Description: The Anemoi seek to claim yet another victim in their slow yet certain conquest of the world's most promising fighters. Antoine Huang is calmly training in Kazakhstan, making preparations for his youthful team's debut, blissfully unaware that he is being stalked by one who promises far more than just the riches and fame of the tournament. Brihan promises to change his life forever; and for the better. She may be right about one of these things.
Training.... Fight...
Training... Fight.
The sun shines in the air, giving off a gleam of the bright glow upon the blue sky. It's brilliance goes unmatched as the weather is slowly warming up. The presence is everlasting and wonderous. While the atmosphere of the great monument stands, the Bayterek Monument stands high above everything.
A fist launches out towards the monument, but it doesn't reach it.
From afar at the garden itself is a young man who is in a horse stance. He throws his punches every beat. His eyes drift over, turning to face the other direction before he twists about for an elbow.
With a sweep of the leg, he shifts to the other side while expelling both hands out. A burst of the colorless chi explodes around him. "SEEIYAA!" He hisses, then he relaxes. He looks over towards the duffelbag. "I hope the others are doing well."
Shine, as bright as the sun.
It's the kind of drivel that besets a great number of the youthful fighters Brihan Bogale and her mismatched band have been tasked with observing. As though talent and power were qualities to be suddenly found in the pit of the soul, where all the anger, spite, and doubt reside. An excuse to disregard the inherent darkness of mankind and embrace a delusional hope for the future. If only they knew what truly awaits; what will come to pass in the impending months. And that, right there, is the thought that brings a smile to her lips.
Her inner foulness is not apparent as she strolls, or perhaps saunters, through the sunstruck parkland before the glorious monument. Brash fingers are hooked through the waistband of her stylish capris, a pair of shades adorning her eyes as she rolls her neck, actually enjoying the sensation of the sun's rays upon her dark skin. Though she is moving casually, it belies a sense of purpose that would become clear to a curious onlooker as she begins to slow her pace upon approaching Antoine.
She comes to a halt next to a low, unoccupied bench. Kicking up a sneaker-clad foot to brace against the finely-carved stone, she leans down upon her knee, crossing her arms loosely and peering at the nearby fighter with open, almost rude interest, her wide mouth hanging open as she reaches up to tug down her glasses. Cool amber eyes affix upon Antoine's own, just as he comes to relax. She catches his murmur, and her lips yank into a cutting half-smirk.
"King of Fighters," she intones in her thick Ethiopian accent, voice deep and smooth. No, it's not a question; neither is it an assumption. She seems to know precisely why this young man is training, and takes full confidence in the fact. Pushing herself upright with an exhaled 'hmph' and swaggering a step closer, she cocks her hips to one side along with her head. "Do you think you're ready, Antoine Huang? Are you as strong as you could be?"
Because strange, muscular women knowing your name is never a bad thing. Right?
Admittedly, Antoine was not paying her any mind. Not out of rudeness. No. He was actually doing some training and that training takes a lot of focus. Even as she started to approach near the area, Antoine kept her blocked out of his mind. Yet, the relaxation of his aftermath is cut short when his thoughtful musings were interrupted by the dark skinned woman. His eyes look over towards the striking lady, offering her a faint friendly smile.
"Hello." Despite the rudenss of her intone, Antoine is feeling pretty good now. Yet, Antoine cannot help but feel that there is something 'not right'. A frown is making its way known, tilting his head over towards her while she regards the tournament.
"Yes, I am. I have trained for tournaments like this." He furrows his eyebrows towards her. One has to wonder how do people suddenly know his name. Then again, his exposure from the television is spreading. The internet as well. Good lord, Antoine feels like a total shut in from society at times.
Brihan is not unknown herself, as it happens. Though her fights have seldom been televised on the mainstream, her particular breed of ultraviolence has gained her an avid, one might say 'cult' following via the numerous underground fighting circuits of the world. Enough that she can pitch herself at major events as an up-and-comer. Enough that she can grandstand and sign autographs without coming across like an utter fool. Still, she and Antoine have not moved in the same circles. Not at all.
Her lower lip curls at the young man's reply, an obnoxious and amused disdain tainting her expression. She is making no effort at all to hide that she does not believe him; and certainly isn't impressed by what she sees. A creak sounds from her sinuous neck as she stretches it to one side, bringing up a hand to apply a little more pressure and garner a satisfying crack. All the while she stares levelly at the Chongquan practicioner.
He seems like a nice guy. Just the kind she likes.
"Tch!" Startlingly white teeth stand out against her skin as she grins, wide and savage, "Then you wouldn't mind a friendly challenge from a fellow participant? My name is Brihan Bogale. I'll be leading my team to victory, and I believe I could teach you a thing or two. In fact--" she suddenly barks a laugh, short and sharp, fire swimming momentarily in previously cold eyes, "I'm certain of it!! Are you game, Antoine Huang?"
This challenger is interesting. Antoine is keeping note of her demeanor, uncertain of what to make of her. She is not too pleased with him for some reason. The disdain earns a frown from the fighter, who is feeling just a bit uncomfortable. However, the eyes soon hardens as he takes more of a strong shift. Any opposition, social or physical, Antoine cannot yield. While the Chongquan fighter eyes the strange woman, the gaze becomes a bit more curious.%tWhile she displays a more savage look, Antoine is offering a nod. "...A challenge, you say?" Then, he quirks an eyebrow. "As a warrior, I accept. I would like to see your fighting style.
He brings his right hand out, the left palm striking against the fist. He brings himself to a bow, then he steps the left elg out while both arms rise up in a guarding position.
"I am ready.... I await to see what you have to teach me." There is no sarcasm in the tone, nothing condescending. He is interested.
COMBATSYS: Antoine has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Brihan has joined the fight here.
Interesting. That's one word to describe her. If she could read minds, Brihan would be vowing to alter that opinion to something rather more humbling. As it is, she watches the man's acceptance with the grin spreading further and wider until it seems to split her striking face in twain. He calls himself a warrior - he shows the respect that, to so many others, would mark him as worthy of that title. "Cute." The single word rumbles from her throat without volume, the blasting condescension inserted without ceremony.
"You're not ready, little bat!" She spits that, tearing off each syllable with a sudden savagery that is alarming, though she still somehow seems amused. Antoine's calm preparations and honourable intentions are the very antithesis of everything she is; that much is clear, as she merely growls and starts to stride for with the hungry leanness of a predator. "But I'll /make/ you ready. You know what they call the best kind of warrior?"
The Ethiopian berserker lunges, crossing the remaining distance between them with alarming speed, chi overflowing from her body to leave a hot, faintly burning orange corona in her wake. She is but inches from Antoine, her face - bearing scars at such proximity - thrust in to meet his own. He can feel her breath on his face, warm and moist, an instant before she brings up a knee, lunging past him - THROUGH him if necessary - to drive home a powerful, crushing blow to the abdomen.
"They call them /soldiers/! And they exist to SERVE."
Her actions and words are punctuated, as she pulls away, by a fierce explosion of energy - a filthy, burning sepia that seems to tear at the senses even as it seeks to destroy the physical form. There's something wrong about it; there's no more suitable word than 'tainted'. And as this realisation dawns upon Antoine, the woman pulls away with a restoration of that horrible grin, slipping into a loose, cocksure fighting stance. Who is this woman? /What/ is she?
COMBATSYS: Brihan successfully hits Antoine with Medium Kick.
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Antoine
The alarm is pinging. There is something not right about her. It is not just the condescending nature that she possesses. No, it is something else entirely. Antoine had expected this to be a battle. That was clear. However, her demeanor and her views is not something some ordinary fighter would say.
When she lunges, Antoine moves towards her while bringing both of his arms out. With the flow of the chi along the kick, Antoine narrows hiseyes against the hot corona. As Antoine brings his arms up to guard against her foot...
It breaks through the defenses, the foot lashing across his abdomen. His body immediately flies back and he soars along the air. Whizzing along, Antoine twirls along the air, landing with a harsh thud. He starts coughing up blood, wincing to himself as he feels the resonance of the dark energy. What was that...?
"...A warrior is free.... A soldier is bound by a purpose of someone else...." He grits his teeth, planting his fists to the ground. The eyes are filled with shock and disbelief. He looks incredelous. "...What are you...?" Eyes narrow, Antoine immediately rushes into the distance of the woman, quickly lashing out his right foot twice, then he springs off of the ground.
Lighting crackles across the foot as it seeks to slam down towards the woman's head.
COMBATSYS: Brihan blocks Antoine's Crossing the Bridge.
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Brihan 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Antoine
What is she?
"The answer to all of your problems."
Brihan speaks from behind her hands as they unfurl only to tighten hard, knuckles creaking against the leather of her gloves. Her tone is as absolutely mocking as the continued disparaging twist of her mouth would suggest, though there is a hint of promise and prophecy about the words. As much an inside joke as they are deadly serious. In short, it's not any kind of answer to his question. But this tall, bestial woman seems more inclined to offer a physical response - her frame shifts minutely as she watches the young man's approach. A coiled serpent waiting to strike, a lioness preparing to pounce.
His pair of seeking kicks are met with a sudden rapid shift, finding their equal in an almost lackadaisical backfist and a thrusting palm delivered in quick succession. Her countering blows lack power, but they serve their purpose in nullifying Antoine's efforts. Though it over-extends her, and the subsequent defence to his final axe blow is rather less perfect; it is met with a rudimentary cross-block, the accompanying thunder causing her dark skin to steam faintly. Said steam, it glows orange.
And so does the baresark as she swings into action, almost literally, sweeping forward with an arm lashing in a broad arc. Her fingers fly apart, and seek to grasp the aspiring King of Fighters by the very skull as they close in upon him. With her trap sprung, Brihan is prepared to follow up with brutal efficiency, continuing to turn as she whips him first into her cocked left fist - which offers up an explosion of that tainted chi, and then simply hauls him overhead with both hands.
"Freedom's overrated; the bastion of the listless! GRRAAARGH!!"
Straining, she /hurls/ the Chongquan practicioner toward the ground.
"Everybody should have a purpose, little bat, and I'm here to give you one!"
COMBATSYS: Antoine fails to interrupt Charged Combo from Brihan with Roaring Guardian.
- Power fail! -
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Brihan 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Antoine
While it is not much of a surprise of how efficient she is, it is more of how lackadaisal yet skilled she is against his strikes. She had been shifting from his efforts. The backfist sends the foot down. When the foot actually came down for the more powerful strike, the foot meets with her cross block. A hiss is given while he tries to plant the foot towards her head. "Ngggh...!"
His body actually bounces back and away, now skidding across the ground as he tries to recover for the next maneuver. Now, she comes forward to invade his personal freedom when she launches out to grab at him. He pulls his hands back. Then, he immediately steps forward, shooting both of his arms out to expel a burst of chi to collide agains the woman.
Unfortunately, she grasps at the head, cutting him off from completing the burst, if not breaking through it entirely. He grits his teeth as she lifts him up. He is caught to the face with the left fist, his head sent reeling to the side with the explosion of the tainted chi.
As he is hauled overhead, he is chucked across the ground, rolling on before he twitches. "..Nggh...." Antoine is reaching a hand towards the ground, trying to pull himself up.
"...My purpose... is to live... preserve the sacred art... Perfect the style..." He flops on the ground for a moment, and then he slowly pull himself up.
"...And to become strong."
Brihan begins to laugh, a mere chuckle burbling up from her throat seconds before she flings her red-striped head back and pays deep, hearty disdain to her beaten prey's beleagured protestations. "To become strong?" She barks, seeming to abruptly cut herself off, shaking her head and refocusing upon Antoine with a fierce stare. Her teeth again bare themselves, flashing ivory in the sunlight as she lifts a hand to her mouth and bites down. Hard. The air leaves her lunges in a prolonged hiss, and then she yanks her bunched fist away with a savage, breathless snarl.
"You don't know what strength is! There are no sacred arts or perfect styles, Antoine Huang, any more than there are perfect people. You're an idiot if you believe anything else! But you know?" She lunges forward once more, closing the distance to the young man with her back bent, staring up at him as she thrusts herself into his personal space. The fire in her eyes seems to be literal now; smokey umber flames playing around black pupils. "I can show you true strength; give you true power! Rrr-AGH!"
With that stunted, feral shout she rises to her full, impressive height, bringing her bared forehead up and over with blistering speed. More of that hideous orange bloom starts to erupt from her pores an instant before the hard bone of her brow is brought into fearsome, brutalising contact with Antoine's own - seeking to split skin and break bone. To show him how strong she is with yet another explosion of tainted force.
"All you have to do is /EMBRACE/ it!!"
COMBATSYS: Brihan successfully hits Antoine with Giant.
- Power hit! -
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Brihan 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Antoine
This is not what Antoine expected in a fight like this. This was goin to be a simple match. Right? Instead, this is turning out to be a fight for his life. Or rather, whatever this person was planning to do to him. Antoine can already feel his heart racing. Everything is spiralling before him in this entire fight.
Antoine grits his teeth as she chastizes his idealism. While she lunges forward once more, Antoine launches himself forward. He can see the eyes become literal flames. This causes him to gaze at her with more wariness.
Now, when she releases a feral shout, Antoine brings both of his hands out to guard against her strike. That hideous orange bloom erupts from her pores. As she brings her head against his own, Antoine lifts the hands up to push the head away. However, she breaks through the mighty Chongquan defenses again.
Both eyes widen.
*CRACK!*
Antoine is sent sprawling against the ground, twitching in pain as he clutches his head, "Arggghh....!" He holds his forehead, trying to drive out the pain that he is feeling. Rolling along the ground, he is now turning to lock his eyes against her gaze. He narrows his eyes, rubbing his forehead as he tightens his fists. Standing up to his feet, Antoine now feels the flow of the chi erupting around him.
"NEVER!"
He slams his fist towards her stomach, palms opening at the last second to give a sharp strike to her solar plex. Then, he will follow up by rising his other hand up in a spinning uppercut towards her chin. The fist is driving through to strike through the chin; motion is slowed with the intent of shattering the bones.
COMBATSYS: Brihan endures Antoine's Heaven Descends to Earth.
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Brihan 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Antoine
Taking Antoine's life might be so simple a thing for this sickeningly powerful woman; she certainly seems to hold him in little regard, pulling back from the explosive collision of skulls with a wild smirk upon her lips. Her hands lift, rough fingertips curling against the air like hungry talons as her savage stare remains transfixed upon the young man. Amidst the beauty surrounding them, before the monument standing as testament to joy and hope, she only seems to be all the more terrible a creature. Any onlooker could only wish in their hearts for success to fall into Huang's hands...
He is an underdog. She is a vicious wolf at the head of a slavering pack.
"/Fool/."
She utters it in spite of the fist that suddenly finds itself planted solidly in her midsection, grinding deep enough that her mouth is forced to remain open in a pained rictus. And yet her eyes only burn more fiercely. As though she were enjoying it; as though this were exactly what she wanted. With the resounding crack of the uppercut, she spits up a mouthful of thick bile. It's scattered upon the pleasantly warm winds, tainting the air much like her overt displays of that dirty energy. She's a taint herself, the thing that should not be, and when she strikes the concrete path it actually ruptures beneath her. As though it could not bear to be in contact with the baresark.
"Who ever said..."
A hand SLAMS into the ground, forcing her upright and into a whirling, dizzying spin that carries her directly toward Antoine, umber heat thrusting from her every pore as she again cracks that Devil's grin. Her forehead is up against his within a microsecond, thrusting for an initial stunning impact, bleeding off a dark and unpleasant burst of her contained power.
"I WAS GIVING YOU A CHOICE?!"
Screaming from the black pit of her lungs, Brihan drags the exclamation into an ululating howl that would cloy the blood in the veins of the meek. She is an animal, raging forth with utter abandon to again bring her scarred skull crashing into Antoine's face. She will strike repeatedly for nose and for cheek, her neck snapping and whipping as it drives home each blow, feet barely keeping pace beneath her as she drives the Chongquan practicioner back. And every bone-busting impact brings with it more throbbing waves of filthy umber, forcing that energy deeper and deeper into the stricken man.
But there's more to it this time, and by the time she rears back, unleashing a feral, wordless roar, it should become apparent that she has been aiming to damage more than just his handsome visage. She has been directing her might into the very centre of his being, tearing and fraying at that which connects him to the Earth itself. When her skull shoots forward for the last impact, delivering the ultimate payload of her tained strength, it may just be enough to break him utterly... to turn this humble warrior into an unwitting soldier.
A slave to the Rage in the hearts of man.
COMBATSYS: Brihan successfully hits Antoine with Hypernova.
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|=======\====---\1 Antoine
The might of the fist sought to drive through Brihan. Antoine put all of his might against that fist. Antoine has to do this. He has to beat her. "Graaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Antoine roars out as he twists the fist in. His teeth gritting, he tries to force his way through.
Antoine's eyes widen when she shows a ferocious look of delight from the impact. That uppercut did not do as good as Antoine wanted it to.
After landing on the ground, Antoine sees her slamming the hand to the ground before she soon spins his way. His eyes widen with a gaze. "...Wh--what the?!"
His eyes focus as he tries to draw upon the force of his chi. While she screams out her howl, Antoine immediately seeks to take a tighten stance and bring both of his arms back in a guarding position. His chi manifests like a barrier.
The colorless, forceful chi blows around as he expels the energy out. When Brihan breaks through, Antoine utters one thing...
"Shit....!"
The skull cracks against the face, blood splattering everywhere as he is caught and battered. Each strike sends him staggering back. That filthy umber forces its way into his form. The final strike is what does it. As the energy blows against him for the last strike, Antoine is sent sprawling and rolling onto the ground.
The look on his face is withered... beaten...
~ ...Everything... is drawing a blank... ~
~ Quon... ... Sifu. ... Rust... Zach.... ~
His hand twitches.
The memories of the peope he met in his journey are slipping away. Instead, his eyes are becoming blank and red before he twists and twitches. His eyes fall shut.
COMBATSYS: Antoine takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Antoine can no longer fight.
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Brihan 0/-------/-------|
When her unholy work is done, Brihan is left gasping, dragging heavy lungfuls from the tarnished air as she stares down upon the fallen youth with eyes so wide as to be bugging; bulging from their sockets. A faint line of dribble runs from one hanging side of her mouth, soon pushed away by the violent slash of a raised backhand, left to scatter across the polished walkway underfoot. It takes a moment before she berserking woman regains breath and composure enough to stalk over to Antoine, reaching down to seize his head in her hand.
If he had hair enough, she would twist it. She has to settle for digging her fingernails in, keeping him conscious through pain long enough to say her piece - as though she has not said enough already. "Sleep now, little bat," she hisses, bending down close to his ear, her every exhalation burning with boiled moisture, "But when you awaken... remember your true purpose..." Trailing off, her mouth opens, flashing a maw full of white teeth that seems inches away from biting down upon the stricken young man. She restrains the impulse with a snarl, and settles for pushing her head forcefully against his.
"When your teammates lie bloodied and beaten by their opponents, remember what I've told you. There is no hope in this world for those of honour and goodwill; if you want strength, you will /fight/ for it. Become the soldier, servant to his rage and his ambition. Do this, and maybe next time you'll be able to protect yourself, and those you love. Until then, /SLEEP/."
The last is grated out, thick accent tinged with rust and razorblades as she discards Antoine, tearing her fingers away to let him fall face down into the concrete. She spares him no further care nor heed, turning upon her heels and stalking away as a gaggle of troubled tourists nearby start to frantically tap away at their phones as they realise this has been more than just a bout between fighters. This was not an impromptu attraction; this was an assault.
And it was the start of something far greater, for Brihan and Antoine both.
The future awaits, and the Rage is calling.
COMBATSYS: Brihan has ended the fight here.
Log created on 15:49:25 02/13/2011 by Brihan, and last modified on 21:25:28 02/13/2011.