Description: A Neo League bout on a storm dusted mountain cliff is more than just a friendly match for both parties involved. Suspicious of something dark lurking within the Ansatsuken master, Athena Asamiya challenges him to a fight to see first hand for herself the rage that drives him now. ( Winner: Ken )
While smaller leagues of the ever popular fighting sport tend to be restricted to fairly centralized locales in order to keep costs in check, no such limitations exist for the world renown Neo League. With the remarkable success of the globe's most successful competative fighting league, it's always possible to stage events in interesting, exotic, and far off places, showing the viewing audience a glimpse of different sites and locations that might otherwise go unnoticed.
This afternoon's venue is set near the side of a cliff in the mountains of rural Japan. To the west of the area designated for the bout to take place is an old forest, the tree line coming to an end a good ten yards away from the rocky ledge. To the east is the cliff itself, with other mountains visible on the other side of the valley. The wide strip of land between the cliff and the forest is covered with grass and dirt, providing a mostly clear location for the fight to transpire.
The sky is grey and the air is damp. The ground is moist - evidence of a passing drizzle about an hour before now. It looks like it could pick up again at any time, with the grey clouds seeming so much closer to the earth this high up in the mountains. The wind alternates between dead still to slight gusts that brush over the grass and disturb the leaves of the bordering woods.
"Not the cheery place I had hoped for," Athena Asamiya muses to herself. "It would be nice on a clear day though."
Final preparations are under way, with a helicopter taking advantage of the valley to the east to make fantastic establishing shots of the designated fighting area for the TV audience. Staff and crew are doing a couple of tests with the cameras to test the angles and lighting, with a few of them wondering if they need to drag out some extra ground lights to compensate for the dreary afternoon gloom.
The challenger for the owner of the Neo League is dressed in clothing markedly less gaudy than some of her appearances with a loose fitting red Chinese-styled tunic and matching, pink baggy Kung Fu pants - a simple outfit harkening back to a more simple time before her idol career exploded into what it is today. A crimson headband keeps her long hair out of her face as she focuses her thoughts on the match to come.
Its purpose has gone unstated thus far - there are no reasons to suspect this is anything other than a friendly challenge. Of course, those who have followed recent matchups for Ken Masters might start to wonder if there is something more going on here...
The Neo League truly is a remarkable entity. Not only has it legitimized and made a true sport out of Street Fighting, but it has singlehandedly managed to become one of the most profitable ventures for those who are involved. Day after day, week after week, there is always some form of carnage and mayhem for the viewing audience to enjoy. Of course, most people haven't truly seen the spectacles that the CEO has been apart of, mainly due to the image Masters Media must always try and present for itself. Yet, this doesn't stop rumors, and unauthorized leaks of previous matchups from hitting the internet, spurring immense debate from those who dedicate themselves to following the Neo League.
The combatants health and safety is always a top priority for the League, yet Miss Asamiya might ask herself the question of 'Which Producer thought this matchup would be a good idea?'
Ken Masters slowly makes his way towards a cameraman, making a few brief comments to the man, nodding his head in approval as the cameraman responds. The Owner and Chairman of the League seems to be a bit pale, almost as if he were starting to come down with a cold or someother ailment, but he is trying his best to give those here the impression that nothing his wrong with him.
It doesn't take much longer for Ken to finally make his way towards Athena, a hand held out towards her in greeting. "I wish you luck today Miss Asamiya. Try not to hold back on me." A faint smile is given towards her, as the hand remains extended.
Of course, by the standards of some of the crazier Saturday Night Fights, this venue seems absolutely /tame/. At least the fighters aren't expected to jump out of a jet at any point during the match. That said, the location does present the appearance of some dangerous risks - of course, as long as the fighters stay within the designated area, nothing could possibly go wrong... right?
From the moment Ken Masters makes his appearance, Athena has her eyes on him. It would be easy to dismiss it as young infatuation with one of the more handsome stars of the fighting circuits - he's wealthy, in great shape, known for having an upbeat, easy going personality; who would blame her!
But the girl's mind is on something other than bemoaning the fact that Ken has already settled down with Eliza. Frightfully perceptive, she's studying the gifted martial artist. He looks different again - but in the same way he did in the bout with the young Momoko. A gust of breeze kicks up, tousling her dark, violet hair, causing her to lift her hand up to brush it out of her eyes. By the time she does so, Ken is there in front of her, hand extended in friendly greeting.
Surprised, Athena responds with a quick and ready smile, a sparkle in her eyes as a sense of relief washes over her. Maybe nothing is wrong with him after all. Perhaps he was just under the weather recently... maybe rumors were being blown out of proportion. "Thank you, Mister Masters, I appreciate you accepting my challenge. After your bout with little Momoko, I felt it important to show you what us Psycho Soldiers are really capable of. It is an honor to face you today."
Pulling her hand back, she continues to regard Ken with a touch of curiosity. She opens her mouth as if to ask if he's feeling all right, but thinks better of it and says nothing for now.
If someone ever had a true poker face, right now that person is Ken. "It's what the Neo League is all about. People gathering, and having it out. Who am I to turn down a fight?" The calm smile that rests on his face would throw off the most unsuspecting of people, yet already Athena suspects there is infact something wrong with him. He pulls away and moves towards the designated area. "Momoko..?" The name seems to draw a blank, even though he had just fought her not to long ago.
Things slowly start to get a bit foggy for Ken, his right hand rising up to gingerly rub at his forehead. "Ungh.." A violent shake is given as he nods towards the cameramen, signaling them to start broadcasting. The announcers are already doing their thing, trying their best to get the viewers at home pumped up like they are. Of course, he does manage to put on that calm smile the moment the camera turns towards him.
The US Champion slowly starts to get into his usual stance, grinning slightly at Athena. "All right Miss Asamiya. Let's both do our best, shall we?" His right hand motions towards the Pyscho Soldier, beckoning her to come forth.
COMBATSYS: Ken has started a fight here.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Ken has awoken to his Rage. Watch the hair.
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Ken [E] 0/-------/------=|
"I agree," Athena replies to Ken's remark about the purpose of the impressive Neo League he owns, a touch of laughter in her tone, further relief at finding Ken to be all right, even if he isn't looking the best at the moment. Hey, anyone can catch a cold... though out here in this damp air, is that the best place for him to be? She pushes the question in her mind aside.
Only when Ken draws a blank at the mention of Momoko does Athena get caught off guard. "R-right, eh heh." Athena starts to wipe her hand on her top. What if what Ken has is contagious? Just how under the weather /is/ he? "Little girl - learning Capoeira...?" Maybe never caught the young fighter's name? Or maybe it slipped his mind? He must meet so many people being as famous as he is... Of course, Athena muses, she meets a lot of people too and she'd never forget a fighter, would she?
It's only when the two have split up that Ken begins to look worse. "Are you-" she starts to ask, only to get cut off by one of the crew ushering her to get ready for the match to begin. No one wants the opening shot of a bout to be someone standing around getting punched for not paying any attention, after all!
A crease of worry crosses her bow as Ken starts to look worse by the moment. But he's still talking like she'd expect. Why does she still feel uneasy about this? Raising her hands in front of her, one foot sliding forward slightly, she adopts a ready stance. Closing her eyes for a moment, she inhales then exhales slowly, letting go of a touch of the psychic restraint she keeps in place nearly always.
A subtle pulse of energy washes out away from her as Athena opens her eyes, unseen but almost certainly felt. For a brief moment, it seems as if some of the grass around her is bending in the wrong direction - into the wind - before everything returns to its damp, gloomy norm. "Here we go!"
She takes off running, feet digging into the thick grass before she springs into the air in a remarkably high leap. The trajectory of her airborn path seems to cut short as Athena tucks forward into a ball and spikes right back down toward the Ansatsuken master. On a clipping collision course, her body becomes awash with a pink'ish aura of powerful psychic energy. Should she manage to crash through Ken's guard, she'll drop to the ground, one hand planted in the dirt, kicking her legs out for Ken's shins in a bid to knock the experienced fighter clean off his feet!
COMBATSYS: Athena has joined the fight here.
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Athena 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 [E] Ken
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Ken with Phoenix Arrow.
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Athena 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 [E] Ken
For whatever reason, Momoko isn't drawing any recollection from Ken, which only causes him to clutch his head once more. Yet, as soon as he has done that, Athena is already taking the first strike. Once more there is an unfamiliar feeling welling up within his body, his chi slowly starting to swell up like a balloon that's about to burst deep within him. Unfortunately, the energy that Miss Asamiya is giving off is met in violent respons from the man's own body.
A low growl emits from Ken's mouth as Athena suddenly draws his feet from underneath him, the cold hard ground colliding with him in response. It's already begun, the man named Ken Masters has slowly started to slip further into the foriegn rage that now possesses his body--
A simple twist of his body, and Ken quickly manuevers back onto his feet, his body arching into a cartwheel-like motion, the right foot leading the parade, aiming for Athena's collar-bone, knowing full well that this will infact hurt a good deal if it hets its intended target.
COMBATSYS: Athena interrupts Ryusen Kyaku from Ken with Psycho Sword.
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Athena 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 [E] Ken
It's clear from Athena's opening technique that she wasn't afraid to get in close with the master martial artist. Landing right at his feet before dishing out that balance-upsetting final kick of her combination, she's in a good position to follow up immediately with a counter strike should her target not be knocked too far away.
Snapping her feet back, she remains half crouched as she recovers from having extended herself into a bit of risk with that final hit. Now that the fight is under way and she's allowed herself to form stronger, temporary psychic links with everyone in the vicinity. The world of the individual comes alive to her senses. Many may find themselves in tune with the natural world - the wind, the trees, water, and air - but when lost to the spirit of the fight, Athena feels the vibe of psychic resonance present in every sentient being.
For a moment, time slows for her. That growl from Ken, seemingly out of place against his previously demeanor, is only the tip of the iceburg. It goes much deeper than that. An emotion out of place, as if grafted into a tree it doesn't belong, radiates from the American fighter.
Athena sucks in her breath, eyes widening slightly as she focuses on Ken's next attack, her right hand flaring to life with a shimmer of vibrant sanguine hued energy. "I can't deny what's plainly visible any longer," she states loud enough to be heard as she braces her right foot behind her. "The corruption - how long have you tried to fight it alone?" She sees the incoming swing of his leg and a glimpse of things three milliseconds into the future warn her that the damage will be severe, but she choses not to waver from her attack all the same. Sometimes standing strong is the only option there is.
That flash of forsight does afford her the opportunity to turn into the kick, lunging in before it reaches its full, crushing momentum, weathering a blow that is only half as bone-crunchingly strong as it would have been at full force into her left upper arm. Twisting to the left, a portion of his kicking power is shrugged off as her right arm swings around from her side to in front of her, starting low then ending high, what started as a flash of energy over her hand extending into a razor thin blade of pure, psychic energy.
"HAAA!" The energy that slices through Ken would draw not a drop of blood, nor harm his flesh in any way. But the damage to his psyche would be another matter all together. In its wake, as Athena follows through into a short, spinning hop, is possibly a lingering flood of condemnation or castigation, as if his greatest faults had been exposed and judged.
As for her sake, Athena lands a second later in a half-crouch, right hand gripping her left shoulder, the pain racing through her upper left arm a grim warning that the power of Ken is most assuredly /not/ to be underestimated.
Rage. Almost as if there is a oncoming storm, Ken's body recoils from the feeling of the psychic assault tearing through his body, eyes narrowing down upon Athena Asamiya with malicious intent. The girl poses a threat to him now, and the foriegn entity that has taken residence inside of him is doing its best to ensure that this new threat that has cropped up will be dealt with, and harshly.
The world around Ken seems to pulsate with energy as he slowly starts to pull away from the girl, knowing that he can't get close to her again just yet. She has to be caught off guard, and there are ways for him to ensure a distance can be kept. His hands quickly move down to his side, the corrupted chi starting to gather rapidly between them, almost as if the more he fights, the less that remains of his old self.
"HADOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Athena dodges Ken's Hadouken.
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Athena 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 [E] Ken
COMBATSYS: Ken has joined the fight here.
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Athena 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Ken
Rising back up to standing, the Psycho Soldier ceases to nurse her aching arm, never taking her violet eyes off Ken. "So much anger... this isn't the spirit of the fighter I had hoped to find in you, Ken Masters." Her voice is calm but forceful, spoken with unwavering conviction. The nature of her own gift leaves her unable to sense the shifts in power coursing through Ken's body - the changes in the ebb and flow of chi as it comes in contact with something less wholesome.
But she isn't blind. The plain eye can easily see what is going on in front of her. Even the weather about them seems to shift with the release of such powerful emotions. "But is it only anger?" She slips back into her ready stance, hands held out in front of her. "Is it also fear? You know in your heart what is happening is not right... This isn't how you used to fight, is it." The emotions pouring off him flood her senses and for a moment, she closes her eyes to refocus her mental energy.
He channels that power, conducting it into a more visible form, unleashing into one of the most famous projectiles around the world. It rockets toward Athena with dead on accuracy but she steps forward, vanishing through it, allowing that incredible energy to continue flying off into the distance behind her. "Deep down you know this isn't you... I know it isn't..."
Her forward stride becomes a sprint, the girl leaning into her attack as she gets ready to strike again, attempting to be wary to any possible counter attacks. In the end, she leaps, attempting to impact Ken's sternum with her knee before snapping her right leg up into a kick toward his chin!
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Ken with Combo Attack.
- Power hit! -
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Athena 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 [E] Ken
The internal struggle is almost to much for Ken to truly take, and already it's starting to take its toll externally as well. His body reels from the pain that the Psycho Soldier is dishing out, but he is still spurned forward with the singlemost desire of destroying the threat that stands before him.
Ken's right foot suddenly bursts to life, visably glowing with the tainted chi as he rushes towards Athena, cartwheeling towards her with a single minded intensity. Flames suddenly spring to life as he moves towards her, creating wheels of destruction as he slams towards her, trying to drag her into this newly revealed current of destruction.
The production crew seems to be rather silent, having not seen this attack yet for themselves, as only one other being has been on the receiving end of it, yet already they know of it, as news spreads fast within the fighting circuts.
"GUREN SENPUUKYAKU!"
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Athena with Guren Senpuukyaku.
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Athena 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 [E] Ken
Landing out of her snap kick, Athena continues to seem in control, still keeping her eyes on Ken non-stop. "It isn't just being in a fight, either. You were different from the onset when you fought Momoko just a few days ago. Didn't even say a word to her. That's not like you, is it? That's not how you were before, Ken Masters! What changed?!" She takes another step forward. Should she continue attacking? The purpose of Neo League - is that even relevent here?
But he's on the offense, whatever it is pushing him forward forbiding even a moment's reprieve. It goes without saying that she expected a powerful counter attack by now. But none of her forsight, no premonition is enough to prepare for the hurricane of cruching physical force and fiercesome flaming energy that comes exploding her way an instant later.
Eyes widened, the girl pulls her arms up, bracing her feet against the ground, hoping to weather the storm Ken brings crashing into her, but to no avail. Her guard is battered and smashed aside, leaving her yielding to the rest of the attack with no hope to defend herself. The flaming chi burns deep, her own aura never fully developed to ward off attacks of this nature, and Ken's physical prowess, augmented perhaps by whatever it is that runs through him, is devestating. Knocked off her feet, pummeled, struck, and burned, Athena crashes to the ground in a tumbling roll several seconds later, only to come to a smoking, face-down stop five feet from the edge of the precipice.
A pained goan accompanies her first sign of movement as the girl plants her hands into the dirt, pushing herself up. Her left hand goes to her mouth, wiping away blood, violet eyes immediately on Ken again. Her sleeves and tunic are scorched, hair in wild disarray, with several locks having come to rest partially over her face. Pushing back up to standing, her arms lower to her sides, fists clenched. "Words alone can't cut through whatever it is that's blinded your mind now." But maybe something else can?
Another pulse explodes out from around the girl, invisible to all but that internal psychic kernal inherent in all life, similar to the energy present when she first began the fight. An explosion of Psycho Power swirls up around the girl as Athena holds her hands out at her sides and closes her eyes, head bowed. She doesn't need vision to take this shot - the bullet of divine judgement coming Ken's way is destined to hit its mark. An audible cry escapes her lips as she releases the entirety of her psychic potential into a torrent of swirling orbs surrounding her body. "AaaaaaaAAAAH!"
Her hands snaps up, and all that power coalesces into a single shard of righteous reproach. At the core of the brightly shining sphere is Psycho Power so concentrated as to become temporarially physical in nature, a crystaline structure designed to pierce the most vile darkness. Or so she believes. Athena takes a single step forward, snapping her arm down and forward, unleashing that bullet from the end of her hand. Her eyes open a split second later but the decisive attack is already hurtling toward Ken with intrepid determination!
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Athena's Shining Crystal Bit+.
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Athena 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 [E] Ken
Psycho Power, chi. Regardless of its source, it's still energy that can cause a good deal of damage, and right now, Ken isn't in any sort of shape to allow anymore damage done upon his body. Almost as if the world around him were responding to the ever growing rage that exudes from his body, he vanishes from sight for the briefest of moments, allowing the orbs of pyscho power to sail past, striking the landscape behind him.
Once more the energy starts to swell within his body, moving faster then anyone has truly witnessed. His body is responding finally in the way it needs to, and now its time to show just what the Orochified Ken is capable of.
He suddenly bursts forward, his body leaping into air as his body starts to twists violently, his right leg extended outwards as he once more is unleashing the famed moves of the Ansatsuken style.
"TATSUKAMI SENPUU KYAKU!"
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Athena with Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
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Athena 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 [E] Ken
Eyes widen slightly as one of her own techniques for avoiding the unavoidable is used against her. The projectile explodes past only to crash into a tree several yards behind Ken, the shard of crystal shattering the thick trunk into tiny splinters. How could that miss? She was so sure of it. The abject surprise at the outcome of her most certain technique leaves her reeling, a flash of confidence shaken, "I- I don't-"
He's already on the offense again, whatever energy coursing through him denying any opportunity to slow down. This time he spins into a more renown technique, one she at least understands. But understanding isn't enough to actually escape it. Another whirlwind of kicks is in the girl's future as she attempts a desperate dodge. Bewildered turns to thoroughly dazed as kick after kick strikes her in the side of the head, sending her sliding to the left!
She knows she won't get another shot at attacking him back now, her strength waning, her body being robbed of consciousness. She has one last shot - one attempt to strike Ken hard enough to leave a mark and probably stop him as well. It is between one of the spinning kicks that she vanishes again, teleporting to his right, attempting to blindside him as she springs forward, hands over head.
When she brings her hands down, it is with a crashing meteor of psychic energy in front of them, a pink sphere with crackling violet lightning coursing over it. It occupies a space larger than Ken and should he get caught up on the point blank psychic detonation, he'll easily be lost to sight for a fleeting moment.
But that's all she has, the girl faltering forward into a second step, to catch herself from falling, only to stumble the step after that and fall toward the ground.
COMBATSYS: Athena can no longer fight.
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Ken [E] 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Ken auto-guards Athena's Round Psycho Reflector!
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Ken [E] 0/-------/----===|
A loud gutteral roar escapes from Ken's mouth as he spins around to face Athena, his face now twisted with unbridled fury. The meteor does drop down on him, but what happens next is something that most people just can't seem to grasp. Glancing upwards, he suddenly drops down, as if he were going to strike the falling Athena with something that everyone the world around knows...
The tainted chi suddenly explodes outwards as he launches into the air, striking the meteor with ferocious intensity, the roars escaping his mouth now growing louder and more intense. Normally, one would fail at such a feat, yet, this is Ken Masters, and whatever is inside of him thats causing this severe of a change, is already starting to become public.
The fist strikes the meteor of energy, only to cause a violent explosion of energy burst forth, causing those who are still watching to avert their eyes from the intensity of the light. However, once the light starts to fade, Ken stands over Athena, looking down upon her as he suddenly drops, the corrupted chi surging across his body, his right fist planted firmly into the ground next to her.
"Rage..."
COMBATSYS: Ken takes no action.
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Ken [E] 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Ken has ended the fight here.
Log created on 17:02:59 03/20/2011 by Athena, and last modified on 21:51:44 03/20/2011.