28/11/05
Characters: Chun-Li, Rugal
West Outskirts
Southtown, one of the largest cities in Japan, sits on a peninsula extending
from the Southwesternmost corner of Honshu, occupying a temperate climate.
Roughly the size of Manhattan Island, the peninsula is filled from tip to tip
with the urban sprawl of the city. Linked to land only from the North and the
West, highways cut through a large forested area between the rest of Japan and
the Southtown Peninsula. Through these highways, a horde of traffic flows forth
at all hours of the day, along with train lines and the like.
[Exits : Shanghai Sports Bar, East to Business District, and
Out to Japan ]
The rain hammers down from the skies above Southtown, drumming a steady patter
upon the roads and rooftops. Those citizens who are able have retreated indoors,
occupying themselves either usefully or in the mundane act of watching and
waiting for the terrible weather to subside. Naturally, vehicles are still
running at their usual constant flow, and on this outward edge of the City of
Fighters the flow is heavier than elsewhere - clearly a great deal of folk are
leaving town in this direction, the result being an arrhythmic manifestation of
bucketing waves over the pavements on each side. Those unlucky enough to be
caught loitering are inevitably drenched to the skin, and a few shivering wrecks
already inhabit nearby buildings as a result.
Chun-Li is more stubborn, and though slick with dirty rainwater she is plowing
on along the paving stones with a resolute expression. What is the weather to a
woman with a mission? Her step has led her in this direction following
instructions from a passerby deeper inside Southtown, as she made an enquiry
regarding this 'Hall of Mysteries' wherein lurks a person who can help her
greatly with her quest. Or so she feels, and so the woman Rose seemed to feel
also; the hunch here is strong enough to keep the Tai Chi mistress plowing
onward through the discomfiting storm. It's dark, thunderclouds are threatening
to break forth with their explosive load at any moment, but she'll find this
place if it slays her.
"..." Pausing in her tracks as a large lorry careers past, the Strongest Woman
in the World glares blankly sidelong. The day is not treating her too well, the
lightweight jacket she has over her training outfit hardly doing anything
against floods such as the one she has just experienced, fresh wetness pouring
down her form to join the constantly spreading puddle below. Hair slick, ribbons
tangled up within errant strands, Chun-Li looks every bit the drowned rat. With
a sigh, this unfortunate rodent carries on regardless...
You have no idea quite how unnaturally easy it is to find someone, even when
they are not the easiest people to track. Of course, for some, their fame get
the better of them, and ultimately make the job of stalking that much easier.
Chun-Li. World's Strongest Woman. With a title like that, the eyes of the very
world are always upon her, to ensure she keeps up to this title. The world's
eyes... and other eyes. Eyes that report back to a greater source about the Tai
Chi Mistress, trudging through the rain on this so very bleak and miserable of
days. Eyes that can be specific enough to pinpoint location, time, speed. It is
easy to keep an eye on a city, after all...
When your fortress hangs above it.
The rain is cold, an incessantly strong pit-pattering against the ground that
clobbers into dirt and ground until it can no longer be absorbed, and oozes out
along the road, against the grass and mud. It is cold, but not cold enough for a
more pleasant experience of small, drifting snow flakes. No, cars get pelted
with chunks of rainwater tainted with pollution, even as it smacks against the
skin and outfit of one Vigilante known as Chun-Li. It is sadly easy to find
someone, when they're famous. Far, far too easy, as the Strongest Woman in the
World will soon discover.
"Ah! There you are. I have been looking all over for you... Ms. Chun-Li."
The voice calls above the sound of thick pattering drops of rain. Whatever
Chun-Li's pursuits, they will have to be put on hold for now. Because, directly
behind her, wearing a heavy black overcoat over his standard, infamously blood
red attire, an umbrella to protect him from the ill effects of these intense
rains, is a man who grins at her with one normal eye... and one eye that glows
crimson through the veil of rain. The face might be recognizable. Charlie knew
who this man was, before he was taught a rather severe lesson. The grinning face
of...
"Rugal Bernstein. I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything, but I was wondering if
I could..." He pauses, searching for the words.
"... inconvenience you."
Sometimes it would be easy to kid oneself that a day has got so bad, so
inconveniently irritating, that it cannot possibly get any worse. No matter what
level of zen a person has reached, no matter what manner of training they have
had or how unshakeable a nature they may have had to begin with... one thing is
certain.
The day can always get worse.
Chun-Li comes to another sudden halt before she has even really picked up her
stride, her sneakered feet consequently a little out of kilter and ill prepared
to be stopped so quickly. "Hmph..." The woman stumbles a little before finding
her footing, an annoyed frown manifesting on her brow as a hand rises to push a
few wet bangs from her eyes. Raising her gaze to meet the source of her
interruption, these eyes are very soon narrowed to merest slits, and their owner
slips one foot backward, dropping to a slightly lower posture. Not to mention, a
more defensible one. "Wonder away, but it would seem you've achieved that goal
already..."
"Mr. Bernstein." The pause is palpable, just the scantest moment that seems to
hang in the air for several heartbeats. The Chinese beauty lifts her hands from
where they lie crammed into the pockets of her jacket, comparatively dry palms
coming together before she offers a close approximation of a bow; bending
herself just enough that her eyes never leave that glowing optic. "To what would
I owe the dubious pleasure of this interruption?" As she asks the question, tone
cold and hard, a thousand possibilities run through the woman's mind. Has he got
reason to meet with the powerful Rose as well? Has he already done so? Or does
he come for her specifically? The latter is by far more worrying.
Things can always get worse. They can even get worse than how they are now.
Unbelievable as that may seem, Chun-Li simply has to look into the good eye of
her new 'acquaintance' to know that it could very well get worse. That sort of
life in that eye expresses a malevolence not found in most men. And a thirst for
inflicting pain, a thirst to see /power/, is what is reflecting in the gaze that
looks at Chun-Li. Prepare for things to become worse.
But for all the ill-intent behind the man's last normal eye, he laughs almost
/apologetically/ as Chun-Li speaks, dipping himself into a low, respectful bow,
umbrella following him so as not to allow a scant bit of rain on him. His
expression suggests things that override the respect of his actions, however.
"My apologies! Were you looking for someone? I hope nothing bad happens to them
while I keep you here, but really..." His head tilts to the side as he
straightens. A gesture of curiosity. "... this shouldn't take too long."
One fluid motion spins the man on a single heel, so that his back is presented
to the Tai Chi mistress. "I had heard, some time ago, about the Strongest Woman
in the World. Said to be a match for the greatest of fighters. Understandably, I
was intrigued. But, I never wanted to trouble your busy schedule... you are
working diligently with Charlie and his organization, yes? How is he?" Rugal's
voice suggests amusement. "We had a small talk some time ago, but unfortunately
we came to a... misunderstanding. You know how these things can be."
He looks back, to Chun-Li. His legs spread shoulder-width apart, and while one
hand holds his umbrella comfortably, the other moves out to his side, just
slightly. "But I digress. I heard that recently, you assaulted one of my poor
secretaries and threw her in jail. I simply can't allow things like this to
happen. After all, my secretaries are very important to me." His hand clenches.
Unclenches, slowly. A subtle gesture of what is to come. "So I was wondering...
how I could pay you back for that, Strongest Woman in the World."
Power, malevolence, evil. Yes. It's all there, well enough, but Chun-Li is not
aware of possessing any direct argument with Rugal Bernstein. Her travels have
seen her pitched against many a crimelord, some perhaps indirectly related to
"R" in some of their more nefarious workings, and it is quite possible she has
disposed of one or two anonymous operatives during her brief tenure with
Interpol. However, she was a mere girl for much of that time, and knew little
more than the average detective despite her unusual skills. Now, her dark eyes
scan Rugal's single good pupil for any sign of his intent here. Has she wronged
him, or is he simply presuming to use her as a stepping stone to reach some
other individual?
Whatever his purpose, she can be sure he spends entirely too much time posturing
and evading the point. The Tai Chi mistress watches impatiently impassive while
he lingers about the point... and then he mentions Charlie. A frown creases her
brow, her head tips just a fraction to one side. "I've not seen him for a little
while," she murmurs almost inconsequentially. Hardly too shocking that a man of
Bernstein's stature would have heard tell of the Vigilantes and their connection
to the world's strongest woman, but none the less this does not come as welcome
news. What follows eclipses this for the moment.
"...her." The single word is spoken under Chun-Li's breath, her gaze flickering
to one side before returning to Rugal as she gives a soft snort. "That vermin
was one of yours? I would never have suspected /you/ as a sponsor of petty
shoplifting. What happened to arms dealing, Mr. Bernstein, did it become too
lucrative for you? As for how you can pay me back," she shakes her head, and
spins upon her heels, a light slosh of rainwater sent rippling outward from her
feet. Beginning to walk away, she casts her eyes downward. "Leave me alone."
No, no. He has no real qualms against Chun-Li. Whatever Rugal's true motive is
for being here, is his alone. He has put a hold on his pursuits of the Psycho
Power for this. Because this... is a necessary evil. Besides. She is a fighter,
just like him. She should be able to feel the call of a strong fight? How could
she resist. Rugal, certainly cannot. But he can toy around, play with her
patience a bit through avoiding the direct point. Which he seems to do quite
well, testing her boundaries. He will go for something else later. Some other
digs. For now... this is more than enough.
Rain beats down against the umbrella of R's leader, droplets of moisture hanging
of its edges before falling to the soaked ground below. "'Vermin'? Now now, Ms.
Chun-Li. You'll have to forgive Vice. When I am not there to hold her leash, she
tends to overstep her bounds. But it is a very insulting thing, to know that
someone such as yourself would toy with my property." His polished shoe digs
into the mud beneath him. Such terrible conditions, isn't it? It'll make it
rather irritating for what he plans to do next, at the very least. "Accept my
apologies, though."
His foot presses hard against the ground. Back still to the Vigilante, it is not
for long - as Bernstein LEAPS through the air, twisting himself so that he faces
her with a wide grin as he ascends. The jump is swift, as is what follows: a
kick delivered with jabbing suddeness for Chun-Li's back.
"I can't quite leave you be today."
COMBATSYS: Rugal has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has joined the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Rugal's Light Kick.
Chun-Li continues walking away as Rugal rambles on, every fibre of her being
tensing itself in preparation. She is not so naïve as to consider this encounter
over, and neither does she have any intent to truly walk away - even if allowed
to, she would be upon the trail of "R" like a bloodhound, searching for motives
and short-term goals perhaps with which to associate the organisation with
Shadaloo. The way things proceed, she should be able to draw any viable
conclusions within the space of what follows.
"Apology accepted," the murmur comes from between her lips as her pupils flicker
upward, a sign of her marking the sound of movement behind and reading the
distance to contact. Drifting to a halt, hands curling to fists at her side, it
seems for an instant as though that attack will strike her and pitch her across
the soaking concrete. Then, there's a hiss of air, the Strongest Woman in the
World moving herself with nearly unrivalled speed - ducking low and spinning
herself around in an arc of motion, to arrive just behind Rugal's flank as he
starts to set down from his kick.
"You're a fool for doing this, but I accept your challenge... TENSHOU KYAKU!" A
slap sounds as her palm is floored suddenly, the full power of her form
unleashed off this one point of contact as she launches herself heavenward with
one leg extended. Aiming to catch Rugal on the jaw, the force used is enough to
propel him back into the air in preparation for the two further kicks that
follow; each delivered from alternating legs with a perfect twist of Chun-Li's
hips.
When all's said and done, he will be able to collide with the pavement below
while she can drift gracefully down to land in a crouch - taking a moment to
hurl her jacket off to one side, where it sloshes against the wall of a nearby
building.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Chun-Li's Tenshou Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Rugal 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
It's a good plan.
Too bad Rugal banked on her curiosity from the very beginning. Tempting Eve with
the Fruit of Knowledge. Isn't that the best way to get things done?
Any information, however, will have to wait for now. Rugal spins through the
air, but what his feet find is nothing but air. So fast! Just like the rumors
say. If that is the case, of course, than that simply means that this will be
much more fun than Rugal could have ever bargained for. His foot SLAMS into the
ground with the upchurn of dirt and mud, thankfully staying off and away from
his coat. His umbrella has long been forsaken, falling to the ground during his
descent, sinking tip-first into the soft, wet ground beneath the two opponents.
"What can I say? I am a glutton for punishment!" Even as he says this, Bernstein
spins to confront Chun-Li even as her speedy movements take her off the ground
in a sudden strike against him. That leg is powerful, legs she is renowned
for... but that powerful leg finds itself stopped, by one of Rugal's gloved
hands. Chun-Li earns a single step backwards for her commendable effort, but
little more.
"Harder." The request is given with a laugh, as his free hand clenches into a
fist. It flies forward, in an attempt to smash right across Chun-Li's face with
vicious strength before she can recover from her own attack having been blocked.
Her strength is impressive! Which means, he'll put more effort into this than he
intended.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Rugal with Tenshou
Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Rugal 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
Fast. His reactions are speedier than she might have expected given the nature
of her movements and the deceptive nature of the attack itself, but then few of
her foes seem thrown off by such things - perhaps she'll learn to depend upon
power alone when facing men like these, but Chun-Li remains somewhat set in her
ways here.Wits will prevail eventually, though the path may be steeper and more
fraught with dangerous curves very unlike the woman's own. The overriding point
is that she flies heavenward alone, pulling the kicks to such an extent that she
is able to drift back to earth with the intended grace at least. Enough also
that she is prepared for the incoming blow from Rugal.
"Ngh!" With a grunt of effort, she is instantly bounding back out of her crouch,
pushing again off one hand and aiming to launch herself into an identical series
of strikes to the last, this time in a quick-draw situation that should give the
arms dealer no time for a reaction of his own. However. He is indeed faster and
more crafty in his movements than she anticipates, and that fist comes slamming
into her cheek with a wet slap. Drawing a moan of pain from the woman, she
begins to fall backward, only at the last managing to scramble to her feet and
back off a few paces, falling into her stance nearby.
"You strike fast and hard, Mr. Bernstein. My compliments on being better than
those that do your dirty work... with your elusive nature, I almost believed
otherwise." A small smirk gracing her lips, the world's strongest woman gently
shifts her footing to better root herself, beginning to shift in a light rhythm.
At least now she has the measure of her opponent.
For his size, most do not expect R's leader to be as fast as he is. It's
something the inevitably end up regretting. Case in point. Chun-Li happens to
underestimate the man /twice/, something that he hopes does not happen again.
And for her to have the GALL to try and interrupt one of his own attacks? Well,
she gets a solid blow across the face for her foolishness in that regard. The
fist is strong, certainly. But what is even stronger, is the malicious glint in
his good eye that grows all the more as his blow rings successful.
The laughter that accompanies the strike is condescending, certainly. It is
entertained by the girl and her actions, even as she gains more ground from him,
and recovers. With such a snide compliment, as well! He wonders, for a moment,
if it is more an insult than what it appears to be. But he knows the answer.
Instead, Rugal grins, straightening himself up as blonde hair slaps wetly
against his forehead. "For the Strongest Woman in the World, you do not gauge
your opponents well, do you? I hope you didn't think that punch was /that/
strong at least..." He dips his head low, body tensing. "... Vega seemed to deal
with a strike of that power much better than you seem to be."
It's something to test the waters a bit, before he rushes forward. He has no
idea of any connections between the pair, of course. But she is a Vigilante -
she must know SOMETHING more about the great 'Lord Vega' that he can extract
from her. So he rushes forward, to grip her solidly by the throat. If
successful, he has every intention of squeezing those gloved fingers tight,
lifting her up in the air - and then slamming her harshly, right into the
ground.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Rugal's Quick Throw.
'Vega'? The word is mouthed silently, Chun-Li staring Rugal down as he comes in
with an extended hand. Nothing else is graced with a response, too absorbed is
the woman in drawing herself into a stoic coil of concentration... this is no
weakling she faces, something well proven not only by his performance in battle
but by the merciless glint in his eye. For the first time in her life it would
seem the woman's efforts have been focused in the wrong place as of late;
perhaps with the gift of hindsight she could have better prepared herself for
the intervention of this man in her life. It shall not happen again, the "R"
organisation added to her list of short term research goals. For now, she fights
for her life on a soaking street flanked by innocent commuters.
Rugal himself will have to once more be content flanked only by cold air, as the
Chinese woman moves effortlessly around his grasp. "I made a mistake which I'll
try not to make again," she explains coolly, emerging in a half-crouch behind
the man, "Prepare yourself... HYAH!" Surging forward she breaks into a dash to
catch up with the man before he can get too far ahead in any stumble that might
result from her sudden lack of prescence. A leg rises to catch him in the back
of the head, a snap kick that should launch him to one side in time for the
woman to spin around, switch legs and catch him with a devastating horizontal
thrust kick from the opposite limb. "SEEEEIYAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Chun-Li's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Rugal 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
A mistake she will not make again... well.
We'll see about that.
Rugal's grip, such as it is, finds itself irritably choking air. Fingers clench
around nothing, but Rugal is nothing if not swift. His hands swipes, instantly
jerking back to his side and whipping dirty rainwater through the air, even as
he spins around once more to find Chun-Li preparing for her next assault.
(Prepare yourself... HYAH!)
Rugal shows /his/ preparation by not allowing Chun-Li's attacks to even get past
their first stage. He has spun around, with FRIGHTENING suddeness, so that it is
not the back of his head that Chun-Li sees - but a face grinning viciously at
the Strongest Woman. His hand is instantly up, gloved palm intercepting the
first strike, and attempting to push on the foot with his own alarming strength
- to send the woman spiraling away from him,, so that he may leap back and
regather himself. Properly.
"I hope this is not the best the strongest woman has to offer, Chun-Li! You are
swiftly turning into a bigger disappointment than our friend Charlie!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal focuses on his next action.
The words used were merely 'try'. Perhaps Gen would not approve were he a little
smaller and greener, but Chun-Li has no unrealistic expectations of her
abilities here... did this man not single-handedly take on Kusanagi and the
other members of Team Japan? The Strongest Woman in the World is familiar enough
with his power and ability to know she must tread lightly and carefully, if she
is to escape unharmed. He may be no Vega, but in many ways that makes him all
the more threatening to her health, with less possibility of a gloating retreat
should she be left battered and broken.
The woman's caution is proven wise, as she finds herself slung away from the
arms dealer with a brutal thrust of his arm. Spinning around exactly as he
hoped, she manages to right herself with a graceful twist of her form, landing
in a crouch a short distance away. Skidding a few feet across the slick paving
stones, coming dangerously close to the gutter, her lips twitch upward in a
brief, sardonic smile... so this is how it shall be? Her opponent desires
distance, and though this may also be currently advantageous to her there is no
intent of allowing Rugal his time to plan and recover. Chun-Li knows her kicks
will have taken their toll, and she must capitalise on every slightest contact.
Rising to her feet wordlessly, the drenched Tai Chi mistress already has her
hands slung by her hip, fingers curled around an imaginary ball. Eyes narrowing
to determined slits, her lips part with an expulsion of breath shortly before a
violent burst of energy erupts outward from her palms, a gargantuan surge of
blue-white that sends raindrops scattering in every direction. "KAAAAAA-" The
cry builds deep in her throat, gaining in pitch and volume until finally she
breaks into a short dash forward, now wrapped in streaming rivulets of chi. It
is quite the extension of effort on part of the woman, and as her arms thrust
forward the surge in energy becomes only too much more apparent.
"KOOOOUSHOU!" Winds rush in a tunnel toward Rugal, powered along by the ball of
pale blue that erupts forcefully from Chun-Li, barrelling head over heels as it
travels above the pavement's surface. A few cracks develop below before the
overkill projectile reaches its target, by which time its owner is visibly
paling, teeth clenched as skirts and ribbons billow about in the artificial wind
created by her assault.
COMBATSYS: Rugal reflects Kikou Ken from Chun-Li with Dark Barrier.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rugal 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
He's just a shadow of what he once was. He was a GOD, and this fight should be
nothing for him were he what he rightly should be. She is an insect. He knows
that all the same, even as he knocks her away, gains ground. But, he has been
/lessened/ to something almost at her level. This is why this fight is
completely necessary. Not only to enjoy someone as entertaining as the Strongest
Woman in the World... but to show himself that he still has room to grow. Which
is why, she she is knocked away, there is little more than a grin and a laugh.
His goal is successfully attained, though. What he wanted - her to attack with
greater strength, has been more than aptly achieved. But unfortunately for her,
he has already gathered himself. The crime lord stands, a single hand in one
pocket, his right hand brushing off some perceived dirt casually as he looks
towards his enemy with an arched brow and an arrogant smirk. "If this is all you
have, it's no wonder that you and your fellow Vigilantes cannot stop Vega.
Filled with an excessive amount of weaklings... and..." His words begin to
drift. He blinks at the suddden eruption of chi, eyes narrowing ever so faintly.
"... cockroaches."
He can /feel/ the energy. He can /taste/ it in the air, on the tip of his
tongue, like a fine wine. "This is no good." His voice is a murmur, as sickening
green chi licks along his arms like tongues of flame, wrapping, coiling. His
feet spread out, and his left hand slips out from his pocket, clenched in
anticipation. "Allow me to show you... just how weak you are!"
His fist slams forward, to actually MEET the blast of pale blue chi that blazes
forth with such incredible power from Chun-Li's fists. The fist, broiling with
green energy, unleashes something of Rugal's own power - that chi coiling along
his arm all suddenly bursts forward through his arm, channeled into his fist as
it explodes outward into a shimmering emerald disk, intercepting the Tai Chi
mistress' assault. Not only does it intercept, but the barrier... ABSORBS the
energy into itself, refocusing and redirecting it until it shoots outward once
more. Returned back to sender, with frightening speed.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li negates Reflected Kikou Ken from Rugal with Kikou Ken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Rugal 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Chun-Li
Rugal's words bite deep even as Chun-Li continues to focus her energies forward,
her hands beginning to shake as their impact bursts through her resolve. Perhaps
his word games are partially to blame for the horrific ease with which he
hammers his shrouded fist through her roaring assault, diminishing a great deal
of the outlying chi but still achieving its purpose. Giving the Chinese beauty a
taste of her own medicine, forcing her to deal with something she is ill
prepared for - indeed, has never faced. Her own power. A deep breath is drawn
quickly inward, the woman's breast swelling as whitened fingers are drawn back
to weave another ball of energy.
"KOUKEN!" Lashing her palms outward once more with a violent snapping motion,
Chun-Li sends forth a golden flash of light to meet the surging maelstrom making
its frighteningly fast journey toward her. Her eyes snap shut as she denies
herself the right to watch the brief tussle that occurs, the moment hanging in
the air as the two meet - blue mists of energy curling out in every direction.
Then with an explosive lurch, the tiny globe somehow breaks through its larger
cousin. The street is lit up in a near-blinding light for the space of several
seconds, caught in the afterglow of the battle-within-a-battle.
"I ask you," the world's strongest woman murmurs as she opens her eyes, arms
retracting to assume defensive positions about her upper body. Limbs hovering
motionless for a moment, she trains her gaze upon Rugal before giving a wild
smile, a snapping motion drawing her powerful form into a defensive stance; her
right fist coming around at her right hip, the other hand extending with fingers
curled outward at her foe. "Not to underestimate me again."
Ah. Now there's something that doesn't happen all too often.
Chun-Li is becoming more annoying than anticipated.
Most of that chi from the initial blast was either dispersed or absorbed by the
Dark Barrier. Those that remain are still impressive nonetheless, though they
are but a shadow of what they once were. Even as it rips across the air,
distorting reality with power, Chun-Li seems to have her own back up assault
planned. She's quick, this one. He would have imagined this type of attack would
have taken her by surprise, but... it seems as if it hasn't. Well, bravo for
her, then! He'll congratulate her more thoroughly when she is shoved face-down
into the mud.
"How irritatingly persistant you are! But you've used quite a bit of energy,
haven't you?" It's said over the roar of the two attacks as they clash, small
gold conflicting with enormous blue-white, pushing themselves back and forth in
a war of dualing energy - of Chun-Li's own creation. Of course, eventually it
ends... with neither coming out on top, and as Chun-Li refocuses, and gives her
smile, she will find... that she's giving her smile to empty space.
"Duly noted."
It comes from behind her. Rugal has already moved, and rushes forward, to
deliver an open-palm thrust to the back of the Strongest Woman's head. If it
connects, Rugal intends to use his momentum to spin around, and slam his fist
RIGHT into her ribs. Laughing, the entire time.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Rugal's Medium Punch.
A particularly deceptive set of moves on behalf of the cybernetically-enhanced
arms dealer, and ones that almost succeed... if not for that uncanny sixth sense
possessed by fighters at this level. Chun-Li's hearing pinpoints the new
location of her opponent in an easy and mundane enough fashion, but with his
speed and force of movement there is no possible way for her to see his attack
coming. At least, no /seemingly/ possible way. At the last instant before impact
her head tips just slightly to one side, a frown piercing her brow, and though
Rugal's palm shove strikes home it does so with little fanfare of impact.
"Huh!" Giving a grunt of effort, the wearying woman falls forward into the blow,
using its momentum to twist herself into a bowing posture and then twisting her
upper body to spin around on rainslick heels. There's an audible shriek from
plastic soles as Chun-Li moves through one hundred and eighty degrees, emerging
with her forehead beside the whiffed blow from her foe. "Close, but not good
enough! YA!" Reaching up with both hands she aims to grip his wrist and then
send him hurtling through the air on his back with a circular stepping motion.
All very nice and traditional, her arms circling outward as she makes the toss.
"I know there's more to you than these parlour tricks, Rugal Bernstein. You
would be wise to heed your own words and use something with some chance at
hitting me." Once again a smirk flickers on her lips, as the Strongest Woman in
the World takes a few steps away, raising her guard with a light 'hmph' and
preparing herself for what may come next. Her inner monologue is entirely
different from what she presents to this crimelord, but still some of the
attitude rings true... if she must face a warrior this strong, she will neither
back down nor hold back. It will be approached as any other battle.
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Quick Throw from Chun-Li with Genocide Cutter.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rugal 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Chun-Li
And Chun-Li is deceptively quick. There is no way that he could ever possibly
strike her with techniques like these. And with her speed, as he notes from her
rather superhuman reaction time, would make her hard to even hit with anything
particularly... special. She is wearing down though. He can tell that much.
There is a mild sign of irritation in knowing that his first attack struck only
because Chun-Li allowed it to get into a more advantageous position. Well. She
wishes to lecture him, does she? He'll just have to show her why he is as feared
as he is thoughout both the underworld, and the fighting world.
Rugal does not even move as Chun-Li grabs his arm. "Not good enough? Well
then--" He's cut off, as she lifts for the hurdle. She has a strong grip, he'll
give her that. But for her trouble, what Chun-Li receives is a solid, mud-ridden
shoe to the chin. Chi trails a dark-yellow crescent arch along Rugal's nice,
expensive show as it impacts just underneath the Tai Chi mistress' chin with
titanic force, coupled with his impressive chi. What follows then, is something
truly /beautiful/.
Though likely, it will be more painful for Chun-Li rather than anything else.
The force of his initial blow sends the martial artist into the air, with Rugal
soon to follow in a high leap. His form is a mere blurr as he moves, striking
out a second chi-laden kick into the Vigilante's back, sending her further into
the air. This is in order to prepare her, of course, for the axe kick that comes
spinning around ferociously, burning into her stomach with power as he SLAMS his
foot right into her gut, sending the "Strongest Woman in the World" crashing
towards the ground.
"Is /that/ better?"
The moments that follow are, as rightly assumed, lashed into a blur of pain for
the ex-Interpol agent. Passage upward is a consistent haze of increasing agony
as each kick is aimed in succession, and by the time that final demolishing axe
kick is delivered it is to a woman watching the world through blood-soaked
vision as it spirals around her in confusing disarray. Her journey back to earth
is one that enhances each throbbing lance of discomfort to a screaming
crescendo, and though she delivers only a soft grunt at first.. the coughing
that follows is every bit as alarming as the squelching thump made by the impact
of her form. Blood pouring from between her lips, Chun-Li takes a while to
clamber to her feet, only doing so through sheer bullheaded force of will.
"Ha... ha... ha..." Each breath sending a shockwave through her damaged torso,
the Tai Chi mistress watches Rugal from a half-crouch, desperately attempting to
focus her gaze and her thoughts in order to re-assert herself in this battle.
Two blows alone has caused this kind of damage? Failed efforts on her part to
make her own forceful contact have hardly aided the situation, but she is
determined only that this cannot be over. She /will/ make her power known in
this fight, and not solely with pretty fireworks as the result. "I... won't...
fall... not yet..." Shaking her head vigorously, any onlooker could almost see
the inner glow emanating from the young woman as she draws herself into a low
stance, shivering noticeably but with an intensity in her brown eyes that can
barely be understood.
...this man spoke of Vega in a scathing breath. Thus, she must defeat this man
to stand a chance. "HA!" Spitting the syllable, she surges forward into a short
ranged sprint, swerving aside to add a deceptive slant to her movement and then
bending low, one hand reaching for the floor as she bows willowlike at the
waist. Pushing off a quick application of the fingertips, the fiery Chinawoman
launches herself into an inverted position, head brushing the floor and legs
snapping out powerfully to either side. With almost unbelievable grace she
enters her famed technique, launching a whirlwing barrage of kicks for her foe.
"SPINNING BIRD KICK!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal endures Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rugal 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
"This is not enough."
It's said as Rugal falls to the ground, crimson coat-tails fluttering around
him, whipping about soggily in the rain as once-polished shoes touch the earth
and sink in from the force of impact. Chun-Li falls a moment after, but Rugal
does not even do so much as look at her. Instead, his gaze looks down to his
shoes, frowning a bit at the mud on them. "How irritating." He mutters, shaking
a single shoe and loosing up chunks of wettened dirt. That is not what is
irritating him the most though. It only contributes. "After all this hype about
the world's strongest woman... and I see all you can do is MUDDY MY SHOES?" His
laughter is bitter and condescending, even as he turns around to wait for her to
stand up. "I want to see power. I want to see the FORCE of someone who is said
to be a match for the strongest fighters in the world. Can all you do is
/dodge/?" He pauses, only to grin wide. And then reitterate:
"It is not enough."
His legs spread, and plant firmly. His arms spread as well, palms facing Chun-Li
in a beckoning gesture. "SHOW ME your power, woman!" The fact that she has the
audacity to stand is annoying enough, but she might as well show him what she is
made of if she is going to try /yet again/. Which is why his eye burns with
life, his grin growing more feral. His chi has begun to speak of something
entirely different now - something rising up from deep within him, coiling
around his own power. "If you will not fall, then attack--" And so she does.
The kicks all strike Soundly. But Chun-Li may notice, that Rugal does not even
/try/ to move out of the way. Instead, he takes it all, to feel her power FIRST
HAND. He does not block or try to dodge. Instead, he takes it all, staggering
back a few steps as the kicks pound into him. But in the end, what Chun-Li
receives, is laughter.
"EXCELLENT! MUCH BETTER!"
And then, his hands clench into fists. Chi swirls around them, blazing
white-and-blue... but with a strange, sickening purple wrapping around that
inner layer of chi. A purple energy that screams with a need to destroy and
consume. "Now let me show you my power." With her in such close proximity, he
doesn't even have to move. Instead, he snaps his arms forward in a cross,
releasing the blue and white tinged violet chi in an immense wave that lights up
the darkened, rainy sky with a deafening ERUPTION of power, seeking to consume
Chun-Li in its wrath.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Chun-Li with Kaiser Wave.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Rugal 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Chun-Li
The congratulations on her striking power do little to aid Chun-Li in what comes
as she gracefully unfolds from her series of kicks, spinning acrobatically
downward into a crouch and spinning to face Rugal with a breathless expression.
She felt her sneakers striking - and doing so with full power - but the cost of
doing so was felt also, that telltale preparation in the body of her opponent.
Which is why her next gambit must be executed with every last nuance of speed
and grace her style can hold. Her eyes widening on seeing the devastating, huge
blast of chi heading the short distance toward her, she briefly flickers to the
eye, becoming a mere blur of speed that subsequently gets blasted backward with
a vibrant explosion of force.
...anticlimactic to her efforts, perhaps, but as she bounces two, three, four
times across the concrete there is no denying that the effect to onlookers must
be something truly spectacular. Licked about with dark tendrils and smoking
visibly, the world's strongest woman finally comes to rest in the middle of the
road, where with a shriek of tyres two passing vehicles are thrown into skids of
avoidance, eventually clattering away to either side. One goes to smash headlong
into a shop window on the southern edge of the road, the deafening tinkle of
breaking glass heralding its destruction shortly before a muffled explosion as
the gas tank sparks.
The other? Well enough masks the woman's slow attempts to get to her feet, as it
swerves violently toward the waiting Rugal Bernstein, eventually losing control
to stumble bumper over bumper toward him, clattering and shrieking marking its
chaotic path.
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Random Weapon from Chun-Li with Scorpion Blow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rugal 0/-------/---====|=======\=====--\1 Chun-Li
This is where Rugal's strength comes into play. Something he is feared for. He
is not like Chun-Li, someone who can simply dodge out of the way of things. He
was built to take the hits... and keep moving. As the car crashes towards him
with the shriek of tired and the scream of terribly malleable metal smashing
over and over against the ground, Rugal... RUSHES forward. He is not about to
let his prey escape, not when he knows she is so weak now. The Kaiser Wave was
successful. This 'accidental' distraction will not keep him from his goal - that
of completely annihilating this woman.
Feet pound against cement and tar as Rugal shoulder-rushes towards the prone
form of the Strongest Woman in the World. There is a car coming for him, but he
hardly looks to care. Sparks fly free against the rain as it scrapes across the
ground with terrifying force, and Rugal... shoulder rams it with force all his
own. Empowered by chi, it certainly /hurts/, deadens his shoulder a touch with
numbness, but the metal of the front of the car bends around him before he
/knocks/ it away, stumbling only a little as he rushes towards Chun-Li like a
train.
He does not even allow her to get fully on her feet before a gloved hand is
grasping onto her neck and encircling it, squeezing - hard. "Thank you for the
entertaining match, Ms. Strongest Woman in the World. The little accident you
made will be the highlight of my day. For now, though." His free hand clenches
into a fist. "It is my sincerest hope that this does not knock you unconscious."
The hand slamming into her face has all the force of a steel bat, to smack her
through the air and away from R's grinning, maniacal leader.
Staggering to her feet in the torrential downpour, soaked liberally in bruises
and bleeding from her very joints, Chun-Li has little thought to spare for what
has just occurred. Property damage and civilian casualties would normally
concern her greatly but now? She is too wearied and broken, working at her
limits to hold forth any semblance of conscious thought and striving to keep
pushing past the pain barrier. There is no way she can allow herself to be
finished here, not a chance that this man - who can be nothing, /must/ be
nothing in comparison to Lord Vega - will be her downfall. Whatever it takes,
this eventuality must be denied... anything else can be dealt with later.
However. All the positive thinking and forced willpower in the world cannot
prevent the rocketing death blow that Rugal deals, his phenomenal strength
showing through not only in his insane defensive manuever but in the manner in
which he aims to lay low the Chinese woman. She is staggered by the force,
wrenched into a spin away from him, a spraying mist of blood exploding from her
mouth as it opens with a gasp of pain. There is only one thing that can possibly
overcome such levels of brutality, and it is the one thing the woman can depend
on aside from her speed. Tenacity, resolve, call it what you will, it is what
has kept her pushing forward all these years. Even since birth. How else would
she have mastered a style at such a young age?
"No..." the whisper comes forth with every fibre of determination bristling from
the Tai Chi mistress, eyes flashing through the rain at her opponent. Rounding
on him she speaks again, this time much louder, forcing a near-scream from a
body that is hardly functioning. "NO!" Taking a violent stagger backward, she
tenses her entire body, shaking with intensity before surging forward. At the
last instant before she looks to be simply barrelling into Rugal, the woman
rocks back onto one leg, hurling the other up in what becomes a blasting barrage
of lightning-fast kicks. "HOUYOKO SEEEEEEN!"
Whamwhamwhamwham. Several dozen are fired off, sneakers screaming through the
air to continually assault her abominable foe. But it does not end there, with a
twist of her body and a dramatic spin, Chun-Li ends up risen upon her other leg,
executing a mirror image of the last manuever and firing forth another volley of
those same punishing strikes. One more twist sees her drop low underneath the
staggered man's guard... and with a desperate shriek she ascends one muscular
limb in a perfectly aimed thrust kick to the chin, aiming to break his jaw with
the full force of her body's limits.
And afterward... she will be forced to crumple to her knees in defeat, barely
conscious as she attemps to stave off the descending blackness. Destiny.. cannot
be denied. Vega must fall at her hand.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li can no longer fight.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Chun-Li's Houyoku Sen.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rugal 0/-------/--=====|
Destiny is denied today.
Welcome to the bitter reality.
With a casual sort of arrogance, Rugal shakes out his arm, and pulls up his
glove just a bit more. "You have an exceptionally strong skull." He's not
sincere, and he doubts that at this point, Chun-Li can even hear him. Destiny?
That means very little in the face of raw power. He is not yet complete, but he
is more than enough to deal with swine like her. He bends down, to scrape his
finger against the heavily diluted blood on the ground, even as rain batters it
away from his finger before it can even rise up. "You seem a bit worse for wear!
don't tell me that you're down for the count yet! I even let you have a free
attack on me!" But it seems as if she is, and he slowly turns...
(No...)
His feet stop. His back to Chun-Li, rain soaking his nice crimson clothes, he
does not even give forth the effort to /look/ at her. He simply keeps his back
turned to her... and heaves a long, drawn out sigh. "It seems you do not know
the meaning of the word 'power.' Or have no earthly conception of how to
perceive it. You never stood a chance, woman. Not against me." And he walks once
more, hands shoving into his pockets.
(NO!)
He continues to walk, until Chun-Li is right upon him. She's slow, though. Even
forcing herself like this... will can only take you so far before you realize
your body is broken. He spins, his right arm guarding the first kick. Where
normally he might not have been able to keep up with her manuevers, his hands
find each and every mark, guarding each lightning strike with chi-empowered
palms. "Are you done?" It's murmured in the aftermath, her foot slamming into
the palm of his hand where a chin should have been. But if she's looking for
mercy...
She gets none.
A foot swipes out just as soon as Chun-Li crumples before him, to strike her in
the throat and push her forcefully to the ground, slamming her there with a
splash of rainwater and mud. "Determination drives you forward like a
considerably annoying /gnat/. But whatever you may perceive me to be, know this.
I have /beaten/ 'Lord' Vega, and you, girl... are nothing compared to him. Train
harder. Next time we fight, you will line my hall of statues." And with that,
the pressure of his foot releases. With that, he walks off... with a chuckle.
"Happy Holidays... Strongest Woman in the World."
COMBATSYS: Rugal has ended the fight here.
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