Description: Laurence Blood takes advantage of SNF taking place on the grounds of Strolheim to test an individual who has caught their eye. Will Aranha prove a worthy addition to the ranks of Strolheim or will Strolheim find the capoeirista lacking? (Winner: Blood)
Leave it to Strolheim to basically call out China and let them know that their new ideas of stopping fighting are silly at best. Even so after the events of the bombing happening during Saturday Night Fights there is nothing but the best security being used in all fights involved within the castle walls and outside as well. Vega of course seems to be trying to taunt Krauser by sending in one of his dolls to compete. A matter Blood almost took care of himself. Instead he finds himself in a more interesting situation for the time being.
It had been quite some time ago when Aranha came to the attention of Strolheim. Back then he had potential, but his fight with Eiji proved he was still very raw and needed more training. Now after seeing some of his performances over the past few years it seems like it is time to see how much the young man has improved. A task Blood wanted to take himself even though Eiji seemed more than willing to fight Aranha once more. Who else would be a better judge to recommend a person to lord Krauser afterall?
Several trainees of Strolheim are in attendance. Most hoping to see Blood in action for the first time in ages. Usually he just oversees the training and nothing else. For them this is a glance at what they must strive to be. A man of dignity and power. The former matador is even dressed up for the occassion in his old matador outfit. His hair slicked back and perfect. His facial hair neatly trimmed. He seems just as serious about his appearance in front of the cameras.
He remains standing straight at attention while waiting. His red cape resting over his left arm while his right rests at his side. There is a smile on his face and he seems to be quite ready for this battle. It will be nice to get a workout and out of the people fighting this weekend Aranha seemed like one of the best candidates to offer him a good challenge.
Then we have Aranha who has recently found out that he was personally invited by Strolheim to take part in this particular match up against one of there own. His own experiences with Strolheim, both presence in the castle and members outside of it, were as if he were to quote a certain DC villain, 'Bittersweet at best.'
He did well in the preliminaries of the second tournament they hosted, but did poorly in the two actual fights he actually did participate in. He did well in a tournament promotiona Neo League match up in this very training yard.
Outside, he met a Strolheim member Tessa Gallo who upon joining his team accepted him despite his past but as a result of her joining, ended up having to deal with Eiji himself to prove his worth. While fight was close, it was mostly his heart and determination making up for a huge gulf in skill between the two fighters.
Truth be told, Aranha doesn't know what to make of this invite, but sitting on his butt isn't going to find the answers to why he was called.
There are plenty of questions left to answer. One of them is: Did Aranha's skill level catch up to his heart and determination? In order to find out, he comes to the yard wearing his black tank top, and loose white pants, adding a bandana with a spider web motif to complete the look. Other than the bandana, Aranha's clothing points more to practicality rather than fashion.
Of course what sort of answers will he get in the end? Ones he truely wants or a different set that might just lead to more questions? If anything at least Blood seems much less sinister than Eiji in appearance at least. Make no mistake, though. Blood has been known to be just as ruthless when needed. One does not become the second in command at Strolheim just on honor. This is a man with skill and power.
That smile becomes wider once Aranha steps forward and the Spaniard gives a small bow while resting his left hand on his chest. "Ahh, there you are. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." he says while there is a bit of a evil glint in his eye as he looks at the other man when he straightens up. "It has been awhile since you have been here. I hope you are enjoying yourself today." It doesn't seem the officials are all big on the small talk being made, but at the same time they are out of their element and surrounded by several dangerous men that have been personally trained by the likes of Blood and Eiji. They aren't going to verbally complain at the moment because they value their lives.
It does seem the Spaniard does take notice to them fidgeting some as if wanting to say something and he lets out a low chuckle. "Well I suppose we will have to talk while we fight." he comments as he shifts his stance and he keeps his left arm with the cape about chest level while raising his right arm into the air. He gives his fingers a snap and he grins. "You make strike first."
COMBATSYS: Blood has started a fight here.
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Blood 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Aranha has joined the fight here.
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Blood 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
The less sinister appearance does throw the capoeirista for a bit of a loop but if someone the likes of Tessa Gallo could come from this group, he can't judge everyone based on his dealings with Eiji. That glint in his eye however points to someting more behind this fight. If anything it puts the capoeirista even more on guard than he was before.
While he has his suspicions, there's no reason not to respond with civility especially now that they are being televised. "Thank you for inviting me back here. Your hospitality has been gracious." He evades the question of whether or not he's actually enjoying himself like he usually avoids kicks to the head.
He himself nods when Blood offers his suggestion to talk while they fight, he nods. "I suppose that will have to do. Though I have to admit that I'm not the most talkative when I'm fighting." Having taken the philosophy of talking leading to mistakes in a fight, he doesn't really talk unless he's giving an opponent a hard dose of reality. He doesn't see himself doing that with an opponent like Blood, but in order to find out what Strolheim's game is, talk he must.
When Blood takes his stance, Aranha slips seamlessly into his ginga, dancing as he gives the matador one last preliminary glance, and goes into what he's pretty sure is a trap. Capoeira makes one paranoid about obvious invites to attack, for that reason alone. He suddenly drops low sending a scything kick low stopping short of his opponent's feet before elevating himself into a handstand and whirling around with a spinning kick.
COMBATSYS: Blood blocks Aranha's Inverted Tornado.
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Blood 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
That smile never leaves Blood's face and he just nods to the response given. "Is that so? Then I suppose talking might have to come later if need be." It all just depends on how impressed Blood is. Or maybe even Krauser for that matter. The master has to be watching from somewhere. This is his castle afterall. For now he cannot be seen from the crowd so he must be inside either attending another fight or perhaps watching this one from his throne.
Of course there is no time to worry about where Krauser is. Blood is right here not far at all and he ends up even closer when Aranha comes in to strike. His movements are fluide and graceful as he reacts to the kick being thrown. His left arm raises and he steps back while mostly avoiding it. The impact is on his left forearm and he pushes off to try and throw the capoeirist off balance. There is also the fluttering of the cape as it seems almost to come alive and there is a glint of something metallic as there is a quick swinging motion made. If Aranha isn't too careful he soon finds himself being cut by whatever that was hidden away in the cape. "Very good. You seem to be getting quite quick, but are you quick enough?"
COMBATSYS: Aranha blocks Blood's Weapon Jab.
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Blood 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
Even as Aranha spins, he still manages to keep awareness of his opponent and he only needs to see that glint of metal to know that he better raise that hand of his. He swings out that raised hand which does a few things. It swipes at the weapon to deflect it away taking a knick on his hands, it generates momentum to allow him to continue the spin, which in turn allows him to spin away just enough so he can tilt out of the handstand and back onto his feet.
He wastes no time closing the distance, dancing and weaving before suddenly skipping forward and then delivering a side kick towards the chest and then attempting to recoil it quickly before bringing the kicking foot to the back.
COMBATSYS: Aranha successfully hits Blood with Thrust Kick.
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Blood 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Aranha
Whatever it was that was hidden under the cape is felt when the hand pushes at it for Aranha, but soon after it seems like the only thing under the red cloth is an arm once again. Of course that grin on Blood's face probably means the man has more tricks up his sleeve at the moment. He is quick to regain his footing, but it seems like he may have underestimated the speed in which Aranha strikes. He thought he had his timing right, but finds himself being hit in the chest right as he was about to move back and safely avoid it. It does elicit a slight grunt and not much else until Blood gives a nod. "Good!"
Of course he flings his cape and it almost seems to come alive as swings it about. It wraps around his wrist and a glint of metal is seen again as he swings the cape about like a windmill. A rather large windmill intent on cutting up Aranha if he gets caught up in its path. "I can see why Eiji was wanting to fight you again. I bet he is wanting to be sure you aren't quicker than he is now." he says with a chuckle.
COMBATSYS: Aranha blocks Blood's Bloody Mixer.
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Blood 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Aranha
Aranha lets himself smile just a bit when he feels his foot make impact with the second in command of Strolheim's chest, and his recoil is what saves him when the windmilling cape slashes at him. He knows he can't get completely around the cape but he can at least mitigate some of the damage by keeping his arm up as he spins around the path of it getting his already scarred arms slashed up before tilting into a handstand once again.
"Me being faster than him? that would be a truly horrifying thought." No sooner than he says that, he snaps his foot downwards to initiate a flurry of downward kicks on the matador's head. It's a miracle that Aranha keeps his good visible humor about that even though he has plenty of reason to be horrified at Blood invoking his name. At least for the sake of Wing. Truth be told, he didn't regard the other members of his King of Fighters team with that much esteem.
COMBATSYS: Blood auto-guards Aranha's Inverted Flurry!
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Blood 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Aranha
Who knows. Maybe the name was invoked just to see what sort of reaction Blood may get out of his opponent. Eiji can be a terrifying individual and when left to his own devices he becomes much worse. It goes to show just how good Blood and Krauser must be to keep a man like Eiji in check for the most part. If not for the fact it is better to have him as an ally than an enemy Blood would personally like to kick the ninja out of Strolheim.
Blood also seems more than ready this time for the flurry unleased on him. He seems to be rather quick as well as each of those kicks seems to come into contact with the weapon hidden under that cape. "He is a jealous sort. At least you are still alive." the matador says with a smile and that quickly fades away as he gets a more serious expression. Was that an opening he just saw? He quickly lunges forward before Aranha has too much time to react, his cape twirling about and seeming to wrap itself around the hidden blade and look like some red drill as he aims to run the other fighter through with quite a bit of force.
COMBATSYS: Aranha interrupts Bloody Sabre from Blood with Bad Beat EX.
- Power hit! -
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Blood 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Aranha
Aranha can feel the footsteps through his palms, he hear the footfalls in his ear and most importantly he can see that red drill coming for him. He reacts suddenly dropping out of the handstand and spinning around with a violent elbow across the chin before swinging another elbow and suddenly dropping low to grab the legs and pull them from under him.
He steps back for a bit not wanting to get too close to Blood after going for such a risky response. He takes a moment to clutch the wounds on his side. It was still a viscious wound even if he was able to partially avoid the damaging attack. On the upside, he's starting to get more of a picture of what was going on in Eiji's head. The problem is he's not getting any idea of what's going in Blood or Krauser's heads. "I'm wondering though. Why this? Why call me here?"
Color the matador surprised. Of all the possible results he had going through his head he did not expect Aranha to do something so risky. It is the first time Blood has been taken off his feet and there is an audible set of gasps from the crowd due to it. It isn't often then see Blood get one upped by someone. "Why call you here?" he asks as he gets up quickly and dusts himself and the cape off a bit. "Why to test you of course. We are always looking for new recruits afterall."
He takes a deep breath and regains his composure for a moment and then he takes a step back. "That is why I want you to give us your best. You seem to have quite a bit of potential and that is something we value here. We want those who want to be stronger." he comments and then he takes another step back and bends at the knees. He then launches himself forward and his body extends straight as he goes rocketing forward similar to the way Vega propels himsel into and through things. Only in Blood's case it is sheer physical force instead of psycho power that sends him careening right towards Aranha with both fists extended.
COMBATSYS: Blood successfully hits Aranha with Bloody Spin.
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Blood 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Aranha
Aranha has been the receipient of a variant of this attack by Vega himself, and it happens pretty much the same way it happened back then... Only without the Psycho energy torture. Aranha attempts to jump out of the way and he doesn't react quickly enough and ends up being quickly taken off of his feet and sent into wild roll.
Aranha spins quickly to his feet not wanting to give the Strolheim fighter even more of a chance to come after him and press the advantage. "Stronger how?" He regards it with a bit of suspicion. He has seen how both glow and burn have lured people with promises of power and how people have lost themselves in it. He has seen how gangs and syndicates have lured people in with similar promises.
He doesn't give Blood time to answer, instead coming in with a cartwheel right for his chest.
COMBATSYS: Blood dodges Aranha's Change-Up Kick.
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Blood 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Aranha
There is a twist and a forward flip that allows the matador to land on both feet easily and he straightens back up while reaches up to lightly adjust the vest he is wearing. He does seem to give Aranha at least time to recover. Of course it seems Aranha isn't waiting to fully find out what Blood's answer may be. Those eyes remain focused on the other fighter and as he aims to hit Blood in the chest instead he just finds himself going right through the red cape and hearing an 'Ole!' being said softly by the other fighter.
"So humanity can survive. It is evolution and the strong are always the most likely to survive. We want to make people stronger and better." he states. "What China did only sets things back. People will not grow stronger if they are subject to such things." He then is on the move and it is his turn to throw a kick straight for Aranha, a rather quick one aimed to hit the side of the other fighter's head. "Of course looking for a person with your skill set is always useful. You are a good information gatherer when needed, yes?"
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Blood's Light Kick.
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Blood 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Aranha
As fast as that kick is, Aranha turns out to be just a hair faster, no sooner than he's about to bring his head up to stand upright, a kick comes for the side of his head and he's back down again using a feint of a spinning back heel to move under the kick and to Blood's side and then rising as he delivers a spinning side kick to the ribs.
As for his response to the information gathering comment. "Don't say that too loud. Eiji might get jealous. Either way, if I pass the test, I want to see how you guys work before I give my answer." If he knew more about how Blackjack worked, he wouldn't have even shown up to that job interview. But he survived his experiences and it has made him all the wiser for it. Even if he's 23 going on 45.
COMBATSYS: Blood blocks Aranha's Medium Kick.
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Blood 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Aranha
The kick finds nothing but air, but Blood is quick enough that he isn't balance for long. Of course it is enough to keep him from fully managing to avoid Aranha's own kick, but he has his wits about him to coil the kicking leg he just used and raise it up to take the brunt of the blow while managing to maintain balance on his other foot. "Oh the offer isn't official yet. Krauser is the one that makes the final decision." he says while smiling and letting his other foot touch ground.
"We are far from finished anyways. Both of us are still standing!" He seems much too happy that this fight is going on so long. Then again this is a man with great stamina. He is used to waiting a long time and wearing out a bull before putting it out of his misery. It seems like he is treating this fight much the same way. He moves forward and he actually comes at Aranha with a right hand, but it is a feint he uses to quickly make a low slash towards the shins of the other fighter with the blade hidden in his cape.
COMBATSYS: Blood successfully hits Aranha with Medium Strike.
Grazing Hit
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Blood 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Aranha
Where Blood is used to wearing out a bull, Aranha has been a capoeirista who is relatively good at pacing himself and is not unfamiliar with wars of attrition. Will Blood's patience win out against the Dancing Spider's ability to modify his pace as needed?
Aranha reacts to the feint with the right hand by stepping back which ends up saving him when the actual attack comes for his leg giving that leg more time to move back just as the blade grazes his leg. He then takes a spinning hop forward to move himself back into range and delivering a hard kick to the rib cage.
COMBATSYS: Blood interrupts Strong Kick from Aranha with Ole! EX.
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Blood 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Aranha
Patience is never a bad thing to have. It was lack of patience that kept Blood from perhaps besting Juri in their battle. He went all out too early and he paid the price. A humiliating defeat to the woman. Then again she has plenty of wounds to remember him by as well. It will not be the last time those two cross paths and he shall enjoy his revenge. Perhaps it is just his surroundings that keeps him calm in this case. He is in the walls of Strolheim among those he can trust. Men of honor. There won't be any exploding fighters here. That is for certain.
He keeps his ground after his slash barely connects and when Aranha comes in he raises both hands and claps a few times before taking that boot to the chest. Aranha can feel his foot connect solidly, but then there is a weird sensation of himself being struck and a new gash opening across his chest despite not seeing Blood strike. He then finds himself twirled about in a dizzying manner and pushed to the ground as Blood stands there with his back to Aranha. "Oh, it seems like I am going to be serious now. Hope you don't mind."
A viscious wound suddenly appears along with intense agony to go along with it, as well yet another future scar to add the collection. At this point, Aranha is pretty much covered from head to toe in his own blood. It's not exactly something that is completely foreign to him, even if it's not exactly the most wanted sight or sensation right now.
He takes a few moments to mentally collect himself and then he decides he wants to return the pain in full. He quickly moves in before bringing his foot across in the form of a powerful roundhouse kick to the matador's head. He then follows it up with a hooking back heel kick going in the opposite direction to hook the kick behind the head so he can violently pull the Strolheim fighter face first to the ground. "Feel free."
COMBATSYS: Blood blocks Aranha's Face Down.
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Blood 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Aranha
His back have been turned, but he must have been paying close attention still. Mostly because there is that sly grin on his face even as Aranha recollects himself. As that first kick comes in Blood quickly turns about and he brings up his arm to prevent it from hitting him where intended. His footing shifts and his left arm moves to intercept the second kick and lets his forearm absorb the damage there. "Ahh, good!" It is hard to also tell how impressed Blood might truely be. Aranha has lasted quite a while against such an opponent. Enough that alot of the onlookers are whisper about the fight.
A step is taken back by Blood and his other hand disappears into the cape only momentarily. "Think fast!" he barks and his hand pulls out a sabre as he lunges forward. It is a series of quick slashes he makes, a fluid set of motions that seem to exert little energy though making it very hard for Aranha to easily get out of the way of the buzzsaw of sword strikes coming his way. Perhaps they aren't considering recruiting him if it looks like Blood is more than fine cutting the young fighter into pieces.
COMBATSYS: Blood successfully hits Aranha with Sabre Dance.
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Blood 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Aranha
The scenario was what Aranha was looking for. The outcome of the scenario was expected if less than ideal. He quickly recoils his foot although not nearly quickly enough to avoid Blood's response. More and more wounds are added as Aranha lets out growls of pain willing himself to not let out anything more than the growl though he wants nothing more than to scream in agony.
When the Blood's dance is over, Aranha is on one knee, a small pool of blood forming beneath him. He wills himself back to his feet and then he charges at the bull fighter as he's trailed by blue glowing shadows. On the surface it looks like it would be counter productive charging someone who is used to having vicious animals charge right for him, but Aranha has a few things going for him that a bull doesn't. He's better at suddenly changing directions. He's also able to take to the air. He jumps at Blood delivering a chi engulfed kick before launching himself from the walls, from the spectators and even the recording equipment as he attempts to attack from as many angles and directions as conceivably possible before he final runs out of gas and falls to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Aranha can no longer fight.
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Blood 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Blood dodges Aranha's Joker's Wild.
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Blood 0/-------/------=|
The fact that Aranha manages to will himself to keep moving makes Blood nod in approval. The sabre is hidden away once again and he prepares himself for whatever Aranha may have left in him. He moves with surprising speed for a man so badly wounded, but Blood remains one step ahead and those strikes just seem to find nothing, but the red of the cape almost as if the matador is just taunting him and letting the fighter know he is just too slow to catch the Spaniard.
Once it looks like Aranha is finished and the wounds finally seem to put him down there are quickly medical staff from Strolheim on the scene to start tending to him. The Spaniard just seems to be mulling things over as he is announced the winner. It was a rather impressive showing. The question is if of course Krauser thinks the young man can improve further under the proper guidance of if he should be left alone for awhile longer. "You did well. I enjoyed myself for the first time in awhile." he says and lets out a soft laugh as he turns about and begins walking off. It is time to work on his report for Krauser now.
COMBATSYS: Blood has ended the fight here.
Log created on 09:42:50 09/24/2011 by Aranha, and last modified on 09:09:35 09/26/2011.