Description: A nice changeup from having to face the weapon-mad Jason cosplayer, this time the ex-shop teacher is up against...Ozzy? No, that's not right. Though Rust is getting his life in order, it won't be a smooth ride as the stuttering blue-collar has to face down the stoic clerical collar. A portion of this fight's proceeds will be donated to Elias' shelter and doubled if he wins. For the sake of fairness, if Rust wins, then he gets to take home the bonus pot. (WINNER: Elias)
The officials at SNF really do like torturing their competitors it would seem. Some people more than others most of the time. Elias may not usually be a target of theirs, but this time they really are seeming to be trying their best to see if they can get some sort of emotion out of the priest. More than likely that would be hatred given who is being touted as the musical act during the fight. Looks like the officials don't mind the lack of attendance too due to even some of the most bloodthirsty of fight fans are staying well away from the location and those watching on television more than likely have the tube set on mute.
Right now some think maybe the priest has just died standing up due to the thought of having to fight while having to listen to Nickleback. It is more the fact he is waiting and could care less about the music selection. He isn't at the ampitheater for that garbage and instead is there for the prize money being offered to help out his shelters. He just remains standing straight up with hands clasped behind his back while waiting for things to start. No emotion shown on his face and body unmoving. He is more like a statue than anything right now.
SNF doesn't make things easy for anyone, these days. People like watching struggling and suffering with fights, and one Mr. Rust... is, after calculating damages to that establishment, hotel fees, medical fees, and other such things... officially down by twenty seven US dollars.
He's not having an easy time adjusting to the life of a professional fighter, even if it is what he's always wanted. He's dreading every flight back to the United States, despite still having American citizenship. Every time, without fail, airline security gives him incredible trouble over Ol' Rusty and pretty much everything else they can think of.
"Cripes," the /younger/ of the two fighters (by almost a year exactly) grouses aloud. Some might mistake the sound of a cracking shoulder to be part of the, er, 'musical' act. The actual details of the fight are kind of a blur, given how little time he's had to really get everything together between a hospital stay and now. Is he second guessing his career choices? ...No, not really.
Is he second guessing this entire arrangement? Considering whose act will be playing... yes. Pulling himself up the rows with all the celerity of a partially-awake snail, perhaps Elias will find a reason to react to the sight of one very dreadful, very awful thing.
What's on that man's scalp. It's dark purple. It's... on his scalp. Is it supposed to be hair? Based on the way the ex-shop teacher gets out a comb at a whim and gives it a run through, he seems to be in honest belief of this, but no. This is no hair. This is not even a pretender to be hair.
It is quite possibly abomination under numerous creeds worldwide, a heretical statement of a man who is fighting against the natural order of male pattern baldness.
"Uhh," Howard clears his throat, "hey, so... so it's you, hey." There's a brief raised hand, mumbling suddenly drowned out by microphone feedback and a wince.
He's not looking all that lively for this particular brawl - perhaps neither man, in the big run, really want to be present here.
If anything at least Elias hides his dislike for being where he is. Then again he is pretty good at hiding pretty much every emotion he has. Such as even the distast for whatever that is supposed to be on Rust's head. The priest does finally move and Rust can almost feel the eyes locked onto the top of the ex shop teacher's head despite the shades covering them up fully. He was intrigued being matched up with Rust even if he didn't like the circumstances. The man seemed like a good soul that was just pulled into several events he shouldn't have had to be involved in.
It was only a brief meeting between the two when the book was dropped off and returned to the rightful owner, but Elias found himself curious of Rust. He wanted to meet him again to see how he has been, but he has just been such a busy man it has been hard finding the time to once again meet with Rust.
"Greetings." he comments as his hands unclasp. He leans forward in a bit of a bow, but it can still be felt that he is staring right at top of the other fighter's head still. "It seems we got a venue meant for the younger crowd." Or just a crowd with very bad taste.....very very bad taste.
Can? Does. He does feel it, in a way - maybe it's just how some of the spotlights might glint off the sunglasses, but there's that sudden feeling of... really, being watched, somehow. Elias is a somewhat intimidating man at his full stature, never mind that one Howard Rust over there is wider and looks capable of bending a number of people in half.
Maybe it's just also the sudden pressure of knowing he's being watched worldwide, and perhaps very closely by the Kyokugen guys. On some level, this almost feels like a critical job evaluation.
"Uh... is that, is that really Nickelback?" He seems to be asking Elias even as, plain as day, as microphone feedback rears its ugly head again, posture slumping as the truth rears its ugly head. That's Nickelback.
"Y-Yeah, that's... them," he gestures vaguely with his left hand as he takes in a deep breath, straightens out, and stretches out one of his legs to the point that another disconcerting pop rocks through the Gorge Amphitheater grounds. It's a great view. It's a little chilly. It's still nice and open.
But they're fighting next to Nickelback.
"Well," he tries to raise his voice a bit to be better heard as he casts one last glance aside while one of his hands rubs at the side of his head. The horrible dark purple monstrosity that is totally not hair, "I... I can think of worse, uh, I think."
Like a Twilight movie marathon? That could be slightly worse. Then again that is like picking slow death by poison instead of draw and quartering. "I suppose so." is all Elias says in the response in things possibly being worse somehow. It is taking almost all his concentration just to try and ignore the sound of the bad starting to play and instead focus on the task at hand. It should be interesting to see how well Rust actually fights. Elias hasn't actually seen him fight, but has heard Rust is known to be one that can take quite the beating much like the priest.
"Perhaps we should start so we can be out of here sooner than later." he offers as he takes a deep breath and rolls his broad shoulders. Maybe once he gets into the heat of battle the band will be easier to ignore. And if not? Perhaps they will be lucky enough to knock one another out to where they can't hear the band play anymore. "Shall we begin?"
COMBATSYS: Elias has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Elias 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rust 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Elias
This is probably going to be one of those days, but on the other hand, hey, he's not stuck in the middle of a grown-up man's toy store against a dangerously crafty psychopath that might actually have Vernon Cross beat in terms of a pure mean streak.
The noise of the, er, 'music' beginning to play compounds with just how loud it is. Mr. Rust should be no stranger to loud work sites from his youth, but even he thinks this is too much! It's somewhat hard for him to hear Elias at this point.
"Start... uh, now? Now?" He looks over his shoulder to some cameraman who just waves a hand. He casts a few glances aside as Elias readies himself until he gets clear visual indication from /someone/ that, yes, go now, you're live, go fight, clock's ticking to one's ear health and ability to withstand the overwrought and repetitive subject matter treaded numerous times over. Stuff he'd have probably dug in his 20s but not so much here in his early 40s.
He only catches fragments of Elias' question over the (air quote) music (air unquote) which is met with a sudden, sharp nod. "Yeah, they're sayin', they're sayin' go now, uh, yeah." He clears his throat as he leans forward, right hand going atop the makeshift hilt of Ol' Rusty--
It gets stubborn about being pulled out of that ruined toolbelt pouch-pocket thing he's put on his green belt, and a four-letter word curse is lost to the opening act as he tries to tug it free.
It really /is/ going to be one of those nights.
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rust 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Elias
The priest only nods figuring they could start whenever they felt like it. The crew themselves are probably as ready to get out of here and wrap things up just as fast as the fighters. All they can hope is if the fight starts to last for awhile that the band has to take a break between sets and give everyone's ears a break. "Then let us begin."
He starts to close in, but actually pauses for a moment when he sees Rust having a hard time getting his weapon pulled. Elias at least seems to be honorable enough to not attack Rust while he is distracted with his own weapon. He is more expecting that weird headpiece, if one can call it that, is going to fly off or slide in a weird direction as the other fighter struggles to pull things free.
It is only when Rust finally seems to have things situated that the priest finally steps in to strike. It isn't anything fancy at all. Just a lowered shoulder aimed to drive into the chest of Rust and knock him off balance before following up with a meaty fist aimed at around the same mark he was driving his shoulder at.
COMBATSYS: Elias successfully hits Rust with Heart Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Elias
Perhaps it will. Its seating on his scalp seems precarious, at best. It is poorly set, to the point that some may wonder how he's even managed to get that thing taped there at all. Maybe he's lived up to his reputation and has taken an industrial stapler to his own skull to keep the... thing there.
When Ol' Rusty is drawn, it is not particularly majestic. There's a cautionary, testing swing there that unwittingly tells Elias to come right at him - and it's really kind of scary how quick Elias seems to move, for when he's lowering Ol' Rusty away after that swing, he's already there.
To what might be his own personal credit, he tries to deflect the oncoming shoulder by leaning down into it, but it's a losing prospect as his feet slide back. One foot being slightly raised to start taking a step to push back later, and Elias puts his foot down first - or rather, a powerful punch that works with the moment of imbalance to shove the ex-shop teacher down against the hard ground with an appreciable shake that runs through the nearby stage.
"Hngh," he grunts as he pulls himself up with his free hand against a recently installed chair close to the stage. That guy does have a real punch to him - it's not like that even bigger guy he just fought. It's not outright brutality and cleverness with the environment - he's fighting a guy who, at this level of skill, really, really knows how to throw a real punch. It's exciting, on some primal level.
It's going to be less exciting when he feels the forming bruise and that very strong reminder that this is a level of competition where /just/ being tough gets you nowhere, but, in the heat of the moment, Mr. Rust gets himself to his feet with just a loud exhale. I'm good, he thinks, that was just one punch, sure, it might've actually hurt but I'm good, I can take this--
Will that train of thought still survive as he steps towards Elias? He takes Ol' Rusty in both hands and seems to jab sharply for some article of Elias' clothing. The intent is to try and hook into it, lift him up, and give him a nice good toss off the other end.
Of course, he's probably going to realize moments later that there really isn't much space to be tossing Elias much of anywhere when this heat-of-the-moment thinking conflicts with the thoughts of a responsible adult.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Elias with Wrecking Ball Swing.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Elias
While he may not have interest in boxing professionally anymore after all these years it is easy to tell the man has had the proper training. Just the way he carries himself and throws the punches shows he is more than just some random brawler. It makes one wonder how he became a priest when it looks like he could have been quite the fighter if he persued his career. Given his age and the power he still has he could have been scary when he was younger. Then again Elias is a private man and has never really talked in public about his past. All there is are rumors of an arrest and time in prison where the man gained his faith.
He looks to try and move to keep the wrench from grasping at him by moving a large arm to knock it away. He just ends up being a bit too slow and he soon finds out that Rust has quite a bit of strength of his own as he manages to get the large fighter up and tossed away into the crowd. Elias does his best to keep from landing on someone and he is quick to get back to his feet. He also isn't taking any time in closing the distance between himself and Rust once more. He rears back with his left hand and comes in with another strike, a powerful left cross aimed to hit Rust in the jaw. He might have honor not to strike an unprepared man, but in a fight he certainly looks to be showing no mercy to the other fighter.
COMBATSYS: Elias successfully hits Rust with Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Elias
To get one in on a guy like that after it seemed he was unplayed left and right in his previous battle, sure, that probably feels great.
What doesn't feel great was when he watches and sees where Elias goes. It's a pretty close save from their end, from the looks of it, as Elias marches back up like a man with an apparent purpose to the backdrop of some particularly grating number about prostitution or another.
Howard raises his left hand up as Elias draws closer. Since he can barely hear himself /think/ this close to the music, it's a mistake to wait for him to draw just out of arm's length to speak up.
"That's... that's my bad," he tries to call above it. If Elias were swinging his right hand, it would be easily caught. Given that he's being met with a /left/ cross opposite of where he's got a raised hand, well... in boxing, you can't ask for a much better opening than that! If this were an actual boxing ring, the two of them both artists of the sweet science, this would probably be a play that would utterly shame Rust's trainer and skill.
But in so far as this particular picture goes, it is a left hook met with a sharply turned head and a wave of spittle that shines underneath the concert lights as the shorter, stouter of the two staggers a step. He's not quite sure, but he thinks he can taste blood in his mouth as he bows over once more for sake of regaining balance. His legs spread apart slightly as he goes lower. It might be a bit of a bad tell on his part as his right hand seems to shake Ol' Rusty a bit - there isn't the fancy one-hand spinning, that's just harder to do under pressure given the injury he took to his right hand some time back - before he steps forward and swings it up for Elias' jaw in the trademark advancing uppercut swing of his that, despite its name, continues to have precious little to do with cement.
It seems oddly timed with a particular drumming bit.
COMBATSYS: Elias blocks Rust's Cement Upper.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Elias
It would seem Elias isn't much of a talker when doing battle because not a word is said by the time he makes that swing for Rust and connects with the punishing blow. "No one was harmed. Do not worry." he finally responds and he seems to have his timing correct this time at least to catch the swing of the wrench as it comes upwards and towards the jaw of the priest. There is a light grunt of discomfort when he gets his arm in the way to take the brunt of that blow and it almost looks for a moment that there might be some emotion about to be shown on that expressionless face of his.
%It seems to only be a tease and nothing comes of it. Even through extreme pain such as fighting Vega himself Elias managed to keep himself from showing any sort of discomfort through at least facial expression. Many wonder just how strong this man's pain threshold actually is.
He keeps his ground and Rust remains close in allowing Elias to stay in his comfort zone. He has been known to be able to fight from a distance if need be, but the man seems to prefer to keep it close and personal when doing battle. A quick set of strikes come right for Rust once more. A quick jab with his left hand this time before a right cross comes in to slam into the right shoulder of the other fighter, a swatch of blue energy streaking off the hand delivering the second blow.
COMBATSYS: Elias successfully hits Rust with Sinful.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Elias
It speaks to Elias' own strength when the block is well-timed enough that there is a moment of pause when Howard has to crouch a bit and bring his left hand up to the pipe to prevent it from dropping out of his hand. Viewing this from the outside as a man who can really only recognize Elias as a guy he met once and just now in the ring, the simple idea that 'he's also tough' is probably selling Elias' strength of character and resolve particularly short.
The priest keeps on the offensive with such incredible ferocity that Howard struggles to really hold up. The jabs come, and his free hand tenses up as he turns his right shoulder into the jab. That first jab doesn't really do much as his body tenses, but he makes the really dangerous mistake of assuming he can stop it all from a single side. He might have, if Elias didn't shoot for that same shoulder that just absorbed that first blow, blinded briefly in the blue energy that streaks across that cross that hits with such appreciable force that it snaps his upper body back to the right, Ol' Rusty falling out of his right hand with the shock that runs through his arm as his entire body feels ready to seize up.
This guy's really serious business - not the taunting and yelling of the previous guy. There's no nonsense to any of those punches. It is, by all accounts, a straight-up fight. Everything Mr. Rust likes when he gets himself in the ring, even if the rest of his body is not showing the same general enthusiasm as he now has to fight against the stiffness he set it in.
Joints pop loudly with every flex as he shakes his head once to try and get the spots out of his vision, attempting to swing his left leg forward into the ground where Elias's shin is presently standing tall and resolute. Rust's knee doesn't like this sudden jerking so soon.
It really, really, really doesn't like how he starts sending off rapid-fire kicks down low, like a jackhammer, in a repetitive motion as the force of it generates some kind of... well, it's chi, assuredly, it is. It flickers and is of an incredibly washed out color that could be white, blue, green, or maybe gray or some such - hardly vibrant as a backdrop to the sudden rapid kicks that might give the stage another really good shake or two - or even contribute to the ear-violating noise that is one of Nickelback's less celebrated songs to the jackhammer-like sound of this rapid series of low kicks.
COMBATSYS: Elias blocks Rust's Jackhammer Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Elias
There is nothing fancy about the fight. That is for certain. Just two older men perhaps doing something they really shouldn't be. Sure they are both tough as nails, but the whole fighting things is usually reserved for masters and the young rascals, right? If there were two men that could prove people wrong it is probably both Rust and Elias. Late bloomers that have gained a good reputation through their time fighting. Fighters that can be taken seriously despite coming into the whole fighting thing so late.
It has been an enjoyable fight so far as well. Despite the horrid sound of the band playing being hard to ignore he is pleased with getting to duke it out with a man like Rust. He seems more than ready to take whatever Rust can throw at him as well. He is making no attempts to get out of the way when the kicks start getting aimed at him. The priest has to duck lower and go down to a knee to keep himself properly grounded. His large arms are then used to allow himself to absorb the blows being delivered while protecting more vital areas. There are bruises starting to form on the forearms and such, but it is much easier to shake off the pain running through them than if he let those kicks slam into his torso or even his legs. Given the force behind his punches it also seems like it isn't slowing him down just yet either in taking such punishment.
On the final kick he does look to grasp for the foot before Rust can fully pull it away. Elias looks to yank on it and try to take the man off his feet so he can swing him about and toss him. The destination? Looks like the drummer from the band is abotu to find out if he can dodge a flying old man if Elias has his way. Totally by accident.
COMBATSYS: Rust dodges Elias' Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Elias
The best way to work off the stiffness is to flex it out, but it does feel he's a bit locked into it, as he has trouble pulling back his leg after those kicks slow down and stop. Elias to the rescue!!
As if to say on some level 'no, I have it, I'm good,' Howard does manage to draw his foot back in time just for that otherwise well thought-out and almost perfectly timed grab to come up and get thin air. On his own end, he thinks maybe he really needs to work on stretching out more before these fights, loosen up a bit... not find himself going all tight and locked up after a few exchanges like that.
The drummer, for the moment, is safe from concerns of flying bodies and violence coming much too close... but for how long?
Crouching down to pick up Ol' Rusty again, he finds that there's a cord wrapped around it. Given in the heat of the moment he doesn't consider where this cord even goes to, he just gives it a good tug. One of the small lights facing the stage is suddenly tugged off, the light arcing up high enough that it blinds the lead guitarist's eyes and causes a couple notes to be missed.
The sudden, brief derail of whatever low-tier song they were playing this go around might be the only real relief they get, as Mr. Rust keeps the fight going heedless of this accidental bit of negligence on his part as he steps forward and swings the pipe in both hands like a classical baseball swing.
If the blow isn't stopped, he accidentally taps another stage ground light at the end of his swing and sends it rolling into the feet of the bassist.
COMBATSYS: Elias endures Rust's Intercepting Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Elias
%Perhaps much to the disappointment to the fans more interested in the fight over the music that is being provided the band will get to continue to play. Really Rust can't be blamed for his actions despite a few boos from the crowd. Elias himself would have probably tried to do the same thing if he was in the same position. He rather avoid getting too close to that band if he cold help it. It would probably be the only time tonight the crowd might see the priest actually avoid any sort of strike sent his way.
Case in point that he once again doesn't seem to avoid the incoming attack with Ol Rusty. Feet solidly plant on the ground and he takes a deep breath to prepare himself as it comes inwards and slams right into his chest. It is almost like hitting a wall. The impact is at least. Elias is staggered back a few steps, but not nearly as bad as one might expect from a man that took such a blow from Rust. "Impressive strength." he manages to utter after taking a moment to compose himself. He then lunges forward. No punches are thrown, but this time a giant hand reaches to grab Rust by the face.
He looks to grab said face firmly as the hand ignites in a blueish flame. One that thankfully not burns, but as Rust soon finds out has a weird effect if he ends up grasped by the priest. It is almost like the energy he has in his body is just being sapped away. A growing urge to nap and the like starts to overcome him. There are no explosions or no massive strikes. All it is is the crushing grip for a few moments before being shoved away.
COMBATSYS: Elias successfully hits Rust with Super Maximum Delirium EX.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Elias
Really, the problem at this point is that on one side there's a stage, on the other there's seated fans. Howard really has to hand it to the people who've done this for so long, because it is kind of harder and harder these days to keep violence within a straight, narrow line between two men. The bit of resistance he gets from that impact against Elias doesn't really slow the force of the swing when it makes contact with that light right at the end. He doesn't look to see what he might have just done as it rockets towards the bassist's legs and trips him up, and, well...
Between 'impending lawsuit' and Elias' hand coming to his face, the latter is more urgent as the priest gets a hold upon his head. If Elias isn't arranging his grip to avoid directly touching the... er... 'hair,' it certainly doesn't feel anything like hair to the touch. To the touch of a human hand, it is rough and highly unpleasant to the touch. It is a texture that would make any reasonable human being despair if it were actually coming out of their scalp, for it would be extraordinarily uncomfortable.
Really, if anything it /is/ a fine reason to make with the chi torching as Elias finds little resistance beyond an attempt to pull his wrist down. Where the ex-shop teacher's face is hidden underneath the blinding blue glow of chi flame, the sudden twitching and spazzing of the resisting hand tells all as it starts to fall limp. Inwardly, there is that increasing desire to just sit down and take a breather. Something stings deeply, yet somehow soothes. It's an odd sensation.
Nickelback, for better or for worse, decides to roll with the chaos and an obnoxious loud note comes into play just as Rust is released, eyes widening as though an obnoxious alarm clock went off at full volume right from the get-go. Even if a blast of sound's awakened him, his body is showing the sure signs of sluggishness as he staggers to a stand and a good fighting position.
"'m still good," it's debatable if it's just adrenaline talking at this point, given what the priest inflicted as he takes a short hop upwards, managing to snap out a perfectly competent mid-air kick before turning and sending out a second kick that - inexplicably - seems to propel himself backwards the slightest amount.
It does bear a strong resemblance to the Hien Shippu Kyaku, but perhaps he's still working on making it go fully forward.
COMBATSYS: Elias blocks Rust's Girder Sway.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Elias
It is a strange technique to be used for certain. For how violent Elias is it is strange to see him use something that looks so simple. Yet the fans have seen time and time again the other fighters react as if they had been hit with something so much stronger than a face grip and a shove. Even the flames seem to be more for show to them than anything useful since it doesn't seem to leave burn marks or anything. It is also hard to tell if it was intentional that Elias did his best not to grip any part of what is supposed to be hair on Rust's head. He isn't even sure if holy water could cleanse his hand if it touched that abomination.
He backs away and keeps his guard up. He seems to be intent on seeing just how 'good' Rust still is. Even after letting go it seems like whatever he did is still at work. Just trying to tell the other fighter's body that it should relax and perhaps let Rust take a nap. If anything at least it helps in making the music seem more muted and such as he works at trying to keep his body ffrom shutting down. What Elias is surprised about is the fact Rust actually has the energy to even take a hope and deliver those two kicks.
Once again it seems hard to break through Elias' defenses and the priest does well to lift his arm to block the first kick and then his other arm comes around to push at the foot of the second kick to help propel Rust further back. What Rust might not like seeing is the priest's hand is glowing again with a flame of energy. This flame is different than the last in the fact it looks like a small fire is gathering around Elias' hand. It feels hot too even from the distance Rust is from the priest right now. Rear back the priest looks like he is about to punch, but when he thrusts his fist forward the flame gathered turns into a giant ring of flame that comes sailing right to barrel over Rust and well....looks like the music soon stops from panic as Chad Kroger screams like the little girl he is and jumps off the stage to avoid being hit as well.
COMBATSYS: Elias successfully hits Rust with Holy Flare.
>> Decisive Hit!! <<
[ \\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rust 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Elias
Even if he can't quite seem to get it to go forward, his landing is competent enough in spite of his sluggish general movements and seemingly suspect flexibility in places, but that crouched landing is more or less as good as one can get - though that position lends itself to that... weird, tiring feeling. There's even a small grunt of exertion at the light of Elias' mighty hand. Do I stay low or do I jump, or what, he tries to figure out when fighting against that really draining feeling.
When the ring of flame comes out, this seems to answer itself as a 'jump, stupid, jump!' For all the added skill and strength his change in career has gotten him, however, there still remains that one very large problem the ex-shop teacher has to contend with.
He's still not a great jumper, though he certainly makes the spirited effort off of crackly knees that are beginning to subscribe to the idea of just lying down and resting. He's pretty sure he can juuuuust get over it, maybe graze off his fee--
Nope. He jumps too late, and gets engulfed in the flame in brief. Because he's in midair, he has no traction - it's not just the energy blast that's going to be sending Chad Kroger there running.
There's an entire sub-200 pound man (that weight can't be right) coming along for the ride, spiraling along as he crashes into some expensive-looking equipment. The whole band scatters. Fans boo. Where's Howard?
Crawling up and stumbling out of the pile of things he's found himself launched into, he staggers a couple ways forward from the wreckage, eyes bleary and unfocused as he stares out to those still gathered about. That he's still walking under his strength may speak much of it, but at this point it's really only a matter of moments until his will to fight is overcome by that wracking feeling of... wanting to slow down and stop, coupled by the fact that is generally how his body tends to feel after a hard day of work.
A few tense, drama-laden stumbling steps forward, he proceeds to faceplant against the stage where a microphone lies.
Humorously, the feedback reaches an ear-splitting pitch as a mumbled string of incomprehensible consonants comes out of the man's mouth. Is he intending to kill Elias with a killer mumbling, stuttering solo song?! ...No, not really, but it might be fun to pretend.
A stage hand has the sense to cut off the speakers a few moments later, but Howard doesn't pull himself back up.
COMBATSYS: Rust can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Elias 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Elias with Small Thrown Object EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Elias 0/-------/---====|
It seems like it is more than just a single victory for Elias in the end. Not only does he seem to catch Rust in the blast but he also manages to stop the evil music that was being played through the fight. Even better the equipment is trashed so it isn't like they can recover and try to play again tonight. Several fans have been saved and only a few people are possibly upset beyond the band. What Elias didn't expect is the strange mumbling and just how loud it is.
The priest backs up, but trips over a fan struggling to get away and it causes him to fall backwards and in a rather embarassing manner and land on his back. Somehow he still manages to keep his composure as he gets back to his feet as the speakers are turned off. What was that about Millenium Hand and Shrimp? It is soon after he is declared the winner as Rust is helped to the back where he will get some medical attention. Of course when he wakes up he will be glad to hear that part of Elias' winnings have been designated to be given to Rust in a form of a check. And if those officials try to take it for damages? Well it won't happen because would you really want to anger a man of God?
COMBATSYS: Elias has ended the fight here.
Log created on 16:43:09 01/08/2012 by Rust, and last modified on 09:09:01 01/10/2012.