Description: With King of Fighters coming up and the Neo-League experiencing a new surge in popularity, it's up to Ken Masters to ruthlessly exploit the fame of one tournament to amplify the ratings of his own event even further. And what better way to do that then to host a joint exhibition match celebrating the beginning of King of Fighters at Neo-Leagues' own Masters Stadium? It is here that Ken Masters himself faces off against two entrants into the King of Fighters -- Brihan Bogale and Carrol Jayne of the new up-and-coming team Tetraphobia. But is everything as it seems with this exhibition match, or will Ken have found himself inviting the devil into his home...?
Fame is a devil of a thing.
Brihan Bogale has only recently begun to forge a name for herself amongst the fighters of the world, and already she finds herself recipient to what some might - completely unironically, of course - term a 'cult' following. There's something about frothing, explosive violence that tweaks at the savage heartstrings of modern crowds. Watching the Ethiopian at work is a spectacle somewhere between that of an ancient gladiator, and a messy expressway pileup. It's hard to tear the eyes away.
And she has lapped up every moment of that attention. Shady motives and ancient prophecies be damned; under the limelight, the dark-skinned berserker has milked the crowds for all that they are worth. For this much-vaunted exhibition bout against the reigning US Champion, she has even arrived a few minutes early to the arena, mugging away with a vicious, unrestrained grin as she roughly signs autographs and exchanges insults with the more unruly fans. Ostensibly these are playful; but the man following her likely knows better. He knows what she is truly capable of.
As the appointed leader of the up-and-coming stable of fighters known as Tetraphobia, Brihan is more than a mere sideshow. For all that she loves the success and the so easily-lavished wealth, her cocksure swagger bears a sense of underlying purpose missed by your everyday layman. The wellspring of inner energy driving her every motion, however small, threatens to break free at any moment not only because it is powerful - but because she possesses cause and reason to unleash it, and takes delirious pleasure in executing her orders.
It's a pitiful shame that Ken Masters believes he is here only to sample a bit of international cuisine. The woman takes joy in this, however, much as she deliriously soaks in the roars of the capacity audience as she strides out onto the sandy portion of the Red Arena, spreading her arms to either side and motioning with gloved hands for the noise and the fervour to continue rising. Today is the beginning of something special, something beautiful.
And long may it live in infamy.
Unlike Brihan, the man known as Carrol Jayne is still an almost complete unknown to the world of fighting. Yet he looks as if this is exactly where he belongs as the towering man steps up to the amalgamized stage of the Red Arena. Burly, imposing, and carrying what can only be described in most modest terms as 'a very large hammer,' Carrol seems disinterested in the goings-on of the crowds around him.
But much like Brihan, his partner must know just how much stepping into this arena thrills him.
Charcoal gray eyes slowly rotate over to Brihan as she signs autographs and trades threats. His eyes roll, this time as more of a gesture than a practical purpose.
"You gonna be done signin' autographs any time soon, or are you thinkin' of keepin' it up while we're fightin'?" he asks, his insult light-hearted despite the words used. Allowing himself a grin, he places a large, meaty hand on the handle of his hammer, fingertips slowly curling and compressing along the cool steel.
"Sure is takin' his sweet time gettin' here though, isn't he?" Carrol is only a little impatient.
This is, after all, going to be a special day.
The crowds are soaking this up, especially as Brihan makes her way into the stadium. As she enters though, something will seem amiss. In the world of entertainment, there are those who merely assist, and those who truly deliver it. Unfortunately for her, the very person that has agreed to the match has once more outdone himself with making sure that the people who did come to see this match truly get their monies worth.
The lights are dimmed in the arena, a lone spotlight shining down from the ceiling down upon Brihan and Carrol, ensuring that they are easily spotted for those who happen to be up in the seats in the back. Cameras are setup at various locations across the arena, broadcasting everything upon a giant screen that overhangs the very center of the arena, getting those perfect angles that most spectators know and love.
However, once the duo find themselves in the center of the arena, all of the lights suddenly go out, including the giant broadcasting screen above the arena. The crowd slowly starts to panic, a scream here, a few calls for clarifacation there. However, it all starts to come into play for one person.
Fire slowly starts to spread across the sand, as carefully placed pyrotechnics suddenly start to go off, causing brief flares of illumination to fill the arena, only to fade away once more. Of course, the crowd starts to scream in anticipation, as the flares of light become more rapid, creating a strobelight effect, only to stop entirely as the lights in the arena start to shine at their full brightness. How he got there will remain a mystery to the crowd, but all that matters now is that standing before Brihan and Carrol is nonother then Ken Masters.
"Just paying the bills, Mr. Jayne." Brihan's reply comes with similar jocular familiarity, delivered in her noticeably thick African accent as she glances back over her shoulder, directing a sweeping gaze the full and copious length of her titanic teammate's build. A businesslike nod is given before she turns back to survey the seething mass piled inside the arena. Despite the rising legend that is the Ethiopian's dangerously short fuse, she does not seem fazed by the current absence of Ken Masters. Because she is expecting a show. "I'm not the only one who appreciates..."
Her feet, clad in expensive training shoes, come to a steady halt in the sand just as the lights dim. The timing is exquisite. The berserker-woman almost seems to vanish in the darkness, but for the broad, distinctive slash of her white-toothed grin. "A show." And the spectacle unfolds.
Remaining place for the duration, unmoving but for the nonchalant hooking of weathered thumbs through the belt loops of her stylish pants, Brihan regards the apparition of Masters with cool brown eyes. Her brow is unfurrowed, her poise utterly unaffected but for the faintest dip of her chin. It's the closest she will offer to a bow, before in a sudden, frenetic burst of motion she whips her right hand away from her hip and out to one side, the sheer speed of the gesture causing an explosion of filthy orange light to erupt from her extended fist as it comes to rest in the air.
It's completely effortless, as easy for her as tossing out a simple 'hello'. Which she does not intend to do; fixating that horrendously over-confident grin upon the American, hand moving now to unnecessarily slick back her red-streaked hair. "I'd say it's an honour," she offers, voice coming out with astonishing volume as it is picked up and transmitted by the microphones embedded around the lavish arena, "But one day you'll be kissing my feet, Masters."
Drawing herself to her full height - a jot taller than the blonde champion - she utters the next with brutal, barking commitment.
"I hope you're prepared to taste the future!!"
COMBATSYS: Brihan has started a fight here.
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
The lights snap off. Carrol is bathed in darkness. The large man grunts once at his companion's observation.
"Guess we like different kindsa shows."
Pyrotechnics, pizazz, showmanship. Carrol can't help but furrow his brows in mild confusion as fire illuminates his world in a sprawling journey across center stage -- before the entire arena is illuminated with the arrival of Ken Masters. Carrol squints, slowly. His ultimate response comes in the form of a snorted,
"Show off."
A second later, Carrol rips his titanic hammer free from his back; he spins it around effortlessly through the air like one might a baton -- with only one hand, before /swinging/ it down in a mighty, smiting motion. The power behind the impact kicks up a veritable tidal wave of sand as the tremors ripple across the space between Carrol and Brihan.
Carrol astutely says nothing of his own showmanship. He instead just grins. "Hear you're pretty good," he offers Ken Masters after he's done pulling his hammer from its impact point and slings it over his shoulder.
"Let's see just how good ya are, eh?"
COMBATSYS: Carrol has joined the fight here.
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Carrol
Ken normally would be right there, shaking hands with those who fight him, yet there's something about these two that are a bit unsettling for him. It might be the fact that a woman is taller then he is, or the fact there's the mini-giant with a giant hammer, ready to unleash pure pain upon his body. Maybe its the fact that he just got told he'll be bowing down to Brihan someday.
"Sorry dear, but only Eliza gets that honor."
A slight smile breaks out on his face after he hears Brihan's next statement, only causing him to chuckle slightly. "Wow. That's.. corny. Are you trying to advertise some new candy? Is that what this is about?" Of course, he's got himself two opponents now, and they seem ready to let this night of mayhem begin, so who is he to deny them? Oh, right. He's the guy who owns the arena. (But he isn't going to deny them anyways, because wheres the fun in that?)
COMBATSYS: Ken has joined the fight here.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brihan
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Ken 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Brihan has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
Introductions, it seems, go by the wayside as Ken settles in to the arena. Carrol at least doesn't seem to particularly mind; instead, he just maintains that easy grin, rolling his neck with a series of boney cracks.
"Banter's fun 'n all, but..."
Carrol glances at Brihan. The look is brief, but full of its own meaning as those charcoal eyes slide back to Ken. His expression inscrutable, the large man grips even tighter on his hammer.
"... how 'bout we get to the main event, huh?"
And then, he moves. The lumbering man is slow, if only thanks to the additional weight of his hammer. And yet when he moves, he moves like a freight train. All force and fury, the titan of a man lunges forward--
--and snaps out with the /butt/ of his hammer rather than the heavy, weighted end, to /slam/ it into Ken's throat. If he can, he will make use of that impressive strength and the momentum afforded to him to lift Ken up by that hammer hilt, pivot about on his right heel, and then /launch/ him straight towards the ground with a gutteral roar.
"GRAAAAAAAGH!"
Boom. The violent convulsion of the arena as Carrol's hammer descends should by all rights brook some outward reaction from Brihan - she is close enough. But the only visible display is a sidelong glance, smug satisfaction in her gaze as she her teammate announces his readiness in his own inimitable fashion. Inwardly, however, a man of such diverse talents as Ken will no doubt sense a substantial spike in the woman's already blazing hot aura. Her lower lip curls in an expectant sneer as she turns back to the American, watching him with eyes hungry for battle as he mocks her.
"So be it, Goldilocks," she grates out in reply, giving a single shake of her head as she jerks a thumb toward the behemoth at her side just as he takes off. The Ethiopian remains in a casual stance for the moment, watching the opening manouevre with a fierce keenness nonetheless. She launches herself forward just as she judges her companion will be done testing the legendary fighter's mettle, and aims to catch him on the follow-up.
"What-- /HE SAID/!" Splitting her lips with a roar, the berserker spins through a tight three-sixty turn, lashing a leg out and upward in a crescent arc. If Masters remains grounded, he will meet the harsh and thunderous impact of a trainer's heel thrust down hard and fast for his waiting moosh. Should he somehow evade the brute and keep his feet... she'll be changing tack to rather jubilantly hurl her entire body weight into a leaping kick to those self-same pearly whites. The point isn't where he /is/; it's how bloody he ends up.
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks Carrol's Better Metal Snake.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ken endures Brihan's Medium Kick.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
When facing weapons, the wise usually try and dodge the oncoming instrument. However, there are those amongst the wise that know better. Ken seems to be one of those few at this very moment. His arms unconciously rise upwards, his body leaning back slightly to help absorb the strong impact that now resonates through his body.
A smirk slowly rises to the surface of his face, especially as he feels that pretty foot of Brihan's plant itself into his face. However, there's something strange, especially since he took the kick, not even bothering to try and dodge it.
"Hmmm?"
It's now time for Ken to unleash his own attacks upon the two, and what better way is there to do it then with a bit of glitz and glammer. His right fist suddenly glows brightly with chi as he suddenly drops down and turns his body towards Brihan, launching himself upwards towards the woman. It's obvious to everyone whose watching with what he's doing.
"SHORYUKEN!"
"HMPH!" snorts out Carrol powerfully as the end of his hammer impacts Ken's impervious forearms. The hit shakes that long staff vaguely; only seconds later does Carrol rip it away and duck down and back to give room for Brihan's attack.
Which... does not seem to bode well for her the second that foot makes perfect, unhindered contact with Ken's smirking face.
"Tch. That ain't lookin' like it's gonna be--"
'SHORYUKEN!'
"--pretty."
Steeling his expression, Carrol offers no sympathies for his partner as she ends up on the receiving end of that infamous attack. She can handle herself, after all. Confident in this, Carrol wastes no time, bringing his hammer swinging down in an overhead blow to attempt to /crack/ it across the back of Ken Master's skull the second he lands from that brutal uppercut. "HRAGH!"
COMBATSYS: Brihan blocks Ken's Shoryuken.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/----===|
To any lesser being, the light of that oncoming, uprising fist would be a humbling sight. Brihan has to acknowledge - privately, inwardly - that the uppercut is a thing of violent beauty, and with the gathered momentum of her own ministrations behind it there is no denying that it drives toward her with startling speed. But the Ethiopian appears nothing but confident as she rears her previously striking leg back, bracing it behind her as she crosses her forearms to meet Masters' striking knuckles.
Energy explodes around the berserker, the scathing, sweeping arc of the attack lifting her from her feet in spite of her efforts. Flames dissipate around dark-skinned arms as she is thrown a half dozen feet up and backward, barely rearranging herself to land in a three point crouch, a sickening expression of nigh-pleasure plastered across her battle-hardened features. She shakes her arms out as she stands, but is swiftly on the move, leather gloves creaking as she clenches her hands to fist and darts in to join her partner's interception of the falling blonde.
"You're going to have to try harder than that, Masters!"
Her taunting bark echoes in her wake; by the time it reaches the ears she is already inside his personal space, dropping low and then thrusting herself into a sharply angled lunge, bringing her calloused forehead to bear on the aftermath - once again - of Carrol's assault. An after-image seems to follow the woman inward, her overflowing energies doing exactly that as she moves with startling speed. And yet she stops short, white teeth beared in a heartily vocalised snarl, the final blinding motion of her halted skull sending a dirty swathe of fiery orange chi expanding in a broad swathe to engulf the United States champion in a foul, tainted eruption.
COMBATSYS: Carrol successfully hits Ken with Random Strike.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks Brihan's Red Giant.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/---====|
It isn't easy being Ken Masters at times. You have maniacs with hammers striking you squarely in the top of your head, making you see those pretty little stars, and then you have psycho women who want to get a bit to close for comfort. It truly isn't easy being Ken Masters.
The strike from the hammer rings true, and it manages to disrupt what little tempo Ken had started to build up, and causes him to wince in pain, only to have his eyes widen with surprise as he feels the tell-tale signs of something warm trickling down the side of his head. Carrol has made him bleed.
There still is more for Ken to deal with, especially as Brihan makes her move. He doesn't really have room to get away, so he does the smart thing and brings his arms up, trying to block whatever is to come, only to growl slightly as he is bathed in the corrupted chi.
There is a brief moment of reprise, and the US Champion takes it to put a little bit of space between himself and the two challangers, his eyes starting to glaze over as he starts to enter a meditative state. It seems that the two truly have started to awaken the beast that usually slumbers within him. Truly, this battle is something he has needed.
COMBATSYS: Ken enters a meditative state.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/---====|
With the crack of bone against steel, Carrol allows himself a satisfied little smirk. "Heh, yeah," he growls out -- he sounds happy. Happy enough, in fact, that a hearty laugh follows as he snaps his hammer back, letting the head crack the earth behind him with a thunderous impact.
"This is the kind've feelin' I'm lookin' for!!"
Blood smeared across the head of Carrol's hammer stains the sandy earth as he drags it across the arena floor. He looks prepared for a reprisal -- but instead, the Neo League owner seems to be taking his time to put some distance between himself and his opponents. Carrol's eyes narrow, a frown settling over his lips.
"Hmph. Brihan, I'm gonna go hit that loser in the face. Okay?"
In other words -- buy her some time to prepare for something larger and more painful. But Carrol doesn't wait for a confirmation. Instead, he just /bumrushes/ Ken, letting out a loud warcry as he cocks his left fist back--
--and then attempts to do exactly what he promised.
"HAH!"
Taking note of Masters' wisely-timed defence, Brihan retracts her feinting head with an impatient hiss, lifting her trailing hands into a wideset guard as she draws back up to her full height. Cool, almost dead eyes drift from the bleeding scalp of her retreating prey to the cumbersome outline of Carrol Jayne. A pitch-black eyebrow arches, regarding him with amused approval whilst he holds his private celebration. His subsequent appraisal of the situation, and his query, draws a hyena-like cackle from the Ethiopian.
"Ha-HA!! Show him how a real man hits, Mr. Jayne. I think he needs some pointers."
Transfixing a cold eye upon the proceedings, she almost unconsciously begins to talk in a lazy half-circle around the focusing American and his lumbering, rapidly charging obstacle. Coming to a stop at the forested perimeter of the arena, Tetraphobia's ordained leader seems almost instantly to grow weary with the lull, a single expensive trainer tap-tapping a tattoo in the sand-strewn grass as she watches with mouth hanging slightly open, fists furling and unfurling before her.
"Come on..." She mutters after a moment, regardless of whether the strike lands or nay. She is waiting for the perfect opportunity. Restraining her maddening urges until it arrives - or she decides to create it for herself. "Come /on/." Her foot taps all the faster, her entire frame now tense and quivering. It's like watching a bomb about to explode.
COMBATSYS: Brihan focuses on her next action.
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Carrol 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Ken fails to interrupt Face Fisted from Carrol with Shoryuken.
- Power fail! -
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Carrol 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/---====|
As Carrol makes his way towards Ken with that mighty hammer of his, the Crimson Dynamo's eyes suddenly come back into focus as chi once more starts to build up upon his right fist. He doesn't even bother waiting, because right now, the hammer isn't his concern. Dishing out some pure Ken themed pain is, moving towards Carrol, ducking down low, and rising up towards the hulking man, only to find himself being smacked full force in the face with the hammer.
The crowd gasps loudly as a single trail of blood flies through the air from Ken's mouth, as he slams into the sand harshly, finding himself actually losing his focus over this pain. This isn't a normal fight. This isn't something he's generally had to deal with. This is new, and it's starting to annoy him slightly.
With a wet CRACK, Carrol's large hammer snaps back and Ken Masters hits the ground. The large man disregards the gasps; instead, he scratches his grayish white hair, squinting at Ken inquisitively.
"... You're not fightin' as hard as you can," he says without bothering to explain what he means. Instead, he swings his hammer about, high over his head.
"That pisses me off!"
And then he /swings/ that hammer about. It looks just as if he might go so far as to hit Ken when he's down--
CRRRK-THOOM
--Except that the swing goes wide, and with a sound like a thunderclap, hits the thick trunk of a nearby tree. Bark splinters like hairline fractures in glass as the entire tree groans in weary protest. Leaves fall to earth as the tree finally collapses, toppling over with a deafening noise.
"... Gimme a sec," Carrol grunts out harshly, planting one well-used boot against the freshly made tree stump.
"I gotta figure out how I'm gonna hurt this guy."
COMBATSYS: Carrol focuses on his next action.
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Carrol 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/---====|
Ken may be irritated by the unfolding events, but the dark-skinned baresark seems to be getting increasingly excited, her impatience a cresting wave at the head of a tsunami waiting to be unleashed upon the artificial coastline of the opulent American arena. Jayne's driving fist finds a most satisfying mark, hammering his handsome blonde-capped body into the doubtless pricey dirt underfoot, the failed countering uppercut only increasing the volume of the sheer jubilant howl that breaches Brihan's lips. Her eyes are no longer a chill sight, but alight with an unsettling, creeping orange flame that bleeds out from her irises.
Her partner's grandstanding is observed with a beastly twitch of the woman's head, as she lifts a hand to her chin and bites down upon a knuckle, breathing heavy around the bony protrusion as she keeps her passions leashed just, a single moment longer. And then...
"CARROL!" She roars out, tossing her head back, spittle flecking the air as the broad slash of her mouth parts so wide as to be almost inhuman. She sights along her badly broken nose, staring down the battered form of her prey. "It's... time..." That comes with a hiss as she suddenly bends double, fists grazing perilously close to the arena floor as she lunges into a low sprint. "I can hurt him /now/! GRAAAARGHHHH!"
The crazed Ethiopian coils close to the floor, screaming from the pit of her lungs as she bounds into a near-horizontal leap, pouncing onto the recovering form of Ken Masters, scything a fist overhead and down. As her arm flies, her fingers unfurl to bring a flattened palm down upon the man's face - not striking but gripping, pulling his face close to hers as she hunkers down atop him and promptly, horribly, unrelentingly /explodes/.
The resulting blast of dark, dirty orange light conceals both from view in a spectacle that sears and blinds. Those capable of watching footage later may have cause to note that not a single person in the capacity crowd seems able to keep their eyes upon it, each spectator either jerking aside or covering their face with desperate hands as Brihan erupts in a pulsating, cataclysmic torrent against - even through - the prone form of the United States champion. The blazing deluge chars more than just his body however; it permeates the soul, spreading that corrupting taint throughout his being, reaching to the very innermost root and tearing until all that remains are frayed ends.
Tighter and tighter Brihan grips, further and further she pushes her throbbing, invasive, flesh-melting, soul-destroying energeis deeper and deeper into the muscular form held in thrall beneath her. "Welcome," she grates through it all, already-thick accent warped and twisted by some sinister side effect of the assault, "To a /better tomorrow/."
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks Brihan's Black Hole.
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Carrol 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
This is a new type of pain. Something that Ken has never once experienced in his life, and truly that in itself is an amazing feat. It feels as if every last part of his being has been torn away, except for a tiny little shred of himself, something that he is holding on tightly to, out of fear that if he doesn't, he will no longer even exist. His body writhes around violently however, until that moment he feels himself snap.
It's not often someone is pushed past their breaking point, and unfortunately for Brihan she has done just that. Rage, hatred, and pure malice slowly start to eminate violently from his body, his right hand once more suddenly springing to life with chi. Usually, people would see this as a reason to cheer, however there is no cheers, only silence for the look that is now worn upon Ken's face. He slowly starts to climb to his feet, only to drop down low, unleashing one of his most devistating attacks.
A quick uppercut is launched towards Brihan's jaw, only to be followed by a series of hard and devistating kicks, moving to tear away at her defenses, looking for the perfect moment to unleash an even more devistating and powerful shoryuken upon the woman.
"Shinryuu Ken." The words aren't screamed as they normally are, and only come out as a bare whisper, but it's enough to make known. Ken is no longer in control.
Steeled eyes watch as Brihan roars. Her words bring a rough grin to Carrol's stubbled features as he kicks off his tree stump.
"HAH! Then let's get this over with! This is gonna be great!"
And, just like that, Brihan's hovering form pounces like a wild beast. Carrol simply watches the spectacle -- he watches, even as Brihan explodes like a star going supernova, or perhaps like the brightness of one before its inevitable collapse. Every second that chi grows brighter, and larger, and angrier, until even Carrol must shield his gaze with one meaty forearm.
He can feel it. He can feel Brihan's work.
He can feel Ken's reception.
He can feel the rage, the hatred, the malice.
The rejection of the living parasite called 'humanity.'
"Heh. Now we're talkin'."
And just like that, Ken unleashes himself in a cold rage upon Brihan. Even Carrol is taken aback by the controlled power behind each and every one of those blows -- like seeing a force of nature concentrated into a single human shell. But... even a force of nature in a human shell is still human.
And Carrol attempts to exploit that very fact, LAUNCHING himself off into a full run, boots pounding against the harsh earth. He hits sand and creates a wake of granules behind him as he hefts his hammer high.
"C'MON!!"
With every intent to bring it down HARD on Ken the second he lands to pummel him into the earth.
And then hammer him again.
And again.
And again.
And again, until it simply becomes a flurry of powerful swings and Carrol's charging like some unstoppable force, fully intent on forcing Ken to ride the kinetic shockwaves until one or both of them slam into the arena walls full force.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Brihan with Shinryuu Ken+.
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Carrol 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 1/------=/=======|
It is staggering, how much force a mere human being can bring to bear with the right motivation - and as she recovers from her grounded onslaught, feeling the scathing energies doing their work upon the spirit even as the body remains strong and vital, Brihan is all too open to be staggered. Furnace-fuelled eyes widen a microsecond before the inevitable impact as the reinvented form of Ken Masters rises against his sire, delivering a flurry of blows that would enrage her under any other circumstance.
But here and now, through it all, Brihan is left emitting a choking, hacking laugh.
She is finally flung away to land in the clear, shallow stream at one side of the arena, her dark-skinned form hissing with steam as she impacts with the cool liquid. Sputtering, eyes closed as she continues to voice her mirth in most unerring, demoniacal fashion, the Ethiopian pushes herself upright with one powerful arm. Shaking herself off as she stands, the laughter begins to die in a dark, sinister chuckle, and with an almost languid step she follows the raging passage of her teammate.
"That's it!" She spits, tearing each syllable now with a fearsome bite, "We can break him more! We can shatter his soul!" Practically raving, she continues to simmer away with the heated, boiling remains of the water previously saturating her outfit, which is now - within seconds - almost dry. "The day's work should be /savoured/..."
She allows the word to drawl from her lips, dragging it out into an almost longing murmur as she watches keenly for the result of Carrol's devastating hammer blows. But as ever, she is not a moment behind their ceasing - springing across the distance to bend down close to Ken, staring deep into his eyes and uttering one more, feral, bloodthirsty roar. Raising it in a rejoined cackle, she clamps both hands down upon the blonde's skull this time, her back arching as her searing energies pour forth for a second dose, surrounding her and invading him. There is less of that foul taint about this; but it is none the less destructive, dizzying swathes of chi seeming to drag the American toward her touch even as it runs throughout his hopefully broken body.
She has nothing to lose; she can only further fan the flames scorching away the essence of the legend.
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks Carrol's Murdertrain a Comin'.
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Carrol 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Ken
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Brihan successfully hits Ken with Black Hole.
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Carrol 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Ken
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Brihan 0/-------/-------|
This pain is something that he does not like, and it only further serves to enrage him. For quite possibly the first time in his life, Ken feels the urge to kill. To destroy. To /slaughter/. However, this isn't something he's ever felt, and like a newborn calf struggling to climb to its feet, it's obvious that the Crimson Dynamo is trying to do just that.
He once more moves towards Brihan, his movements suddenly becoming more sharp and precise, signafying that he isn't ready to yield to Brihan just yet. His body suddenly spins as he starts to execute a beautiful cartwheel, only to move to slam his foot square into the woman's collarbone.
"Ryusen Kyaku."
COMBATSYS: Ken has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Brihan 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Carrol
COMBATSYS: Ken has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Carrol 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Ken
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Brihan 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Carrol has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Brihan 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ken
COMBATSYS: Brihan has left the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ken 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Ken has ended the fight here.
With his assault blocked, Carrol quickly leaps backward. Narrowed eyes focus on Ken as he unleashes his furious assault upon Brihan, and already the large man is curling his fingers so tight around his hammer that his knuckles whiten. Not out of fury, but--
"Now you're learnin'!" shouts Carrol in delight. "We'll make somethin' useful outta you yet! So KEEP ON FIGHTIN'!"
Regardless of the outcome of Ken's focused assault on Brihan, Carrol very pointedly /swings/ his hammer about -- once, twice, three times, building up centrifugal force until he becomes little more than a whirling dirvish of power, aimed to bear down all that force upon Ken--
--With one well-aimed, singularly strong hammerblow to his gut.
"HRMPH!"
COMBATSYS: Brihan fails to interrupt Ryusen Kyaku from Ken with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Carrol 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Ken
[ \\\\\ <
Brihan 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Brihan keeps on fighting!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Carrol 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Ken
[ \\\\\\ <
Brihan 0/-------/-======|
The crowd's lull has passed at this point, and though some of the more discerning and intelligent punters have fallen into discomfort, the majority are back upon their feet and cheering the action as the Tetraphobia pair hurl their utmost at the freshly fearsome form of Ken Masters. His bestial, disturbingly focused demeanour is not something a single person is sure about - doubtless, the media will be alight with speculation in the morning - but they can for now at least get behind the brutality and the violence.
Because in Brihan Bogale, this is nothing unusual; her apparent extremity easily attributed to the fact that she has never been on record against such a powerful foe as this. She is steadily gaining fame and popularity precisely /because/ she is so reckless and consumed by rage. It's all about the spectacle. Even if it is truly about something far darker and deeper...
As she withdraws from her second committed assault upon the American man's dichotomised body and soul, the berserker draws a hand back across her mouth, wiping away a foaming streak of saliva, keeping her now-wild eyes upon the rapidly approaching crimson-garbed warrior. Carrol's enthused shout reaches her ears, and seems echoed - in spirit - by his partner, and she suddenly darts forward /into/ the oncoming kick, lashing out a punch burning with broiling, overflowing chi.
It misses by inches; but his kick does not.
She hits the sand in a mess of tangled limbs, a gurgling rattle emitting from her throat, neck bent at a distinctly uncomfortable angle as she lands... poorly. But perhaps she has bought a much-needed distraction for her teammate to finish this fight. Their real work is already done; but it would be good to take home the winners' purse, nonetheless...
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Carrol's Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Carrol 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Ken
[ \\\\\\ <
Brihan 0/-------/-======|
The longer Ken remains in this fight, the more it becomes apparent just how out of control he's become. A low gutteral growl escapes his mouth as he glances towards Carrol, quickly dodging the oncoming swings of the large mans hammer. The speed at which he's starting to move is astounding, but nothing compared to what his best friend has shown in his own loss of control.
He turns his attention back towards Brihan, quickly closing the distance between her and himself. It seems he's not done with her just yet, and what's to come has the audience gasping in surprise. Reaching down, he moves to pick her up, only to start rapidly slamming his knee towards her midsection if he manages to grasp ahold of the poor woman.
Shot missed, and ignored again, Carrol does not have much to do but spin around and observe as Ken single-mindedly focuses himself onto Brihan. "Tch, looks like he's got a soft spot for her," he remarks easily, rolling one shoulder and then the other in a slow, leisurely pace. Ken may be targeting his partner, but Carrol is going to take his sweet time to wait for an ideal opening.
"... Well, she can handle it," he ultimately - and likely correctly - surmises. He hefts his hammer up, gray eyes squinting at Ken as he lunges. And when his knee lifts--
Carrol once more lifts his hammer high. Faint, almost metallic whisps of chi run across the weapon's massive head.
"HUUUURRRRRRAAAAAUUUGHHH!"
And then he SLAMS it down, letting the weapon CRUSH the earth beneath him with such fury that the ground splits apart, creating a massive fissure of raw kinetic force intermixing with chi that races on a singular path -- right for Ken Masters.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Brihan with Combo Grapple.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Carrol 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Ken
[ <
Brihan 1/----===/=======|
"Tch!!"
Slamming her hands down against the landscaped floor of the arena, Brihan allows frustration to show plainly on her face as she disentangles her battered limbs and pushes herself upright so that she can view the once more charging form of Masters. It's good work; she'd be the first to admit it, she can feel the rage pouring from him, bubbling out of every infested pore and sparking still a sympathetic sensation within her that would be alarming were it not both accustomed and savoured. She'd delight in it, except that by this point he is trying her patience with further demonstration.
The thing is...
Her victims aren't supposed to vent their violence so single-mindedly upon /her/. There's a whole arena full of spectators to target, not to mention the hulking meatshield of Carrol - that's part of his job description, after all. It's vexing. Unleashing a snarl, stamping her feet as she surges up onto them, the Ethiopian prepares herself for the worst that this fresh convert can give her. She is seized, and she is pounded. Cruel, luscious brown lips grow darker still as blood erupts from her lungs.
It is good work, indeed. A shame she is too busy roaring with fury to appreciate it.
"Just like a /child/," she sneers and spits, staggering back from the harsh impact of that granite-hard knee. Her shoulders roll and her neck rolls to one side as she thrusts against her stumble, forcefully seizing momentum for her own devices to throw herself forth in a boisterous, bodily counter-lunge. Said body may be about to fail her; but she has energy still to spare. Dirty orange smoke pours from her skin as she closes the distance to Ken with a gutteral roar that becomes a shriek. "NEVER WANTS ANYBODY BUT IT'S /MOTHER/!!"
Her forehead tears through air already murky with vestigial energies, black and calloused flesh blazing like the sun, ripe to simply EXPLODE as unyielding bone is brought to strike Ken's face. But this is only the beginning; if it lands, she will gain greater speed, accelerating with a furious stamp of gnarled feet, whipping her neck around for a second thunderous headbutt, and a burst of delirious, foul reddish-yellow that burns for an instant so bright as to sear an after-image to watching eyes.
She may end up on her knees, but she will bring him to his, first.
Children should show their respect.
COMBATSYS: Brihan can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Carrol
COMBATSYS: Brihan successfully hits Ken with Supernova.
[ \\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Carrol
COMBATSYS: Carrol successfully hits Ken with Burn the Earth.
[ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ken 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Carrol
The sheer tenacity of Ken Masters is something to be admired, even if he has entered a true rage that he cannot control. Unfortunately, there seems to be odds that are against his favor, and he just doesn't have the means to overcome them just yet. He feels himself being slammed with the full force of Carrol's shockwave, however he just doesn't relenquish his grip upon Brihan just yet. It isn't until she starts headbutting him the force she does is the woman released. There is a moment where it looks like Ken might fall over, having finally been defeated, but...
In what seems to be a blink of an eye, Ken is standing before Carrol, his eyes glazed over as it's now apparent that his body has gone into auto-pilot, and whatever spirit of resistence left within him is still trying to overcome the odds against him. He suddenly ducks down once more, a loud gutteral roar escaping his mouth as his right fist suddenly springs to life with chi, moving to slam the fist into Carrol's jaw with a last ditch effort of doing as much damage, before his body just gives out.
However, regardless of the outcome, once the blonde man lands back down upon the ground, he falls over, taking a face full of sand. The duo has conquered the raging crimson beast.
COMBATSYS: Ken can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Carrol 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Carrol interrupts Shoryuken from Ken with Face Fisted.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Carrol 0/-------/-======|
Carrol heaves out a heavy, harsh breath in the wake of his assault. Tin-like shudders of chi roll of his shoulders like metallic steam. It is an unusual sight -- but hardly one that is nearly as impressive as the sight of Brihan's onslaught against Ken. Carrol looks up with a grave stare in the aftermath, dwindling orange-yellow 'fire' drifting past his cheek.
"Hmph. That settles that, then--"
And then suddenly, Ken is before him. Carrol can't even track the speed; the man moves so fast that even /his/ eyes widen in surprise. And just as swiftly -- they narrow. "You're on the right track now, kid, but you gotta learn--"
Ken ducks down. Carrol's left hand clenches into a fist.
"--WHEN TO SIT THE FUCK DOWN!"
And it is just as Carrol roars this imperious bit of advise that he /swings/ his fist down in parallel to the upswing of Ken's uppercut. A chi-infused fist meets Carrol's jaw with a wet CRACK of impact.
And Carrol punches Ken roundly in the face for the second time tonight.
The resultant expulsion of force is enough to launch Carrol straight through the air. He flips over once, gaining control at his descent so that when he lands with a meaty impact, he lands in a crouch.
WHOOMPH
Slowly, he stands. He looks at the fallen Ken, and squints; a thick trail of dark red blood oozes down the right corner of Carrol's mouth, gathering at his burnt jaw and falling to the grass-covered earth beneath him in thick droplets. He comes to a stand, wiping the blood away with only a faint wince.
"... Welcome to the party, kid," he finally grunts before moving to help Brihan up and potentially out of the stadium. A vicious grin afflicts his bloodied lips.
"This one oughta be able to /really/ rack up some damage."
COMBATSYS: Carrol has ended the fight here.
Log created on 22:00:36 02/04/2011 by Carrol, and last modified on 20:26:40 02/23/2011.