of crackling energy briefly obscuring the two fighters, the stone literally shattering beneath their hidden contest.
"Uuuaaagghh!"
Only for Alma Towazu to be /hurled/ out, bouncing across the arena, leaving brutal man-shaped impacts in the ground along his wake. He rolls to a stop, somehow staggering to his feet, but blood trickles from his mouth, and his eyes, though flickering with energy, are widened with disbelief.
"Grnnh..."
He coughs once, and blood flecks the back of his hand. Yet he rises to his full height in seconds, flinch fading as he clears his mind and soul of pain, subsuming it to the meaning of this battle.
Cracking his neck, gaze steady, he reassumes his stance.
There remains more to be proved.
Indeed, they are something a little more then taunts. Billy states the truth in them, even if in a somewhat callous and abrasive fashion. Yet he felt a sudden, distinct hint of danger when Alma begins to prepare that maneuver. He knows it. 'Divine Intervention'. The legendary maneuver, that one cannot miss whenever Alma makes a public fight. He attacked in a complacent manner, the swing too broad, the timing too simple...!! Yet nothing comes of it. Even with such a huge opening, Billy is no easy prey, and the difference in physical abilities is underlined by that signature maneuver failing to hit. "The hell?! You tease! I was hoping you'd finally scratch me!" As Alma begins to rise, Billy just kind of lazily kicks out towards his ribs. Yet this belies the raw speed and significant force, behind even a maneuver intended to be derogatory. A rib or two could easily crack, if Alma did not properly gird himself. "Really, now. The people didn't come here to see me destroy you... well, not all of them. I'm not going to /let/ you hit me, but..." DING! 0:40, $40,000. Although nothing further comes, it's apparent that he's no longer going strictly for the throat. The significant opening after his titanic blow was not properly capitalized on, and Alma was given time to recover... sympathy from the sadist? Or is he merely drawing the pain out?
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Billy's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/---====/=======|=======\=------\1 Billy
Alma has no time to speak-- his opponent is already here.
But whether due to mercy or curiosity, Billy is taking a break from his relentless swath of destruction, and Alma is recovered sufficiently for his forearm to snap out powerfully, the sound of their collision resounding throughout the arena and proving that something that looks "lazy" from Kane is more than enough to fell mere mortals.
He does not respond to Billy's continued jibes, but the light in his eyes is renewing, the surge and swell of Soul Power within having resumed. Through his leg, the staff master may feel that Towazu's body continues to tremble; yet one accustomed to great physical exertions may recognize, oddly, that he does not shake like one whose guard is shattered or whose body is fatigued. No, it is not even some sort of childish excitement that dances within him. There's something here, something different, something--
He flickers.
Something /burning/ within.
And vanishes.
This may be what it takes to finally wrong-foot the legendarily agile Billy Kane; for a moment his kick is suddenly unblocked, no one in its path. But he may not have time to lower it, for the Radiant Angel, within a mere split-second, will have reappeared only inches from where he previously stood. His position has subtly shifted; he is twisted to the side. And he is moved forward-- suddenly forward, potentially within Billy's guard.
And his hand--
"Hmph."
--is already reaching out, shining like a star, like a little /sun/--
To grasp the master.
By the FACE.
And if any contact is made, a solar flare will occur, a geyser of purest white -- transculent, though, his halo extended, sparkling, harmless -- erupting around them and yet another outrageous shockwave shattering the floor, and the true attack, the full brunt of Alma's very being projected against Billy's fighting spirit, will be invisible-- but potent.
COMBATSYS: Billy dodges Alma's Absolution.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Billy
Oh, Billy had no delusions that Alma's fighting spirit burned on without pause. His eyes told the whole story, and the leisurely kick only confirmed what he already knew. Instincts are something that many fighters might lose through protracted periods in the ring, but in that area there may be few who are as equal. The hair on the back of his neck remains on end, and had he not noticed the Divine Intervention at the last moment, that insignificant shift might of failed, and he could of been impacted. It is very hard to truly surprise and get the drop upon /this/ warrior in combat.
And then Alma moves.
At a moment like this, he's glad he never dropped his guard. He never blinked. That very near hit earlier is exactly why he is not hit. He was unable to respond to the lightning quick motion into range, well past his guard. But his free hand sweeps out, and catches the psychic by the forearm. With so mundane a maneuver, the grasp never reaches that face, blooming back to a smirk. "...oooh. That was a good one."
Twisting, he violently attempts to heave Alma by the captured arm, and send him spiraling through the air in a rather undignified manner to hopefully roll away upon the ground. "Two near misses in one fight. I have to admit, you got closer then I intended." A slow exhale is done, glancing towards the Rocket O' Money. DING! 0:50, $50,000. "Alright... enough drawing this out. I'm coming at you with everything I got. Let's see how long your will holds out..." His stance spreads. The genuine, loose one he uses in genuine fights. The end of his bo staff held in an armpit, the tip bouncing an inch from the ground, shoulder facing the other man and free hand extended towards him for balance. Shifting his weight from the ball of one foot to the other. The sudden, oppressive aura of an master and veteran finally descends like an unseen shadow upon Alma. This is the difference between Billy playing around, and Billy facing an equal.
But isn't that precisely what he would of wanted...?
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Billy's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Billy
Alma's ultimate effort is deflected, and the power charged within his hand, spiralling out of control, detonates as soon as he is flung aside, ripping through the ground with the flare of light that would have otherwise consumed Kane. The audience, needless to say, is impressed all around.
The Radiant Angel wastes no time recovering-- but he does pause to regard the shift in stance of his adversary. Though his eyes blaze, revealing the sea of flame raging within him, no fury or even intensity exposes itself on his mild features. The beautiful youth gazes sidelong at his opponent, for a moment gentle yet inscrutable.
And then he smiles -- slightly -- but warmly.
It is an acknowledgement he is not certain he deserves, but--
"Huuahh!"
One they both need, for this battle to reach its potential.
That is all that matters.
Alma's cry spurs himself to action, raising a weakened guard to catch a mere flicker, the descending shadow of a bird of prey. Billy travels too quickly for the audience's eyes to follow-- yet somehow Alma's arm and leg are up, pushing aside a fearsome tackle. Clearly still trying to catch Kane in whatever brief and fleeting chances he has available -- it being far beyond him to trap or corner the agile fighter in any way, with even his spurt of teleportation, always his trump card, not enough -- his other hand then snaps out, already wreathed with inexhaustable fire. A spiral blast, a darting gout of Soul Power emerges, pink flecked with white, and attempts to strike the staff master's chest before he can escape.
It will not likely knock him back far--
But it /may/ control his movements.
That is the most Alma can ask--
And why would he avoid confrontation anyway?
COMBATSYS: Billy overcomes Sacred Wave from Alma with Blazing Cane Thrust.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Billy
And indeed, that smile is returned with an open smirk. Not many people can face him down like this, when his gloves are removed. It's something worthy of some modicum of respect, even if ultimately it doesn't change a single thing in the course of his fight. Spiraling the bo staff within one hand in an almost leisurely manner, he keeps his own intentful gaze on Alma. He's not someone to be underestimated... he already knows that one bite is all he needs for a significant amount of pain. The flare of psychic energy is indeed a good maneuver. Billy is a renowned master of counterattacks, and Alma is not fast enough to suppress that. But a ranged assault, it seems, is another court in which he controls the ball. No sooner does that palm raise then Billy kicks back, bringing up his bo staff as well. Twisting violently as it thrusts out, an angry rasp of chains is heard as it roars forward. The sacred wave is dissipated to motes, the assault continuing on to /slam/ into Alma's shoulder before erupting into short-lived but brutal flames, trying to nail him before he can recover his own stance. 'There's nothing you can do.' those eyes of his say now. 'Tactics won't change a thing.' His free hand beckons, insistent. 'So just come on!!' The quiet language between men. Men who know each other very, VERY well. Inside and out!
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Alma with Blazing Cane Thrust.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Billy
He never had a chance.
That was the last thing Alma anticipated; he does not even have time for regret before a storm of flame consumes him. Still in the midst of recovering from guarding Billy's ambush, hoping to use the space created by his darting attack to compose himself somewhat, the Radiant Angel cannot possibly evade the assault, and the blast not only ignites his shoulder but hurls him away once more, crashing against the stones.
And this time, unlike all the others, he is not immediately on his feet.
The sound of a collective intake of breath.
A second passes.
Alma Towazu lifts his head.
He regards Billy Kane, his eyes still fields of light.
And then he snaps.
Only then does the seal beneath the staff master flare: a palm print slapped against the ground a split-second before the flaming burst struck home, a channel into which flowed all of the young warrior's incandescent power. From it emerges a column of coruscating flame, scintillating swathes of white and pink and purple streaked with glittering rose and gold, a torrent of soulfire that dares to consume Billy utterly--
And maybe, this once, catch him off guard.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Billy with Full Confession EX.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/------=|=======\======-\1 Billy
This maneuver is not too different then Zach's. The difference is in the technique; Billy's attention was entirely on Alma, looking at his every shift and movement. When he notices the glint of light beneath him, it's too late. The eruption of psychic energy roars over him, letting out a cry of surprise and throwing his arms up to shield his face. Amidst the swirls and motes of dissipating energy in the wake of that assault, nothing is seen... before a violent sweep of Billy's weapon dissipates it. He's breathing quicker now, looking thoroughly singed. But that smile was not wiped off his face. "...that's more like it."
Ding! 1 minute. $60,000 dollars.
"This is over."
Two minutes with Kain, but one minute with Billy, including a partner. Well, not every battle is even, is it? He snaps back his weapon, and countless staffs seem to erupt into being. A long, weaving mass of serpentine-like weaponry. Hissing madly, he suddenly brings up his arms, swinging the amalgamation towards Alma with a roar. It erupts into flame, scouring an angry furrow through the very stone in it's wake, easily five feet broad. Attempting to /slam/ into the young fighter, and send him airborne... before he leaps up, wrenching the mass around with a titanic effort. An overhead swing now, falling like a fiery meteor to flatten Alma upon the ground. And erupt into a huge, oversized fireball that blooms upwards, like the mushroom cloud aftermath of an atomic bomb!!
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Alma with Salamander Stream.
[ < > //////////////////// ]
Alma 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Billy
He tries.
With every ounce of his being, Alma tries.
But--
"Uuuaaaaahhh...!"
There is no escape.
The Radiant Angel even gets to his feet, despite all his injuries; through sheer force of will he compels his body to rise. It is not enough. Alma is swept up with the attack and spectacularly sent rocketing down, cratering into the arena with a terrifying plume of fire. Anyone with a brain knows that this fight is over now. The audience heaves a collective sigh, settling back in their seats to watch the breathtaking aftermath, a mushroom cloud fading into smoke.
The air clears.
And Alma is gone.
Vaporized?
Nah.
There he is, eyes unfocused, features drained of emotion, of anything resembling human passion. Only something more primal remains, something that stirs a man already, for all practical concerns, unconscious. It surges through him, rippling throughout his body, spasming one arm upwards-- for he has reappeared behind Kane, and reaches out toward the back of his head.
It's an unlikely effort. But Alma seems driven by forces beyond comprehension, urgently driven to give /everything/ at his disposal, even his very life force, to satisfy the demands of his own soul-- and try, try his very best, to give Billy what he craves.
What he deserves.
Projecting out the remainder of his psychic force, an invisible shockwave that sends front-row audience members flinching back from its thunderous wind, hit or miss Alma will sink to his knees, exhale deeply, and collapse to the side.
There was more to be proved. And it has been proven.
Billy Kane is /back/.
COMBATSYS: Alma can no longer fight.
> //////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Billy
COMBATSYS: Billy interrupts Absolution from Alma with Red Lotus Requiem.
> ////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Billy
Pant, pant. Using that particular attack is rather draining, although Billy was one hundred percent sure that Alma would be broken in the crator, defeated beyond a doubt. To see him still standing is the first time in the entire battle that Billy has been truly surprised. But he just makes a 'tch' sound, spitting to the side and rolling his lean shoulders. "Fine. You wanna still come at me? The fight ain't over until you aren't able to move... remember?"
Alma charges once more. Compared to before, it was like moving in slow motion. Almost lazily, he twists around, stance spreading as well. He tenses, barreling forward fearlessly into that psychic-enshrouded hand, the reach seeming almost more imploring then dangerous.
Alma wants to hit him one last time.
Billy will give that to him.
"You probably can't hear me anyway..."
Confirming the fact he realizes that the model is running on autopilot, the horrific surge of energy roars within his mind. But bearing through the pain, he brings up his viciously rotating bo staff. It hits Alma in the chest, and then surges upwards. Repeated beats hit him within the chest, but it doesn't stop. Billy kicks skywards, hefting the slender fighter along, battered like his wife Seishirou. Before with a roar, at the apex of his height unleashing a huge explosion of fire. Alma's smoldering body, already spent, is sent smoking away.
He lands, deftly. Brushing at his denim clothing, the Money Rocket is eyed. It stopped, just shy of another Ding! Good... He could of had it drag on another thirty seconds, but Alma didn't earn that. Blame his performance today. He was off... or Billy was just /on./
"Hospital stay's on me." he mulls out, striding past Alma on the way off the stage. A shower of bills, worth thousands of dollars, coats his broken body. He doesn't help him up, he doesn't say 'good fight!', he doesn't even wait as the medics rush forward to check on him. The fight's done, the charity was made, and indeed... now the world knows.
Billy is back -- with a /vengeance./
COMBATSYS: Billy has ended the fight here.
Log created on 21:45:52 01/20/2010 by Alma, and last modified on 12:07:06 01/21/2010.