Description: Two newcomers to the fighting scene fight atop the catwalk of a steel foundry in Russia. Will Onatah's ferocity overcome Li's unshakability? Will the steel of a knife overcome the wood of a staff? (Winner: Onatah)
The Place: Russian Steel Foundry
The Time: Who Knows, It's Always Lit By Flames (approx. 7pm local)
Metal foundries are crazy places to work. There's heat, liquid metal, heavy steel crucibles everywhere, swinging about on overhead lifts and chainpulls. Catwalks are everywhere, some directly over the crucibles of white-hot molten metal. The foundry's been done up a little special for the fight--the walkway widened a bit, made sturdier, special lights brought in to help illuminate--but the dull red, fiery glow is still predominant... and the areas to either side of the catwalk are lined with crucibles filled with glowing liquid steel.
Li Xiao Wen is not a name known in the fighting world--not yet at least--but he looks the part, dressed as he is in a white silk, sleeveless tunic, edged with gold and with scalloped designs lining the seams, a green Chinese dragon on his back--and loose black trousers, cuffed at the ankles, with sturdy but flexible black shoes on his feet. He stands at one end of the catwalk, chatting amiably with a cameraman, his brown wooden staff, with plain, brass end-caps, being flipped lightly in his hands, working absently through a series of exercises as he waits for his opponent to arrive on the scene.
Relaxed, looking confident, that's exactly what Li wants and what he strives for, though he would admit to a touch of nerves--his first truly public fight, to be televised and streamed across the world...
Garbed in a simple black jumpsuit the woman walks in, a leather belt about her waist cinching it tight. Thrust into the belt is a knife, about 5 inches long. As she moves her raven's wing black hair, braided tight and bouncing against her back, gleams in the light of the fires. She looks about curiously and without fear as she seeks out her opponent. Finding that he stands out rather singularly in this environment.
Tilting her head slightly to one side she peers at this character, looking like something from an anime. "Given the location... Nice choice by the way. And looking at your clothing... a little over done. I would say you must be a big nerd looking for a bit of rough and tumble after living in your mom's basement for too long." She snickers softly and smiles. "Even got a cameraman to film the action, eh?" That has got to be the funniest thing she has ever seen. Is this guy serious or just wasting her time?
Actually, there are cameramen all over. This is a Saturday Night Fight after all--there are (extremely daring) cameramen high, low, even operating over the crucibles. Li stops chatting with the cameraman he was talking with and turns, his expression plesaant but cool. He looks the woman over with a disinterested sort of gaze, then turns back to the man he was speaking. "Ah, I suppose that's her. It was nice chatting with you, Stephen." And he turns, swinging the four-foot long staff up onto his right shoulder, balanced casually in his right palm.
"Whereas you seem to be trying out the car mechanic's look, I suppose?" Ah, still pleasant, his voice, as he walks out onto the catwalk proper, ignoring much of what's around him--the distracting sounds and visuals of pouring metal, clanging steel, the hot, greasy, acrid stench of the liquid steel, and he flips his weapon into a short, if elaborate flourish, before gripping it in his right hand.
"Well. I suppose we could trade politely barbed insults all day," he says, dismissively, "but I believe we were brought here to fight, not jaw." And then he drops into his fighting stance--lowish center of gravity, balanced on his back leg, his left hand forward and open, his right holding the staff in the back half of it, held roughly parallel to the floor.
COMBATSYS: Li has joined the fight here.
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Onatah 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 Li
COMBATSYS: Onatah has left the fight here.
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Li 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Onatah has joined the fight here.
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Onatah 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Li
Clasping her hands together she stretches them above her head, stretching out her arms and back. A smirk appears on her lips as she takes in his calm and collected attitude. "Well, someone takes himself a little too seriously," she replies with a snort and a roll of her eyes. Her hands drop to swing loosely at her sides and she watches as he drops down to the lower level where she waits.
"If you don't have the intellect to counter my words then let's get on with it." Grinning, the woman licks her lips as she studies her opponent. "Ready..." She lowers herself, not quite a crouch. "Set..." Slowly she moves sideways, her steps fluid and easy as she stalks towards her prey. "Go!" Taking a running start she jumps up and turns a flying leap, right leg out and aimed for the stomach of the man in white.
COMBATSYS: Onatah successfully hits Li with Bear Claw.
- Power hit! -
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Onatah 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Li
At least she's not all talk. Li fades back, intending on softening the blow with distance and forearm, but the kick lands solidly--sending him in a short tumble, across the catwalk, rolling twice before he pops himself back up onto his feet. He doesn't touch the injured area--and he'll be feeling a bruise later--but he does smile, just faintly.
"I suppose your insults and cavalier manner are intended to try and throw me off," he observes, as he considers his options for a moment, brown eyes searching Onatah for... well, nothing in particular. Maybe he's just evaluating strategies. But he doesn't spend more than a second or two thinking, before not moving in. Instead, he takes his weapon in both hands and, with a quick movement, it seems to fall apart... and forms a pair of nunchaku. He whirls it up to speed, a quick twirling movement, before he launches the weapon for Onatah's chest--at a distance of nearly ten yards, the nunchaku seems to stretch, the chain apparently quite a bit longer than it looks, almost whistling as it seeks to strike and retract in a single motion.
COMBATSYS: Onatah blocks Li's Tail Whip.
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Onatah 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Li
Mukai isn't one to hog the spotlight. In fact, despite his ginormous size, he much rather prefer to hang back and operate from the darkness.
This is why he awaits until the battle has started to appear, although even if he does prefer to act in mysterious, secretive ways that doesn't stop him from making rather grandiose entrances.
It is fortunate in way, that the sulfuric smell and constant pounding of steel that echoes across the factory is already prompting the two fighters to keep their focus on each other, Mukai would not want to pry their attention from each other once he enters. Emerging from a pool of hot liquefied metal arises a massive dark arm that grabs on to the edge of the platform where the two fighters battle. The ebony figure of Mukai pulls up from the container, the searing heat around him melting almost everything he touches save for his own body and the scant clothes he wears.
Setting both feet on the platform, the giant creature formerly known as The Obsidian Knight of the Devil Tournament stands there watching with great amusement the events that display before him. Massive arms crossing over his broad chest as he smiles, waiting, plotting his first move as a Chaos Agent...
Or perhaps he's just waiting until he cools off.
COMBATSYS: Mukai has joined the fight here in the center.
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Onatah 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Li
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Mukai 0|-------|-------
Onatah has a moment to watch the man try to absororb her kick. As she feels her the attack connect she cries out with a sound of feral glee, a human howl that rings through the space though mainly drowned out by the surrounding sounds. Not that is stops her apparent enjoyment any at all. Indeed she seems to be all but giddy as she settles to the ground once more, landing in a crouch.
Standing once more she roates her neck and shakes out her hands, smiling at the man across from her. The staff is non threatening from this distance, unless he plans to throw it... Oh, well then. Her eyes widen slightly as she watches the weapon transform into yet another. How interesting.
Suddenly it comes flying at her and she crosses her arms and manages to block the nunchucks strike, feeling her arms bruise slightly. "Well that was fun." Sarcasm much. Quickly she runs at him, dodge into his space, drawing her knife as she moves. She aims her blade towards his belly, seeking to slice him open.
COMBATSYS: Li interrupts Sun Chief from Onatah with Serpent's Sting.
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Onatah 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Li
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Mukai 0|-------|-------
A little smile, as the weapon rebounds to his hands; with a click, Li returns it to its staff configuration, even as she comes rushing in. "If you thought -that- was fun," he says, almost conversationally, "You'll love -this-..." And, just as her blade starts to cut, he acts. Sure, it cuts his shirt--even gets his skin, the slice drawing blood--but he didn't even -attempt- to dodge, or even to block--or so it seems.
The truth is, he swings his staff low across his body, and first stops the knife from completing that cut--and then her draws it back in the same motion and, the striking end flaring with orange-white energy, he slams it into Onatah's chest, driving her back--and taking a couple of steps back, himself, before resuming his stance.
He has not yet noticed Mukai, it seems--or, with the gigantic grey man not acting, hasn't decided to start factoring him into his calculations...
Despite his kinship with the earth, Mukai is not exactly a very stone faced individual. His features clearly show a lot of expression, eyebrows furrow in concern as the combat continues, eyes narrowing slightly whilst his hand reaches up to tap lightly at his chin in thought, judging each fighter's fighting style.
Suddenly, he's grinning and snapping his finger slightly, his grave deep voice rumbling out.
"Ah, I knew why I thought this fight would be intriguing. West versus East, which style is better?"
Chuckling, the giant man does nothing still, content for now to stay by the sidelines and watch events unfold.
COMBATSYS: Mukai gathers his will.
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Onatah 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Li
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Mukai 0|-------|---====
Her blade find cloth, finds flesh, tastes his blood, and then it is gone. A loud hiss is heard as the blade looses its hold, but it quickly becomes a sound of pain as the staff connects with her chest. Not only the weapon but energy hits her, striking her and sending her backwards. Rather than being thrown she turns herself head over heels in a pair of sumersaults, landing on her feet with a hand upon her chest. "If you put a hole in this jumper, I'ma take it out of your scrawny hide." She rises to her feet, blade at the ready, a snarl curling her lips.
Again she launches herself at him, running head long towards him with with adreniline pounding through her body. Yet this time when she swings her blade at him it comes with a flash of light, emerald green like her eyes. Strands of power reach out towards him, lashing at his body even as the knife blade seeks to taste his flesh again.
COMBATSYS: Onatah successfully hits Li with Entangle.
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Onatah 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Li
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Mukai 0|-------|---====
Interesting... the blade doesn't -just- cut. the impact is... not negligible, to say the least; certainly, she's a strong one. A very strong one, indeed. He might have use for her... if that attitude can be... tamed. Somewhat. It's useful information, and for all that she thinks he is some scrawny geek, he doesn't flinch as he pulls the blade back out, tossing it aside, despite the blood pouring down his shirt.
"Very good," he murmurs, barely audibly, and despite having been thrown back by the knife strike, he leaps to the attack--literally, gathering himself and hurling himself forward, meeting that charge, snapping his weapon into nunchaku form and flinging a quick, whistling strike at her temple. He's winded, breathing hard, but it hasn't changed his expression at all--as if winning this fight weren't what was really on his mind--his goal.
As if it were a show.
COMBATSYS: Onatah blocks Li's Quick Strike.
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Onatah 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Li
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Mukai 0|-------|---====
"Hah ha ha!! Well done!"
Mukai is still there, doing little more than heckling. For a supposed Chaos Agent, he's not really being very chaotic as he hasn't actively tried to get in the way of any combatant. Even so he may be starting to show some favoritism by the way he cheers. "Strike him again my little Wolf! Show him the fury of the Kiowa!" The giant creature smiles and even tucks both his pinkie fingers inside the sides of his mouth to let out a loud whistle, acting more like a rowdy fan than a participant of the fight.
COMBATSYS: Mukai gathers his will.
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Onatah 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Li
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Mukai 1|-------|=======
The blade bites into his flesh, deeply this time, drawing forth blood that calls out to her even over the smells of burning metal and impurities. She grins brilliantly, her eyes dilating with pleasure as she watches him bleed. Smiling she watches her blade fall to the ground and quickly dips to draw another from her boot top where it hid just beneath her pant leg.
"Thanks," she replies cheekily, giving him a wink.
"Thanks," she replies cheekily, giving him a wink. When he leaps she thrills, feeling the excitement rise a notch higher. The nunchuck comes at her head, whistling through the air towards her. Raising her left arm she blocks the strike with her blade, knocking it aside though it clips her arm in passing.
"Not bad, but you need a bit more training." Laughing she all but dances towards him, throwing a kick at the wound she made so that she can watch it bleed.
COMBATSYS: Onatah successfully hits Li with Heavy Kick.
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Onatah 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Li
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Mukai 1|-------|=======
The impact squirts blood onto her shoe. But Li remains steadfastly silent--only the whistle of breath forced out of his lungs by pure physical action is her reward, other than the blood. He shifts, stepping around to be in the direction that Onatah was coming from, and despite the pain--and he *is* feeling the pain, despite that impassive face, still smiling--he is still giving Onatah that quiet, calculated look.
"Vicious. Willing to fight for keeps, even in a 'public' fight..." Yes. There is definitely a place he could offer Onatah. Later. Much later. For now, there's still a fight to put on. He won't even mention the employment opportunity right now.
He brandishes his weapon--and then steps forward, lashing out with it. One great uppercut, the weapon arcing from catwalk to sky, carving a glowing yellow-white arc in the air--and then another, slashing downward, another arc hissing and growling with that chi of his, burning bright then fading away in a matter of seconds.
COMBATSYS: Onatah dodges Li's Grand Serpent's Refusal.
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Onatah 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Li
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Mukai 1|-------|=======
Mukai bends low, squinting to get a closer look at what's happening. His smile going broader when he sees blood squirting from Li as Onatah continues her assault, drawing more of that crimson liquid with each strike. The currents of chi begin to stir suddenly as Li concentrates to put everything into a single strike and Mukai's smiles feeling that even though the battle is intensifying, Onatah clearly has the upper hand.
"This will really get to her head.." Mutters the statuesque man, though he is looking forth with approval to his eyes.
"Now do you believe?" He whispers to himself. "That this is your destiny."
COMBATSYS: Mukai gathers his will.
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Onatah 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Li
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Mukai 1|---====|=======
The impact is felt through her body as the kick connects, no matter that he shows so little reaction to the blow. It pleases her to catch the scent of his blood in the air before the smoke blows it away. Black boots show the blood little if at all, mainly displaying a slick area on her foot. Never mind, it makes her smile a little more anyway. As he speaks she can be seen smirking, her smile growing yet more feral as her eyes widen. "What is the point of a fight if you are not fighting for keeps?"
Onatah watches as he shifts to strike out at her once more. The staff comes up towards her chin but it is as if he moves in slow motion. She is nearly laughing as the white light and heat swing up at her only to miss her completely as she flings herself away. Across the catwalk her body moves, flipping backwards until she is a few feets away, then she spins to face him once more.
Dropping into a light crouch she growls softly, her grin feral and her eyes wide as she meets his gaze. "Nice try." Then she is running at him, gathering energy about herself as she does so that the very air around her seems to glow. The blade in her hands glowing as well with that brilliant emerald light. Once more she slashes at him, aiming for the vulnerable place across his throat. As she swings the air seems to gather, coming at him like a whirlwind to slash at his body.
COMBATSYS: Li fails to reflect Fire Fury from Onatah with Grand Serpent's Refusal.
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Onatah 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Li
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Mukai 1|---====|=======
COMBATSYS: Li can no longer fight.
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Onatah 0/-------/------=|
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Mukai 1|---====|=======
Such are the fortunes of war. He swings, she dodges--it isn't as if it hasn't happened before. Will happen again. He summons up his reserves as she comes at him again--and he accomplishes one thing and one thing only--he stops the knife from entering his throat. The whirlwind slash tears his clothing, tears his body, and he looks very seriously wounded now.
But he isn't -terribly- wounded--enough that he will not continue the fight, however. After that, he holds up a hand. "Enough. You've proven your worth." Does it choke him, to say it? Probably it does. But he iss a master of his emotions, and he doesn't let it show. Perhaps someone will feel the wrath stored up later.
Deliberately, he turns his back on her, though--playing up the public role, as he walks past the cameraman... he speaks to an SNF official. "You might see about reducing some of her attack-dog tendencies before she fights again. A lesser fighter might've come away seriously wounded, if not killed. That would not look good for your promotion, especially in light of the actions of the woman Vice."
The staff is slung across his back and he slides down the exit ladder--or his exit ladder, at least--and disappears. Naturally, his words were pitched for Onatah to hear as well, but even if she goes after him--he's gone. Like a ninja, to borrow a popular phrase.
COMBATSYS: Onatah has left the fight here.
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Mukai 1|---====|=======
Log created on 21:49:47 05/28/2012 by Li, and last modified on 09:41:04 05/29/2012.