2730/WMAT BQ1 Ryuko Matoi vs The Masked Knight

WMAT BQ1 Ryuko Matoi vs The Masked Knight
Date of Scene:	04 August 2015
Location:	WMAT Arena - Diablo Desert
Synopsis:	Ryuko Matoi takes on The Masked Knight in the WMAT qualifiers!
Cast of Characters:	66, 140
Tinyplot:	WMAT 2015

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Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    No fancy transformations for Ryuko. Not this time, anyway.

She's in her battle-ready state, waiting for her opponent to arrive. She's just a little late, it seems, but the tournament organizers let her know that she'd be arriving soon. So, in the meantime, Ryuko's standing around in the sandy desert, Scissor Blade in hand.

<<We'll go further, this time. We're not the same duo that fought in the tournament, last year.>>

That only brings a smile to Ryuko's face, and she nods to Senketsu. "No. We're not, are we? We're gonna kick some serious tail, this time. All the way to the top." She seems very confident in her chances to do so, in hopes of facing a greater rival, further down the line.

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
There's nothing fancy out of the Masked Knight, today. Twice now this enigmatic figure has entered into the lists of the World Martial Arts Tournament, and every time it's an interesting experience.

The anonymous fighter is already here in the desert stands, apparently comfortable in the heat and aridness of the surroundings, despite light leather armour and a silk shirt.

No words of greeting or victory, here, nothing at all but that impassive literal mask, gleaming in the desert sun. Even so, despite how unreadable the figure is, there's something about the posture that suggests a certain ease. This arena is comfortable territory; something familiar. deserts are familiar.

No bravado and no taunting, here; merely sand sifting as the warrior takes a few steps from where they had been standing, and raises that big, broad greatsword in evident salute.

"Begin when you are ready." The voice, evidently, is a woman's; albeit harder and lower than most, and distorted by the mask. So too is that braid of blonde hair hanging down her back. "I shall wait."

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    Ryuko's not really one for beating around the bush, either. The smile is quickly replaced, with her usual determined expression, her weapon held at the ready. That's a big sword the other woman has? Woman? Yep. Sure seems that way. Ryuko, even in her state of.. well. Senketsu and her seem fine with the desert, either way. She's totally fine with making the first move, too!

"Works for me!" Ryuko replies, as she charges in, her heeled boots kicking up sand as she moves in, swinging her sword out in a horizontal slice at the woman's midsection.

Hit or no, Ryuko makes an attempt to roll past the woman, coming up on her feet when she gets behind her, to either capitalize on her opening strike, or defend against a counter-attack.

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
The Masked Knight staggers under the force of the blow, but doesn't lose her footing in the shifting sand, even when it draws a line of red through the side of that fine silk shirt. Instead, that big, heavy greatsword whips up and around in a shockingly fast counter, aiming to catch Ryuko on her side as the younger woman rolls past. It's an unorthodox move, a quick and heavy dip of the greatsword meant to jab into Ryuko's side in passing.

"Hm. Quick reflexes. I commend your skill," the Masked Knight states, crisply; though the tautness in her voice suggests that did in fact hurt.

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    Ryuko's definitely surprised, that big sword moved a lot quicker than she thought it might. But, mistake made. She doesn't plan on making it again. "Nnf. Same." That's all she offers, letting out a huff as she feels red dribbling down her side. Not deep, but definitely enough that she's going to feel it, likely for the rest of the fight. But, the fight isn't over yet, not by a long shot.

Still crouched slightly, she doesn't wait for her opponent to turn, before she lunges forward again. Thrusting with her Scissor Blade, she seeks to jab at her, and hopefully from behind or some other convenient angle, before she can counter again.

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
Flickering like a snake readying to strike, that greatsword reflects the desert sun and seems for an instant like something alive -- but no, it's just steel, expertly hammered and shaped. It's the hands of the wielder that make it into anything to contend with.

Huffing behind the mask, coughing as desert dust kicked up manages to filter its way in through the air holes, the Masked Knight seems content to eschew all conversation after that.

The masked woman is halfway through turning when the Scissor Blade catches her on the side; although she pulls away, it's not fast enough to avoid a deep slash clipping her sword arm. She takes the blow with a grunt, even as she reverses her sword and attempts to clip Ryuko in the head with the blunt, squared-off pommel; again, in passing, evidently trying to use momentum to her advantage where she can.

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    No, not this time. Ryuko learned her lesson once, so that counter attack is one she manages to see coming. Somewhat.

She does manage to redirect the blow, by smacking at the knight's sword with hers, but only just. The blow hits her in the shoulder, but the pain is a sight better than a blow to the head and the fact that such a thing could've quickly ended the fight, right then and there. And now, Ryuko has something of an advantage. Her weapon used to defend, she uses the rest of herself as a weapon. Not that she isn't a stranger to doing that. She leans back a bit, bringing a leg upwards, to try and kick the other woman in the stomach. Armor or no, life fibers enhancing her strength to superhuman extents means that a solid blow could very well take the woman off her feet.

The red trim on her outfit even glows a little, taking on a magenta hue, as she lashes out.

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
There is a slight 'hurk' sound as foot connects with gut, but the warrior is made of strong enough stuff not to go sprawling. Barely. It still results in a cough and a huff of air knocked out of her, and it still hurts like nobody's business.

If that's all it took to take her down, though, she would've been dead a long time ago.

In the blink of an eye the woman tosses her sword to one hand, lashing out with a gloved fist for Ryuko's jaw. Fine, then. If the pommel didn't work, maybe a nasty left hook might well do the job.

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    Oh, but will it? Ryuko's made of some sturdy stuff, herself. And being on her own for years, learning to fight with her hands, on the street? She learned how to take a punch a long time ago. Her head is knocked to the side, but she quickly turns to face her opponent again, and spits a little blood onto the sand. "Hoho. That's how it's gonna be, eh? You wanna fight that way, let's do it!"

She wants street, she'll get street. Ryuko shifts her footing, and kicks a cloud of sand up at the knight, hopefully right into that mask. Followed soon after by her clenched fist. Mask or no, that's likely to hurt. And maybe she's being just a little bit cocky, too. Either way, that's what Ryuko goes with. It's what she knows, after all.

"How's that!?"

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
"I do not fight any other way." The answer is calm in spite of the heated battle, and whatever her face might look like, one can imagine the Masked Knight watching carefully for any openings. Leather creaks as she tightens her grip on the greatsword, mask downturned slightly. It faces just enough to suggest that the enigmatic woman is still watching Ryuko, and watching very closely--

--and staggers back, coughing dust and stinging sand. For a moment she almost feels like cursing the mask's presence, but it's a necessity. And she'd better start concentrating on the fight if she wants a fighting chance at this. Before she can form any sort of counter-offensive, though, Ryuko's fist clangs into the mask with a dull sound, causing the knight to recoil. Maybe the mask protected from any serious damage, but that was still /painful/.

Fine, then, down to brass tacks. The knight straightens, abruptly sweeps out a leg to try and take Ryuko out at the ankles, and swings that massive greatsword in the same instant to try and catch her while she's down. If that weren't enough, she's also rushing in to try and left hook Ryuko in the jaw again -- all like an explosion of activity; like a serpent uncoiling for the blinding-fast strike.

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    Woah! She does know how to scrap! If anything, Ryuko would be more excited, if she wasn't getting swept off her feet. She hits the ground and manages to bring her sword up across her body, bracing it with both hands, to block that heavy strike. "Oof! Not bad.." She's quick to get back to her feet, but catches another fist to the jaw, in reply. "Mmf!" Ryuko rattles her head a bit, spitting some more blood, and giving the knight a grin. "Heh.."

She hefts her sword, the blade unfolding out into it's Decapitation Mode. Less like half of a pair of scissors now, and more like a two-handed Nodachi, the girl hefts the sword over her shoulder and tries to bring it down against the knight's shoulder, with a heavy swing! "Okay, no sense in holding back, now!"

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
Most people think of knights, and they think of insufferably good people who will behave honourably to a fault even if it kills them. That's all well and good, but the Masked Knight is under no such compunctions, and perfectly willing to fight dirty if it means surviving or succeeding. In fact, part of her almost prefers it. The opportunity to show true colours on both sides of the battle is always a pleasure.

Fortunately, she might enjoy a good battle, but she's not driven into a rage at the sight of her opponent's blood; when Ryuko lifts that joined sword, the Masked Knight is smart enough to kick off from the ground and leap backward out of the way. That greatsword raises to parry, spitting sparks from the impact.

"Well-fought." Her compliment is a huff of air. "But you operate under a mistaken assumption. I do not hold back. That is a way to get oneself killed, and killed quickly." The laugh she gives is subtle, somewhat soft and breathy; and definitely a little creepy, to some.

Using the momentum of parrying that swing, the Masked Knight brings her blade back around, this time to kick forward in a lunge that puts her entire weight behind a thrusting blow to Ryuko's midsection.

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    Ryuko feels the strike, of her sword against the knight's, and she's also jumping back, as the knight lunges forward. As a result, she's more than ready to roll out of the way of that lunge. So, Ryuko sees her opening and takes it. Gripping her blade tight, she brings it up and uses the knight's charge against her, slashing horizontally at her middle, with the whole length of the cutting edge.

"I learn quick. I catch on. I hold back a bit, to see what people can do. Then I go all out!" Ryuko responds, "I learned just going all in, from the start, ain't a good strategy... So!" She chuckles back, as she follows through with her blow, which might leave her a bit open, if the knight figures a way to counter it.

Lucatiel of Mirrah (66) has posed:
Ouch. It's not often that the Masked Knight has her own charges turned against her, but it speaks to the girl's skill that it worked. The knight staggers back, reaching up adn adjusting the masks. "Excellent. That is the way to fight. Every battle as though it were your last; every foe as though they were the headsman swinging their axe over your neck."

"But..." She straightens, swinging her blade around until the point rests in the desert dust, inclining her head and doffing that magnificent plumed hat (although the mask stays firmly over her face), bowing deeply. "I have seen all I must. I cede this match to you."

Ryuko Matoi (140) has posed:
    "Ah?" Ryuko stops, as she was getting ready to attack again, but lowers her sword. "Well, alright.. Good fight."

The girl drops her transformation, a flurry of magenta sparkles surrounding her form, and when they fade, she's in her school uniform, again. "Good fight, then." She gives the knight a nod, and her scissor blade, similarly, returns to normal size, folding in on itself.