Description: Ken and Ryu fight the biggest fight Sunshine City's Dragon Arena has seen in ages, against any and all comers! Until they can no longer fight! And then Ryu fights some more! TAKE THAT, WORLD.
The poor Dragon Arena has truly seen better days. Holes in the roof, broken windows that have been taped haphazardly together.. Its truly a wreck. Yet, right now the spectators that have gathered within the hallowed hall couldn't care less about the state of the building, but only just what is about to go down..
The announcement about this event was unexpected, and has caused a firestorm of publicity, which was totally to be expected. Ken /AND/ Ryu taking on all challangers in a total brawl once again? Everyone wants to see that. Makeshift riggings for the camera equipment surround the sacred square, allowing for the viewing audience at home to watch the suspense for a nominal fee.
There were no ticket sales, and word of the event truly spread by word of mouth. Yet, the Dragon Arena is packed beyond capacity, leaving a long trailing line of contenders heading out the door, down the street, and around the block.
...Then again..
Maybe everyone has a grudge against these two...
Ryu could care less about the forum - though the fact that the crowd is insisting that this place can go /way/ beyond its fire code might be worrisome. Particularly depending who shows up! Which is, naturally enough, the World Warrior's primary concern. He tightens his trademark red headband around his forehead, and leans back into the turnbuckle. "The amount of impulse involved, we'll be lucky to draw more than Sakura and the locals." Ryu notes, only half seriously, chiding Ken easily.
The Ansatsuken master isn't particularly worried. A workout will show up - or it won't. The world is pretty predictable that way.
What?
He had to walk away from a particularly rough time at the mall, who were those fucking girls? He shook his head, walking down the street with everyone giving him a wide berth...when he got..a feeling. Deep in the pit of his stomach. And that was -before- he saw a flyer on a powerpole about a fight with Ryu and Ken. He grinned beneath that orange hockey mask, looking around, and grabbing an assortment of things, starting with a fire hydrant that he started to tug at. He'd need to be well prepared to get any kind of payback!
It was a short time later when he arrived at the dojo, kicking the front door wide open, and carrying what looked like an old green velvet sack, something like Santa would carry presents in. If it smelled like garbage. Perhaps the sounds of sirens and traffic collisions would be attributed to him and his gearing up, maybe not, but it didn't matter. What mattered, were the two men standing across from him, two men he stalked slowly toward, not taking his gaze off either of 'em...
Lucky! Sakura was one of the first people to get themselves signed up for this event, in fact she had still been taped and bandaged up somewhat after the last match. Unwinding bandages and reassuring staff she was more than fit for another round with such high class opponents The energetic Japanese school girl is all smiles and assurances, fit as a fiddle and totally fine. Genki! Genki!
The run down nature of the old theatre kind of reminds her of Dan-Sans dojo which she seems quite at home with and is more focused on doing squats and stretches in her own little corner of the ring, waving occasionally to the crowd whenever they get particularly loud but mostly focused on how exciting this match should be and trying to go as far as she can! Ken and Ryu versus the world. Its a great opportunity and responsibility to do their best.
Being connected to an organization that is always listening for interesting news in the world of fighting certainly has its perks. A report came up regarding a seemingly random, impromptu challenge issued to anyone who would show. A fairly normal premise, in the scheme of things. But what wasn't so easily dismissed were the people issuing the challenge. "I'll go." Kula had offered, the remark made quietly, almost absently, as if it wasn't any big deal, completely concealing the spark of excitement she feels at the prospects of such a difficult challenge.
Arrival is done without particular fanfaire as a nondescript van pulls up in the area and she slips out. Of those in line for their shot, she moves past without brokering any room for argument. Any who decide they should get a turn before the diminuitive looking combatant are shoved aside with enough unexpected force as to leave them feeling less than confident in calling her on it, though she hasn't exhibited any other particular prowess that would make her exceptional.
That changes once she's actually in the arena properly. A quiet inhale and exhale as she steps into the more open area offered by the arena. A subtle but noticeable drop in temperature around her is accompanied by a shimmer of white energy that washes over her from toe to the crown of her head, leaving in its wake shimmering, sky blue hair and small particles that can only be assumed to be snow flakes forming in the air immediately around the girl? Crimson eyes settle first on Ryu then on Ken as the girl calmly stands her ground, seeming to size up this impressive combatative duo. Of her allies, she seems to pay little attention at the moment.
A slight grin is given towards Ryu as Ken climbs into the sacred square, honestly amazed that as many people have shown as they have. "You worry too much. It'll be fine!" Those words might very well be the ones that'll be etched onto Ken's tombstone when he finally kicks the bucket. Of course, like he'll prove tonight, he isn't going to go without a fight, and right now there is a lot of interesting people showing up.
Ken's arms wrap around Ryu, forcing the white gi'd Ansatsuken master into a headlock, only for Ken's right hand to give him a slight noogie. Of course, the crimson clad Ansatsuken expert is easily fliped off of Ryu, only to land on his feet in a simple show of theatrics.
Ken's right fist is held out towards Ryu, only to nod his head. The time for words is over. Now its time to crack some skulls and truly test his strength.
COMBATSYS: Ken has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Ryu has wandered into the fight here on the left meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kula has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Kula
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sakura has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Sakura
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Kula
"Never." The protest ebbs into a noogie, and of course, a classic judo FLIP. The nomad scratches at the back of his neck and eyes Ken, before returning the fistbump. In something of a flash, the Ansatsuken Master's attitude shifts, as he studies those arrayed. It's not MURDERHOUSE, despite his familiarity with the violent mountain of meat. It's not Sakura, despite the skilled schoolgirl's showing during his last outing.
No, it's that sudden sense of greater /power/ in the air, and the nomad cants his head towards the unassuming Kula after greeting them each with a bow. "Interesting." He murmurs, nodding aside to Ken, "That one's very strong." Because you wouldn't know it to look at her. The others, apparently, Masters should be well aware of one way or another. MURDERHOUSE isn't a fellow who specializes in subtlety, after all.
"Let's do this." For his part, Ryu steps forward alongside Ken, dropping into a ready stance that is more or less the mirror of his counterpart in the red gi. Right down to the intent, fiery eyes scanning over their adversaries.
COMBATSYS: Ryu calculates his next move.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Kula
An old squared circle? This, Mick was familiar with. The big man hoisted up the green sack, letting it rest against the ring apron, while he rolled underneath the bottom rope and slowly worked to his feet. He didn't worry about being sneak attacked, these were the two golden boys, after all...He looked over at the bag, the man in faded green cargo pants, and a shredded black tank-top, he looked like he just came from a fight, actually. Still, he didn't show signs of fatigue, just stalking toward the two. At the last moment, he chose his target as Ken, his move being simple, and more of an insult, then a bona fide "attack". His hand would come up, to Ken's face, and he would attempt to shove the Ansakuten fighter in a rude fashion, speaking in a soft voice.
"Nice matching outfit, richboy."
Sakura blinks and gives a curious look up mid stretch to the altercation developing between the big guy and Ken masters, She smiles weakly, odds are he had no idea what he was getting into and apologetically wanders closer to the fight waving her hands in front of her and interjecting nervously "Oi, hey how about we keep this friendly" until she catches a hint of the vibes being exchanged between the two fighters and takes a few quick steps backwards. That fight might be naaaasty.
Fist on hip and scratching her head she watches Ken and Mick the Murderhouse squaring off, surprisingly she even knows who the big guy actually was. Which is why she is very very leery of the duffel bag and how this fight is going to go. She rubs her arms, depsite being fairly warm from stretching, these old buildings can get pretty chilly. Beginning to bounche from foot to foot and standing opposite Ryu she still finds most of her own and along with the audience drawn to the in ring drama starting to unfold.
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
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Ken 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Kula
With her arms resting against her sides, gloved hands idle other than fingers curling closed then open on occasion, Kula seems to have no ready stance at all. She is dressed in a mixture of black clothes and dark violet leather that has been engineered to allow her body to survive blunt impact far more than one expect simply by looking at her frail seeming stature. And as the battle is entered, she shows no immediate signs of aggression. Ryu she has faced once before, though not exactly in a one on one environment. Ken she knows something of simply because of his fame. Sakura is recognized, not due to personal encounters, but because of her tendency to need to stay up to date on the abilities of various renown fighters around the globe. And of MURDERHOUSE...? She has no idea what to make of him yet. At first she writes him off like the rest of the people in line that have no place being here... that is, right until he walks up to Ken and tries to shove the Ansakuten master in the face. Just having the willpower to pull that off without shaking speaks volumes about either his bravery or his flat out insanity. Her mental jury is still out on which it is exactly.
Sakura strikes her as indecisive. "Our opponents," Kula intones just loud enough to be audible, "Are not going to simply wait." There is a touch of scolding in her voice. Who is this kid to be getting on Sakura's case, anyway!! Ryu, she has some idea of what he is capable of. It's rather terrifying to consider, and beneath her calm exterior, her heart beats with excitement at the challenge promised here. But Ken she needs to test more carefully to ascertain his abilities. Lifting her right hand to her chin, palm up, Kula inhales then exhales. What should be a normal breath becomes a tiny burst of gale-force winds laced with tiny, sharp edged ice crystals that threaten to cut into the skin of the master tier fighter should he not manage to avoid them in time!
COMBATSYS: Ken parries MURDERHOUSE's Fast Throw!
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Ken 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks Kula's Diamond Breath.
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Ken 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Kula
All ready off the bat, two of the three warriors that have climbed into the ring alongside Ken and Ryu have targeted the one wearing red. Is it because he is wearing red? Is it the blonde hair? Maybe its the fact there are those who believe his hair color comes out of a bottle, and these two are members of that crazy brigade. Who knows?
As MURDERHOUSE goes to grab ahold of Ken's face with that giant hairy meatpaw he calls a hand, the Ansatsuken expert deftly pushes the hand aside, only to notice the fact girl who is NOT Sakura is blowing ice shards at him. Thats something new and unexpected!
Muscles tense as the shards start slicing into his skin, just like a messload of annoying ass papercuts which only serve to make him wince. "Thanks for the heads up Ryu. You can have her." A slight grin creeps onto Ken's face as he turns his attention towards the japanese girl thats pretending this is something she should watch on T.V. "Sakura! I thought you'd have known better then to stand on the sidelines like that!"
There may be some distance himself and Sakura, but right now he has a man with meaty bear hands trying to stare him down. Speed and power suddenly flare up as Ken spins on the ball of his left foot, aiming a vicious roundhouse kick towards the poor head of MURDERHOUSE.
"On it." Just like that, Ryu interposes himself between Kula and Ken. It's like he dropped from the sky, if one isn't watching when he first leapt. "It has been awhile." The legendary wanderer notes to the blue-haired operative. "You seem..." There's consideration there, "More yourself." If still disturbingly focused in on the fight for a girl who looks like she might be more at home chowing snocones. However, Ryu looked like she does, once - if for somewhat /different/ reasons. Less vats. Probably. Maybe. He doesn't exactly have a lot of 'parents' either.
Regardless what Kula Diamond is - she is ready, and capable of fighting on a level few reach. Between her and Kasugano, not to mention the nefarious plottings of the MURDERHOUSE... he doesn't have time to waste. Not with a refill of fighters waiting in the wings! The World Warrior advances swiftly on Kula, snapping both hands out for the front of her jumpsuit. There's no particularly colorful buildup or execution, it's just a classic sacrifice throw, taking Ryu's back to the floor... and seeking to bounce Kula rather abruptly off the far side of the ring, and perhaps the reinforced turnbuckle or some such convenient protrusion. "HAAAAAH!!!"
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE blocks Ken's Inazuma Kakato Wari EX.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Kula
Mick was no dummy, he felt his -nonhairy- hand swatted away, and saw Ken leaping and pivoting. He knew damn-well what was heading his way, he'd fought enough wrestlers who liked to kick instead of fight, and his first fight with Ryu definitely opened his eyes to the tremendous power a well-placed heel to the face could have. Mick brought his forearm up, being batted away still, that was a testament to the strength Masters possessed. Mick didn't immediately turn back to launch another attack, though, he stormed off toward that Santa bag in the corner, pulling it over the ring, and letting the collection of deadly, vicious looking weapons spill out against the mat, some hitting the floor outside...he circled around, glaring at Ken all the while. The man was up to something, steeling his will...
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE focuses on his next action.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Kula
Headscratching and definitely worried more about how some of the ill feeling in the ring Sakura is more than a little surprised to be chastised by a team-mate she hadn't even noticed. Ugh, so much for situational awareness. She gives the other girl a weak smile of apology "B-but there hasn't been any be-" Ken and Murderhouse suddenly exchange blows, officially or unofficially the match appears to be underway.
:Oh! Oh-right! Uhm-" Sakura's head swivels one between Ken and Ryu, which one? No time to second guess things! Ryu, however is on the move and straight away going for the third fighter leaving her along to try and figure out who she should be fighting.. or helping. WAIT! she was second guessing!. Dragging her fists up into a ready stance she darts in with a cry of "Here I go!" pleated skirt blossoming she swings her leg around through an overhead arc and descending on Ryu-san. One of the members of the audience adjusts his spectacles and announces 'red' while other middle aged men nod in agreement.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kula with Tomoe Nage.
- Power hit! -
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Ken 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Kula
It only takes a few scant seconds of seeing Ken in action for Kula's passive combat profiling algorithms to form an initial assessement of Masters' ability: Extremely dangerous. But that isn't the one she needs to worry about for now as the two champions seem to form a plan on the fly as to how to divide up their challengers. Another impressive threat intersects himself between her and Ken and Kula's attention shifts immediately. Those quiet eyes focus on the legendary martial artist, taking a few steps back as she properly positions herself to better contend with his abilities, her right hand lifting to brush some of her flowing, long hair out of her face as she does so.
That he's noticed a difference from before speaks to his powers of perception. "I am." comes the response, quiet, yet forceful. Facing off against someone like Ryu on her own is just the kind of challenge the girl was looking for and the opportunity won't be allowed to go to waste. He reaches out and gets the grip he seeks and there's virtually nothing the featherweight can do to keep from being flung against the ground rather harshly - the impact might have been quite jarring if not for the sudden manifestation of a bed of soft, force-absorbing snow that manifests right beneath the point of impact, cusioning her landing a little.
It's enough for Kula to be able to roll out the attack without being severely injured, crouching, exhaling her cool, visible breath as she fixes her focus back on Ryu. Lunging out of her crouch, the snow that served as her landing pad is absorbed back up into a frozen halo around her right hand as she charges back for Ryu. Her left hand leads as the girl leans forward and low, but its her right hand that snaps forward when she's about a meter from Ryu, that halo of swirling energy solidifying into a semi-translucent sphere of ice. From that sphere three long, sharp spears shoot out toward Ryu. Against a completely unskilled opponent, such an attack would easily be construed as attempted murder... but for fighters at this tier, it's more of a way to say 'Hello'!
COMBATSYS: Kula successfully hits Ryu with Critical Ice.
- Power hit! -
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Ken 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> /////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Sakura's Flowering Kick.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> /////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Kula
Sakura turning her attention to her 'master' is something Ken expected to happen. That just leaves him to deal with MURDERFACE as quickly as possible. The totally hairy-handed wrestler is digging into Santa's bag of tricks, dumping out all sorts of nasty weapons of assorted kinds. This makes Ken grin even more.
While Ken may not be fighting Kula and Sakura directly, he does have his battle-brothers back if the need does arise. Right now his target backed off, so its time to really continue pushing the heat on him. It takes a matter of milliseconds for the blue-white ball of chi to form, only to be thrust forward toward the man who seems to be trying to find the right weapon for this situation.
"HAAAAADOUKEN!"
A way to say hello - and, if one misses a step, possibly attempted murder anyway. Luckily, Ryu is made of tougher stuff than to be utterly skewered by the frost-shanks. He shifts to the side, but moments too late, as the spears of energy rip painfully into his shoulder and chest, drawing deep gouts of blood in the first exchange of the fight, and sending the Ansatsuken Master spinning about himself, losing his footing abruptly and dropping to one knee. Huh. She's certainly not lightened up much.
It's a gleam of positively wolfish intensity and challenge as dark eyes snap back up to Kula. Kung-fu makes no allotment for age or gender. Finding his bearings quickly, Ryu slams a gloved hand around and into Sakura's ankle, the hard crack sounding as her potent strike crashes into resilient guard, and he pushes off... pressing the assault on Kula?!? Like a heartless monster, Ryu charges down the cute, innocent little girl, and hurls himself into the air. His right foot launches out, rotorblade style, as he seeks to take Ms. Diamond's head clean off with the whipping roundhouses - or, more literally, reave a resounding blow into her skull with launchtastic amounts of force. "TATSUMAKISENPUUUUUKYAKU!!!"
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE endures Ken's Hadouken.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> /////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Kula
Mick was pacing, when he saw Ken step forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two little girls going after Ryu, his eyes gleaming dangerously at the sight of bloodshed. This, this was his home, his kingdom. The seven foot Irish Monster, with smooth, light haired at best hands, sneered underneath his hockeymask and stalked forward, hands down at his sides, simply walked INTO that fireball, feeling his body react like it was tearing itself apart at the molecular level, just about.
But he just walked past it, quickly fishing in his pocket, and pulling out a small thing, swinging it viciously at the chest, ribs or shoulders of Ken Masters, he wasn't picky. Being a boxcutter, it wouldn't last long, but hopefully he'd get in a good bit of damage before it snapped from the harsh use.
Sakura balances delicately on one foot, Leg raised and trying to push down against Ryu's guard, the wounds he took form those ice attacks may look nasty but they probably haven't slowed him any. So much for a nice genial match with maybe some pride on the line, this area was a full on war zone in which she feels a little out of place. As the warrior in hits back against her leg she kind of finds herself hopping in place to keep her balance arms wide for balance and then running after him, "Moh!" She actually begins to worry about how serious all this is getting if everyone is getting serious enough to kind of ignore her. Light builds in her cupped hands as she looks at the back of her master, hes much faster than she is so there only one way for her to attack in time.
"Hadoooouken!"
The blast is fairly long range and begins to lose some of its power with distance as the projectile hurtles at his back.
COMBATSYS: Kula blocks Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Kula
Kula's initial attack is as vicious as ever, the shards of ice that stick Ryu shattering into sparkling diamonds that scatter across the arena floor before melting away as Kula relaxes her focus on the frozen matter. Sakura joins the fray, but it isn't enough to keep Ryu from bolting back after the ice wielder. That Ryu is going after her aggressively is a compliment to the girl's icy logic - it means she's perceived as worth such aggression. Anything less would be disappointing! Snapping her hand back, she might be a split second too late, having needed to extend herself out significantly in order to execute such an aggressive technique.
But for as fierce and swift as Ryu's retaliatory technique may be, Kula's reflexes are honed to razor accuracy, and even though her right hand is trailing behind a split second, it is her left that sweeps through the air, leaving a trail of shimmering, fluid chi in its wake. The instant before Ryu's powerful, spinning kicks impact the chi, it flash-freezes, forming a barrier, three inches thick, for his leg to crush through. Against most kicks, it may have been enough on its own, but against the cyclone of heels coming her way, it serves merely to slow him down a fraction of a second before shattering under the force he strikes with. A fraction of a second that proves to be just enough for the Ice Princess to solidify her own, martial defenses, arms raised, leather-armored sleeves absorbing much of the impact meant for the side of her head from the next incoming spin.
Even with such preprations, Kula can't withstand the tenacious attack, chosing instead to slip out in the space of time it takes Ryu to rotate around for the next staggering blow, using her agility to spring backward and land in a sliding crouch a few yards off, on the defensive. Standing up straight, Kula's arms are at her sides, her eyes glaring at Ryu with an intensity that might be mistaken as hatred by those who don't recognize that she is taking him so seriously as to leave no room for any other emotion besides absolute concentration.
Around the girl, the air becomes even more frigid, the invisible currents that toussel her hair whipping it with greater force, the ground at her feet beginning to freeze over as a slowly expanding circle of ice forms in her little corner of the arena.
COMBATSYS: Kula focuses on her next action.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE successfully hits Ken with Light Random Weapon.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sakura
> ////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Ryu effortlessly blocks Sakura's Medium Hadouken.
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Ken 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Sakura
> ////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Kula
A light slice appears on Ken's face as the boxcutter is flung about wildly. The crimson clad mans right hand rises up to gingerly touch at the lightly bleeding wound on his face. "..Not bad." Ken's thumb rubs the wound, quickly pressing it together so it doesn't get any worse just incase he ends up getting more shots to his face.
Of course, MURDERHOUSE has truly cemented himself as target numero uno on Ken's list for the night, and chi starts to rapidly swell within the man.
Quickly rushing towards the wrestler, Ken's right leg suddenly swings forward in a vicious roundhouse once more towards the truly hairier then Zangief masked wrestler before him. If it connects, it will be followed up by a flurry of even more brutal kicks, chi flying off with each successive hit, only for it to end with Ken's right arm exploding violently with crimson chi, signafying the end of this attack with a vicious shoryuken that will launch the wrestler towards the sky in a torrent of chi-powered flames.
"SHINRYUU KEN!"
Kula's deflections are impressive - to say the least. It escapes those outside the arena just how much force is involved, here. That uncanny guard, the inexorable rain of kicks, but the young operative manages to stay one step ahead. "Impressive." the legendary wanderer notes quietly, without skipping a beat. It's not that he's ignoring Sakura - in fact, Ryu has to twist aside to drive an elbow into the burst of Hadou launched at his back, a gritting of teeth and clenching of muscles driving away the stinging pain. No, it's not that he's not aware of Kasugano - it's that he is focused on keeping this too-quick dynamo from derailing them with pint-sized power.
In actuality - it's not even strategy. Kula's staying one step ahead of him, in Ryu's book. She's fighting /that/ well. He's enthralled, and as ever, he wants to see just how far it goes. So, Ken's energy spikes. It fuels that fighting pyre even higher, and the blaze can be seen from space. Energy surges up through Ryu in tandem, coursing blue-white burning behind his eyes, in his aura, for a moment. A flickering freeze-frame left behind as he ups the ante further still.
Ryu feels the buildup of energy, even as he sees the ice. It just doesn't appear to give him pause, right now. Instead, he charges in, blurring the last few frames in an instant, elbow leading. It's a resounding, reverberating blow on its own, that leading strike. Aligned square with lucky, talented Kula's face rather evenly. It's followed through a blow several times its senior, as Ryu twists about, and launches himself skyward on one trainwreck of an uppercut, all that gathered energy focused to a singular point, a hit that seems like it reverberates across worlds.
"SHOOOOOOOORYUKEN!!!!!" comes out in overlaid stereo with Ken's very similar kiai.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits MURDERHOUSE with Shinryuu Ken+.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|=======\=====--\1 MURDERHOUSE
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Sakura
> ////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Kula
Ohhhhhh, fuck. Mick didn't have time to notice the cold of the arena, because Ken was launching at him. Mick barely got his hands up, but that didn't matter none, because a flurry of kicks were smashing into his ribs, driving into his throat, came around his guard and cracked him across the temple, and it all ended with Mick being driven into the sky by a flaming uppercut, but the big man still didn't scream out...and while both men were in the air? Mick grabbed at Ken's arm, pulled him firmly into a hold, holding Ken above him, and as they descended, Mick tried to aim it...
Now, why was there a big, stiff wooden table, in the middle of the audience? Why was it set on fire? Did one of them do this? Was this an idea by management? Why were the audience alright with a table on fire being in their midst? Good questions that went unanswered, because Mick came down, trying to smash Ken's head and neck, directly through that flaming wood, right into the concrete underneath it. Hopefully, this went his way, because there was nothing comfortable about this landing, for either man.
Young fighters have their pride as well, Ken and Ryu focusing so on their opponents was beginning to irritate the sailor fuku clad schoolgirl. No matter her attack it is responded to swiftly and with no wasted effort, and everyone is fighting around her rather than with her. Blinking wildly like she cannot believe this bizarre turn of events, Sakura tightens her stance, arms cemented in place while her uniform begins to wildly flap though caught in strong and highly localized winds. She begins to pour an enormous amount of her ki into her gauntlet backed fists; the growing blue white glow washing away colour from the arena with pale light that keeps growing along with a faint roar and the snap of fabric rustling and flapping. Facial features indistinct and heavily shadowed she advances a pace, jerkily like something leaping to life from the screen of a horror movie, inexorably closing ground with her Sensei. "Ryu-sen~SEI" the washed out and almost colourless apparition takes another step towards him, the clothing more animate that the seemingly still and shadowed face "Aren't you forgetting someone!"
She raises her chin to look at him and the gusts from the building Ki parts her fringe enough to reveal; the gritted teeth, the staring and focused eyes of one serious looking young woman. She hunkers down around the small nova of ki sliding her back foot into position and pushes the attack forward like she was rolling a boulder.
"HADOOOUKEN"
the blast itself is almost larger than she is, a warm yet refined ki akin to a solid sphere of blue-white light, a monstrously large attack, self consuming and with no more range than its size, but dangerous all the same.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kula with Shin Shoryuken+.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Kula
Young Diamond shows no indications of moving from her spot at the center of her slowly expanding icy domain. The ground at her feet glistens and the temperature in her vicinity drops even further, drifting flakes whipped up into an energy-infused slurry of glass-sharp ice and super-cooled water rapidly dropping toward absolute zero temperatures. It is into this building storm that Ryu willingly choses to take the fight, showing nothing in the way of hesitation in the slightest - such is the nature of the living legend.
And at the eye of the storm is Kula Diamond, waiting for Ryu's attack. For her stratagem to work, she must make sure that he is fully committed. And when he closes quarters with the diminuitive fighter, there is not the slightest room remaining to question his committment. The storm itself is enough to absorb some of the raw, masterfully channeled kinetic energy Ryu delivers into his next attack, but there is no question that Kula Diamond is struck squarely. The opening strike nearly levels her by itself, but the perfect execution of the technique ensures that she isn't going to get off that 'lightly'.
The piston-like uppercut that slams into her waifish form next takes the dangerous operative into the air with its force of impact. With the way she doesn't seem to react for the longest while, it seems almost as if she might have already been knocked unconscious by the impact to her face...
It's only at the apex of her ascent that she moves - a flicker of motion, leaning back into a backflip to right herself and gain control of her rapid descent. Now, as Ryu and she fall back toward the arena floor, is the moment she had prepared for! Her hands snap up, and like the crack of a whip, all of the potential energy in her localized storm becomes something else entirely.
Ryu will realize the danger readily enough - but if Kula gets her way, it will be too late to correct for. For out of the frozen patch of ice several spires of sharp, jagged frozen matter jut forth, each of the ice constructs shooting in toward Ryu at their center, like the teeth of a giant shark hungering for the martial artist's blood. It will take nothing less than genius in his art to negociate this trap laid by the ice wielder!
Kula lands along one of the angled, sharp spires of ice in a three-point crouch. Her hand lifts to her face, there is blood at her mouth, but by the time she has wiped at it once with her sleeve, it has already frozen solid against her cheek. Her unblinking eyes never leave the Ansatsuken Master for even an instant.
COMBATSYS: Ken blocks MURDERHOUSE's Hellfire Hammer.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
The crimson clad Ansatsuken expert's muscles tense as he's slammed into the firey table by the beast of a wrestler, trying his best to minimize the damage he's about to receive. This isn't the first time someone has tried to slam Ken into a table thats been set on fire, nor will it be his last, so he knows that staying down is only going to prove more dangerous in the long run. ESPECIALLY since once again it seems another wrestling fanatic is hell bent on putting him right back into the hospital.
Ken can feel the trouble that Ryu has landed himself in, and right now he's a bit further way from his friend then he'd like. The Fuku-Clad girl and the ice queen are proving to be more then they bargained for, so like any good american smartass, Ken is immediatly rushing back into the ring, only to call out loudly in an attempt to not only assist Ryu, but distract Sakura and Kula both with words that might end up turning their wrath on him.
"HEY GIRLS! You're both kind of pokin' there! I don't think my wife would really be pleased over that!"
COMBATSYS: Ken assists Ryu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Large Hadouken.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Ryu parries Kula's Diamond Edge!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
Did someone say 'genius in his art'? Yea, some say Ryu has that. Now? Now is, indeed, definitely one of the times he damn well needs it. It's there, though - the thing that he sought, the vision that his eyes demanded. The unexpected littlest titan is pushed to a remarkable zenith, even if it does take nothing short of Ryu's all-out focus and fervor to push Kula to that fever's pitch, that edge of do-or-die that the legendary nomad loves so well. It answers the question of that edge, and charts a jagged line along his own atop that. The raw power the deceptively childlike operative wields is remarkable in and of itself...
Sakura's indignation, of all things, brings a smile to Ryu's face. She's mostly right. He can spare only beats of attention, to do what he sought to do - perhaps what he needed to do. It's not a dismissal, so much as recognition of the sheer efficient perfection facing off against both of them demands. It's not a fight he can afford to win through attrition - sturdy as he is. Still, it's bound to catch up to him sometime.
The smile comes midway through the Shoryuken's ascent. The nomad's face becomes suddenly intense at that wellspring of chi, a technique he's seen before... but can only answer on instinct, muscle memory. That, and the intercession of his battle brother. Ken's aura cuts through the forces arrayed against him like a beacon's light through shadow, and Ryu's intense focus, borderline shock becomes a smile again as he descends into the cold snap. Into the maelstrom. The cold already stings his arms, but he does not dread its touch, instead, well.
... Ryu lands remarkably like Kula does, only instants before she does. /As/ the ice spike he lands upon actually erupts from the ground, he's vaulting over its spiky, nasty tip like its heft were so much shiny pommel horse, kicking out with the motion to slide swiftly back down to the ground; and oh, yes. What we said about his singular focus and remarkable drive catching up to him? His student's fireball /explodes/ across his flank even as he touches down, toppling him end around end and landing Ryu in a heap against one turnbuckle. For all of a half-second, "Heh!" The World Warrior notes, coughing air back into his lungs as he hops back to his feet, and heaves his hands forward, palms outstretched. "HADOOOOUKEN!!!"
Sakura gets what she wished for. Because what she wished for was a blast superheated like magma, with meteoric orbits of flaming energy and fireballs within fireballs coursing around the volcanic core. She just didn't know it at the time.
Ken wasn't the only one driven through wood and into concrete. As the rest of the fans understandably scattered far away from the descending duo, Mick got enough of that brunt to stay down as Ken leaps up, to roll to his hands and knees, shaking his head, and adusting his mask patiently. There was no reason to push himself, and even if he wanted to, the feeling in his ribs and skull were good indicators that he shouldn't. Still, he didn't get to where he was by actually -listening- to that voice of reason!
Mick staggered through the audience, tanktop all but gone, reduced to shreds and hanging from his pants, and he lurched like a zombie over the protective barricade...he looked around for something, a good, nice brutal weapon, something that would really leave a ringing in Ken's skull! He passed the parking meter, he passed the chainsaw, he passed the detached car hood, the bowling ball, the belt of grenades...no, he finally found something- Perfect!
He'd wait, until Ken thought he was safe, before spinning the red gi-wearing fool around, and trying to kick the blonde man, right in the balls! If this worked, he'd hoist Ken up in a very familiar looking spinning powerbomb, he was too tired to hook the legs...if this piledriver worked, he'd be driving Ken's skull...right into a Dan Hibiki commemmorative plate! Mass produced on such a staggering scale to make them worthless to collectors, these things would be the only things left after a Nuclear war, besides roaches and twinkies. But a strong fighter's head might cause a hairline fracture.
Maybe.
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Ryu's Shakunetsu Hadouken EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
The vortex of energy dissipates quickly once again revealing Sakura Kasugano, the curtain of light vanishing like a curtain swept aside; she's panting a little, her arms still locked into the same firing position they had been when her large hadouken was launched. Curing her cupped hands back into fists and bringing them back into a ready stance she bounces from foot to foot. Lets see him ignore that!
Sakura is relived she didn't accidentally hit the girl who had been fighting Ryu up until this point, she spares the blue haired girl a glance, worried about her condition before the loud and obnoxious voice of Ken Masters startles her into turning to look.
"HEY GIRLS! You're both kind of pokin' there!
The young Japanese girl shoots ken masters baffled look, totally ignorant of what he was going on about and wondering what on earth he is talking about.
But taking her eyes away form Ryu for any amount of time is a mistake let along the complete distraction Ken was aiming for. And when did he leave the ring? Her head whips back around with a jolt of panic as the all too familiar cry of "HADOOOOUKEN!!!" enough to fully capture her attention. She forks both arms across one another and leans back away form the blast as it crashes into her block and penetrates it to the point it seems to be trying to core through into her chest, the more it hurts the more she grits her teeth and leans into it "Guaaaaaaahhuaaah" pushing the immolting ball of fiery ki further from her body even as it pushes her backwards. Finally fusing through and sweeping her hands wide to disperse the last of it in a flare v of seemiongly roaring flame which quickly disperses. She then spoils the somewhat cool poses by dancing about for a second and shaking out her stinging forearms. Relief is evident on her face and a smile for her Sensei, she got her wish after all. She does file a mental note to talk to Ken about the cheap trick later. But no more distractions, she can't afford them. Rushing back in towards Ryu she cocks back an arm and throws a straight punch, keep up the pressure.. Give the blue haired girl time to recover. She can't even see 'The MURDERHOUSE' from where she is standing and that does worry her some, on multiple levels.
As she touches down on the slanted, giant spike of ice, Kula's follow Ryu as he navigates the maw of ice meant to consume him as he descended out of his legendary technique. Very few alive would be able to accomplish that feat in the midst of such an accurate, powerful attack. Just seeing it happen before her eyes is an opportunity she hadn't anticipated in coming here this day. Her somber expression slowly shifts to allow the faintest glimmer of a grin. "Good." is her appraisal of Ryu's reaction. But it wasn't /just/ him, she noticed, eyes snapping over to Ken. "Kusanago..." Kula murmurs as she springs from off her ice spire to the ground below. "Now is your moment." It's what Ryu's biggest fan has been trying to get out of this, right? If she sought the master's attention... well, now she's got it!
Kula, on the other hand, has turned her attentions toward Masters. His contribution to Ryu's escape from her trap did not go unnoticed. She hasn't fought him directly yet other than to hassle him with a burst of flying ice shards. Time to evaluate him a bit more in close!
Kula eliminates the distance between her and Ken quickly. He's been pressured by the unexpectedly tenacious and what IS it with the different things he keeps pulling into his attacks? A resourceful, albeit unusual individual indeed. She'll join him in attacking Ken this time. The blonde Ansatsuken fighter will find her nearby, left foot sliding over the last yard as if gliding on skates, her right foot snapping around, aiming to drive a kick into his side. Only, this kick seems to be augmented by a blade of ice along the bottom of her sole!
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE successfully hits Ken with MURDERDRIVER.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
> //////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Ken interrupts Medium Kick from Kula with Jigoku Fuusha.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
> ////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Kula
%It seems that while Sakura may have gotten what she's wanted, Ken now has two people to deal with once again. These odds are fun enough to make him keep wanting more challangers to pop in, until its like some big moshpit within the Dragon Arena.
The Dan Hibiki commemmorative plate shatters like the cheap shoddy knockoffs they are as Ken's slammed head first into it, which in reality just mirrors the man who is emblazoned on them even more in a sense. Of course, its still not enough to take him down, even though the horrible thing is now stuck in his hair like some form of bad hair glue. "Seriously?! Where do people even get these things!"
Ken starts moving once more towards MURDERHOUSE, intending on putting the man down and out once and for all, only to have his own distraction come back to bite him in the ass. Kula's now gunning for him once again, and this time she's looking to plant a kick.
The crimson clad Ansatsuken expert spins around, allowing the kick to glance along his side, only to grab ahold of Kula with both of his hands. The momentum of her attack is now used against her as the poor Ice Queen finds herself now staring at the ceiling, flipped around with Ken above her only to have the man drive a knee into her midsection as she slams into the ground and flip neatly off her.
"Ryu! Thanks for softening her up for me!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Medium Punch from Sakura with Shoryuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1 Sakura
> ////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Kula
"Don't underestimate them!" Sure, Ryu said it once; but this is Ken Masters he's talking to. Reiterating it can't hurt, because there is lots of intense fighting action ahead of them. Of course, Ryu can't say it nearly as eloquently as Dan Hibiki flatware to the head, and Sakura has her own ideas about the course of the fight. Charging back into the fray with a man possessed by the spirit of that very battle, the Ansatsuken disciple would find herself facing down a very notable opposing action. Newtonian physics at work, here.
Behind the scorching fireball, Ryu rushes as well, leaving Ken to deal with the pair of opponents for a change as he meets Sakura halfway in a collision that ripples the air itself, winds whipping outwards towards the crowd in all directions. Sakura's fist glances off Ryu's jaw, a bruising strike as he drops low, weaving around it. The next instant, his fist decidedly does /not/ glance, crashing squarely into the prodigal student's sternum and sending her right back the way she came - a lot less comfortably on the return trip.
"SHOOOOOORYUKEN!!!"
"MURDERHOUSE" Mick was tired and exhausted, but feeling the sickening thud of Ken Masters' head driving into the mat, and the big man was spurred on, the seven foot Irish Monster surging up to his feet, blood coursing through his veins, the roar of it deafening in his ears. He snarled, reaching for Ken, to grab him by the gi, and just pick him up. After a moment, he would reverse the hold, and try and drive the face of Ken right into the mat
If not for...
Fist cocked back almost at her side and starting to move forward again Sakura instead finds her Sensei nearly right on top of her, the last of the flame dispersed and her guard spread wide from passing through the Shakunetsu Hadouken. Not this again, she flashes back to the same situation when last they fought, he slides right in under her guard and she cant do anything but brace herself, the desire to screw hers eyes shut is tremendous in the face of what's coming. Her smile falters as she tries to force her body to do the impossible working against every law of physics and motion in existence. No such luck.
The teachers gauntlet punches into her sternum and the cry leaving her lips is almost immediately silenced with the 'whoomph' of air driven form her lungs.
"Guahhrk-*"
The bandaged and taped up chest from her last match with Ryu teeters on the bring of something fracturing or shaking lose, constant training can keep a young fighters body fit and strong but not against this kind of back to back abuse. The taping and bandages might have helped a little in the end, the pain is less than she thought it might be.
The girl arcs backwards and away into the air bouncing firmly of the mat with a resounding clatter and tucking her knees back under herself to arrest in a kneeling position, one hand clutching her chest she fights the surge of nausea and leans into and pushes with just one let to immediately force herself back to her feet. Only... Ryu is now some distance away from her and instead she is positioned In Ken;'s rear arc. Its a struggle to even breathe but as she glances at the back of the Red Gi she remembers, she owes him. Her mouth drops open and she calls out "HADOOOUKEN!: from just a few feet away, her hands in no way in position for that technique, she is instead pushing off towards him dragging her knuckle so low it almost grazes the mat.
Its not cheating really! She even announced her presence, but just with the wrong attack. Hoping to distract him from the advancing Murderhouse, she can't even locate the blue haired girl.
"En'nou ba!" The Shou'ou ken aimed right at the very Ansatsuken Master of the very technique from which her own is derived.
Kula lands hard, this time there is no cushioning snow to soften the impact, and for a moment it seems her freezing breath has been knocked out of her as she lies there for a moment. Only after a number of seconds does she start to move, her leg bending up at the knee, her hands pressing against the ground as she sits up in a rather slow, deliberate way. "You think..." her eyes are on Ken, "Because you hit me," her voice as even as ever. "I am soft?" She's shifted to a crouch, now pushing to standing, drifting particles of frozen matter swirl about her, falling to the floor at her feet or whipped up only to disappear into the air once they get too far from her.
A pulse of white chi courses over her, from toe to head then back down, leaving in its wake a decrease in temperature though lacking the frozen ground of her earlier ramp up. "Do you believe that because you are strong," she draws back, a glance cast toward Sakura, then toward MURDERHOUSE, then a nod back toward Ken. All at once, they must act together on this one! Ken and Ryu have their own brand of teamwork. Here and now, this trio can demonstrate /theirs/. "You can belittle those you fight-" MURDERHOUSE barrels in, looking for a chance to secure Ken for the rest of the attacks coming his way. "That is the philosophy of tyrants." Sakura is headed in, her teenaged might being leveraged into her fists as she prepares to execute not one but three staggering uppercuts, perfect distractions to let the Ice Princess get in dangerously close. "Are you one. Ken Masters?"
Kula is at Sakura's side, gloved hands snapping out, attempting to join the hold initiated by MURDERHOUSE, gloved fingers attempting to find purchase on Ken's arm. If he gets a glance at her, he'll notice that she's smiling faintly, looking a touch bemused. Is she just taunting him back in her own, uneasy way? "Hmph. Show off." Should she get that hold on his limb, the unthinkable will happen - beginning with a rapidly expanding layer of fluid perma-frost that seeks to encase Ken's entire body. Should he be so encased, immediately following, he will find himself sealed within a thick tomb of relentless ice that begins to squeeze in on him with crushing force. How long he finds himself so entombed will depend entirely upon his ability!
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE, Sakura and Kula successfully hit Ken with Chaotic Blossom Storm.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\ < > ///////// ]
Ken 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
The force of the combined attacks is staggering, and not something Ken truly expected to have thrown at him all at once. Pain racks at his every nerve, yet there's something more to just what is going on.
This isn't the first time he's been beaten, but this is the first time in recent memory he's been encased in a solid block of ice after having his ass handed to him. He's not going to let this slide without retaliating once last time.
A brief frown is visable upon Ken's face within the block of ice, only for it to be disrupted as thin cracks slowly start to appear upon the surface. He's not happy about being trapped, and the last of his strength is starting to boil out to the surface, only for an explosion of ice and debris to burst forth, as the crimson clad Ansatsuken master leaps into the air..
Right leg extended outward, Ken spins harder and faster, slinging chunks of ice still attached to his legs flying every which way, knowing that since the three first round opponents made the mistake of getting close enough? Even if they don't get hit by the rotory blade-like kick, there is a good chance a large chunk of ice is going to dish out some good ol' fashioned revenge.
"TATSUMAKISENPUUKYAKU!"
COMBATSYS: Ken can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
Ryu's eyes widen as the course of the fight suddenly takes a sharp left turn. He feels it coming a moment before Sakura rushes away from their confrontation to join in... well, a merciless and utter beatdown of his battle brother. "Ken!" There's concern there, it's a hell of a lot of force, there's no questioning that. Ryu rushes towards the blonde battler, throwing an arm over his eyes as /splinters/ of crystalline ice and erupting chi blanket the area in a chilling mist, with Ken erupting forth from his apparent tomb to make a final play at taking down... well, everyone involved in the fight so far! Ryu shakes his head once, and drops back.
Adopting a ready stance, the World Warrior weaves around ground zero, zeroing in on those still-standing with an intent patience. At this rate he's going to have to step it up. Or they won't even get through /half/ the world. The audience eats it up, the display put on by the three initial challengers - to take an expert like Ken down, slipping through his guard early (relatively speaking, of course), it's a hell of a twist!
COMBATSYS: Ryu gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE counters Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku from Ken with Cemetary Gates.
~ Cruel hit! ~
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Sakura with Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> //////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
Hanging back, Mick didn't want to to get hit with a foot across his face...convinced this would be the last thing he sad, the big man would step forward as the attack dissipates, reaching his hand out.
He solidly grabbed the throat of Ken Masters, and not questioning this bounty, Mick kept the red-wearing fighter barely dangling on his tippy toes, all with one cruel hand...MURDERHOUSE stared Ken right in the eyes, Mick's own developing a strange...sensation. Ken would a strangely unsettling, uneasy feeling, the sort you got in a dark basement, the sort you got when you woke up at 3 in the morning, almost feeling fingers across the back of your throat. Mick wasn't aware that this was Psycho Power, but he used it all the same, sneering down.
"Nighty fucking night, richboy."
And that would end, as Mick almost lazily lifted Ken up, supporting that bodyweight with one hand, chokeslamming Ken down into the mat, HARD. This was his fucking kingdom! This...this, was the start of something grand!
The way all three fighters descend upon Ken Masters seems like it was choreographed, opportunity, placement and timing all seem to fall into line as the three attack. Sakura does feel a twinge of guilt, and that maybe she might have to apologise, when he wakes up!The last leap of her Sho'ouken terminates the violent vertical attack with a gentle spin and descent to the ground where she suddenly becomes aware of the of the blue haired girl and team-mates appearance, as she drops back the the ground. Her jaw hands open a little as the spreading patch of ice on his arm encases entire Warrior.
She reaches out to press a hand to the ice, positively freezing she exclaims "Wait? Is he alright?! You can't leave him in there"
The ice however suddenly fractures just as she stands to straining for a glimpse of kens face inside what seems an icy coffin. Her face falls with the sound of ice constantly cracking "Ah--no." And is immediately blown away across the arena once again along with a few shards and chunks scattered with the force of Kens explosive escape.
Now halfway back across the arena mat she levers herself back up into a sitting position and then cups a hand lightly to her jaw the other pressed to her her chest. Okay, now things were starting to look pretty grim for the schoolgirl hero, but maybe she feels kinda deserved that for the cheap shot after all. She grunts with effort and starts climbing back to her feet, fights not done and neither is she.
COMBATSYS: Sakura gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
COMBATSYS: Kula dodges Ken's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
The Ice Wielder has none of the remorse Sakura is beginning to feel for ganging up on the master martial artist. He knew what he was getting into... the challenge Ken and Ryu issued to all oncomers was a bold, albeit perhaps reckless course of action and he fought like a demon. But that doesn't mean tactics can't be brought into the battlefield, and every moment that goes by, young Diamond's mind is considering the best ways to defeat the powerful opponents with the resources she has on hand. It's almost subconscious, multiple years of NESTS battle training having been brainwashed into her head. She's battered and feeling the strain of such extreme, consistent effort. Her allies look roughed up too, but insist on going. She smiles, just a little.
"He will be fine." she replies to Sakura, sounding unphased at the concern. "I wouldn't-" she begins to add, trying to warn the girl away from the icy tomb she constructed for Ken Masters right when it explodes into a frenzy of kicks and fire! Where she not so intune with her on creation, she would not have seen it in time. But as it stands, she SPRINGS just in time, landing meters away as ice chunks tumble over the ground before coming to a harmless stop in various places.
Standing up straight, Kula turns her attention back to Ryu, her smile fading. There is no room to slip up if this is to continue.
COMBATSYS: Kula focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sakura
> ///// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kula
Ken knew what he was getting into, it's true. So did Ryu. As his battle brother is battered dow and out, the soul still burns. It's true, that even when and if Ryu triumphs over the war-weary trio before him, there's more fightings waiting in the wings. It's true that alone, he's not playing with a hand that's particularly solvent against the terms of engagement. All of this brings a tremendous smile to Ryu's face, far too chipper for a man who's bleeding from a couple places, was too close when a bomb went off judging from his gi, and has been smashing tremendous amounts of face /himself/ to boot; but, there it is.
Ryu is eager to go! He doesn't dwell in the concern for Ken - the other expert has been through worse, and gave it a hell of a shot. He doesn't even seem to /notice/ MURDERHOUSE waxing egotistical over where he chokeslammed the blonde battler out of his last-ditch hurricane kick. No, while that's happening, Ryu leaps from his surveying position. Of course, 'leap' is a generous explaination for the sheer aplomb with which Ryu all but vanishes from where he was, and appears to reward Kula for her own ice cold efficiency.
Hands shoot for the operatives jumpsuit, and it would be a short, abrupt, painful trip up and over as Ryu twists his upper body and seeks to heft the reformed murder moppet up and around in a classic shoulder throw. He doesn't seek to release Kula clear, but rather all but /straight down/ on the opposite side of his steady stance. The floor is waiting.
Mick stood over the blond man, breathing heavily and taking time to actually unfasten and re-strap his hockey mask to his face, uncaring of the danger he was in by standing unready, he was just beaten and too exhausted to consider such a folly. He looked over at Ryu, watched him use a standard Judo throw, and chuckled, staggering toward the man.
Pro wrestling was interesting, in that it was really a "mixed martial art". It was a nice, rigid set of practices, no, it was harsh, chaotic, and every new wrestler brought a new set of rules into the mix. Moves were combinations of olympic wrestling, judo, sometimes sumo and of course, a great deal of brawling. He approached Ryu and tried to "hug" the gi-wearing legend. If this worked, he would use his considerable strength to hoist the muscle-packed Japanese man over his head, to "suplex" him, and hopefully drop the man on his neck and shoulders.
"Been a while, boyo." He spoke casually, as if they weren't in a nasty fight right now. It seemed Ryu had crossed paths with all three of his assailants. Interesting.
"Huaaaaah"
Sakura draws heavily on that willpower that just keeps her going in spite of her injuries and no matter the odds. She under no illusions of just what kind of shape she's in right now, After the last blow form ken she is pretty close to the end of what her body can take punishment wise, but there is still further she can go.
A blossoming sphere of Ki erupts in her hands, brighter than before, tightly refined and layers of construction. If the Hadouken were an art form the Shinkuu would be one of the Master-works. Her teeth aren't gritted or bared, there is calm and focus as she refines the attack as close as she can to its perfect form, she had thrown her Midare Zakura at the Master of the Shoryuken, now she sets her signs on a teacher, friend and mentor.
"Shinkuu!"
tThat's it.. the best.. she can.. manage
"HADOOUKEN"She sends the ki after Ryu with a forceful push and it greatly begins to accelerate, it isnt travelling quite straight, theres a gentle imparted curves that isnt going to do much for the ceiling of the theatre in the far corner if she should miss, But Miss Sakura ever the good natured girl is fairly worried about the watching crowd.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kula with Seoi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
> / ]
|==-----\-------\0 Kula
The coordinated attack unleashed a minor rush of adrenaline in the otherwise disturbingly calm Kula Diamnd though one wouldn't be able to tell with the way she remains so entirely composed and collected. Even after narrowly avoiding being clobbered by a flying chunk of her own icy creation, she stands quietly to the side, directed focus shifting back over to the one who demanded the best of her earlier on in the fight - Ryu. In the back of her mind, her efficient combat calculating determines that her allies are nearing the limits of their abilities to fight and an honest assessment of her own injuries conclude that she doesn't have much left to give, herself. A bruised sternum, throbbing cheekbone, aching back... all momentos of the catastrophically powerful clashes of attacks she has participated in throughout this swift, grueling battle.
Even as the adrenaline begins to wear off from their combined attack, she's starting to feel the fight's toll. The remarkable engine of chi that is her body can no longer control the flow of energy around her like she could earlier on and for a moment even the swirling flakes of ice that accompanied the girl most of the time have dwindled in presence. But, she reminds herself, she's still standing for now. She's not going to balk when she still has energy to contribute, even if it is against someone as capable as Ryu.
Speaking of whom - he's come back to say hello again! Getting in close with what most would perceive as super-human speed. Kula can see it - but seeing it and moving quickly enough to deal with it are two different matters all together. A step back with her foot comes too late and Ryu's fingers close on her jacket before she would have slipped just out of his grasp. Once he has a hold, there's nothing she can do to keep him from pulling her off her feet and over his shoulder, slamming her hard enough against the ground to force the breath from her lips with a pained gasp...
But if he lets down his guard for even a split second, she will give him cause to regret it as Kula's hands slam against the ground and she springs right back up at Ryu, feet first, twisting as she folds her arms and crosses her ankles, becoming like a spinning drill. Her intent seems to be to slip along his side, where a sweep of her arm will attempt to deliver a slashing chop into his torso, her knife-hand strike augmented by icy protrustions to give a literal 'edge' to the attack. Compared to her earlier attacks, this would be a grazing injury at worst, but still hardly something pleasant to get struck by.
Her course will take her in a low arc and should she be left unimpeded, she'll come back down on the other end of the arc into a stumbling crash, catching herself with her gloved hands as she falls forward. Stable but not moving for a long moment, she drops to her knees, the icy blue color fading from her hair, leaving dampened auburn locks against her shoulder, her head bowed for a moment, the figments of ice and chill wind about her completely gone. Lifting her head, violet eyes glimmer with a sense of satisfaction as she pushes herself to her feet and slowly walks away without looking back.
COMBATSYS: Kula can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Kula's Behind Slash.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu parries MURDERHOUSE's Power Throw!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu negates Shinkuu Hadouken from Sakura with Shakunetsu Hadouken EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
Adrenaline. It's a feeling Ryu knows well, particularly so at moments like this, with the swell of challenge both imminent and eminent. That Kula recovers at least enough of her wits to clear an exit is hardly a surprise - but expecting it isn't the same as being fully ahead of it. Instead, Ryu compacts his stance into a sturdy crouch, crossing his forearms over his face and deflecting the shearing assault wide, icy chi biting into resilient muscle. "Well fought." Is shot simply to Kula's back, without actually looking to the operative. After all, Ryu has other things on his plate.
For one thing, the announcer calls a challenger out and rings for the next challenger to step into the ring.... !
For another, big Mick MURDERHOUSE is coming to seek some fresh pressed hobo juice. Those bearhugging arms never find their target, though. The towering Irishman gets a glimpse as Ryu jumps skyward in a flash, a palm coming down squarely on the top of the big man's head to pivot and come about, dropping fearless directly adjacent to MURDERHOUSE - and in the immediate path of Sakura's swirling blast of chi.
"HADOOOOUKEN!!!" His own answer is instantaneous - a smaller, but infamously powerful burst of lavalike chi, whipping molten fury about itself as it melts a wavering ripple straight into the center of the oncoming, blue-white blast. Crimson suffuses its core, and the entire spectacle consumes /itself/ in a brilliant whirlwind of dissipating power.
Mick saw Ryu flip over him, and saw the man shoot a fireball to counter Sakura's. These fighters and their damn superpowers. How the hell do they do that? No matter, Mick didn't care, he had his own methods of dealing punishment. The seven foot Irish monster spun around immediately, not even hearing that obnoxious announcer as he wrapped his arm hopefully around Ryu's throat. He wanted to lock in a tight sleeper, cut off some of the oxygen going through his brain, maybe slow this fighter down enough, for the schoolgirl to finish the job. He actually raised his voice for once, directed at Sakura, assuming Ryu didn't worm his way out of this.
"Well, ya daft cunt?! Take 'em down already!"
Even a man like Mick could get frustrated. He knew how fucking dangerous Ryu was...
Sakura scratches the back of her head, "Ah-cha" he has negated her Hadouken in with all the effort of flicking his wrist and hadn't even stopped attacking the blue haired girl to do so, She still had a long way to go to to reach anywhere near his level. The Murderhouse yells at her and she is obviously taken aback by the vulgarity and the speed with which she reacts is loaded with indecision and disapproval.
One step further. Her sneakers pound away on the mat as she begins to run in and close distance with both other fighters, One step further along the path. Her fists pump and she positively flies. A little bit stronger today then I was yesterday.
She opens her fists, as she nears sails in close enough , and lunges for his Gi, Up and over, jumping as high as someone like Murderhouse was tall to get onto his shoulders was an effort but if she can do it she should be able to throw Ryu a fair distance.
"Iku Yo!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges MURDERHOUSE's Choke Hold.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> //////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ryu with Sailor Shoot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 MURDERHOUSE
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Walmart will stock a dvd of this video that is bleeped to hell, thanks to Murderhouse. Thankfully for RYu, though, he's difficult to keep ahold of. His head darts back, to the side, as soon as Murderhouse even starts to wrap those meaty limbs into that nasty choking hug. Ryu drops into a crouch, shifts and comes about, twisting to face Sakura and .. .. ! The nomad's plans erupt in a whirlwind of whipping limbs as he's hucked away from the pair, crashing down in a shoulder-led skid on the floor.
At which point he subsequently rolls back onto his feet, like some sort of karate-wielding Terminator. From the crouch, Ryu doesn't even bother to stand, he just /leaps/, speaking volumes to MURDERHOUSE by arcing high through the air and axeing out with his right heel in a classic flying kick with the force of a trainwreck behind it. "HYAAAAAAH!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits MURDERHOUSE with Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 MURDERHOUSE
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Mick, Mick was not a very nice man, and the typical joys the typical man enjoyed, were things that bothered and annoyed Mick. So, when he felt the weight on his shoulders, and looked up to see...well...the kind of sight that most fanboys would absolutely die for, Mick just sneered in annoyance, at being what amounted to a giant perch.
"Comfortable up there, ya thick thig-"
WHAM, Ryu's foot smashed right into Mick's jaw and throat, driving his teeth right into his tongue, and causing him to stagger back in pain, unconsciousness looming...but he didn't fall. He didn't fall, and he looked at Ryu...after a moment he "shrugged" his shoulders, to toss Sakura off of him, but he lashed his hands out, grabbing...her legs. He spun around, letting the schoolgirl go, and aiming her head, hopefully right for his opponent's groin! But it was a wild throw, and it would be the last thing he did, before collapsing on his side, eyes rolling around inside his head...
COMBATSYS: MURDERHOUSE can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Call them and they will come. The sound of snickers rapidly trudging through floor starts to get louder and louder as a certain Luchador smelled wrestling from miles away and sprinted all the way from his restaurant to the dragon arena. Slamming the doors open that lead to the ring, none other than El Fuerte dashes with blurring speed towards the ring with only one thing in his mind.
Vengeance!!
If there's an opportunity to pay Ryu back for the way he shoryukened him just as he was going down this was going to be his golden opportunity. Being a tecnico and a good guy, he would normally not take such a cheap shot like this. Ganging up on a tired warrior that has already gone through a gauntlet of opponents. But this person is Ryu and El Fuerte has recently gotten a lot more violent thanks to his close encounters with Garbage Wrestling. In part a certain wrestler is to blame for the corruption of the normally pure hearted Luchador, but in his own way El Fuerte can still be considered aligned with the forces of good. Part of the reason he came here too was to help MURDERHAUZE.
"Mick!!!" The Luchador yells as he enters the ring just in time to see the giant Irishman take a kick to the face. "NOOO-Hey, you do know you have a girl on your shoulders right?" He points that out first totally ruining the dramatic moment. Maybe Mick didn't notice that! He strikes him as the type who would miss it.
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
It had worked, the giant grin on Sakuras face hinting that she HAD actually meant to do that. There is a glut of applause and encouragement shouted from the crowd for what seemed like a great piece of teamwork against a stronger opponent. Sakura throws her arms out wide to regain her balance, "Hold still and let me-" to be able to hop back down but Murderhouse doesn't exactly cooperate to let her, In fact Ryu has recovered and returned while the schoolgirl finds herself shrugged off.
Sakura falls, tipped off and completely unsure of what or going on or why he would have done that, she is wide eyes as she fall from his shoulder toward the mat.. they're were team mates, did she misjudge .. that badly. His hand meatily wraps around her around her entire calf and swings the girl like one of his vast arry of personal weapons. He turned on her? She cries out in fright as she is swung right towards Ryu, what is going on?
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Ryu just-defends MURDERHOUSE's Huge Thrown Object!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Good question! What /is/ going on exactly? El Fuerte arrives to the scene only to find Mick getting kicked in the face to then use the school girl on his shoulders like a club to be swung at Ryu's face. Was he fighting both of them? Eh, he'll have to ask him later, hopefully over some tequila shots to celebrate his victory against the World Warrior!
"RAAAAAH!!" The wrestler charges directly toward Ryu keeping his eyes focused on that extended leg. Just as Ryu begins to coil it back, El Fuerte dashes in to wrap his right arm around it, his left arm raising up to plaster his hand on Ryu's face and push forward with all his might to drive him back first into the ground!
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks ElFuerte's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
Dirty pool, indeed. Not that Ryu's come to expect anything less of the MURDERHOUSE. It's kind of exactly what it says on the tin. Plus, he has a Luchador clinging to his leg, as Mick whips his student around. The Ansatsuken master lands adeptly out of the attempted slam, somehow keeping his legs under him to land in a harsh crouch, the floor rumbling under the force of it. Sakura's launched free, and Ryu uses his low position to his advantage, shifting to the side and snapping an arm with uncanny precision in a headlock motion around Sakura's neck.
At which point he.... stands with a fluid redirection of the momentum, twisting about once and releasing Sakura with no small amount of disorienting spin.. but virtually no force left at all in her forward flight. The legendary nomad reverses his own stance and launches /right back in/ on the newly arrived luchador, welcoming him back with the traditional "TATSUMAKISENPUUUUUKYAKU!!!" as his whipping rotorblade of a right leg helicopters him forward with alarming force, seeking to launch the lucha painfully clear of the eye of the hurricane.
Despite /all this fighting/ and all his bruises and stabwounds, Ryu doesn't seem to be slowing down yet! The announcer calls out for another challenger to replace MURDERHOUSE - and quickly!
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits ElFuerte with Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
El Fuerte would expect nothing else! Why, he would be surprised if Ryu somehow bent over backwards and took the blow to his head as easily as that. The flying school girl tossed to one side is currently not given any attention, such things are common occurrences in the wild world of wrestling, his concentration is far more focused on the incoming foot sailing directly to his face! Too fast, can't do much about save for shut his teeth tight so he doesn't get his jaw dislocated.
"PFFGAAH!!"
The luchador coils to the side spitting blood and interestingly enough uses the momentum of that very same kick to spin on his heel and turn on Ryu again heading directly for him. Something is really pissing him off tonight, more than just the kick to the kisser that is. "That all you got, ese!!?" Crazed blood shot eyes zero in on Ryu as the wrestler attacks him again, running directly towards him jumping forward and ram his knee on the World Warrior's chin just as he's coming back from his tastsumakisenpukyaku(sp).
In a staggering spin the Ansatsuken pupil totters and eventually drops to her hands and knees. The jerk, the stupid, dishonourable, psycho movie monster, JERK! The boos from the crowd seem to reflect the heel turn attack using one of his own team-mates as a weapon. Sakura shakily climbs back to her feet but her focus is gone, her fight mojo completely disrupted. The huge stinky Jerk!
The next challenger enters the ring and Ryu-san seems to be fighting. as the two battle Sakura tries to recoup her enthusiasm, her feelings were hurt, she was angry at Murderhouse, angry at how she had been ignored.
She takes a deep breath and tries to let it all go, she cant quite bring herself to smile but if she weren;t wlling to finish the match and fight till the end, she was not deserving of having been a part of it... though seriously, she was going to be writing about the whole Murderhouse thing on her blog.
%y"Sakura, Ganbaru!"
Circling around she tries to come at Ryu from behind, maybe she could slow the fight down enough to give El Fuerte a chance, though she wasn't liking how the event was going so far. Everyone was so angry.. violence was a part of street fighting, the anger didn't have to be.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Sakura's Sakura Strangle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 ElFuerte
> /////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte successfully hits Ryu with Calamari Slide.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> /////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Sakura
There's nothing particularly incorrect in Sakura's assessment - from a certain point of view. It's clearly not a perspective shared by her sensei at the moment, however. Despite the intensity and flared emotions, the legendary nomad remains focused, efficient... even eagerly driven to meet the challenge with a certain excitement, electric in the air. Ryu finds himself kneed right back out of his flying kick, landing in a crouching skid as Sakura leaps for his neck.
The World Warrior rolls forward, under the grab and up on Sakura's flank, "Be steady." the nomad advises the frazzled girl simply, calmly, and decidedly esoterically. Less metaphysical is the sudden side-thrust that snaps up from launch to delivery like it knew the path to Sakura's ribs by heart, as Ryu's stance counter-balances the kick perfectly. With unknown challenges around every corner, Ryu doesn't let up for an instant - but neither does he seem worn down by the violent currents around himself.
Who knows? Perhaps El Fuerte ate too many jalapeņos before coming to the arena? It is the equivalent of being corrupted by the dark Hadotaco for a Luchador. Though regardless of what may be eating him inside, when his knee connects, there's a glint of malice on his eyes when frail chin bone collides with tough knee joint. Sakura will probably hate him for this but it may be because he's been hanging out too much with MURDERHOUSE, although what she doesn't know won't hurt her.
"Orale cabron!!" The luchador flings cusswords in Spanish, hopefully these won't be bleeped out on that Walmart unless it's released in Latin America. Landing back on his feet after his flying knee, the luchador dashes forward again trying to catch Ryu flatfooted. His style isn't too much about the brawling, those punches and kicks are powerful, but are ultimately designed to open Ryu up for the grapple. The hold he seeks however can also be achieved when his opponent attacks, which works even better if it's another person who he's attacking. Though the World Warrior's position may be conunterbalancing his kick, it won't help him much if El Fuerte manages to grab ahold of the out stretched leg in an attempt to get it away from Sakura. See? Not all wrestlers are dishonorable little girl, don't let MURDERHOUSE's actions dictate your opinion on the style.
At least he hopes he's fast enough to intercept it.
Regardless, once he catches that leg, he'll be twisting his entire body along with it to give Ryu's leg a good spin trying to snap it right out of his hip "HUAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Sakura with Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ]
|=======\=------\1 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
COMBATSYS: Sakura can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
Sakuras arms close on empty air nowhere near Ryu she is close to her limit but she has been closer and endured more in jury for longer and kept fighting. But her Sensei can see the flagging motivation, she doesn't want to keep fighting, her spirits are low and she fights on simply because she won't give up.
Sakura never gives up!
She tries to step away out of the attack but kick is to quick for her. The out-rush of air stops any kind of cry she might have made but from the way she folds forwards she clearly not in the fight any longer, Her forehead bounces off the mat and she kneels tightly hunched over with both hands clutching at her chest. The taped up ribs are agony, she isn't even sure nothings broken any more but she has definitely been ruled knocked out after she fails to rise or even move form that position, Medical staff signal for her to be withdrawn and they need to get her out of the ring so the fight can continue.
Fresh from ineffectively tackling two of Sunshine City's prime exports, the masked schoolgirl known only - and she'd like to restate how very, very only - as simply 'Zaki' has found herself with free time on her hands. Or at least time she's not wished to spend immediately pursuing Daigo Kazama's misfit mascots in wake of another event from this past week... time she has instead put to use tracking down a massive brawler who brutally demolished one of her Ladies' Team gangsters whilst Gedo kept her busy.
With intrigue and vengeance in mind, then, she has come to this second City of Fighters...
And immediately been waylaid by one of those accursed fight promoters. Ryu, he says? Interesting; if not entirely something she wishes to pursue directly. For all her seeming arrogance, Aoi Himezaki knows her place and is aware of the limitations she possesses as a human being. But when she's dragged to the Arena by the gabbling little promoter, it's in the knowledge that the titanic MURDERHOUSE is already there. Of course, when she gets there he's already fallen-- making him all the more prone to her own tender ministrations, later.
For now she feels like indulging some of that curiosity. So as Sakura is stretchered off, Seijyo's sukeban strides past with a concealed smirk, chains rattling at her hip and at her neck. She quickens her step as she approaches the battle zone, ignoring the distant cheering of the crowd as vulpine eyes narrow icily upon the legendary figure of the World Warrior. Focusing on /him/ also means focusing on her 'partner'.
"Looks like you're handling things just fine," she snarks out, sarcasm seeping through her deep tone, as she suddenly springs forward, extending a leg to enter a long slide that carries her to Ryu's opposing flank. A glance darts onto - and off - El Fuerte as she passes, before she simply, savagely twists her hip and swings a fist forward, loose end of her trademark weapon whipping about as it swings from her knuckles. "Mind if I chip in regardless?!"
Those bunched links might even cause the Japanese legend to notice her. She likes being noticed.
COMBATSYS: Zaki has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Zaki's Medium Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu full-parries ElFuerte's Fajitas Buster!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-======/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Zaki
It's not really a given that Zaki's attitude of her comrades would be particularly better going back a few moments to when they plastered Ken Masters out of the fight - probably not - but it doesn't seem to be horribly inaccurate that El Fuerte may need some help now! As Sakura crumples away from the oldschool kick, Ryu simply nods once to his protege. This is not the time for words, but for action.
Fuerte realizes this, the luchador planting himself right in front of Ryu a half-second later, wrapping around his leg before it can snap back to the ground! As if he read the wrestler's mind, however, Ryu inverts and twists, spinning about in the direction of the throw a moment /before/ it can catch him. He rotates right /out/ of the slam, into a premature three-point crouch, sliding free of El Fuerte for a moment.
A moment that demands a glance aside, and a shifting fist to bring his forearm into the path of Zaki's whipping strike, deflecting the bruising hit back aside with a whiplike motion of his own. It's followed fluidly into a forward lunge, hands sweeping together and shoving forward, a bloom of blue-white chi erupting from his palms in an instant, projecting a scaldingly explosive burst straight for Zaki, to properly welcome her to the fray. "HADOOOOUKEN!!!"
Like his namesake, El Fuerte spins like a hurricane and slams into the ground just like one. "Carajo!!" Even as he was spinning in the air with Ryu's leg in tow, he already knew that was not going to work at all when he twisted with him, the world warrior used the momentum of the throw against the wrestler to evade the attack completely letting him land safely away from him as El Fuerte himself, lands gracelessly on all fours.
This isn't good. El Fuerte wasn't fast enough to get here and aid Mick and Sakura on this fight. Now it seems that he's by himself now that he failed to intercept the kick aimed at the school girl and she was unceremoniously knocked out of the ring. "Sorry.." He whispers softly on the ground seeing the school girl fall, cursing himself for his own slowness. Ryu is far too skilled, he knows that he's in way over his head and will just have to accept that Ryu will probably overpower him, a rightful punishment for not coming to aid his amigos quickly enough.
Hm? But what's this?? Yet another ally come to aid him in battle. The wrestler looks up to see yet another school girl, this one looking far more vicious than the last. "Ah! Go right ahead seņorita!" Either El Fuerte is far too happy go lucky to notice the sarcasm or he just simply doesn't care, either way, he's elated at getting help. "I failed the girl that was here before you, but I will not fail you! So swears El Fuerte Luchador!" And this is about the time that Ryu blast a shinning ball of energy right for Zaki.
"LOOK OUT!"
Boy is he bad at this hero stuff.
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-======/=======|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Zaki with Hadouken EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ryu 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
Lookin' vicious is one thing, but actually standing up to the stoic Ansatsuken warrior?
That requires something else entirely. What's that thing called...? No, not blind luck.
TRUE GRIT.
Compared to the average schoolgirl, it should at least be noted that Aoi doesn't lack balls. The calm deflection of her punch is taken with a light grunt of affirmation, her fist springing back and opening as it assumes a guard alongside her masked chin; she's got some idea of how hard Ryu can hit, and knows a full-bore punch of the sort featuring rapidly-elevating dragons could cut this fight dramatically short. She's covered for that chance, yet the suddenly incoming fireball is something else. Not so much unexpected, as difficult to deal with.
Odd, she thinks, as she flexes her long, athletic legs and starts to leave the ground. It doesn't /look/ particularly fast, the flaring energy-fist at the centre clearly made out upon the final approach, and it's not until the absolute last instant that Zaki even realises she's several jots too slow to stand a real chance. A fraction of a milisecond later, her world becomes searing pain, her menacing aura suddenly worthless, her very spirit assailed by waves of blistering heat. Smoke rises off her dark-clad form as it is flung away, bouncing from the ropes and collapsing to the arena floor with a horrific crunch that sends the crowd into conniptions.
"F-Fuck me sideways," she half-breathes, half-vomits into the soiled mat beneath her mask, pushing herself upright despite every instinct telling her to stay the hell down. Zaki doesn't listen to the quitter's voice; she wouldn't be herself if she did. She's up a moment later and moving forward despite an unsteady sway in her step, chambering her chain-clad fist with a dextrous flick before sending it outward...
"Thanks for the warning!" She rather weakly calls to her partner as the slew of clanking links seek to wrap themselves around one of Ryu's muscular arms. "Though you'll have a keep saving me from--"
Her voice rises sharply to a yell, as she /hauls/ backward on the chain, stopping its progress hopefully as it finds a firm grip. With that located, she'll seek to pull the World Warrior toward her and then abruptly leap toward El Fuerte, using this momentum to one-two Ryu uncomfortably back toward the luchador. "MYSELF!!"
Come one come all, huh? Or at least that is what a promoter was selling a few Ikari that were hanging around Sunshine City for a few days after a mission that had them handling a few minor things in Japan. Most of the guys seem disinterested in getting themselves beat up by some rather famous fighters and rather just get their drink on. Then there is Faolan who often can't turn down a challenge of any sort of faces are to be punched. Even if more often than not it is his face that gets punched in. It builds character dammit.
So it is no surprise there are a few Ikari moving in to settle down in the front area of the arena and cause a few watchers have to find a new place to see things. Someone should mention they need to buy tickets and find seats that weren't already taken. A bit too late now it would seem. Looks like they are more interested to see Faolan show what an Ikari can do and cheer him or watch him crash and burn while laughing all the way. It is all in good fun. He can just chide them for not being ballsy, insane?, enough to get in there and get their hands dirty.
It is finally time for the Ikari to be unleashed too and he doesn't hesitate at all when told to get out there. The Irishman stalks outwards and then it turns into a run. He doesn't even give the other two fighters that are in his side a glance at the moment. He is too busy turning into a large ball of hate charging right down towards Ryu. "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-" he shouts loudly as he leaps upwards and then swings his bata downwards to slam on the top of Ryu's head. "-ck YEAH!"
COMBATSYS: Faolan has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Faolan 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Faolan's Power Strike.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Faolan 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu just-defends Zaki's Chain Flip!
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Faolan 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ryu 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Faolan has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
Come one, come all, they do. Suddenly, it's a field of near-fresh fighters facing off against the sole remaining member of the duo that issued the challenge. Some folks would turn away from the inevitable owning this situation results in, over a long enough timeline. Ryu is just curious how long he can make that timeline until his own demise! Fun!
Zaki launches her weaponry in an obvious and skilled setup to El Fuerte's followup technique - but that's about as far as the plan gets. First contact with the enemy, in this case, proves to be not Ryu's /arm/, but Ryu's /hand/, which somehow /catches/ that whipping chain at its very edge as Ryu weaves a half-step away from its course. It's an almost soft gesture, no force sounding but the slap of metal on padded sparring glove, and the clatter of chain as it's released to the ground, mysteriously bereft of the momentum and energy that gave it life.
Ryu, however, is not lacking either of these things. Faolan joins the fray, and a bhata whips through the air where he had regained his stance, a sidelong shift and twist bringing him out of its descending path, and around Faolan on the El Fuerte side. This is an important note simply because the nomad's eyes aren't so much brown, now, as pools of madly flickering, surging white. This white suffuses his aura, and quickly begins to throw off lightning bolts along his entire form, centering on the apparently very effective conduits of his arms, which focus that energy into a high-voltage, expanding sphere between bracing hands, fingertips feeding more and more power to the spiritual ball lightning.
"HADOOOOOOOOUKEN!!!" It's launched like its lightning namesake in a bolt of crackling fury, a taser++ of pure electricity seeking to steal the focus from El Fuerte's mind and muscles!!
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits ElFuerte with Denjin Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////// ]
|=======\======-\1 ElFuerte
> ///////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
El Fuerte cringes when that energy collides against the tough looking school girl, yet as a true testament of her own virility(?) she's still standing and even attacking right after receiving such a devastating task. El Fuerte is not one who would try to coddle girls from fighting, why that would be a pure travesty considering that his idol is none other than Rainbow Mika, but he still feels that he should do something to defend his allies, regardless of gender.
As more fighters begin to join the fray, El Fuerte is jogging this time rather than running at his full speed. He has to find that opening on the World Warrior, there has to be a way to get in and really nail him. That concentration is slightly lost when Zaki and Faolan rush in to attack, since his brown eyes peer slightly when Zaki spouts back some gibberish about saving her from herself. "Que? I am no shrink seņorita." Besides, if he's going to be saving Zaki? Who's going to be saving him from the freaking huge hadouken that comes his way!?
"AAAA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y" Turned into one fried spicy enchilada, the luchador feels like he's struck by lighting when the missile collides with his broad chest, getting electrocuted in the process enough so that it almost looks like he's been seeing through an X-Ray showing his bone structure, and the tacos in his stomach that he ate before getting here. After a good minute of yelling or so, he crumples on the ground looking quite toasty "Did...anybody..get the license plate...of that truck?"
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ryu 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|=======\=====--\1 ElFuerte
> ///////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
The nature of Ryu's rather enigmatic counter-technique isn't something that Zaki misses; and all fronting aside, it's actually a passing honour to be subjected to the skill of this champion fighter. This fact does nothing to ease the frustration as she's sent into a messy stagger, the expected momentum utterly unapparent, her chain falling limp and dragging unbidden back toward Aoi as she just barely manages to halt her side-step in time to avoid falling on her face once more.
"Fuck /no/," she states bluntly by way of amendment to Faolan's exuberant entrance, straightening herself with a snarling sort of grin that only reaches her eyes insofar as they narrow a little further; her reddish brows angling sharply inward. Angry? Not really. But this is how she finds her focus. Her senses are going crazy - as an acolyte of chi-usage herself, Ryu's techniques cause a near rupture within her centre.
Southtown has its share of expertise, but this nomad is in another league.
Fuerte's earlier warning is not echoed by Aoi when Ryu lets rip his cataclysmic blast; if he can't see it coming, then as far as she's concerned he's as big an idiot as he looks. Still, in her heart of hearts he's at least a well-meaning sort, and they're supposed to be together in this, right?
"Tch." Tongue pressing against her teeth, Zaki darts a meaningful look to Faolan - saying nothing more to him at the moment, simply twitching her head toward Ryu before she takes off. Fuerte's dash is counter-pointed by a sprint of her own, Seijyun's protector launching herself at a narrow angle past Ryu's left flank. She's hoping the scruffball Irishman can pick up that she's asking him to attack the opposing aspect. It's too late to stop and check though - Ryu's too /fast/ for conference.
She tries to match him as best she can.
The /instant/ she's within range, Zaki grinds her spiked heels into the mat, tearing canvas as she swivels and leaps into a tight spin, one long leg raised heavenward only to bear down with a flash of her own energies, a near violet blue mingling with white haze, streaming from the leather of her boot as it's brought down in a raking, slashing motion across the World Warrior's stern features.
"ORYAAAAAA!!" She punctuates, fierce as a particularly pissed-off lioness.
That bata finds nothing but air and it slams into the ground with a loud 'thwack' onto the ground of the arena as the Ikari lands on both feet and in a crouch. He grins a bit and looks up. "Ehn, worth a shot!" he says and while other fighters might be taking this more serious he looks like he is at least for now having fun. He hasn't felt the strength of Ryu just yet and he finds himself lucky not to be the one targeted by the large fireball that was just thrown out by the nomad.
He lets out a low whistle as he straightens up and his hands each grip and end of the bata as he takes a deep breath. "That doesn't look pleasant at all, but then again when would it ever be?" he asks and he then spies Zaki coming in from the side to attack at Ryu's flank. Does he fully get what she is trying to do? It is hard to tell if that is the case or the man is just not caring for his own well being given he goes straight at Ryu instead of looking for an opening.
The Ikari probably doesn't realize brute force isn't going to win this out or he just is setting himself up as being the distraction for the other two fighters. Right now he just seems intent in shifting the placement of his hands more towards the middle of his fighting stick and he aims to slap one end into the chest of Ryu then quickly slapping at his side with the other end. "Hup!"
COMBATSYS: Faolan successfully hits Ryu with Windmill.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|=======\=====--\1 ElFuerte
> //////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Zaki successfully hits Ryu with Gankou Geri.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|=======\=====--\1 ElFuerte
> //////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
A moment ago, it was a perfect storm of motion for Ryu in his efforts to seize this new fight along with the one that echoes still in the arena. Now, that maelstrom is joined by others, and the currents turn violently against the legendary nomad. He twists back to face the others - but they are already on their way. Strongly. His eyes narrow, studying Zaki, then Faolan. Arms shift, feet slide along the ring floor, as he prepares to... a little bit of give in the unfamiliar environment's floor, a shooting pain through the Ansatsuken master's body from his other wounds, and the synergized assault combine to punish him at just the wrong moment. He darts right - right into Faolan's strike, stealing breath an instant as the other end whips into his ribs. He still keeps his bearings enough to turn, preparing....
To get clobbered in the face by the descending axe of Zaki's heel, blood spraying from the impact as he's dropped to one knee, bruises and scrapes adding themselves to the ones already left on his battered frame. With uncanny resilience, the determinator once more leaps to his feet. Right into the middle of Zaki and Faolan. Also, he's spinning.
Ryu ascends in less time than it takes to blink, uncoiling and leaping even as he flexes and twists about himself, right leg whipping outwards as he releases his own internal flood of chi. The arena itself darkens an instant, and a vortex centralizes itself on Ryu, swirling about as he reaves around, right leg extended, left perpendicular to the floor. The whirlwind rushes around, draws inwards and upwards, flooding out above Ryu in a hair-tousling maelstrom; but the real threat is being caught in the midst of that technique, drawn magnetically inward and punished /repeatedly/ within the uncountable kicks.
"SHIIIIINKUUTATSUMAKISENPUUUUKYAKU!!!"
Down but not out. It takes more than just that to toast the crazed spicy wrestler chef. In fact, El Fuerte is almost glad that Ryu struck him with his legendary hadouken. That was his plan you see!??? As he's standing back up with great effort, the wrestler digs into the pockets of his to extract one strange looking and very sizzled red pepper. "Ah! Perfect! The Bhut Jolokia chili pepper will taste it's spiciest after being fried with such power." What does El Fuerte intend to do with the spiciest pepper in the world after it was just struck with a hadoken?
Why, eat it of course.
The moment he's munching on that over the top chilli pepper is the moment things go to hell in a hand basket. It almost feels like everyone decided at that time they wouldn't take any more of this crap. Zaki and Faolan both descend towards Ryu with precise strikes prompting the wrestler to aid them in their plight. It's a sound strategic maneuver, let them charge in to be the meatshie---the wedge formation so that Ryu has to overextend himself to deal with both them and as he's spinning around like that, then it's time for el luchador to really nail him.
"RRRAAAAAH!!" Almost roaring now and looking positively red, either from fury, exhaustion, or for eating that atomic pepper. The wrestler charges in just as soon as Ryu begins his dreaded spin of death, jumping on top of Faolan's shoulders (he looks sturdy enough to hold him) to then jump up further so that he's clear over Ryu's head! He's holding something in his hand...is that?
Is that a frying pan?
"GRRRRRH!!" Fancy wrestling techniques ain't working, but brutality is, therefore El Fuerte takes a page out of garbage wrestling and just aims to cave Ryu's skull in with a fairly improvised weapon.
COMBATSYS: Zaki endures Ryu's Shinkuu Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> //////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Zaki
The satisfaction is exhilarating, blood and adrenaline rushing to Zaki's head in an intoxicating flood as she feels the soft spray of blood upon her brow. Her foot strikes the mat hard, the ring vibrating beneath her lithe form as she steadies herself with that brutal, unrelenting grace she is known for; though perhaps in part it's sheer pride that keeps her back so straight and steady, that stops her legs from quivering. No matter, the schoolgirl bondage-queen is statuesque if only for a moment.
And this, of course, is all she has.
Ryu's spirit could pack out this entire arena - it seems to push at the very walls, undeniably strong. Fierce, even, in a way quite unlike the simmering menace presented in Aoi. Her jubilation is ended swiftly, her breath stolen as she is /sucked/ into that storm of hellacious kick after kick after kick, the rotation of the nomad's calloused foot serving a dual purpose. Drawing in, and punishing. And what punishment! The first blow is astonishing enough, so much that it serves as a warning. Suddenly, Zaki is utterly, palpably caught in the moment; it's as if the entire world slows to a stop, including Ryu himself.
She's already been struck - she cannot evade, she cannot defend. But she sees the second blow coming. She shouldn't be able to, given the speed with which it descends, brilliant in execution and devastating in consequence. Yet, Zaki finds herself smiling through the expectation of pain, a subtle twist of her athletic frame all that's required in that encaptured moment. When her conscious expectation of time resumes, she's bending with each heel's impact, twisting to and fro within the maelstrom so smoothly and quickly that to the onlookers her situation STILL appears hopeless. It's the final blow that matters, though...
It's the way she /lands/ from it, her uniform dishevelled, her hair scattered in unruly spikes.
But she is right alongside the World Warrior when he finds his own feet, rising a few feet away from him with an outbreath that sees all that lingering agony pour away. Her hand lashes out, part and parcel of the same standing motion, chain links unravelling from their binding about her gloved knuckles. With a melodious ring they strive to plow into the gi-clad warrior's densely-packed torso, the bulk striking square as the end rebounds in a curious, arcing slingshot; it's skilful indeed, and if it works he'll find himself propelled back toward her as the final link in that chain catches the core of his spine. He doesn't have far to go--
"/YAAAAAA/!!"
Before he meets a ringing backhand blow from the chambered arm, Zaki's full weight and power flung behind the biting, stinging strike. Once it's found purchase, she is already spinning back in the opposite direction, slinging a long leg upward to catch him with a one-two whipsnapping sequence; a toe catching him in the gut before another vicious roundhouse sears to catch him across the left cheek. Aoi does not spin with the motion; rather she brings her foot down heavy, leaning forward to compensate, aiming in that instant to bring her eyes in sharp contact with Ryu's. Perhaps Fuerte times this perfectly, and he is struck again as her sharp, vulpine glare finds the World Warrior's own, astonishingly deep gaze.
Either way, she aims to show him all that she is; to leave a mark upon this legendary man.
Would he have it any other way?
COMBATSYS: Faolan endures Ryu's Shinkuu Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|=======\====---\1 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
He does his best not to be surprised, he really does. Faolan was serving more as a distraction than anything and his intention to land something solid was only somewhat there. That is why he seems rather impressed by the fact not only did he do his job and distract Ryu enough that Zaki hits home he finds himself planting his bata firmly against the legendary fighter and further throwing him off his game. It is a small victory he will take. Not that he gets much time to savor such a thing. Ryu may have taken some hits, but it will take more than that to down him. Faolan knows this all too well and he just tries his best to prepare for whatever is thrown his way.
Given the quickness of Ryu's recovery and how fast he lashes out with the attack Faolan finds himself very much in the same boat as Zaki. While his style is primarily one for defense he really doesn't have time to think of a good way to try and even get his bata in the way. Instead he does things the Ikari way. He grits his teeth and he steels himself as best he can and takes the punishment. It wasn't a great idea at all given how pummeled he gets and he staggers about and tries to keep his footing before one kick slams across his jaw and makes him spin about and land on his hands and knees. "Jesus ya hit hard." he sputters out while spitting a bit of blood on the ground.
"Just means I gotta hit hard too!" he says and he manages to find the strength to leap upwards back onto his feet and he lunges forward once again. He looks to just ram Ryu straight on again and try to throw him off balance. Zaki and Fuerte aren't really paid attention right now. The Ikari is fully intent in trying to put the hurt on Ryu as he swings his bata about like a madman and batter it against Ryu's limbs as hard as he can before attempting to finish it up with a strong thrust aimed to plant an end of the bata into Ryu's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Ryu auto-guards Zaki's Hissatsu Denkou Tessa!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks ElFuerte's El Fuerte Spark.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Faolan successfully hits Ryu with Carry the Coffin.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> ////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
The sheer power unleashed with the ultimate hurrican kick leaves Ryu somewhat over-reaching when he lands. Not that that seems to hurt the World Warrior's alert defenses - at least at first! He drops out of the technique in the midst of a whole mess of trouble, the nomad's eyes darting left, then right, then up. ***CLANG*** it's a resounding impact as descending frypan meets ascending elbow. It sends tremors of protest through Ryu's limb, even as the opposition is punished with that solid hit.
The Ansatsuken Wanderer doesn't even slow down. Zaki's chain whips in beside him, and again - he slaps it away. Her weapon hits the ground, and her backhand slaps squarely into the rising master's palm, limb loosely absorbing the force as if it were so much warm thoughts and greeting cards. At least, that's the illusion the sheer proficiency gives. Each time she twists about and tries to launch him, it's the same - a deflection so gentle it's more like he's assimilating the violence than actually opposing it, always backing away just enough to drain the vehemence from the blow at the end of his own guarding motions.
Then, Faolan plows full bore into him before he can leap clear of the confluence of pain. Despite Ryu's alarmingly quick responses to the trio, or perhaps partly /because/ of them, that the flurry of stickwhacks come in all but unopposed, breaking through the World Warrior's defenses and pummelling him back. The last thrust sends him into a backwards roll, Ryu staggered by the hit but not out - not yet. He rolls back to his crouch and scans the battlefield, spitting a bit of blood before he adds some MORE heat to El Fuerte's recipe.
This one in the form of the red-hot Hadouken that bored through Sakura's ultimate fireball, its meteoric mass erupting forth in a hissing surge, flaming orbits rushing around the coursing, literal fireball as it hurtles towards El Fuerte, the World Warrior /still/ apparently seeking victory. Or more opponents. /Something/ that appears utterly impossible and crazy, when considering the bloodied hobo in the tattered gi, and the sheer, inexhaustible power he still pushes forward with.
"HADOOOOUKEN!!!"
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte endures Ryu's Shakunetsu Hadouken.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> /// ]
|=======\=------\1 ElFuerte
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
*KLANG!*
That's the sound that tells Fuerte it's time to get another frying pan! The Luchador grits his teeth when metal collapses against a blocking elbow, the handle tingling on his grip causing his hands to shake slightly after the force of the impact. Elbows are considerably harder that the scalp you see? So when it connected against the wrong limb it looked like it hurt El Fuerte almost as it hurt Ryu, which is to say, just a little.
"No way!" The luchador spins backwards discarding his poor destroyed frying pan left for a proper burial later. His thoughts more on the incoming hellish projectile that comes his way than on what he will do at the end of the fight, if he survives that is. The attacks of his impromptu allies do little to faze the World Warrior, not only did he weathered the storm of his attacks but also those of Zaki and Faolan as well, some betters than others, though still far too little to do anything of considerable damage to Ryu. Certainly not to keep him from blasting another of his destructive chi blasts.
"HRAAAA!!" No way out of that one save /FORWARD/. El Fuerte uses his demonic speed to actually charge directly into the blast /ramming/ his forehead against it and push right past the infernal blast to collide with the World Warrior. At this point he's not even sure what he's doing, mostly because he's technically not conscious anymore. He just goes in low to grasp the back of Ryu's legs and push him on his back to then land on top of him and restrain him. Perhaps with his last desperate attack he can hold him down enough for his teammates to finish him off.
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte has reached second wind!
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=======\=------\1 ElFuerte
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
Except that he's actually still alive! "Huh? Piņatas?" El Fuerte blinks as he stabilizes in mid charge.
"Kuso!"
At least this time she doesn't stagger, but Zaki's exclamation is so virulent she feels a gobbet of saliva strike the hot leather of her mask. This does nothing to improve her mood. Ryu passes by only to meet misfortune - or poor judgement - at the striking bata-butt of Faolan, and she occupies herself hauling her chain back and letting it pull taut around her forearm. The opposing hand snags the end before it can finish entwining, and yanks it across her body as she takes a few cursory steps about the perimeter. She's shaken, she's hurting beneath all the adrenaline, but she still moves like a predator.
"You're not bad," she shoots across to Faolan, raising her deep voice to carry over Ryu's regathering maelstrom, "But at least one of us needs to be /better/." Tearing at the last like it were a hunk of bread, she starts to stride forward before Ryu's attack has fully left him. Fuerte is struck again, but his headlong charge draws a curved brow of admiration from the rather-more-slowly incoming schoolgirl. This time, her savage grin DOES reach those vulpine eyes, ferocious and cruel an expression as it is. Perhaps this is their chance.
Even as six or seven, there's some glory in taking down the World Warrior himself, isn't there?
Either way... a victory is a victory.
As Fuerte struggles admirably to keep the nomad pinned, Zaki times herself to come in just after, swift steps speeding her into an overhead leap and flip. She twists gracefully enough, ending up with her lithe frame held in a curved bow, framing the sharp point of her elbow at one end; a quick looping motion of that ever-present, if projectively ineffective chain, seeing it forming a violent ridge around the prominent bone. Her legs bending to slip her out of what would be a pained landing, it's nonetheless Aoi's intent to bring her striking limb down rather nastily across Ryu's throat - but she'll take his head, or even his chest or a shoulder.
There's no crying out this time, just speed and focus as best she can manage at this stage.
The problem with going all out like this it is easy to wear himself down quick. He should pace himself, but at the same time it is one of those situations that if he tries to play the defensive game he is going to be a sititng duck. There is too much of a difference in skill to be able to take Ryu on that way. He just has to push his body at full speed and only stop once Ryu is down or he gets knocked out himself. He might fall like several of the other fighters that have entered the arena, but he will do his best to make sure the hobo at least remembers 'that crazy bastard with a stick'. He will shoot for that because it isn't exactly like he introduced himself properly.
A brow does go up when Zaki speaks to him and he looks her way briefly. "Ehn? making it a contest?" he asks and he shrugs. A contest within a contest. He supposes he could amuse the girl and agree to that sorta thing. "Well if you insist. Let us see who can stay standing!" he tells her as that smarmy grin spreads across his features again. Of course he is wasting valuable time in this case. Zaki is pressing forward and he has to keep an eye on the luchador just so one of his bullrushes don't run the smaller fighter over. He takes a deep breath and he pushes forward, looking for an opening for himself to claim as he swings his bata about, this time aiming to bring it against the side of Ryu once again.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Faolan's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=======\=------\1 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Zaki's Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=======\=------\1 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges ElFuerte's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=======\=------\1 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
Going all out? Exhausting?!?! Well, it /is/ pretty hard on the flesh, to be certain. Spirit-wise, however, Ryu seems eager to begin again. Even if he -is- about to fall over from blood loss alone. One couldn't tell it by watching him move, however. El Fuerte charges in, staggering but steadying, and launches himself for Ryu's legs. Ryu gracefully leaps over the luchador, landing on the opposite side as the pepper-powered pugilist finds only empty space. Empty space that recreates itself twice more: First, for Zaki, as he twists and leaps into a reverse-motion evasion, sliding back to his feet /just/ in time.
Ryu drops low, the ends of his hair brushing the underside of Faolan's bata, but this time... none of them get close enough to finish this. "True victory... is to give all of yourself... without regret." The nomad reiterates, softly. As much to himself as any of them. At that point, he pivots, and launches himself back into the air, seeking to clear a path out of the joint assault. Right through Fuerte.
Led by his right fist, Ryu launches like a rocket towards the sky, no absence of forward momentum redoubled by that legendary punch that seeks Fuerte's chest and jaw. "SHOOOOOOORYUKEN!!!" It's still /far/ more power released /far/ more quickly than a man in Ryu's state should be capable of, to be sure.
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte dodges Ryu's Shoryuken.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=======\=------\1 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
With a flop El Fuerte hits ground when his hands find nothing but air. It's not like he was expecting that to actually hit, staggered as he was his own energy surprises him, scarcely able to believe that he still has his head attached to him after taking such a devastating blow right on the face. Grunting as his body lands gracelessly on the ring's mat, El Fuerte can hear the sounds of battle behind him as chains and sticks are swung about desperately trying to hit their target. For a moment, he thinks that he has somehow these allies of his were sent by a Mexican Cartel considering the way they fight, it's not proper Lucha for sure, but slowly El Fuerte is starting to realize how he needs to focus on dealing damage more than showboating.
But, that is what he is, and it won't stop him from acting like a fool even in such a desperate battle. Just as he gets up to turn around and face the World Warrior once again, preparing himself to land his legendary rising dragon punch. A blow that would be devastating....if it hit anything.
"ARRIBA!!"
His own defenses activate showing the true effective simplicity of fighting. Just as Ryu begins to ascend directly for the luchador's face, he turns right around and RUNS!
No shame in that though, he's no coward, Faolan and Zaki probably won't even have time to notice that he's missing. For the spicy luchador bounds back just in time to catch Ryu as he lands. "EL FUERTE!!"
OH MY GOD! HERE IT COMES FOLKS! Ryu isn't the only one that can draw the crowd's cheer since they all begin to chant along with the wrestler as he does a number of somersaults to land on the World Warrior's shoulders. Taking him by the arm so he can spin him around repeatedly in the air whilst wrapping his legs around his neck. As he collides on the ground he'll be keeping a good hold of Ryu to snag him on a triangle choke so that Zaki and Faolan have a clear shot to him.
"FLYIIIIIIIIING!!! GIIGA BUSTAAA!!!
There's no more curse from Zaki as her flight becomes a harmless one for all involved, she merely releases a breath and rolls into a crouch, fingertips of one hand brushing the ground as she adjusts her chain with the other, settling it deftly back into a more customary position. Ready to strike outward; and damn the fact the World Warrior has safely dealt with her other attempts thus far. There's no give in Aoi Himezaki.
Neither does there seem to be in El Fuerte, and at the luchador's stunning evasion her brow raises once more. The question is; is he going to /come back/ to capitalize on the otherwise shocking turnabout? She's not willing to bet on it. But for all his ludicrous attire and his excitable attitude, she'll concede there's a lot of skill there. Hell, he managed to survive on his own for a few seconds before she turned up. More than most could manage.
Her /other/ partner, though...
Glancing toward Faolan, a distinctly unladylike snort is emitted from behind that leather mask. "I'll take that challenge," she intones, inclining her head, still watching the Irishman with those icy vulpine eyes when Fuerte is suddenly BACK IN THE SADDLE. It's all she can do to look completely unsurprised (though rest assured it's all thanks to the mask) before she's suddenly thrusting herself forward. Unleashed like an uncoiling spring, it's the tension mounted in the entirety of her lithe frame that propels her, a simultaneous back-sway of her torso allowing her resultant slide to slow just enough - as she nears Ryu - that she can perform a counter-twist.
It's this that propels her right arm outward, and it's her weapon's turn to uncoil now. It /sings/ as it flies, forming a rapid spiral of shining steel that seeks to impact the crucified Ryu first with the leading link; and then with the others that follow, the initial strike not enough to blast him backward alone, but the end result coming rather from the mounting pressure of the entire chain. As it finally reaches limit, a martial hiss from Zaki accompanies the build of sufficient force to potentially send the nomad hurtling across the ring.
"But," she emits in an edged cry to Faolan, her eyes now upon Ryu, "Let's make sure HE stays down, first!"
She's grinning again. He may not be in her usual age range, but there's something she likes about the Irishman.
She doesn't actively DISlike Fuerte, but she sure doesn't seem worried about sending him off with their opponent.
TEAMWORK!
Despite looking like hell Ryu continues to show just what makes him a legend in the fighting world. Even against three people and looking like he is running low on gas he is able to avoid the strikes of three different fighters in the shape that he is in and also find the energy to go on the offensive. He is just really glad he isn't the luchador right now. He has fought El Fuerte so he knows the guy is a tough one, but even so can he handle Ryu much longer? At least for a short while it looks like he can. "Keep on your toes, amigo!" he calls out as he looks back to Zaki briefly.
He probably doesn't realize what sort of trouble he might have gotten himself into by making a challenge. Granted he thinks more she was making one to him and he was only taking her up on it. He just tchs slightly and lets out a chuckle at her response and he turns his attention to Ryu. He comes forward again along with his two partners for the time being. Fuerte looks to be getting a grapple on Ryu so Faolan will do his best to try and take advantage of the distraction El Fuerte is causing at least. He thrusts his bata forward as blackish looking energy starts to spiral around it and gather at the tip. A tip he intends to slam into the chest of Ryu and release that energy that almost feels like an electric shock if it connects.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges ElFuerte's El Fuerte Flying Giga Buster.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Zaki's Hakai no Tessa EX.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Faolan's Bata Thrust.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Faolan
> //////// ]
|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> /////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
Keeping Ryu down -is- the name of the game, now that Ken's out of the running. It's also a game that said namesake rather enjoys making exceptionally difficult. With tenacity that belongs immortalized in song, the legendary wanderer erupts into motion anew. The swell of the crowd is all but unheard by Ryu - the power brought to the fore by El Fuerte? Not so much. If he lets the luchador get ahold of him, the fight is over. Ryu knows it, and just can't abide that outcome! Not yet!
So, like a genre-aware goomba, Ryu darts out from under the leaping Fuerte, letting him land mostly harmlessly on the ring's floor, the sheer intensity of the motion gusting Ryu's hair, headband, and the poor remnants of his gi in the localized breeze. Ryu himself drops low, a foot-led, deep slide scarcely above the mat with any part. A compressed evasion that proves wise indeed as that snapping chain unwinds instants later, above him. Ryu passes beneath it and rises, crossing forearms and driving the thrusting bata high, the electrified energy crackling painfully into his skin... but it's not enough to stop him. Not yet.
Ryu grapples for Faolan abruptly, both hands seeking purchase on the Ikari's garb, before Ryu rolls his weight backwards, right foot snapping up for Fao's midsection in an attempt to send the Irish mercenary flying far, far away, perhaps into something unhappy to see him. There is, after all, the inevitable destination of 'ground' involved in the trip.... unless he acts fast indeed! "HAAAAAH!!!"
"MIERDA!!
Yet another bleeped out cussword that will not be shown in the Spanish version of the Walmart release. El Fuerte lands on his feet after Ryu mimics his own technique by getting away from his attempted grapple and sees how he dodges more of his allies attacks to go after Faolan. "Look out Amigo!" El Fuerte says as he begins to move after Ryu only to see that incoming chain coming directly at him.
"Hey! Careful muchacha loca!!"
Yeah, teamwork his brown ass. The wrestler ducks right underneath it pretending like that didn't happen to give chase to the World Warrior. His arms coming around Ryu's neck to put him on a choke hold, whilst his legs wrap around the warrior's waist, really wanting to bring him down on the ground and put him in a position where his teammates can finish him off!
How good /is/ this guy? It's almost getting too much to bear for the arrogant schoolgirl, who rights herself with a snap of her arm, drawing her chain back and springing to her feet. She's immediately moving, free from Ryu's targetting and able to catch both breath and focus for a moment as he closes on Faolan. Oh dear.
"Hang in there, you cocky asshole," Zaki snarls - in what is, for her, a good-natured encouragement - as she closes in upon Ryu for what feels like the umpteenth time. Her body is starting to ache through the sheer necessity of sustained effort, ever-mounting frustration threatening to quicken her motions beyond the point that speed helps; becoming a stumbling, flailing hindrance. She's not quite there, she thinks, and so she presses on, dropping low again to swing herself into a long, sliding dive.
Timing it to most favourably coincide with the motions of her partners, she'll use Faolan's possible misfortune to her advantage - and aim to take advantage, once again, of El Fuerte's attempts at keeping Ryu pinned down. The result will be a fast, if not entirely underpowered passing sweep that may be just enough to send him tumbling to what amounts to relative 'doom' in a friendly bout like this. She only has to knock him silly; then pull off a single, graceful evasion. Or hell, a pathetically clumsy one. That's all it takes.
She's willing to sacrifice a little pride if it means avoiding leaving on a stretcher like that tomboy whelp.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Faolan with Tomoe Nage.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\ < > //// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Faolan
> /////// ]
|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
It was bound to happen. It looks like the Ikari was just tempting fate all too much by getting up in Ryu's face over and over. He certainly didn't mind playing the decoy for the lunchador and schoolgirl. He is used to getting pounded on so it only makes sense to be the punching bag. Or in this case it is more like becoming a rag doll. He finds himself grabbed and he tries to position his feet to keep Ryu from taking him off his feet, but the foot plants HARD into the Irishman's stomach and it is a miracle he doesn't horf all over the hobo to add some spice to the blood stained gi.
It looks like his challenge for Zaki is going to be a short lived one too. The force of the hit knocks the air out of Faolan and as he sails about through the air he does all he can think of before impacting the ground. He tries to gather what strength he can and he starts to filter all his energy through the bata as it starts to gather at the tip and increase in size. A giant sphere of black energy crackling and about the size of a basketball before it fires off the tip of the fighting stick and looks to impact right into Ryu.
COMBATSYS: Faolan can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Faolan's Black Friday Rule.
[ \\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Zaki's Kokou no Pride.
[ \\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks ElFuerte's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
[ \\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Zaki
The frustration and emotion swelling in this wave of adversaries as Ryu steadfastly /refuses/ to just fall over is not mirrored by the stoic disciple. Ryu remains a bastion of intent focus, calm clarity, and sheer determination. As far as he can push... as far as he can push... he will not slow, he will not falter. It's a mantra that's been carrying him quite some ways, and it doesn't seem prone to stop /just/ yet.
Neck tightens, shoulders flex, and Ryu defiantly holds his position - and for large part, his /breath/ as Fuerte piggybacks him. It hurts, but with the speed and force with which he moves, it's impossible to /fully/ secure that inescapable submission, even if Fuerte -does- get the opportunity to go sightseeing. With the luchadore in tow, the nomad /leaps/ over Zaki's low sweep despite his payload, landing heavily but steadily in a slide that brings him around to face Faolan - and that tremendous charge of energy.
Dark eyes narrow, and the Mexican would find himself launched clear one way or another as Ryu throws himself voluntarily groundwards, letting the crackling sphere thrum through space beside and above him, screaming its protest as it courses into the barrier behind the legendary nomad. The Ansatsuken Wanderer is back on his feet in an instant, then, sprinting two quick steps towards Zaki and launching himself upwards, whipping around to launch his right foot straight out, heel first, for Aoi's face.
Now this is just plain silly. Ryu actually toughs out the strangle hold El Fuerte places him in by standing completely straight. There's nothing more humiliating than failing your double choke hold when the other guy forces you to go into a piggy ride. If El Fuerte wasn't so frustrated right now that none of his attacks are working he might have let go almost immediately rather than be put through that shame, forget that there's an incoming chain and a dark chi blast sailing directly at him since they target Ryu, he would /GLADLY/ take all the blows in the world if it just means that Ryu can.stay.the.hell.down!!
"HRAAA!! NOOO! STOP MOVING!!" Demands the wrestling chef, almost regretting consuming that spicy pepper himself back there, this would be a perfect opportunity to just ram it on Ryu's face, though at this point in time El Fuerte is not yet corrupted enough to try such a dirty tactic. Still he is not letting go, even as Ryu jumps, kicks, destroys and otherwise moves like if he wasn't even carrying the wrestler. When he begins to trash about El Fuerte does indeed looses his grip on his neck, but just his neck, since he slides to one side and wraps those legs of his right around Ryu's shoulder, grasping the world warrior's wrist to spin around and dislocate that shoulder right out of it's socket. Somehow he thinks that this won't stop him from kicking Zaki in the face, but /something/ has to work, /anything/.
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Zaki with Senpuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> /////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
Maybe Ryu and the sukeban aren't entirely different beasts; his own mantra is not unlike the one that fuels her always, forcing her to keep her head up even when she knows damn well she can't. Or shouldn't. Their motivations may be different, but who knows how their ideals may overlay... the problem with Ryu is he barely speaks during combat. And Aoi gives little of her true self at /any/ given time.
Ah well. She's found an element of kindred at least in boisterousness with the Irishman. Speaking of?
It's obvious to Zaki that Faolan isn't going to be getting up in a hurry; the way he flies through the air, the desperate manner of that final thrust. Even his chi - insofar as she can feel it over the continuing lighthouse blaze that is the World Warrior - feels subtly... off. Her head shakes briskly, a gesture that could easily be seen as passive-aggressive admonishment. Actually, she's trying to assure herself that she's not going to go the same way; not until the fight is /over/. Not until she's stuck a fork in the nomad.
Actually, perhaps El Fuerte should receive that honour? Whatever.
"Fuck," Zaki deadpans in vitriolic humour as she realises something, flicking a sidelong glance at Fao's impact crater, "We didn't even place a wager." It's enough to lift her spirits just palpably enough that she can watch Ryu's simultaneous approach with an air of detachment that lends her the hardheaded courage she needs to simply hurl an arm up before her crouched form. She rises at the same time, twisting a little to angle her forearm against the harsh, heavy collision of the nomad's famous kick. It's nothing compared to what she weathered earlier, but her body screams far more loudly, almost overbearingly. It's all she can do to keep alert.
And in some way, she doesn't; she staggers back, her arm blown aside and her mask wrenched askance by the blow. Her vulpine eyes blaze with a curiously dead fire, however, and she straightens with an unnatural wrenching of her form, immediately stepping back even as Fuerte comes in with his own attack. It may work in her favour; depending on the continuing capabilities of the World Warrior, because when Fuerte spins, she's leaving her feet to meet Ryu with an answering kick of her own. She leaves the ground this time, a tight vertical leap leading instinctively and relatively smoothly into a high, perfectly straight roundhouse to the skull.
"Fall /down/, you tenacious bastard!" She hollers, steel shining upon the edge of her words.
COMBATSYS: Zaki successfully hits Ryu with Kokou no Pride.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\ < > ////// ]
Ryu 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte successfully hits Ryu with Fajitas Buster.
[ \ < > ////// ]
Ryu 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
Zaki's quick recovery, the aplomb with which she takes the hit even now? It's surprising. Ryu hadn't expected that last burst of strength and will, but she pulls it off. He lands just before her, and quickly backpedals. He almost makes it. Another centimeter, and he'd be clear. Perhaps he'd even have the coherence left to push /further/. This time, however, Aoi's heel cracks solidly in a grazing blow along his forehead. It doesn't stagger the World Warrior /long/. ... but El Fuerte is on him in that moment!
The tension in his arm gives out, just for an instant. El Fuerte has leverage, just for an instant. It's all it takes to painfully twist Ryu's shoulder at the joint, and he flips hard to the mat. There's a bit of a groan, then an easy laugh, as he lays on the ground looking up at the sky, and holds out a hand, forestalling them. "Alright, alright. No way I'm finishing both of you... much less... anyone else now. Your will was impressive.... all of you..." Never mind that most of them can't hear him, and the rest might not even be listening to him mumble. He's just going to lay right here, for awhile.
Eyes close, as if he could actually fall asleep in the midst of the uproarious crowd. The spotlights /are/ pretty warm.... mmmmmmm.
COMBATSYS: Ryu takes no action.
> ////// ]
|===----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.
> ////// ]
|===----\-------\0 ElFuerte
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 Zaki
Even El Fuerte luchador is surprised at this turn of events. Perhaps it was the fact that Zaki knicked Ryu just at the right moment, or he forgot that the had a wrestler on his back still, but somehow, someway, the willy luchador gets a good grip on that arm and the World Warrior can't escape out of this one. His eyes widen as the grip holds steady, then there's his twist and a *POP* feeling the bone being strained.
As they both slam into the ground, the wrestler is almost immediately back to his feet ready to continue his assault just when Ryu raises a hand up. Is that it? He did it? He really did it??
Cue the mariachi band hidden in the crowd. How did they get there without anyone noticing??
"SI!!!" El Fuerte isn't one to gloat too much, but this was an spectacular fight and a worthy pay back for what Ryu did to him last time. He assumes that getting the shoulder popped like that balances out taking a shoryuken to the chin.
Before he gets too out of control though, there's a glance given at Zaki of all people as he clearly smiles. "See seņorita? I told you I would protect you." And with that last cordial act of chivarly then he truly goes crazy.
"AAAA HA HA HA HAHAAAAY!!" El Fuerte starts running around the ring like some kind of crazed Mexican jumping bean in crack, ending by sliding on his knees with his arms raised up in fists to the crowd. "VIVA MEXICO!"
There are some who think Aoi Himezaki delusional... she sure acts it.
But as she feels the outer edge of her boot make contact with the Ansatsuken master's skull, she can barely believe it's over.
In fact, she doesn't. She lands in a half-crouch, her weapon knocked from its loosened perch as her fingertips brush the floor to steady her. Chain links jingle with a jarring merriment against the dirty canvas as Aoi cants her vulpine stare upward, watching Fuerte's aerial assault and tracking their downward crash with the wary keenness of a feline as the epic fight is brought finally, desperately to an eventual close.
While not so hateful as she purports, it's true that Zaki doesn't feel much camaraderie with the world in general. Yet in the moment of Ryu's genial, exhausted laughter she actually utters a chuckle herself, a little colour touching her unseen cheeks as she shakes her head back and forth slowly. Crimson hair hangs down, dampness slicking the spikes to unruly bangs about her face. She pauses when it registers that her shoulders are shaking; and not with the exertion of remaining conscious.
"Tch," she expunges for her own benefit, looking up at El Fuerte as she attempts to control her unusually humanitarian urges. His words are met with an arched brow, and then a final shake of the head as he bolts away, the sinister schoolgirl watching him for several moments. Then she looks back to Ryu. Another glance lingers, before she slips forward onto her knees and offers her hand - the one not still partly wrapped in steel. "Was an honour, Ryu," she intones, inclining her head in the sketch of a bow.
She's on her feet a couple of beats later, before they can dwell on that moment too long.
A sideward smirk goes toward Fuerte, but Zaki is not inclined to approach him in the same way; they're far too different, he and she. Instead she settles for slowly, deliberately lifting a hand to her sweat-soaked brow. The crowd are cheering, some of them even for /her/, but all she needs to acknowledge is the skill of the man who helped her see this through to the end. She flips the salute casually, but it's lined with respect. A rare thing indeed from the sukeban. Most people probably miss it, though. Maybe Fuerte does too.
Aoi doesn't care. She's still the same person; and she still isn't inclined to stick around just because she's warmed a little to a couple of random fighters. Like a dark, dishevelled ghost she slips from the ring and out of the arena. The scrape of her heels and the rattle of ever-present chains marks her departure from the spotlight. Let them speak of this all they want, so long as she's not around to hear it.
COMBATSYS: Zaki has left the fight here.
> ////// ]
|===----\-------\0 ElFuerte
COMBATSYS: ElFuerte has ended the fight here.
Ryu, still laying quite comfortably, relaxedly, and safely on the battlefield with two (sort of) still conscious adversaries, does nonetheless open one eye, quirk a brow, and then smile. He takes Zaki's offered hand a bit haphazardly, given their positions, but he makes no move to use the gesture of respect for support or the whole 'standing up' thing. "Honour was mine." The nomad agrees, nodding once as Zaki moves off, before his head lolls to the side, taking in the spectacle of El Fuerte's victory.
"Hm." The monosyllable does seem pleased, if anyone even hears it. Who knew it was Christmas morning?
Log created on 23:34:09 11/30/2011 by Ryu, and last modified on 13:49:42 12/04/2011.