Description: Things just aren't safe these days. Elias is doing his best to make things a safer place against the great evils that seek to consume the world. In this case a group of cultists were to be confronted only for Elias to find his work done but the monster known as Juri. As a void to another plane seems to be sucking in the battlefield the two duke it out. Can Elias manage to handle the Spider of Shadaloo as well as seal off what the Cultists?
In a twisted view, and there are few non-twisted ways to view a dark, sinister group like Shadaloo, they have some elements resembling a family. Cammy and the other Dolls often view each other as sisters and show a camaraderie above and beyond that exhibited by typical soldiers or assassins working under Vega's oppressive might. Inversely, Juri's own relationship with the Dolls in total can be seen as antagonistic ... and perhaps even predatory. She seems to delight in watching them struggle and suffer. Even moreso than the delight she experiences from watching just about anyone struggle and/or suffer.
It is for this reason that Juri has arrived at this eerie temple within Sunshine City. Under normal circumstances, Cammy checks in with Shadaloo headquarters like clockwork. If you know what you're doing it's relatively easy to intercept the communication, and using a shared encryption key access its contents. It seems like Dictator's Little Girl has actually found something interesting this time around, not that Juri really understood or cared about the cult's undertaking at this time. She was just looking for a chance to screw with the Zero Doll, and she has found just that.
Knowing Cammy's clockwork precision, Juri figures that her operational estimates will hold within a few minutes of variance. There's enough time then for Juri to beat the Killer Bee to the punch, and claim the prize. The kitten will go home empty handed, and Juri? Maybe she'll make the pages of the book into a collage or something. You shouldn't rush creativity with cruelty.
What Juri had not expected was the strong sensations that these surroundings elicit. The Strange Temple, as it is often called, is a place that seems to be steeped in both the supernatural, and in dread. However, the Spider is not one to let a little thing like the workings of some ancient death god to scare her off.
Within moments the scene of the temple erupts into a violent but short lived brawl. The cultists though well versed in their esoteric rituals are hardly what anyone would call skilled combatants. For someone like Juri, dispatching them is like crushing so many annoying gnats. Robed figures are sent flying, some of them crashing into the still standing pillars and in one case knocking it over completely! Her harsh cackle can be heard rising over the evening air, "Oh my~! Is this really all you have to offer me? Perhaps you should hurry and finish your prayers to your silly little god?" Her eyes are drawn to the figure of a cultist trying to swiftly flee the scene, clutching something to her chest. She tsks loudly.
A couple of seconds later she has the robed woman on the ground. One of her legs is broken now, and her rib cage has been crushed by one of Juri's painful looking stomps. As she clings to consciousness she can only watch as the strange horned woman leans down to collect what she was holding: A strange black book. Juri chuckles softly, "My my... This must be important for you to try and leave the party so quickly. Maybe you should just let me hold onto it, hm?"
The 'hm?' in this case is both rhetorical, and in confusion as Juri suddenly notices a shift in the atmosphere around her. Several warning lights flash across her vision, directing her to look skyward as a vortex begins to form overhead. Juri's response is simple and profound: "What the Hell is that thing?!"
The Lord works in mysterious ways they say. Elias can certainly attest to that given the trials that both he and Alice have had to endure over the past months. The battles with Shadaloo have been taxing and Elias himself has not come out on the winning end often. The defeat by Vega was followed by the mild cheerfulness of him managing to get Alice back. It was only followed by the encounter in Metro where a young girl lost her life and if not for the help of a strange red man with oil the priest could have been dead as well.
Even worse is the rumblings of another evil that doesn't even seem associated with the organization that has been giving him trouble. Something that somehow might even be worse than the monster that goes by the name Vega. That alone makes Elias a very worried man. It has lead to him not focusing fully on Shadaloo at the moment, but more on the strange cult that has been springing up all over the place. It even looks like a group has been practically in his back yard.
The temple is a few short blocks away from Elias' shelter and it is a place that he has never liked. There is just something that screams of evil that eminates from it. Even more so since the world has started to grow more chaotic. He had seen people come and go and tonight a larger group was heading that way. That is why the priest decided tonight he would make sure to make them pay for spitting in the face of God with their practices.
What he didn't expect upon his arrival was the sight of what is going on. Several cultists dead or badly injured. A strange woman seemingly causing the damage and beating him to the punch. Though something felt off. She was no ally. Not to mention the evil that she just seemed to eminate reminded him all too much of the monster that stole Alice away. Slowly he stalks forward with his hands unclasping from behind his back and his features set in that almost emotionless gaze.
"It appears I am in lucky. Another spawn of that devil doing my work and sticking around to be punished for her sins." he says in that rather deep and monotone voice of his. Of course that is when the strange vortex begins to open and the priest himself to look upwards as he wonders just what the cultists were doing. This is not natural. This sort of thing should not exist and he will seal it if he must.
There are worse monsters in this world than the one named Vega. Some might claim that Juri is, herself, one of those monsters. An unholy and wretched being spawned from the unfeeling hands of Vega and Seth, one to break her apart and one to put her back together. But not the same, never the same again. The air around her practically pulses with malice, and to look into her eyes is to see a terror that cannot be described.
However, as the vortex builds overhead Juri's own atmosphere seems like it is being pulled away. There is something unnatural at work here, and clearly the Spider had not expected it. Nor did she expect the arrival of another: A man, speaking the words of a religious man, gloating over a victory that is not his. Juri stands amidst the ruins of the temple with her victims, a prize clenched in her fist, and this stranger is the one to gloat? It is to laugh. So Juri laughs, cackling with glee unrestrained! "Oh man, just when I thought I was done with these religious wackos another one pops out. It's like whack-a-religious nutjob!"
A sudden violet glow rises from Juri's left eye, and he expression changes. It moves from amusement, to excitement: Her pupils contracting as her eyes widen and her tongue moves without thought over her pale lips. "Well, it looks like you'll actually be able to keep me entertained for a bit..."
As she says that the vortex in the sky suddenly bursts open, assailing the two standing figures with its unnatural winds. Of course they are not the only one affected. Small rocks, broken bits of pillar, dirt and broken blades of grass are all being sucked up skyward as the loose white cloth of Juri's modified uniform pants whip wildly around in the wind. The diminuitive Korean woman has to struggle to keep her small form from being blown away, clenching the black book tight as she does. "Fuck... just when things were getting interesting."
Now it would seem Elias is in a bit of a bind himself. Wit the vortex growing in power it might actually be the greater threat. At the same time the woman in front of him seems like she is still ready for a fight from the way her eye glows and the comment she makes. It seems God really is testing his faith with tough trials as of late. Ones he cannot back down from. He must show his willingness to do the Lord's work. "Entertainment....." he calmly says while he takes a deep breath.
The strength of that vortex already seems to be picking up quite a bit. Even a man his size is being moved by it no matter how hard he tries to keep his ground. If he doesn't act now it could matter little who wins this fight between himself and the young woman standing across from him. If it goes too long they will both probably be swallowed and never heard from again. "Call me what you like, but I believe I must handle you then take care of whatever foul magic they used to open that gateway."
And if one thought he would take it easy on small woman like Juri they would be sorely mistaken. He has dealt with the likes of Decapre to know no matter what size these females Vega has toyed with are not to be taken lightly. He sadly has no idea what he has gotten himself into. All he seems to care about right now is the large meaty fist that is aiming to smash right into the chest of the smaller fighter.
COMBATSYS: Elias has started a fight here.
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Elias 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Juri has joined the fight here.
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Juri 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Elias
COMBATSYS: Juri dodges Elias' Strong Punch.
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Juri 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Elias
At least for now the vortex seems to have stabilized somewhat. Or at the very least, it doesn't seem like it's going to blow open and suck them all into space. Still being assailed by dust clouds and bits of rock is not exactly Juri's idea of a good time. What's worse though is that though is that this vortex seems to be drawing more into it than just air and bits of gravel. She feels as if its sucking the very air out of her lungs... or worse, the very chi out of her body. The Feng Shui Engine offers no helpful answers as she stares off into the sky, trying to analyze it and figure out its source.
And then Elias comes roaring at her with his very manly fist right into her center of ma--- ok, maybe her center of mass is around her stomach but whatever! The Taekwondoka catches his movement out of the corner of her eye, and only has a split second to respond by jumping out of the way!
Landing is a bit more difficult she finds, however. Not only is the air being pulled upward but it's also being whipped around, and the Korean woman's dainty frame is easily caught in the breeze. She manages to land, hard, against one of the pillars and slides to the ground. That doesn't change the fact she's smiling when she regains her feet.
"Heheheee... you sure are pretty forward for a man of the cloth, aren't you? Probably been a while since you've been able to touch a woman like that, huh?" She laughs coldly, "Don't worry, we have plenty of time to get nice and close with each other..." Case in point, Juri uses the collapsing pillar as a platform to push herself off, moving across the ground with enough speed that it sends yet more dust clouds skyward! When she arrives in range she'll dig her heel into the dirt, then spin around to deliver her other heel directly against Elias's stomach. Assuming he doesn't have to good sense to avoid it somehow.
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Elias with Heel Kick.
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Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Elias
Quick just like the other girl. It seems the monster enjoys fleet footed girls to do his dirty work. He shifts his stance to look towards Juri and prepare for whatever tricks she has up her sleeve. The shades he wears while not great for the evening one would think probably do help at least from getting dust and such in his eyes. Heck, given he has never really been seen without the glasses one could even question if he has eyes. That face remains emotionless and he just stares at the girl.
He can tell time is of the essence right now. He too can feel as if the vortex is drawing in more than debris. He can slowly feel his own energy being drained away and if he lingers too long the girl might not be the one that finishes him off. Of course when he feels that kick slam into his stomach he realizes he certainly will have to take care of Juri first. The force of the blow staggers him, but he manages to stay on his feet.
He also doesn't seem to be much of a talker. Juri might have found the least fun person in her terms given he shows no emotion so far and won't even talk to her. Instead he steps forward again and lowers his shoulder to charge into her before aiming another strong punch to plant hard into her if it connects.
COMBATSYS: Juri blocks Elias' Heart Punch.
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Juri 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Elias
The Korean woman has no such benefit as a pair of glasses. This means that, unfortunately, she often has to close her eyes and squint. Or at least one eye, anyway: Even in the depths of a swirling dust cloud she is able to keep the left eye of hers open. The very same one the baleful violet glow came from. It's particularly useful that she doesn't have to worry about that eye since Elias prefers to be the 'strong, silent' type as he fights.
This holds true even after her attack connected with his stomach. He is built solidly, just as she had expected, but she also understands that the blow she just delivered had to hurt. Were it not for his unyielding muscle, her strike would have certainly left his insides swimming with his own sewage. A particularly nasty way to go. But whatever joy Juri can extract from that thought is dimmed by the fact he doesn't grunt, doesn't groan, doesn't even scream.
Instead he just tries to hit her with yet another painful looking strike!
This time Juri raises her leg off the ground to deflect the blow. Not entirely the wisest decision, as the continuing suction of the vortex makes it harder to dig her feet in and maintain her balance. She is nearly sent head over heels, and has to stumble backward just to keep upright. The vortex continues to roar above them, and as it does she can feel the loose material of her clothing, her belt, and even her uniquely odd hair horns trying to fly free and join the ever-growing menagerie of loose stone and dirt flying into the sky.
Juri doesn't mind though. She's too wrapped up in the moment to care about some eldritch maw looming above her waiting to swallow her whole. Instead she smirks, "Oh? Nothing to say huh? I guess you're not too good with girls, huh?" Mock realization lights across her face, "Aha, I got it... you're one of those that prefer your playmates young, confused, and male right?!" There is a bright flash of psycho power as Juri brings up her leg, the one not used for blocking earlier, to deliver a sudden snap kick aimed at the bottom of Elias's jaw. Accompanying the force of the blow is also a flash of swirling psycho power!"
COMBATSYS: Elias endures Juri's Fuhajin.
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Juri 1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Elias
He is starting to prefer the more quiet and masked girl at this point. The chldish insults are just getting a bit under Elias's skin, but really those are the least of his worries. While the masked girl was tough this woman hits alot harder than she did. Elias is going to have to be careful in dealing with her if he can. It would seem his option of being careful is taking that foot right in the face.
The blow slams hard into his jaw and it stops his forward momentum and sends him actually spinning about on a single foot before he slams the other one on the ground to steady himself. It is taking all his concentration to not let that vortex suck away his energy so his attempts to have his body quickly mend itself aren't as good as normal either. He won't let that slow him down. Not one bit.
He is just like some sort of berzerker or the like that continues onwards. The punishment just doesn't seem to stop him at all. Instead of throwing fists this time though he is reaching out to just grab and pick the girl up. Even as he does so his hands ignite with flame, but oddly it doesn't give off heat or burn Juri if he manages to grab her. No, much like the vortex it just feels as if it is draining away the energy from her. "How about you take a rest and let me get rid of this troublesome gate."
COMBATSYS: Juri endures Elias' Maximum Delirium EX!
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Juri 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 Elias
The grip is firm and the longer he holds before he lets go with one hand and then slings Juri away with the other. "Now rest." he tells her as his attention turns towards the vortex and he starts to walk towards it. He can only hope he can manage to undo whatever strange magics they used to tear open a rift such as this. Of course he should probably pay more attention to Juri, but right now this thing cannot go unchecked any longer.
How does that old saying go? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Or is it turn the other cheek? Whatever, Juri never took much stock in those sayings. Regardless it seems to be exactly what Elias is intending to do with her after taking her attack on the chin, as it were. The force of the blow isn't anything incredible, even with the force of her psycho power behind it, but it is enough to cause her to grit her teeth when she notices he just takes her blow without even being knocked off his feet!
In fact, he hasn't been knocked off his feet once this entire fight. Usually her opponents have the good grace to dig some dirt out of their teeth after being hit as hard as they have. She doesn't have a long time to feel disappointed or angry though. No, because Elias has grabbed onto her extended leg and lifted her off the ground!
The world is upside down now, but even worse she feels her body being enveloped by a strange form of chi. Unlike normal chi which seems to burn, freeze, shock, or any other manner of quasi-elemental effects... this one simply seems to drain. Indeed the readings on the Feng Shui Engine confirm that her body's energy levels are being pulled away, and she can do little more but struggled wildly in his grasp like a fish pulled fresh from the water!
By the end of Elias's attack Juri's struggles have slowed somewhat. He then releases her with one hand before slinging her away like so much trash. For a moment she is still.
It does not last.
Without a doubt, the religious man will be able to feel the swell of malicious intent building up behind him. "You bastards are so damn boring! Kuh..." She winces slightly. The dual effect of the residual chi energy used by Elias and the vortex overhead are causing her quite a bit of trouble now. It's rather obvious she'll be in bad shape if this fight goes on for much longer. For now she regains composure swiftly, "If you think I'm just going to let you do whatever the fuck you want, you're wrong! You're dead! I'm going to shut down that vortex with your big, fat bloated head!!!
There is a flash of garish purple energy from Juri's left eye, she licks her lips, and then a new vortex is born of violet psycho energy! It begins with Juri lowering herself to the ground to perform a sweep, then another, then using one hand to push herself off the ground and continue delivering one painful looking attack after another!
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Elias with Kaisen Dankairaku.
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Juri 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Elias
And so it seems that the Elias will be joining us for our flight. Within the swirling cloud of psycho energy, the world is difficult to grasp: The swirling wind of the vortex overhead, the swirling bits of rock and debris below, and the whirling cloud of pain in between. The two of them go even higher than normal, and are threatened with an unfortunate potential fate as the two near the yawning void at the center of the vortex. But it is there their ascent stops, and now Juri's small frame can be seen rising above Elias.
A religious man certainly won't miss the strange implications in the imagery: A woman, wreathed in unholy flame, rises above his floating body like an angel of vengeance. Her face is a mask of unholy rage and deviant pleasure, and her foot raised up high above is similar alight with that unholy energy. Within an instant the moment is gone: A downward heel strike with the sound of a cannon sending him careening to the ground below!
It's impossible to know how Juri beat him to the ground. Her physics defying descent has her streaking by Elias's body and landing with but a fraction of a second to spare. She slides across the ground, gripping it with both hands to cancel her momentum and then within that split second manages to stand, turn, and deliver her foot upwards with bone cracking force!
The resulting impact sends out a shockwave, cracking nearby pillars and sending now loose bits of rubble swirling up into the vortex above! As the world seems to go insane around the two, the Korean woman shows a kind of languor as she raises her body up to gently stroke the man's chin. She produces a soft, malicious purr, "It feels good, doesn't it?"
With another spin on her heel Juri brings Elias to the ground with full force directed on the side of his head, painfully wrenching his neck to the side! And afterwards her voice can be heard cackling as the vortex overhead seems to grow even stronger, threatening to suck both Elias and especially Juri up into it for good!
What monsters Shadaloo creates...
His attention only is allowed to be kept away from Juri for a few short moments. He doesn't even get to begin an attempt to seal the vortex before he feels that sudden burst of malicious energy that comes from where he discarded Juri. His brow furrows slightly and he glances over his shoulder before turning about. He had hoped it would have kept her down a bit longer. Now he is really left between a rock and a hard place. Of course the rock is barreling right towards him at the moment and there is little he can do.
He keeps his ground and prepares for impact, but said impact is so much more powerful than he expected. She very well might be just as much of a monster as Vega. It reminds him that there really are two powerful evils he must work to stop and both seem to be leaps and bounds ahead of him. Of course his thoughts are broken much like his ribs and body in general from the pain unleashed on him. His world only stops spinning once his body thumps on the ground and he lays there in a heap.
He seems to be a man defeated. The punishment was too much for him from the looks of it. Then there is a little bit of smoke coming from him followed by the fact his entire body goes up in flames. Flames not like the ones of his when he had gripped Juri earlier, but a powerful burning fire that engulfs him entirely as he rolls onto his back and slowly sits up. He has little energy left, but it is a last ditch effort more to try and seal the vortex itself than to stop the monster that is Juri right now. Of course the fact she is in close proximity makes it to where she is going to be caught up in the release of the conjured flames.
Before he loses conciousness he manages to gather the fire around him, a giant ring that he sends away from him and flying right at the vortex, the large radius big enough to capture Juri in it as well if she isn't able to get out of the way. He doesn't even get a chance to see the results. In the end he is on the ground passed out with that same emotionless look on his face. Not once giving the satisfaction of screaming out in pain or looking afraid when being mauled.
COMBATSYS: Elias can no longer fight.
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Juri 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Elias successfully hits Juri with Maximum Holy Flare.
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Juri 0/-------/--=====|
Pride. Pride is one of the deadly sins for a reason. It is also the sin that leads Juri toward so much sorrow. She is so sure of herself, so sure that Elias is done for, that she doesn't even bother to notice his body when it alights in holy flame. Was it not for the sudden warning from her Feng Shui Engine that something BIG was building right at her feet she'd likely never have noticed at all! It's too little too late, however, and the Korean woman only has a moment to widen her eyes and stare into giant ring of flame right before it consumes her!
A scream is cut short, and the small woman's body is sent flying backwards with enough force that she cuts out a small groove in the dirt below with her elbow. "Heh... you sneaky son of a bitch." She intones, softly, while rising up on one hand and wiping blood from her mouth with the other, "I guess you haven't had enough 'special serv-- guh..."
Another wince, and Juri nearly collapses into the ground once more. The attack Elias used on her earlier is still taking its toll, it seems, and by now her energy seems to be more or less eaten away. It is also at this time she takes a moment to notice: One hand is pushing her up, another hand is wiping blood from her mouth. Where did the book go?! She looks around the broken landscape briefly, trying to spot it. She tsks softly, "Probably got sucked into that vortex, whatever." She struggles back to her feet, breathing heavily as alarms fly across her left field of vision. She looks back toward the downed body of Elias briefly, and gives a rueful smirk. "I guess you have someone looking after you after all... this time anyway."
With that, Juri will flee the scene. No prize in hand, Elias still alive and yet she'll be satisfied knowing that Cammy will arrive to find nothing but a broken ruin.
But what about the book...?
It seems that is where the luck comes out on Elias' end. While not something he is aware of the book does contain some crucial information and it was not even a target for him to retrieve. In all the scuffle the book had ended up on the ground and when the priest was downed he landed right on top of it. The book itself is mildly charred in places, but the flame snuffed out when Elias fell backwards on top of it again. Thank God for small victories.
COMBATSYS: Juri has ended the fight here.
Log created on 17:20:40 05/30/2011 by Elias, and last modified on 17:23:59 06/07/2011.