Multiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]

Now and Forever (Fiora Laurent)

2016-12-11T16:49:54Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2016/12/11 |Location=Kingdom of Demacia |Synopsis=Much has changed. The Union is effectively no more. But, from the ashes of this violent chan..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2016/12/11
|Location=Kingdom of Demacia
|Synopsis=Much has changed. The Union is effectively no more. But, from the ashes of this violent change, something new is about to be born.
|Cast of Characters=1083
}}
Fiora is knelt before the throne of her king, in the Citadel of the Dawn. But, it is the king's son who sits on it. The prince, Jarvan IV, effectively rules, given the poor health of his father. And it is he who listens pensively to Fiora's report on the events of the night before. What amounts to the laying low of the Union, as a whole.

"Stand, Lady Laurent. We have much to discuss." He leans back in the large, golden throne, and sighs. "It is vexing, Fiora.. We had hoped this Union would help us to endure within the greater scheme of the Multiverse. However.. it seems where this has failed, another option has made itself known." He then gestures to a pair of men, dressed in black suits, white shirts, and ties. Not Demacians, that is for certain. "They are here to speak to you. I already have. They were actually here before you were."

Fiora is a little shocked, of course. "Not here, my prince." She stands and looks to the men. "We shall do this, within the walls of my own estate. Gentlemen? If you please, follow me."

-- A SHORT TIME LATER --

House Laurent's estate is, like most, made of polished, white marble. Blue banners hang from the rafters of the main hall, a white rose embroidered on them. A stained glass window above the foyer and staircase bears the same, casting the image of said rose onto the marble floors. She leads the men to a smaller antechamber, that she's converted into an office of sorts, for her official duties as the head of her household.

"Well then, gentlemen. Speak."

The first man removes his hat, revealing a shaven head. "Well, my lady. We represent a group of governments, organizations, and businesses known as the Commonwealth. We actually came to the Prince, to extend membership to Demacia itself. We value highly the sense of morals and justice, that your people hold in such high regard. This, of course, brings us to why we wish to speak to you."

The second man also removes his had. Wavy, black hair is arranged in a combover on his slightly balding head. "Warriors like yourself represent those ideals. And given the chaotic state of the Multiverse, the Commonwealth has decided to act. We are creating a force of our own, with a greater focus on diplomacy, crime-fighting, and peace-keeping efforts. And while Demacia has several promising candidates, given your own history of working with the Union, we would like to first extend this offer to you. To join our ranks."

Fiora needs little time to process this. "Done. I trust my Prince has already worked out this.. agreement with your Commonwealth. I serve Demacia, now and forever. So if this is the path my leader has chosen, then I will see it to its end. Thank you, gentlemen."

With that, both men don their hats, and exit. Fiora's eldest brother then enters, "Sister? What was..?"

Her expression, one deep in thought, causes him to pause. "It seems, brother, that things will be changing for Demacia. For us. For me. Change can be violent and destructive. We must simply endure, as Demacia itself has. Now and forever."

2714/WMAT B Qual Fiora vs Ezreal

2015-08-11T03:16:30Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/08/02 |Location=WMAT Arena - Gizard Wasteland |Synopsis=Fiora, the Grand Duelist vs Ezreal, the Prodigal Explorer! |Thanks=Ezreal, for being s..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/08/02
|Location=WMAT Arena - Gizard Wasteland
|Synopsis=Fiora, the Grand Duelist vs Ezreal, the Prodigal Explorer!
|Thanks=Ezreal, for being such a good sport, and a fine opponent!
|Cast of Characters=659, 824
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     The Prodigal Explorer, Ezreal. While he was a Champion in the League, a one on one fight was something that he was still not overly adept at. However, he had to show his strength outside of the League, without any sort of support or tank backing him up. And so he steps into the Gizard Wasteland, his boots kicking up dust as he walks. This was the battlefield where he would face down the most renown duelist in the League. A woman who not only had the experience he lacked, but was the master of the art they would soon engage in. It's a daunting thought.     For most.     For Ezreal, he smiles. If he was able to best Fiora Laurent in a duel, not only would his popularity increase back home, but he would show his strength as a Union ally as well. And if Project Pulsefire was ever going to come to fruition, he would need Union aid. The medallion on his gauntlet sparkles in the light, and he raises it to the sun and closes his fist. "Whenever you're ready!" he calls. 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     Is, indeed, no stranger to the trials of a tournament. Fiora's title, Grand Duelist, speaks volumes about who she is and what she's capable of. The League is, of course, one thing. The Multiverse is another. She's not about to underestimate her opponent, least of all one that she knows, from her own world. She's already whet her appetite for a challenge before this duel, with another. Just to keep her skill sharp. Naturally, she made sure that she won. And here, on an actual stage, her reputation is at stake.     "As you wish. En guarde."     The dusty, rocky environment is not all that dissimilar from numerous places within Demacia itself, seeing as how the Shuriman desert borders it. But, Ezreal has gone far further than that. While experience in combat is Fiora's edge, Ezreal's comfort level with the battlefield exceeds hers. He will have that advantage, at least. Raising her drawn blade in a brief salute, the woman kicks off the ground, swiping out with her sword, to strike at the explorer before he can use his amulet's magic to shift himself to a distance, where his range will be an advantage. 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Ezreal scans the environment, taking in the topography of the area and looking for an advantageous position. His skills with cartography wouldn't help him fight, but it might give him positional advantages when the duel heats up. As a result, he isn't ready for Fiora's quick lunging strike. The blade lashes across his chest, and he leaps back wincing. A thin streak of blood appears across his chest, and he glares toward the Duelist for just a moment. Then his face splits into a smile.     "Alright then. I can see you're fired up!" he says, chuckling. And then he does what Fiora was trying to avoid. He blinks away, leaving a bolt of magic hurtling toward the woman. He reappears atop a boulder for a moment, before he leaps behind it and presses his back to it. Seems the hunt may be on! 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     Tch! He's a slippery one. She knows what's coming, but the blast of arcane energy produced by the explorer shifting away catches her shoulder, as she gives chase. "Of course, dear! It would hardly be any fun, if I wasn't!" She replies, as she looks up at the boulder, catching a glimpse of him, just before he ducks behind it. Stalking that way, she aims a thrust at the boulder, and lunges forwards with her sword.     The strike releases an intense vibration in her blade, but she manages to transfer it into the rock, and not her hand. The rock then splits apart in the front, but shatters the other half into hundreds of pieces. It might be a little hazardous to stay close, with those sharp fragments of rock flying around! 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Ezreal is plotting his next move when he hears Fiora's blade strike the rock. "Oh, seriously?!" he calls, before he cries out in pain. Rocks fragment and launch into his body, and as he staggers away from the now-shattered cover it's with blood dripping from numerous wounds across his form. "I wasn't expecting you to just EXPLODE the damn thing, Fiora! What the hell?" He staggers away, before turning suddenly, a large wave of magical energy firing from his gauntlet. However, instead of aiming for Fiora...     It's aiming for the ground in front of her. An explosion of dust and earth flies into the air, and Ezreal attempts to use the cloud to cover his movements. However, Fiora might be able to hear him, his boots pounding the ground as he runs... toward her? Yep.     He leaps into the air, swinging his magical gauntlet straight toward Fiora's face. Before contact would be made, there's another pulse of the arcane, a bolt of magic flying from his fist to enhance his punch! Hopefully. 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     "Fufufu~. Don't think me weak, just because I use a sword.." Fiora retorts, but she's soon on the defensive. That wave of energy? The Trueshot Barrage? Would he pull that out, so soon? But it isn't! He has managed to surprise her a bit, as that dirt and sand most definitely obscure her vision. Hearing aside, him charging in is also unexpected. With her arm up to block the dirt from getting in her eyes, Ezreal feels and hears the satisfying sound of the blow landing, "Ooof!"     She staggers backward, a few steps, and shakes her head a couple of times. "Hoh. Never thought you'd be the type for up close and personal.. But you did catch me off guard." She stands again, flipping her hair lightly from her face. "But you have wandered into my domain, as well." She lunges, herself, but not with her sword. A feint move, as she does bring it up, as if to strike with it, but draws back, and lashes out with her shin, kicking at the explorer. She spins, quickly, and tries to follow up with a stab with her sword, as well. 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Ezreal smirks as his attack connects, but Fiora is correct. He's inside her circle of control now, and he's certainly going to pay for doing so. However, his gauntlet's medallion shines as the dust clears in the wake of his punch. "Sometimes, to win, you have to mix thing u--" He evades the feint, then is caught straight away by a shin to the gut. He doubles over, feeling the point of Fiora's sword stab into his side. He groans, then staggers away again. His vision wavers a bit from the pain, but he shakes his head, straightening up. "You... certainly are living up to your name," he says, "You've spent years crafting your art, haven't you?" He smirks, eyes riveting to the Duelist. "I guess that's the difference. Maybe that's what I need to do in order to be stronger, huh? No time for that now, though."     He rolls away, then blinks. Where did he go this time?     Behind Fiora. He steps in, aiming to kick at the back of her legs before punching his fist forward. This time, however, his bow forms in his hand, and his second signature attack, the Mystic Shot, forms and fires. "Maybe it's not too late though." 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     Fiora nods, "I have. Honing it, like the edge of a blade. It's not just your weapon you need to sharpen. Body and mind, as well. All are important." She blinks, as the blond marksman shifts again, and ends up behind her. The kick to her legs staggers her again, and then the near point-blank mystic shot? That certainly is enough to floor the duelist, Fiora sent tumbling forwards. Thankfully, she's able to roll back to her feet, and once she is, she's more than ready to try for a counter-attack. Kicking off the rock, she just about vanishes herself.     A lunge, lightning fast, difficult indeed to actually track with the naked eye. The woman is a blur of silver and steel, as she rushes back into melee range. Even if the lunge doesn't hit, she follows up, drawing her parrying dagger and slashing out with that, as well. 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     There's a look in Ezreal's eyes as he sends Fiora flying. The success of the attack, so far out of his normal attack pattern, gets him thinking. Could he adapt new things to his repetoire? He was smart, perhaps smarter than many in Valoran, but he had a tendency to shirk away from anything strenuous. But now? Things were different. Jinx was a force around here. Fiora was around, still sharp as ever. If he continued to be the same, he might be left behind by both of them. Could he allow that?     No.     He gives Fiora a hard look, then blinks his eyes as she travels. It was fast, faster than most could track. Faster than most could deal with.     Ezreal isn't most, however. He knows Fiora is a close range fighter, and will close the gap. His feet move, almost on instinct, and he throws himself to one side. He feels the sting of blade against his side. However, it's a glancing hit. Cloth rips away and a thin line of blood appears in the wake of the attack, but he avoids the follow-up, smirking as he does.     "Damn, you're quick! Strong and fast... no wonder you're the Grand Duelist. But there's one thing people forget about my title." He steps forward, drawing his gauntleted hand back. Magic energy pools in his palm, before he thrusts his arm forward in a palm strike toward her center. "I am the PRODIGAL Explorer. There's no situation I can't adapt to!" 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     The blast hits her squarely, sending her back once more. She rights herself quickly, and chuckles, "No.. There's something to be said about adaptability. A battlefield is an ever-changing place. Fluid, shifting, never staying the same." Fiora rolls her shoulders, and takes a breath, "Strength, speed.. they're tools I put to good use. But my most valuable asset.. precision! Knowing where to strike, and when.. You can cripple foes, before they know how to respond!"     With that, the woman dashes again, but to the side.. And then she goes, in, a wide slash with her sword, a spin.. then a thrust with her dagger. It truly is a dance, as she's able to just change direction by pushing off with one foot, dashing in once more from the opposite side with an identical attack, a slash with her sword and thrust with the dagger. 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     The Explorer chuckles a bit, rolling his shoulders a bit. "That's right," he says, "But I'm no slouch in those departments myself, Fiora." His faces falls as she moves in again. While he's covered in wounds, she seems to keep going, moving back into a bladed dance with both sword and dagger. Ezreal's body rolls with every strike, his body starting to grow slower and heavier with every strike. He can feel himself tiring, weakening, but he straightens up after weathering Fiora's assault. He's covered in lacerations and a couple of stab wounds, but he offers a smirk to the Duelist regardless.     "Is that it?" he asks. He's falling back to taunts, a childish move perhaps, but one he hopes to use to throw Fiora off her rhythm. He lowers his body, sinking to a kneel. Is he... submitting?     No way.     He slams his gauntlet into the ground, pulsing his magical energy into the earth. Beneath Fiora, the ground begins to shift and shake violently before a column suddenly rockets straight upward, hoping to catch the Duelist and send her flying skyward! 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     Fiora lets out a huff, at that little remark. "You don't change, do you?" She realized, of course, he has something up his sleeve. After fighting alongside Toph the other day, she should've seen this one coming, really. It's straight out of her book. The duelist is launched up into the air, struck rather hard by the pillar of rock. She loses her dagger in the process, but thankfully not her sword. Being airborne doesn't seem to dissuade her, however, and she manages to twist herself around so that when she does come down, she'll be ready to fight. In fact, the moment a foot touches the ground, she lunges forward, sharply and quickly. Another blinding burst of speed, and a very quick counter-attack. But, all Ezreal will feel as she passes is air. An afterimage? Can she really move that quickly? Proven, perhaps by the fact that she really is behind him, and has already reversed direction entirely, for an identical attack from behind! 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Ezreal smirks. His brash nature was not something he tried to hide, after all. It was well-known among members of the League how cocky he could be. However... to use it as a tool? That might be new. He stands up, watching Fiora carefully. He knows she's fast, but to be able to be on the move immediately on touchdown catches him offguard.     Or does it?     As the afterimage passes through and Fiora approaches from behind, she would feel her sword hit him. However, not to the degree she was looking for. It slashes across his back, but doesn't bite in before he flickers and blinks away. He reappears a short distance away, back to Fiora's original position, facing her new one. He winces, the pain clearly mounting, but he doesn't seem ready to call it yet. Instead, he opens his gauntlet and points it toward the Duelist. "No one can stay static forever, Fiora. Not even me! Especially not me!" There's a flash of light, and then a large volley of Ezreal's basic bolts begins pouring from the gauntlet, all lancing toward Fiora and slicing through the air. It's not the Trueshot, but it's certainly a... 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     Fiora can parry several of the attacks, but not all of them. Not close enough. Several of them hit, enough to stagger her and throw her back again, the woman short of breath, for sure. She's definitely at something of a disadvantage, now, if she can't land any solid blows on him. She'll need to do the same. Think outside of her box. So, that's just what she decides to do. "Mm.. You've grown some, since last we met.. But it would be foolish, to think I haven't done the same." Perhaps a little improvising is in order. She dashes, and fast. Very fast. Straight at the explorer. But only just a very short distance, sword outstretched. But, she does it so quickly..     That a loud /boom/ echoes amongst the rocky outcroppings of the Gizzard Wastes, shuddering through the one they're standing on, and sending a very solid blast of air straight at him. What's more, the very leading edge of the blast is sharp. Enough that it carves into the rock beneath her feet. Who knows how well he might handle getting /hit/ by this? 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Ezreal closes his fist, drawing into a defensive stance as his volley flies. Her words cause him to smirk, but it's a sad one. "I know you have, Fiora," he says, "And I haven't enough. Not yet." He can almost sense a change in the air, but he stands there, watching the Duelist with bright eyes. He's trying to study, watch, and predict her next move. Unfortunately, however, he can't figure her out soon enough, and even his best guess doesn't begin to prepare him for her actual strike. There's a boom. Why... why is there a boom?     The air itself rends Ezreal, causing him to scream out as he's blasted back. He bounces across the ground, rolling along the dust until finally falling to a stop. He doesn't immediately reclaim his feet, though he does stir. He's still able to move, but as he stands up it's clear he's starting to get worn out. However, his eyes are still bright. There's a cut across his entire face, showing the trail of Fiora's wind slash. He doesn't seem to notice, however, eyes focusing on Fiora.     "When did you think of that one?" he asks, before he smirks. "Never expected a ranged attack from you. But it won't be enough!" He draws his gauntleted hand down, magic energy shining around the fist, before he launches it straight up into the air. There's another explosion as a massive ball of mana rockets straight above the Explorer. It stops about three stories over his head, before it becomes unstable. Ezreal glances up at it, smirking before it silently detonates, energy rocketing in a slanted path toward the Duelist, aiming to blast the entire area around her! 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     Fiora glances up, as Ezreal charges his next attack. For her, though, now is the time to act. Will she stay still? Of course not! But, even if she tries to evade, it won't matter. That's a powerful blast, right there. So, she does the next best thing. "Won't it?" She takes the same exact stance, and readies to lunge with her sword. "I've come up with this sort of thing, just for the Tournament." A short lunge, just as that unstable mass of energy reaches the apex of her striking distance. And out it comes. That wall of air, the precise aim of her sword. The very tip of it finding whatever foci the energy is useing to stay.. Solid? Intact? Either way, only a couple of arcs hit the duelist herself.     It grazes some of her armor, but little else. The rest of it? Well, all of that disrupted energy has to go somewhere. And that slash of air, the blast that had previously just been a sharp gust, is now roiling with all that redirected energy, too. "A duelist always knows when to meet force head on!" 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Riposte. Damnit.     Ezreal should've expected the move to come out at some point, but not for that attack. This one, in particular, took a lot of magical power to form, and now it's rolling through the air, turned back on him by the sheer force of Fiora's will and prowess. As the wave washes over him, his scream is lost in the sound of wind around him. An explosion of dust rises around him, hiding his form. But, it doesn't matter. Surely an attack of that caliber, combined with his already weakened state, had cleaned the boy's clock. Right?     Right?     Wrong!     Tapping into his sheer desire to best Fiora, there's a sound of rushing mana, and a bright blue bow forms in the dust cloud. It grows incredibly wide, and the energy being channeled sunders the earth around Ezreal, creating a localized earthquake. This... was his final gambit. The famed attack that League members feared on the Fields of Justice, those low on life knowing that Ezreal had his sights set on them. From anywhere.     "TRUESHOT BARRAGE!"     The arc of golden light races from his person, clearing the air and racing toward Fiora. The ultimate display of his skill, Ezreal sinks to a knee once the attack is fired, panting heavily. 

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''     No parrying this one. No dodging it, either. Not at this range. All Fiora has now, is to rely on her grit, and hope she has the strength to weather the blast. And, in the end, she does manage to do so, but just barely. Her breastplate is gone, and there's numerous tears in the leather outfit beneath it. Her jacket and the cape on her shoulder are in a similar state. Even her hair is mussed up. How dreadful! But, in the end, the duelist is still standing. "Ugh.. huff.." Very, very barely. Favoring one side to the other, she approaches her kneeling foe. "Pfah.. Nearly.. Nearly had me.." She manages to spit out, very much out of breath, now. Her honor demands she win, and thus, she'll do. She stands back a pace, and once more brings up her sword to her face. A salute, to a well-fought battle. "But, you surprised me. I hope that your strength grows, as I know mine will. May we meet again, on the Fields of Justice." Her arm whips out, like a snake, and is soon a blur of silver and steel, as multiple stabs are thrown out in the span of only a few seconds. Nothing that would overdo it. But enough that it should take the fight out of the explorer, for now. 

:'''{{#var:659|Ezreal (659)}} has posed:'''     Ezreal smirks as Fiora withstands the entire force of his Trueshot. It was his last attempt at victory, and as she approaches him he closes his eyes. He doesn't try to reclaim his feet. It'd be a futile effort now, for sure. He shakes his head, then smiles a bit wider. "I guess I've come a small way, but not as far as you or Jinx," he says, "But... to be able to take you this far? I have no regrets. Well fought and well won, Fiora. Your title is as true as your strikes."     As the blade whips across him, he only feels the first slash before his mind sinks into the fog of unconsciousness. He pitches forward, all semblance of awareness absent as his face hits the dirt. 

}}

1995/Threads of Fate: The Honnouji Naturals Election

2015-08-11T03:15:15Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/04/09 |Location=KLK Earth <KLK> |Synopsis=The Naturals Election is in full swing, with the entire school battling it out for the highest ranki..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/04/09
|Location=KLK Earth <KLK>
|Synopsis=The Naturals Election is in full swing, with the entire school battling it out for the highest rankings in Honnouji!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=6, 20, 95, 140, 162, 353, 381, 430, 558, 627, 678
|Tinyplot=Threads of Fate (Part 1)
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Late afternoon finds the massive courtyard of Honnouji Academy packed with students... although, to those familiar with the place, perhaps not so packed as it was before the Naturals Election. The herd has been thinned, so to speak. Or rather, it's thinned itself.     Most of the remaining students look just a little bit leaner, just a little bit meaner. They've spent this past week (YES, WEEK, THERE IS NO TIME SHENANIGANS HERE, MOVE ALONG) fighting tooth and nail every single day to retain what status they have, to claim it from others. There are a few students here who didn't used to have Two-Star Uniforms, that now do. There are a couple of former Two-Star students sporting One- or even No-Star Uniforms. Nearly every one of them, however, sports some collection of bruises, cuts and scrapes, proof of the past week's violence and conquest, save perhaps for a few who got by on smarts or cowardice... and, of course, for the Elite Four, standing among the populace with nary a scratch on them or their Three-Star Uniforms.     It is above this motley crowd of fiercely competitive students that the crimson field that has protected and obscured Satsui's tower this past week finally fades and disaperses. With clear, bright sunlight shining down, the Queen of Honnouji appears before her subjects for the first time in a week, heel clacking against her platform as she assumes the posture of the supreme authority she is. "Fellow comrades of Honnouji Academy! You have done well to struggle through this week of mortal combat, and arrive here to take part in this Naturals Election! However, your battle has only just begun!" 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Rock Lee is an absolute stamina beast, but he's largely been fighting grunts so far, and hasn't really pulled out anything big. He knows that once it narrows down, things are going to get very serious. Somewhere along the lines, because he's a ninja highly trained in infiltration, he grabbed a No-Star uniform. He's unsure of what the starred ones actually do to make people stronger, so chooses to play it safe. Plus he doesn't want to cheat! So now he stands there in his uniform, arms still wrapped in bandages, and his legs still in orange leg warmers with his usual sneaker sandals. But who knows what ninja trickery he's used to hide his chuunin vest. Right now, other than the mentioned modifications and lack of real damage to his body, he looks like any other student. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Her first trip to this world, and she finds herself at a school of some sort. At least there might be some fun out of this visit, however. How many schools have brawling as part of the election process, after all? Not that Toph intends to be a dutiful student here, but if it will help out the Union and Ryuko, then why not? Especially if she gets to kick some ass.     Heading up the stairs leading to the academy she can't help but wonder why there's a trend to put schools on top of hills, but the earthbending master seems to not have a single scratch on her as she steps through the gates, possibly quite shorter than most of the students and dressed in a far more casual manner as she sports her usual bending clothes.     As Toph hears Satsuki speak up she makes her way through the crowd, noting how injured some of the people here seem to be. And she does her best to pick out just where Ryuko is amidst all these people. And... huh, what is Rock Lee doing here? This ought to be interesting. So are they all just going to fight in a huge brawl here or what? Most of these people seem like ordinary people who would have no chance against Elites... 

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:''' Hayate has shown up! She is mostly here to watch, because while the idea horrifies her, she IS trying to inure herself to how things work in different worlds... and Satsuki was someone she knew. She isn't competing, and is in her wheelchair! Obviously not going to compete in any form! Shamal isn't either, the green-clad young woman pushing Hayate's wheelchair. Not that the young girl needs the chair, now, but it's still more comfortable for longer days. And if anyone DID attack, the short redhead in pigtails beside her is wearing a grouchy face that looks like a mini-Satsuki, minus the eyebrows. Vita will not let anyone touch Hayate, but she's behaving for now. 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr's here with Toph, the taller Mage standing in her Barrier Jacket and resting her Device lazily across her shoulders. "Those guys back there were pitiful. I almost let one get a punch in because I felt sorry for him." she comments to Toph, looking herself rather unscratched, though there's some scuff marks on her breastplate and at points along the Axe's haft and blades.     She turns her odd eyes over the crowd. This is her first time here, so the uniforms mean nothing to her, though by association she can probably figure out that 'More Stars = Stronger'. That's how this stuff works, right?     "No sign of Feds yet... but keep your senses open." she says to Toph, while focussing for a moment, spalling off a quartet of Area Search wisps set to Visual Feed. They disseminate around to get a wider picture, but can't detect energy signals, only provide a visual feed. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     There's a Fed here! Or at least, there will be in a moment. A pink streak cuts across the sky before the crowd is joined by a small girl in a while, modest-looking uniform, bearing a staff. TAKAMACHI NANOHA lands somewhere in the crowd, eyes wide when she sees the various cuts and scrapes. Her expression doesn't change as she looks all around, taking in the strangeness of another world again.     It's not like she's never seen another world or even a strange world, it just doesn't look like what she expected Satsuki's world to look like.     Speaking of Satsuki, she finally looks up that way when the speech begins, starting to wave... then thinking better of it and just listening. If Satsuki catches her eyes, though, she'll give the older girl a quick smile. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Sheena's been playing it oddly here, while she's had dawn breaker with her? Also Tizona is with her to provide protection, she's been keeping her avatar as an ace in the whole. This might be foolish, but it seems to be working so far all things considered. She's looking a bit beat up but she's still breathing. She looks up to Satsuki as she makes her announcement, wondering just what's going to come next. She looks to Zephyr, then Toph before she turns her gaze over near by the group. She's trying to pick out people who are threats, even the no stars are considered, as after all? Some of them did claw their way up this week. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' A declaration of supremacy through battle? A path to power and social order through establishing dominance? The creation of a new order through upheaval and the survival of the fittest? It gets the attention of certain people. Atop one of the buildings, a shadowed form looks down over the schoolyard, the overwrought evnvironment and the remains of the studeny body vausing a thin twitch in their mouth. Even the arrival of the Elites does not seem to stay the man from what they are to do. There is a sudden rush of air, and a flip from the building as Souji Murasame lands down into the middle of the courtyard with a crack of thunder in a three-point landing. Weaker students might be throw away with the simple sound of his arrival. He stands, looking around the area with a measuring gaze. He wears no uniform, but an impeccably-tailored business suit and a pair of glasses that show faint signs of having an HUD of some kind in them. At his side is a sheathed blade. He does not address the Elites or even the students, simply beginning to walk towards the Tower with a measured pace. Perhaps someone will try to stop him. Perhaps not. He is showing to be in no hurry, almost as if his actions dare the students present to try to interdict him. Satsuki will have plenty of time to make her speech, however. He has no plans to interrupt such a production. 

:'''{{#var:353|Laer (353)}} has posed:'''     There's another Fed here, too! One who looks out of place even by the weird standards of this place; Laer's just wearing her normal light leather armor, though in deference of the local stylings she's drawn three stars on it across her midriff in black Sharpee. She'll let Satsuki give her speech, not necessarily being here to fight so much as for a good story to tell later, though she's probably going to end up fighting as part of that.     She's brought the Electric Eclectic Bass along with her. It's strapped on her back, and occasionally crackles with electricity. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     And, of course, Ryuko is going to show. She's down in the courtyard, with all the other students, looking just fine. Having a Kamui does give you quite the advantage, and while a club or two has come after her over the last week, they didn't prove much of an issue. Arms crossed, she's just glaring daggers up at Satsuki, high up on her perch. And waiting. This is her chance, if nothing else. No one ever said she can't go straight for the top, so that's her plan. Fight through whoever she has to, and make it to Satsuki. And then toss her down from that high pedastal of hers. Maybe beat out some answers, while she's at it. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Many have gathered. Some of them allies. Some of them enemies. Some, she doesn't even recognize. But that's fine. Simply by being here, they are serving her ends splendidly. Satsuki is content to simply take in their arrivals, their presence, committing it to memory. And all in the space of a heartbeat; the event is, after all, only just beginning. "Every battle within the city limits of Honnou Town over the past week has been recorded. Your performance has been analyzed, your struggles measured! From this week of struggle, the new generation of Two- and One-Star Students will be determined. However, for my Student Council, only the best will be tolerated! Only those to whom excellence comes naturally, even when they have faced endless struggle! Therefore..."     The ground begins to rumble beneath everyone's feet.     "I will be designating new Three-Star students based on the results of the battle here!"     Beneath everyone's feet, the earth splits open. Two huge, wide columns begin to rise up. Broad across the top, with ample room for several people to stand on each, the twin columns turn and rise until they stand high above the courtyard. Their sides lined with tremendous spikes, circled by a spiralling, rail-less staircase, there is no question whatsoever about what they are meant for. Even so, Satsuki declares it without hesitation.     "There are two towers in the schoolyard! The groups capable of holding the territory atop these towers will be considered the prime candidates for my Student Council! Fight, and climb, and stand your ground! If you wish to claim Three-Star status within Honnouji Academy, YOU WILL TAKE IT BY FORCE!!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' If anyone is maintaining a scorecard for the Naturals Election, Sagat is probably running lower than the Bookies Club calculated - mostly because he hasn't been going out and picking fights, but has been largely waiting for fights to come to him. A number of his challengers have actually had One-Star uniforms, and the occasional rare Two-Star has even been gunning for him, mostly to eliminate a likely threat. You could say, then, that Sagat has been something of a crouching tiger for the duration. Just don't mistake him for a *paper* tiger, because he absolutely is as dangerous as he seems when he stops acting like 'just another student'. He's not far from Ryuko and the rest of the Fight Club at this point; his only concession to the fact that this is about to be a battleground is that his otherwise-pristine uniform jacket is hanging open, exposing a perfectly normal shirt underneath it. It's a little extra freedom of movement, which seems to be all he needs ... Well. That, and the fact that his hands and feet are wrapped for battle. When Satsuki makes her final announcement and the towers rise, Sagat nods once - mostly to himself, partly to his allies - and heads for the towers without any hesitation whatsoever. He doesn't have much interest in being on the student council, mind you - but being able to claim that one of those top slots is rightfully his would be a MAJOR point of pride, even if he never activates whatever uniform he may earn. So whoever tries to get in Sagat's way had better be prepared, because they'll be trying to take the tiger by the tail. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "If somebody wants to punch me in the face, then they better earn it," Toph declares to Zephyr. "Can you see Ryuko? It's a bit hard to tell all these people apart." It's probably good to clear things up with her since this is her home turf.     Ah, there are the Feds.     Toph frowns slightly, narrowing her eyes as Souji makes a dramatic entrance. then here's Laer and Nanoha who stand out, even though Toph can't remember running into them before.     So they are chosing the student council today, huh? This will be... huh, what's happening to the ground?     As the twin columns rise Toph shifts, entering a bending stance as the terms are stated. "Zeph! The one closest to us!" she calls to the other Unionite, and then she kicks into the ground. The earth underneath her feet shoot up as she launches herself through the air... and up towards the top of the column itself. Better gang up with the other Unionites as it has the highest chance of dominating this column! 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr nods at the call "Alright, you take the low road, I'll provide cover from the air." she replies, kicking off the ground then... huh, okay apparently the Earth Bender /can/ fly! Well whatever.     Zephyr takes flight, four wings of purple light spreading from her shoulderblades as she flits off into the air. "Ready Dee? Jetstream Impulse, Vanish Shift." she notes to her Device as she holds it ready. <YES! JETSTREAM IMPULSE!> replies the AI, forming a fusillade of purple light motes around the Mage as she flies... though she doesn't open fire just yet.     Lets see who goes for this tower first. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Rock Lee immediately begins running for the column that Sagat heads for, mostly because the man is -massive- and seems like a good challenge if he makes it up as well. His eyes widen as he finally gets a good look at Satsuki, and then he pieces it all together. "The Eyebrow Goddess!" he says in sudden realization, taking a deep breath. He's not sure where exactly this is going to lead, but he's already starting to punch people on his way to the stairs. "WAAACHOOO!!!" right before someone goes spinning away. "Alright, I will show her that I am worthy of joining this school, regardless of my allegiances!" He looks quite intense, his eyebrows are -made- for intensity. No normal eyebrows could handle this level of tension. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji pauses as he looks up to the tower, listening attentively. Student council. Souji knows well the value of the Council. He's the president of his, after all. There is a moment of consideration. He looks back to the Elites who arrived, and then to the towers that erupted from the area. Mental calculations are run, tactics assimilated, and potential allies and enemies estimated. He does not object to such a selection methodology. In fact, perhaps he should take a page from this book for their next elections at Alexander Academy. It would be far more... entertaining. There is a simple shift in direction. He moves with calm, unflincing grace and an implacable step as he mounts the stairs to begin climbing towards the top of one of the towers, the one that Toph and Zephyr is /not/ ascending. There is no need to rush like a fool. The weak will rush ahead and lose strength in the struggle for the top. He will then arrive and make a final demonstration if necessary. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe listens for a moment and she wonders for a moment about just what's going on and now she gets it. She pauses for a mention at the mention of new three star students? Okay this is pretty big time here. So they got to get the towers and hold it, this was going to be rough she thought. "Oh this is going to be crazy." She looks to Toph for a moment and she's going to fall in with Toph and Zeph, she's sure as heck not going alone on this. 

:'''{{#var:353|Laer (353)}} has posed:'''     There's really two ways Laer could go about this. One would be to compete the way that Satsuki had invited her to, to try to become part of the student council. Laer, however, was a little on the old side for that, and had quite enough responsibilities to be getting on with, even if the uniform might be nice.     The alternate way is to try to make as many others as she can miserable for her own amusement and maybe end up scooping up a win at the last minute. that's the way she's going to start with, and as such she's going to be reaching way, way, way, WAY down in her bag of magical tricks to the lowest of the low, that refuge of the desperate.     At least the incantation for her isn't actually a few bars out of 'You're the one that I want' though it might as well be.     In any case, as she whistles a few bars of something, a black glob of goop forms in her hand, and the grease spell will fly out and coat the column that Toph and Zephyr are ascending. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     "Mn," Nanoha murmurs, hearing the challenge. "That doesn't seem like a good way to choose... but oh well. VESTA! You want to come out and play?" She opens her satchel and lets the little gray cat leap out, the kittenish feline stretching and shaking herself with a low meow.     "Of course, Mistress!" In a flash, the cat is an adult cat-woman, and scampering upward. By 'scampering' we mean doing a giant leap, actually. She doesn't seem to have taken the time to actually choose a side, she's just leaping in and bopping whomever comes close. At the moment, that's nobody challenging for her level of power, but if one of the more serious students or a Unionite comes after her, that could get dicey.     "Oh... hello, Miss Windstar!" Nanoha calls out to Zephyr cheerily as she too lifts off! She's just going up into the air, holding her staff at the ready, but unlike Vesta she isn't being aggressive. She's keeping her distance for now, either to wait out the worst of the fighting or just to watch. She's betting that most here can't fly, and that will keep her out of trouble. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko's not entirely intimidated by the towers, and Satsuki's announcement. Hell, this is more how she'd prefer things! She doesn't bother transforming, just yet. Most of these students are scrubs, to be honest, and her goal is getting to the top of one of the towers. So, up she goes! She sprints, smacking a number of other students out of the way, with fists, feet, and her scissor. And she doesn't bother with the stairs, either. She's running straight up the damn thing, pushing off the giant spikes sticking out of the thing on her way, to keep up momentum. Unless someone specifically aims to stop her, she's got a good chance of getting to the top. 

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:''' Hayate still hangs back, and then says, "Go ahead, Vita!" That's to Vita, who grins, "Thanks, Hayate!" She shoots off into the air, Graf Eisen manifesting into her hands. It's Nanoha that she targets, heading straight for the flying girl and shouting out, "Takamachi Whatever! I never got a good match with you!" Several shimmering steel balls blast out toward Nanoha abruptly, leaving Vesta alone. Around Hayate, Shamal just smiles and claps her hands, setting up an intricate web of mana wires to impede anyone who goes after her charge. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr and Toph take the initiative in claiming a tower, and they won't find it a particularly extensive effort. Much like most of the the Elites present, the majority of the Two-Star students are wary enough to not immediately rush the tower. A few hotheaded ones do, but the bulk of the initial horde is made up of One-Star and No-Star combatants. And even the One-Stars fold like a sheet of paper in front of any of the Elites present.     More than one student takes a swing at Toph as soon as she lands, but they're rank amateurs. Even in a group clustered around a Two-Star leader carrying a great big glowy red saw, the Earthbender could almost certainly dispatch them on her own with little effort. With Tomoe ascending the column as well, they're going to be child's play to drive off (or throw off).     Rock Lee ends up at the base of that column, and the nearby students immediately begin operating under the assumption that he's with Toph; the end result is that they all start swarming towards him, and making handy targets for his fist. Even the Two-Star with a positively /fabulous/ uniform that looks like it was taken right out of a fashion magazine.     Meanwhile, the other tower is the site of fierce competition among the riff-raff, all of whom are far beneath Souji Murasame even when they stand on the steps above him. It looks as if a good-sized group intends to mob him off the stairs, but before they can even begin close, they run into a wall in the shape of a man. Just two foolish students dare to challenge Ira Gamagoori, and both of them regret it for the three seconds they remain conscious. He then turns to fall into step behind Souji with a simple, "We're honored to have a Confederate ally with us." It only takes a second or two for the other three to fall into step behind him, as well. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     And of course, Laer's little act of sabotage is going to make life painful for the students as well. Most of them are completely unprepared for the grease trap, and whatever chills they might have felt at the sight of so many strong enemies are certainly multiplying now that they have to contend with the column itself. A few sharp-eyed One-Star students are quick-eyed enough to realize that Laer is the one that they want to beat up over this, and turn to start marching her way.     Of course, one smart way to bypass that issue is to bypass the stairs entirely, and look at Ryuko go. There's not a One-Star in the school who could stand up to her even untransformed. It's like parting a grey sea, especially with how many of them want to go after the Transfer Student in specific. But they don't even stand a chance at stopping her before she reaches the top with Toph.     All told, TOPH, TOMOE and RYUKO have taken the top of their tower, with ZEPHYR and VITA lying in wait above it and ROCK LEE at the base. Meanwhile, SOUJI and THE ELITE FOUR have laid claim to the other, with NANOHA in the air while VESTA cheerfully joins Souji and the Four and begins to pound on any enemies in reach. SAGAT and HAYATE AND SHAMAL are currently more or less invisible to the horde already rushing the columns. LAER, on the other hand, is garnering some attention for her magic... 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Toph crashes down on top of the column, and she immediately feels the somebody swinging out at her. But the blind girl quickly counters the swing with a quick hand movement, sending the student flying off of the column with a well placed earthen spike. Where she stands she has no trouble feeling the vibration carry throughout it as the horde of students do their best to scale the columns. And just after she lands and disposes of that one student she hears whistling... and then there's something slippery and icky covering the column. Toph nearly slips, but she manages to regain her balance with a sour look on her face. "HEY!" It's a good thing that she is so steady on her feet! In the direction of the whistling it seemed like one of the Feds threw something...?     "You asked for it!" Toph yells, deciding to handle this earthbender style! So she throws her aside, making the outer layer of the column turn into dust that absorbs the grease, all before she lashes out with her hand and bends the entire mass together into one sticky blob... that she sends flying toward Laer's face.     With the other Unionites joining her she takes a deep breath, assuming a defensive stance. Better wait with her idea until Sagat and Lee have made their way up the column as well. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Top of the world, or so it would seem! Ryuko's sitting pretty on her new perch, though it's still considerably lower than Satsuki's. Still, here she is. "I don't need a Three-star.. I'm sure you know that. But, for now, I'm gonna have you answer all my questions, once this stupid election is all over!" She points at the other girl with her weapon, her Kamui transforming from it's school uniform appearance, to the more flashy and revealing combat state. "And if I gotta beat it outta you, that's fine too!" 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Rock Lee is not the typical showy martial artist most of the time. He sends one student's teeth flying, kicks another directly in the gut as he skillfully tilts his entire body to put the full force of his form into the blow. Bones can be heard cracking but for the most part he's just knocking people unconscious. And then he notices the Two-Star, squinting. He looks down at his own no-star uniform, considering his position. "You are a Two-Star! That makes you more powerful than normal. I am unsure of the nature of these uniforms, if they are magic or not, so I will fight you in this! My name is Rock Lee, now we will fight!" He doesn't waste any time, he dashes forward and immediately tries to punch the Two-Star in the jaw with a right hook, then aims for the nose with a -left-. As nice as Lee may be, he doesn't seem to hold back at all, he just seems to be trying to get through this opponent to get to the stairs. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Toph will find the column's material easy enough to bend; it's particularly high-quality concrete and steel, but it's still just concrete and steel. However, removing the grease from the column also makes things easier for the students who have yet to try and ascend. Like, for example, the young man with a skillet in his left hand and a rapier in his right. Nimble and agile, he works his way up with a few smacks to other students as he goes, coming up over the edge of the platform and flourishing his right-hand weapon. "Honnouji Academy Combined Athletics-Cooking Club President, Musashi Katsuta! Have at thee!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Let the younger (and more foolish) students burn up energy racing to the top of the pillars; they'll be easier pickings while they're trying to catch their breath. Most of them will, anyway. Sagat is content to pace himself at a brisk walk, although he shows few qualms about going around slower (or more belligerent) students. A few of them seem to have cottoned to the potential threat that he represents, too, so the Muay Thai fighter is starting to dispense beatings and bludgeonings as the need presents itself. In due course, he reaches the bottom of a tower and starts climbing ... "TORAJIMA!!! THIS TIME YOU'RE GOING DOWN!!!" Sagat pauses, recognizing the former president of the Automotive (and Automotive Airsoft) Club ... then uses him as a foothold to climb up over the side of the stairs. The erstwhile auto enthusiast grabs for Sagat's leg, trying to yank him off - and gets kicked in the face for his troubles. Then another two students are slung off the stairs and land right on top of him, with Sagat beginning his ascent in earnest. Still pacing himself, though. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe has been fighting fairly well and she's been using her blade still sheathed for the moment as she fights along side Toph and Ryuko. There's been some unexpected team ups from the looks of it and she's not going to complain. She gets how team free for all work. Better to team up and help the other guy win, so you win too, rather than let someone gank you while you fighting over it. She keeps an eye out for new challengers showing up as she takes a moment to catch her breath a little bit. Well she was until Laer started doing things, she's got no real ranged options in this form however. She's going to keep on guard for new attackers. She gets why Ryuko wants answers and that's why she's here, she's here to help her get those answers. "Keep alert, a lot of these people have their personal lives riding on things here. She's keeping an eye for smaller fry who might try to get past her friends while they are dealing with the big fish. 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr nods to Nanoha. "Hey!" she replies to Nanoha. At least she's not being attacked yet! she then watches Vita leap into the air, and uhs. "Y'might wanna watch out for that." she asides, before moving away from the impending brawl.     The windmage swoops around, and unleashes a hail of homing 'lasers' from those light motes surrounding her, aiming to knock off the students from the Union Tower. A few find their way to the openly aggressive Feds, namely Laer, though individually, each shot is pretty weak. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Satsuki doesn't seem to find merit in responding to Ryuko's taunt; however, the fact that she keeps her eyes on Matoi the entire time says about as clearly as it's possible to say that she's definitely listening. Only a simple eyebrow arch is given in reply, as if to say she finds Ryuko's priorities amusing. Someone else does, too; Musashi Katsuta seems to have an ally joining him atop the column, in the form of a tall, slender girl holding a shovel as if it were a naginata. "Matoi. I've been waiting for this opportunity. New Gardening Club President, Hana Totoyomi, going forth!" She launches right onto the attack, unlike her ally, coming around with the shovel in a wide, sweeping strike. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji finds himself uncontested as he reaches the top of the column. Acceptable. He looks over the surface of the top of the pillar, considering and measuring it... Before there is a flurry of movement. From nowhere, a low, ornate table of polished ebony and mahogany inlay is set down, a, embroidered tablecloth whipped through the air to float down upon it in a precise manner, settling upon it perfectly. Saucers and cups are set out, fine bone china with trim of gold and silver. A teapot of pure white is set out, along with a small bundle of tea leaves. Souji moves with precision in the middle of the chaos, preparing tea even as students fight and rage around him with unwavering focus. He places a hand upon the pot and utters quietly, "Fire-1." There is a his and bubble as the water within is immediately heated, and Souji kneels at the table, allowing it to steep in this almost absurd expression of his apparent belief that this is his proper place in this particular instance. This is his place. For now. 

:'''{{#var:353|Laer (353)}} has posed:'''     People coming directly after her is not really something Laer had anticipated, especially as she takes a blow from the sticky blob that Toph is throwing at her, splattering all over her. Her outfit was not precisely what one might call clean before, of course, but that hardly means that she wants to get her grease back that way.     She'll sling the Bass down from behind her back, beginning to lay down a soothing line that certainly isn't ominous in any way, including the lightning cage flickering in place around her. Undoubtedly she's simply defenseless, just waiting for those One-Stars to try to clobber her, and they won't be tazed into oblivion by the mere approaching of her in this state.     Just ignore that her hair has started to come undone from the ponytail she'd had it tied into, going in a million different directions but mostly 'upish'. It's fine! 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is going to get her answers one way or the other, and well... Toph does not mind kicking ass and fighting some dunderheads along the way.     When the guy with the skillet and rapier makes his way up the column however Toph can't help but arch an eyebrow, muttering under her breath to the others on top of the column. "... how the heck do you combine those two things?" It's certainly not like fighting somebody for the last piece of bacon, is it?     Toph raises her hand, doing her best to bend the skillet out of Musashi's hand and smack him in the face with it as well as bend his rapier into a pretzel like shape around his legs. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "If you must know, I'm the Honnouji Fashion Club Presi-GRK!" That is all that needs be said of Lee's foolish first opponent. It turns out that Fists trump Fashion, and he's gonna be feeling that one for a while.     "BY DOSE! BY BEAUTIFUL DOSE!" Okay, maybe a little more needed be said.     But Lee has a more formidable enemy coming, this time carrying a huge paintbrush in one arm and a razor-sharp painter's palette in the other. "Hmph. Amateur. Beauty isn't all there is to art. Rock Lee, is it? Perhaps you can show me something artistic. Art Club President, Yayoi Yamato." She sweeps the head of the brush across the palette and whips it towards Lee, launching an arc of paint at him as an attack - and the paint, as it turns out, is highly acidic! 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko would be annoyed, if she wasn't so amped up. The challenge is, in turn, accepted. Turning on one of her Kamui's heels, she brings her scissor blade to bear, the weapons clanging together sharply. "Oi, go find you own patch, cabbage head!" She spits, the scissor and spade scraping together, as Ryuko pushes back against her opponent. Energy flares out from behind her briefly, and red sparkles shimmer along her weapon and her Kamui. Like a truck, an unseen force seems to slam into the poor Two-Star Gardening Club President, a manifestation of Ryuko's sheer fighting spirit, given form by the outfit she's wearing. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     "Ehhhhhh?!" Nanoha sees Vita heading right for her! Which means... she should probably do something. She braces for impact... and then suddenly darts to the right, sending a stream of small pink projectiles toward Vita. They aren't really all that strong, but they're charged enough to EXPLODE and make a billowing cloud of dust that's all super impressive. "Vita! Whose side are you on?!"     Vesta is meanwhile pondering... and then kicks a No-Star off without much thought. The brawler-type isn't as strong as Arf, but is still pretty canny. That's why she decides to settle in and mewl, "I'll just defend this one."     She does this by summoning up a series of glimmering barriers ringing the column, a few feet below the top, to make climbing up all the more difficult. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The Automotive Airsoft Club has fallen on hard times. The twin Two-Star Goku Uniforms belonging to it have been taken by other clubs, the members relegated to No-Stars after their defeat at the hands of Ryuko, Sagat, Tomoe and Gamagoori. However, while Sagat's easy defeat of Todoroki barely slows him down, what waits for him several steps up might. "Torajima," a cool lady's voice greets. The blonde girl wears the Airsoft Club's uniform... but also holds a hand crossbow in her right hand, with an Airsoft gun in her left. "I've been waiting for a chance at you. Airsoft Archery Club's new president, Jane Miki." She lifts the gun in her left hand up and adds, "Fall for me, would you~?" before pulling the trigger. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     For the moment, Tomoe almost seems to have gone unnoticed save by some of the weaker One-Stars and No-Stars. Her battle has been completely unchallenging, leaving her open to helping Toph and Ryuko out if she so chooses, However, if she's not careful, she's going to get snuck right up on, by a gentleman with a Two-Star Uniform that looks more like a long, snazzy gambler's coat, complete with cravat. He plans to get right up behind her and-     "You... you like games, don't you? You've got that gleam in your eye. Honnouji Academy Gambling Club, Goemon Seto."     Introduce himself?     "Now..." He draws back his arm, as if preparing to unleash a tremendous blow at Tomoe, and-     "ROCKPAPERSCISSORS!"     Immediately throws Rock. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "I apologize, I thought it would be less painful to simply break your nose." Rock Lee answers very graciously, then bows politely. He looks to Yayoi as she approaches, then tilts his head as she sweeps paint at him. It hits his uniform, and he stares down at it in confusion... until it starts melting through his shirt. "Whoaaaaaa!" He immediately rips the bottom half of his shirt off, revealing that he's wearing his green jumpsuit under the uniform. "That is very dangerous!" He takes a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. His outfit somehow looks cooler with the top half of the One-Star uniform ending above his abdomen, going quite nicely with the green of the jump suit. "I will show you art! I wish to display art and beauty to the goddess of this academy!" He points up at Satsuki without actually looking to her, keeping his eyes on his opponent. "And she will see that I am a worthy opponent." He charges forward, his movements are graceful and wasting no energy. "I was going to save this for if I got to fight her, but I must honor your challenge for art! I do not intend to permanently damage you." He reaches behind him, as if he's going for a weapon. Then when he swings his hands forward, a huge burst of cherry blossoms go flying out in a large cloud, obscuring his location while also offering a fantastic sight. But through the blossoms come what seem to be two white bandages, extending from Lee's wrists as he tries to wrap them around -Yayoi's- wrists, apparently intending to try and subdue her ability to -melt- him. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "My, what a wonderful display," Nonon remarks as Souji goes about his table-setting. For once, she doesn't seem to be pouring on the sarcasm. It's quite an impressive display, and with Gamagoori and Sanageyama standing guard at opposite sides of the pillar, there aren't even that many students getting up the side of the column. One, however, sneaks right in on one of the sides the Elite Four aren't covering, and promptly stands up, brandishing a human-sized model of a giant robot's beam rifle. "Honnouji Academy Model Clu-" "Do you hear something?" Nonon immediately cuts across, her tone dry. "Because it sounds an awful lot to me like some idiot is interrupting our tea." The Two-Star student stammers. "W-what- how dare-" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat gives the 'airsoft archery' president a rather cross look - and then she starts shooting. Sagat is already turning away from her, letting airsoft pellets slam into his completely mundane jacket - but he's not turning around to run away. Oh, no. Instead, he's grabbing for a student who was trying to come up behind him - whether to try and ambush him or just to hide in Sagat's 'shadow' on the way up, and THEN to ambush him (or somebody else) ... but either way, Sagat lifts the hapless student and flings him at Jane Miki. THEN Sagat charges forward, and if a thrown student isn't enough to send Jane back to her magazines, Sagat's fist should finish the job, particularly if the projectie student made an opening in Jane's fire for him to close the distance. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     A few One-Stars are smart enough to stand back and not approach Laer. They're the ones still standing approximately five seconds later. "Hoooooh? That's some guitar playin' there," a cocky voice greets. "What say we have a little... contest?" Stepping out of the pack, a young man with a confident grin slings a guitar off his shoulder, and says, "Hanzo Kuuga. Honnouji Heavy Metal Club. Lady Nonon's personal... fixer. Been itchin' to try my hand against one of you big bad Elite types." The guitar, a Flying V design, is swung down into place, his fingers rest on it, and... he plays the opening notes of Duelling Banjos. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' The red haired girl named Sheena, but known to the multivese as Tomoe is now facing someone else. She's holding Dawn Breaker well, even if it's still in it's scabbard. She has manage to deal with some of the lesser threats, not that she'd consider them fodder at all. She now pauses as she looks to see someone before her whom has a two star. "Gambling club hum mm? I see and you could say I'm good with..." WHACK she's expecting a punch. When she gets throw stone, like some old sinner she gets stoned and not in the fun way. She's hurt a bit but it's caught her in the shoulder, which does cause some issues. It's better than a head hit and she launches her self at him. "Sheena." Okay she's kinda brief on intro's today as she goes to attack him with her sheathed blade trying to force him back. 

:'''{{#var:353|Laer (353)}} has posed:'''     "Have you?" Laer asks, curiously. "Do they not do enough to weed out those with deathwishes, here? It seemed like you would have found an opportunity." She'll flip the switch on the Bass, setting it in its most advanced mode, with lots of extra keyboards and speakers and such popping out. It appears impossible to play with two arms, truthfully. Which is why Laer will be cheating and using magic to suppliment here, though given that the magic is just about the same as extra hands, it's forgivable.     "Laer Azati. Colonel of the Confederacy." She will NOT be playing the other half of Dueling Banjos.     No, she's going to play both halves to try to drown out Hanzo's bit entirely. Also to build up a charge on the Bass. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Around Tomoe, Ryuko and Toph, several One-Stars sneaking up on the fracas find themself gunned down by a barrage of fire from above. They go staggering right off the column after Zephyr's attack, leaving the 'stage' clear for the six locked in combat. (More to come for Zephyr...)     "You'd be surprised how much fencing and cooking go well together! Or javelin toss and cooking! Or high-jump and- why am I justifying myself to you?!" Katsuta suddenly realizes he is monologuing to an enemy. He does not, however, realize that Toph is trying to Metalbend his weapons; largely because, when she tries, they /resist/. There is some kind of powerful energy permeating them, some material that is not metal reinforcing them, that actively fights back against her bending.     "C-Cabbage head?! How /DARE/-" Totoyomi attempts to push into the lock, but the sheer will pouring out of Ryuko as pure force starts to slide her back, a step at a time... until Katsuta suddenly turns and lunges at her skillet-first, attempting to clobber Ryuko right upside the head with the frypan. Totoyomi takes the chance to slide to one side, out of the torrent of willpower-force, where she can whirl around and lunge forward to try and slice up Toph! 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Meanwhile, perhaps surprisingly, a voice yells from behind Zephyr. "DON'T THINK-" And then it falls back away, dropping towards earth... before rising back up again. "YOU'RE GOING-" And down it goes... was that a 'boing'? "TO GET OFF EASY-" Boing. "JUST BECAUSE-" Boing. "YOU CAN FLY!" Boing. "HONNOUJI POGO TRICK CLUB-" Boing. "TOBI SARUTOBI!" Boi- oh boy that's a pogo kick. Right at Zephyr. "TAKE THAAAAAAAT!" 

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:''' When the spheres from Nanoha slam into Vita, her shield is up, thanks to the expected attack. As befitting the weak attack, it does no damage to her... but looks flashy as hell, and smudges her in places. Her hammer twirls, and with a little grin, she laughs, "Hah! We're on Captain Hawke's side, of course!" Since Captain Hawke isn't here, though, Vita is doing whatever she wants! "You should join the crew, Whatever your name is! It'll be fun!" Three more spheres appear, and instead of shooting them toward Nanoha, Vita lets them hover up... then pepper the column that Souji is NOT on, kicking up dust from the concrete and slowing things down for the students. Maybe someone interesting will respond. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     There's a clearly surprised look on Toph's face when she finds herself unable to bend the metal in Katsuta's items. "What the crud...?!" Well, if she can't bend the items, then there's always the column itself. Toph steps forward, only to blink when her opponent goes for Ryuko, and the gardening chick seems intent on attacking her. Thinking quickly, the blind girl kicks into the column underneath her, and a series of small earthen pillars shoot out in attempt to hit Totoyomi in the abdomen and towards Katsuta.     At the same time she reaches out with her arms, the column shaking just slightly as she bends off some of the spikes and willing them up into orbit around her. "You dunderheads are not knocking us down!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "My, your movements... you're far more than just the average martial artist," Yamato says, one eyebrow arched. "Definitely impressive. But I'm afraid even with such artistic movement, I cannot hold back against one standing in the way of my- what?!" Surprised by the sudden burst of cherry blossoms (and, if she's being honest, impressed), she is easy prey for the wrist wraps to reach out and snare her, holding her in place and preventing her attack. She yanks back and struggles, but even with a Two-Star Uniform her strength pales before Lee's. However, with a bit of struggling, she's able to get that palette around and use the edge to slice one bandage right off, freeing her left hand. "Ha~! Not so easy, Rock Lee!" She seems to have forgotten she needs to free her right too. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko just does what she does best. Push back, and hard. Still, it takes some skill to evade an attack like the one she just used, or at least get into a safer position to attack from. Ryuko can't move her sword in time to block it, but.. she has some more up her sleeve, right now. Perhaps more literally. "Senketsu Senjin!" At that, blades sprout out of her Kamui, and Ryuko uses the ones on her hands to block that frying pan, but notices that the Two-Star is heading for Toph, now. "Head's up!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The airsoft pellets aren't just going to bounce harmlessly off Sagat's jacket; much like the attack on the highway, they hit with enough force to dent the side of a car. Bruises will most certainly happen, but then, he's probably taken punches that hit harder than that. Meanwhile, whatever Jane Miki may have expected, it's not 'having another student thrown at her'. "What-?! OOF! OFF ME, YOU-" By the time she manages to push the student aside, Sagat is in Jane's face. Or rather, his fist is. She goes tumbling back, but just before she falls off the stairs, she drops her airsoft gun and reaches out to snag the Tiger by the wrist with her left hand and hold herself up. Her right still has the crossbow, and this she lifts, to point right at Sagat's left knee. "I didn't think I'd win, but I can sure pull you with me!" 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr blinks. She then turns around and peers incredulously at the pogo-stick riding guy. She snrks, and doubles over chuckling... just before taking a kick to the shoulder, which sends her spinning away out of control.     Divine Wind chimes resonantly <GALE COUNTER!> a pulse of magic lashes out to counter her momentum, letting the mage recover for a second. "Right, super powered mundane items, you've been watchin' them to know that. Focus." she barates herself, sweeping her axe around in a show of force. "Zephyr Windstar. The Winddancer of March... lets see what you hoppy little bouncers can do!" she returns.     Drawing her axe up around as if to strike, she shifts her grasp and roars out a kiai. <TEMPEST RAZOR!> chimes Divine Wind, as that axe is heaved around. Two spinning blades made from glowing purple mana and roiling winds contained within the sheathe of mana. They have a mild seeking ability, but they're not Homing Bullets. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji, as is tradition, will pour tea for Nonon should she wish to join him peacefully. "Welcome to my table. I am Souji Murasame, of the Murasame Zaibatsu." He is an oasis of utterly calm self-assurance in the middle of chaos, an unsullied, endless sky. But in every sky a cloud may appear. Souji pours for himself as well, taking his tea without additives and lifting it as the Two-Star student interrupts. And sometimes, all it takes is one cloud to begin a storm. His closed eyes open slightly, as his pupils shift to one side at the man with the beam rifle. With one hand, he picks up his teacup. His other hand flexes, and gleaming coins can be seen to emerge from between his fingers.     > Samurai         > Gil Toss             [0000200] There is a hissing in th air as two hundred Gil coins whip through the air with the force of bullets. One is aimed for the barrel of the rifle to knock it aside. The second is aimed for the student's forehead, intending to knock him backwards. It's too bad he just got up on the pillar and is so close to the edge, isn't it? "Begone." He says simply to the man who is about to have a nice trip. See you next fall, chuckles. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "There was a man, a long time ago. He snared a beautiful fly, a fly who once fell into a bucket of paint. This fly could no longer fly, but her movements created graceful images on the ground for this man to enjoy." Lee rushes forward, and suddenly tugs the bandage toward him. He's holding his palm back, opening a single inner gate to greatly enhance his strength. He's still talking during this process. "The fly did not understand why the man allowed her the freedom to make her art. He considered cleaning her wings, but he could not decide if he should take away her artistic prowess, or allow her to fly." He tries to thrust his palm directly into her gut, trying to knock all of that force into her stomach, oddly going out of his way to avoid her rib cage and lungs. "He could not understand the fly's words, or the occasional sticky buzzing of her paint covered wings. But he realized, truly, that the fly could fly all along, as her ability to create art allowed her far more freedom than wings ever could. And from that day forward, even though the fly could not physically reach the heights that she was used to, all of the other flies came from all over to watch her soar." 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Deathwishes? Hmph. Don't lump me in wi..." Kuuga trails off, because that is the most ridiculous instrument he has ever seen. "...What." He brings up his own guitar and prepares to play the corresponding response... only for Laer to play it herself. "...hey, what the hell? This is- cut that out, it's a call and response, we're gonna duel here-!" Increasingly frustrated, Hanzo tries to play louder and louder, and his guitar notes actually begin to create ripples of shockwave, but he's apparently too irritated to charge that up himself.     So instead he just gives up, and with a frustrated yell of, "DON'T TAKE ME LIGHTLY, DAMMIT!" he brings his guitar around and charges Laer, intending to clobber her senseless. And completely forgetting what happened to the last several students who did so. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Oh, Sagat hasn't REMOTELY forgotten the firepower of Honnouji's airsoft afficionados - in fact, that was why he turned his back to the bullets until he could interpose a human shield. If it was *conventional* airsoft he wouldn't even have bothered to break stride - and as it is, depending on how 'soft' the pellets are, he may be looking to replace that jacket later, if not the shirt as well. But as for the present, Sagat's visible eye widens ever so slightly when Jane actually manages to *grab his wrist*. She has impressed him with that burst of speed. But his knee isn't staying in front of her crossbow; as soon as Sagat realizes a weapon which can actually do piercing damage is pointed in his direction, his left leg comes up as quickly as he can raise it - not just to get his knee out of harm's way, nor even to get the rest of his leg away from Jane's line of fire ... But to kick her in the head with the leg he just raised, probably with the knee first, then with the REST of his leg - and if that doesn't dislodge her, his foot comes back down on her right shoulder, and he's not REMOTELY holding back by that point. If she can still hang on when she is presumably dealing with a broken shoulder ... Well. If she's THAT tough, then being pulled out of the running is possibly worth it to have found someone who can actually take a damn beating - but Sagat will probably have a crossbow bolt to deal with as well, despite his best efforts, and will be in no mood to cherish a good fight. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Vita's shots slam into the concrete column, and several encroaching One-Stars are simply knocked right off their balance, whether they're on the stairs or climbing up the tremendous spikes. One, however, manages to spot it coming just in time, and lunges several steps back down to safety. A moment later, an annoyed young man's voice yells out towards her, "HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE THROWING THOSE THINGS! I'M THE SHOTPUT TEAM CAPTAIN, YOU KNOW!" And right out of the dust she's kicked up, a much larger sphere comes hurtling straight towards Vita. "TETSUMARU INADA SENDS HIS REGAAAARDS!" It is not nearly as fast or as energized as her own Schwalbefliegen, but it is much bigger, and heavier. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' The red haired girl named Sheena, but known to the multivese as Tomoe is now facing someone else. She's holding Dawn Breaker well, even if it's still in it's scabbard. She has manage to deal with some of the lesser threats, not that she'd consider them fodder at all. She now pauses as she looks to see someone before her whom has a two star. "Gambling club hum mm? I see and you could say I'm good with..." She half way expects a weaponized game at this point. She stares as he comes in to punch, she moves trying to avoid the strike the he stops with his fist in a rock. "Wait... your actually playing Rock Paper Scissors in a fight like this?! Doesn't your two star let you weaponize it?!" She would have expected killer animated rocks, scissors or paper. Not actually playing it and she's more than a little bit stunned. She has her blade ready and she looks at him hard. "Paper!" She swings the flat of her blade at him. She's trying to take him down not kill him, this is almost puppy kicking level to her. 

:'''{{#var:353|Laer (353)}} has posed:'''     Laer will seem unconcerned about the student charging her, which is only because she's totally taking him lightly. The electrical barrier around her has faded just a little bit - or, more accurately, it's been drawn back into the Bass - which is why she'll lift it up towards the sky, a bolt striking down at the guitar, then reflecting over towards the banjo fan, trying to strike him down in mid-stride with bonus style.     And to think she'd almost missed this chance by turning up as a dragon. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Nonon offers Souji a pleased smile in reply. "Nonon Jakuzure, Chair of the Honnouji Non-Athletic Clubs Committee, daughter of Jakuzure Transportation's CEO. Charmed~. Or at least I would be, if the froggy and the monkey would handle the riff-raff," she adds, with an annoyed glance in the direction of the Model Club president. Without turning towards them, Gamagoori replies, "All the Elite Four must carry their own weight." Inumuta, sitting down himself with a PDA out to tap away at, quips, "That might be difficult for certain members." Nonon stares flatly. "You wanna die?"     She is just taking up her tea when Souji takes the initiative, and the Model Club prez finds himself so startled by this unexpected attack at an unexpected angle from an unexpected aggressor that he takes it full on. His beam rifle cracks down its length and flies out of his hand, and the forehead hit knocks him clean out as well as over the edge. "My my, he's handsome /and/ take-charge. More of a man than certain /other/ acquiantances of mine." 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Totoyomi is so fixated on Toph, so sure the girl's movements are martial arts, that she doesn't even begin to expect that those movements might mean 'death from below', so to speak. Her eyes go wide when a pillar slams into her gut, and then another adds momentum to turn her into a Hanaball Special.     Katsuta pushes in with the frying pan, gritting his teeth when Ryuko suddenly becomes made of spikes. "Learning to change your Kamui, eh? That's not a bad trick, but it won'tUWAGH-!!" Where did the Athletics-Cooking President go? Well, he seems to have just been hit by a garden missile, and both of them have gone for a pretty good tumble. Totoyomi is down for the count; she goes sliding right off the edge, and below there's a loud "OOF" followed by a soft, "...my spleen..." Musashi Katsuta, on the other hand, manages to push himself somewhat unsteadily to his feet.     And then he flourishes his rapier and, somehow, his skillet. "Alright... I got this... I can do this on my own! I'LL TAKE YOU BOTH ON! COME AT ME!" 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji nods, and pours for Inumuta as well, not sparing the Model Club president another thought. "Indeed, it is a pleasure and honor. When I heard about the event occurring here, I was most interested in observing and participating." He pauses, taking a drink of his tea, and then continues. "I have an... appreciation for the methodology your President is using to ensure the finest rise to the stations appropriate for their talent." He smiles faintly at the flattery. "It is good to see that someone of your refinement has achieved such a height. So it seems that the local environment is in some turmoil. What has caused the current state of affairs? I am to understand there is some kind of leadership conflict?" School politics: Just as deadly as other kinds when in the right environment. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Few people are used to Toph's unique style of earthbending, and as expected her target goes tumbling off of the column. When the cooking nut manages to get back up through Toph snorts. "Really? You think you're strong enough to take the two of us on?" she asks, raising her hands before she throws them forward, causing several small earthen disks to shoot out from the pillars she used to topple Totoyomi over, sending them quickly and in succession towards Katsuta. Hopefully that will give Ryuko an opening to deal with the dunderhead. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     In the meanwhile, Vesta has been having an easy time of it. Her barriers have been keeping most of the riff-raff off the column, with what few get by only able to do so either as the Model Club president did, with some semblance of flight, or by going up the sides guarded by Gamagoori and Sanageyama. But it's only a matter of time before someone finds their way around... or through.     CRUNCH. Do Vesta's barriers normally go 'crunch' when they break? Well, now they do. Because the one smashing through them looks like a titan of a sumo, and his palm strikes hit with ridiculous force. "HOLD IT JUST A MOMEEEEENT! These pathetic barriers will not stand before the mighty palm of the new Sumo Club President, Kagemasa KUUUUMAAADOOOORIIIIIIII!" Someone has been watching entirely too much kabuki theater. He's even got the facepaint for it. And he's bearing down (up?) right on Vesta. "DOSUKOI!" Crunch. 

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:''' "HAH!" Vita crows, just in time to see... a giant ball hurtling out of the dust cloud toward her. "Huh?" It slams in hard, crashing her into a pillar in another dust cloud. She probably COULD have dodged that, but she got overconfident seeing how weak the One-Stars were. Thus, her nose is bloodied and Knight Clothes tattered by the impact. But there's one advantage to this: Now SHE has the ball. As it tumbles out, she sputters and wobbles out from the crater shaped like a little girl. Graf Eisen twirls around. "Right back at you!" <GIGANT FORM> When the hammer comes back around, the head is about four times as large as Vita's body, slamming into that sphere and sending it hurtling back toward the student... and anyone unfortunate enough to get in the way. Further back, Hayate has been joined by a strange, tall, silver-haired woman. Hayate sighs, "I guess we'd better help out before Vita gets carried away. Shamal?" The blonde pulls the wheelchair back as Hayate stands up, exercising legs that are getting better every day. "UNISON IN!" The silver-haired woman smiles, then shimmers and vanishes into Hayate's body, which turns her hair a metallic gray. The small girl also shifts into her own Knight Clothes, six black wings sprouting from her back as she floats upward. This might draw attention. Especially when the book materializes and flips through pages, Hayate starting an aria: "O' ruler of the white snow, with sliver wings turn all the earth in vision into ice!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     There is one problem with pogo as a method of aerial combat. If you take a hit, you've got no control over your arc. And Tobi Sarutobi might be able to twist himself in mid-air, to take his Life Fiber-enhanced pogo stick and use it to parry the twin spinning blades of mana; but in doing so, all that momentum goes from them straight into him - and sends the poor sap flying right into the side of the column the Elite Four and Souji have camped out on. "GWAHK! Owowowow, that was further than it looked... you're going to pay for that!" In an agile movement, he hops right back on the pogo stick, and- goes over the edge when he hops just a little too far. "WHY IS THIS THING SO POWERFUL?!"     But the second try gets it under control. One hop, two, and then he uses the third to launch himself straight at Zephyr, kicking the pogo stick up into his hands and swinging it around to try and bludgeon her with it on his way by. "HAAAAAAA!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Eh?! What are you-" Yamato falls into confused silence, at least until she's yanked hard forward. Despite herself, despite that she tries her best to defends herself, the very words Lee speaks are distracting her. She has no strength to resist the pull, and it sends her hurtling straight at him, and his palm strike hits exactly where he wants it to. "GFF!" Eyes wide, she slumps to the ground, first her knees, then falling onto her side. She's down for the count, but if Lee bothers to listen before taking his momentary clear path up the column, he'll hear her murmur, "T-truly... splendid..." 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is, indeed, given a solid opening. She lunges in with her sword, which unfolds to full length, and into it's most powerful form. A distraction is all she needs to get in range for this. "SEN-I SOUSHITSU." With a swing of her scissor, Katsuta might falling downwards, but it'll be without a Goku Uniform. The weapon in Ryuko's hands so expertly destroying his uniform, that his ability to fight is both literally and figuratively 'stripped' away. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Jane Miki's attempt to cripple Sagat is an all-or-nothing gambit spurred by her desperation; she's going to lose anyway, so she technically has nothing left to lose by exposing herself to counterattack, and everything to gain.     Unfortunately, she forgot to count 'teeth' under 'things she could lose'.     The sound of the kick hitting home is probably one Sagat's heard a thousand, ten thousand times by now. He almost certainly knows the feel of landing a perfect blow when it happens. And the Airsoft Archery Club President is out like a light when she takes a kick from the Emperor of Muy Thai. Her grip slackens, and right down to the ground she goes, seeing stars and leaving Sagat free to ascend as well. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee leaves a single rose in Yamato's hands, nodding down at her. "I believe that you will do great art! Never give up and always work hard!" he encourages, then stands up straight, staring up the massive pillar. Rock Lee has stated multiple times that he cannot mold chakra, but there is one trick of basic training that he can do, which is use chakra to stick to surfaces. He immediately begins running up the side as fast as he can, realizing that it's a much faster route than the stairs. Though he's looking around, wary of his surroundings. "If these people truly are like ninjas, then I must stay aware of my surroundings at all times!" 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     <MASTER! INCOMING!> chimes Divine Wind. Zephyr watches the approach, narrowing her eyes as she shifts her aerial stance. With a flourish like a Matador, she spins aside from the incoming strike, rearing her axe around with another roared kiai. <TEMPEST SABER!>     This time, as she swings the weapon, the 'blades' stay attached, adding their power to the momentum. If they /hit/ the guy, the unstable mana explodes outwards like a shaped charge! 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat resumes climbing the stairs around the pillar, taking them two at a time now - or so - since he lost some time dealing with Jane Miki and needs to make up for it. He's not so cavalier about tossing students off the stairs to get past them, though - if any other up-and-coming club presidents come after him, he might need to use some of the no-star students against them again. If traffic gets overly jammed ahead of him, though, Sagat is perfectly willing to go 'around' by climbing/jumping on some of those spikes until he reaches clear stairs again. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha scratches her head, but she doesn't actually want to fight, so she... takes a seat somewhere. In midair. "Um... okay? I'm happy where I am."     Vesta was curling up for a nap when... SUMO STUDENT ATTACKS! "Nyaaaa!" She poofs into tinycat form, trying to dart between legs and shift into her human form again. "HYAH!" It's a quick, powerful and mana-enhanced jab toward the back of the student if she can manage it... though if he's that big and empowered by a uniform, that might not work so well as she wants. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Goemon Seto's eyes are intense. Fierce and resolved. He is a man who puts it all on the line every time he makes a bet. He's the kind of kid who could wander into a high-stakes game of mahjong with his life on the line and make bets calmly and rationally, even against a king of the underworld with machines that draw some of his blood every time he loses money!     Shut up, it could happen.     "What's the fun in just using your weapon on someone! There's no thrill in it, no /risk/! Well, alright, there's plenty of risk, it's just not the same kind of-" WHUNK. It turns out that paper beats rock. Seto goes stumbling to the side, nearly falling off the column right then and there. But, perhaps miraculously, he manages to (barely) right himself and (wobblingly) adopt a combat stance. "Now that was just cheating! Stop making the column spin!" The column is not spinning.     The Gambling Club President whips out a hand of cards and flicks them at Tomoe in a sudden, rapid movement - but though they're razor sharp, his aim right now is terrible. He's struggling just to stay on his feet. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Hanzo Kuuga is a hotheaded teenager. Laer is a woman with endless experience in getting under the skin of some of the most cool-headed people in the Multiverse. The outcome here is pretty much a foregone conclusion. He thinks that electrical barrier's gone entirely, he thinks it's his chance, he thinks that like a thousand boss fights in a thousand video games she's one of those people who has to drop their barrier to charge their attacks and that there will be some sort of HUGE TELEGRAPH that he can dodge under and-     KRAKTHOOM.     And down goes the Heavy Metal Club President, hair smoking and guitar crackling with leftover static. A puff of smoke escapes him when he lets out a raspy cough before zonking out entirely. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Nonon seems quite happy to do the bulk of the talking. "Oh no, no no, Lady Satsuki is quite in control of the school. She's simply decided to do some 'restructuring' in the student body. The Naturals Election was a perfect way to separate the wheat from the chaff, in a way that suits Honnouji perfectly~." Inumuta's collar pops open. "The entire week, I've been following and analyzing as much of the fighting as I can. The school's leadership should be quite a bit stronger once the dust settles. Of course, the Elite Four still came out on top." Even he takes his time to enjoy the tea. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Katsuta is ready. He is full of drive. He has the HEROIC RESOLVE to WIN THIS FIGHT even if it means fighting two powerful oppo-     Ow ow ow ow ow ow /ow/!     The Athletics Cooking President attempts to defend himself against Toph's stone disc assault. He whips his skillet around and smashes one out of the air, only to take the second right to the chest. And the third, and the fourth, and the fifth... He's already teetering on the edge even before Ryuko goes for the finale.     And against the Scissor Blade, there's nothing his Goku Uniform can do to protect him. Right over the edge he goes, and just ten feet out, the entire Two-Star Uniform he wears simply comes apart in an explosion of cloth, a single glowing fiber wafting its way up through the air to sink into Senketsu. That leaves only Tomoe's opponent atop the column, and things aren't looking good for him. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The loudmouth Shotput Captain leaps right off the side of the pillar, perhaps foolishly; so short-tempered is he that Vita seems to have become his sole priority. He's stomping his way across the ground with his eyes on her when she takes her hammer out and... suddenly it's a lot bigger. And also talking. "WHAT THE HELL KIND OF-"     Tetsumaru Inada, as it turns out, makes a really neat crater when hit with his own shotput right in the stomach. It takes him a moment or two to even climb out of the crater, and after that he's holding his abs, breathing hard. "Th-that was... HOW... DARE YOU... USE MY... own... haaaaah..." Turns out it's hard to shout after taking a hit like that.     But he's also got his shotput in hand, and the FURY!!!1 is rising up again. If the definition of insanity is trying the same thing twice and expecting different results, then the Shotput Team Captain has gone mad with anger, because he tries the exact same throw on Vita again. Without noticing Hayate at all. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe looks at the man for a moment, "Normally I love games, when they are not death games." She looks at him she narrows her eyes for a moment. She's admittedly feeling kinda bad the guy was going to stick to his own rules but it's too late now. Tomoe will likely stop attacking once he gives up. "You might have wanted to say you wanted to play the actual game. Seriously have you seen around here?! Umm I'm not making it spin." She however sees the cards but they are fast, she does get cut and it does hurt, she didn't take any direct hits thankfully. She's now moving to shoulder check him and hopefully get him out of here. "Nothing personal." 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji arches an eyebrow. "Such a thing is a terrible burden to bear. But such is the fate of leadership, is it not? Honnouji is a very interesting place of learning. I look forward to understanding the circumtances of the student body in more detail." He glances over to Inumuta, then. "That is wise." He says, with a faintly enigmatic smile. "So it is the President, then the Elite Four, the rest of the council, and then the descending ranks of the student body?" He inquires. "I see. And what kind of struggles do the Elite Four face? It must be a true test of might, skill and willpower." He asks. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Tobi Sarutobi is, once again, struck by the limits of using a pogo stick for aerial combat.     Well, alright. What he's /really/ struck by is the Tempest Saber. But it's because now that he's airborne, and he's missed completely, he's essentially a projectile in motion. Very predictable motion.     An explosion of mana is more than sufficient to hurl him straight towards the side of Satsuki's tower, where he goes right through the wall in a Club President-shaped hole. A chunk of debris falls from the top of the hole onto the ground, and somewhere inside, Tobi Sarutobi groans in pain. He's not getting up. 

:'''{{#var:353|Laer (353)}} has posed:'''     Laer will mmph as she sees her opponent fall, the Bass collapsing back into something looking simply absurd and not insane. "I thought the students here might have some staying power. Talentless hack; if you can't keep up with the beat, just join the audience." Of course, he's not exactly awake to hear her advice, but it's good advice anyhow. She'll glance up, idly curious about how the tower is proceeding, but not actually caring.     Still, she'll fly upwards to be on a level with the top, mostly just to get a view. She's not really planning on interfering further unless someone irritates her. 

:'''{{#var:558|Yagami Hayate (558)}} has posed:''' "HAH! I'm not falling for that twice!" Vita yells out, spinning herself around several times. The hammer compacts again... and then erupts into flames as rockets blast out of the back, flaring brilliantly to increase her speed and send her careening toward the incoming proje chr">RAKETENHAMMER! Except she doesn't intercept it. The spinning causes her to 'slide' around it, clipping her leg somewhat but sending /herself/ barrelling into her opponent at high speed, hammer first! Then Hayate finishes her spell. "COME FORTH, BREATH OF FROST!" Hayate calls out. <ATEM DES EISES.> Four cubelike structures manifest and are flung to the corners of the battle area, striking the ground and immediately causing a wave of ice to roar over the ground. Anyone lucky enough to have their feet firmly planted on the ground will find their feet frozen to it. Everyone else will find the entire floor of the arena is slippery and coated in a fine sheet of ice. Those on the pillars? Well, they're fine. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Kagemasa Kumadori's first mistake is trying to follow Vesta right between his legs. "What is this?! Mine foe does take the form of a feline and flee?!" He bends right over and tries to grab at her, leaving him in just the right position to get a smack in the back from Vesta. This, of course, sends him toppling right over on the stairs. "OW-! What's wrong with you?! You can't just- I-I-I mean, THY TRICKERY IS MOST FOUL, FAIR FELINE! I WILL HAVE YOUR TAIL FOR THIS!" And around he comes in a big, sweeping swing of his arm, attempting to smack Vesta right off the side... in a move so telegraphed she could be half as fast as she is now and still avoid it. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Seems they have successfully defeated the two, and Toph grins as Ryuko delivers the final strike to send the club president flying. "All right!" she cheers, and she is aware of Tomoe finishing up her fight right behind her. And it seems she doesn't need any help either. Heck, it seems like everybody is handling the silly students who think they can stand up to Elites! And huh, it seems the Feds have allied themselves with some of the students? Weird...     For now Toph waits. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "You are /too/! Everything's spinning right now, and /I'm/ not doing it! So that must mean YOU'RE doing it! It started when you hit me with y..." Blink blink. "Oh. I have a mild concussion, don't I?"     At least Seto's realized what's going on! Finally.     Just in time to be shoulder-checked right off the side of the pillar too. "WHAAAAAAAAA-!" And down he goes, straight towards the ground, with a surprised yell that turns into a loud, "IIIII FOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!" Thud. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Tetsumaru Inada realizes only after he's thrown his shotput again that she's liable to smash it right back at him. "...oh no." His concern grows far deeper when thrusters erupt from the back of the hammer, sending her hurtling forward and lending momentum to her weapon. ".../no no no/..." And then she... goes right past it.     Straight at him.     "...oh /nooooo/..."     The Shotput Team Captain's feet are frozen to the floor just as the Iron Count swings right in towards the center of mass. The resulting impact almost certainly sounds incredibly satisfying, and knocks him right out of his shoes to skid across the ice. At least he's got some ice to numb the pain!     And speaking of ice, Hayate's spell does a very neat job of freezing the other students in place or rendering their attempts to climb utterly moot. Save for a last holdout or two, it looks like those on or near the pillairs have firmly laid claim. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     "Eep! Vesta doesn't like getting hit!" Vesta mrowls, and... she dodges. Upwards. See, Vesta can fly, so leaping above the swing isn't all that hard. Flipping upside down, she tumbles end over end as her tail is brushed, and summons up a bright barrier as she thrusts her hands forward.     The catgirl shoves, but she shoves with a massive barrier, forcing it forward to try hurling the large student off and onto the icy ground.     No matter what happens, Vesta lands on her back and heaves a heavy sigh. "Mmm... those two extra cans of cat food are as good as mine!"     Well, at least we know how Nanoha motivates Vesta. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "WHAT?! The fair-furred feline /flies/?!" This does not seem to be something the Sumo Club President expected. "Plant thy feet on the ground and face me as a proper foe!" he roars in impotent outrage, swinging his arms through the space Vesta occupied just a moment before. This lunging attack for a second time puts him forward and off-balance with Vesta behind him, his center of gravity shifted far enough that with a particularly firm push - such as, say, one from a barrier...     "Whoa-whoa-whoa-WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"     ...he can go tumbling straight down the stairs. No, not just tumbling, /rolling/. It's like watching the ball descend in the beginning of a Rube Goldberg machine, except that what waits when the ball hits the bottom is not a zany contraption, but rather pain and cold.     But he retains enough momentum to go sliding right across the ice... and into Tetsumaru Inada. Squish. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Discipline is fairly strict within Honnouji," Gamagoori replies, still facing outward. "Most students adhere rigidly to the heirarchy because it means wealth and comfort for them to excel. They will squabble amongst themselves, but never against their betters. Rulebreaking is punished harshly, and acts of rebellion are crushed without mercy. We-"     StepCLACK.     It's a noise that pierces all sound within the walls of Honnouji. Every student knows it. It's a sound that means the woman who may as well be a god there, wishes to pronounce from on high. Gamagoori falls silent in an instant, and all student eyes turn upward to the shining light of Satsuki Kiryuin. "To you who have managed to claim space atop a tower and hold it... congratulations! After a week's hard fighting, you have asserted yourself over all contenders and proven yourself and your allies worthy of the right to serve as my Student Council."     Her eyes turn to Ryuko and her group - Sagat, Lee, Tomoe, Toph, Zephyr, and Vita. "Be proud of your ragtag group, Matoi." Her tone sounds almost disdainful.     And then she lifts Bakuzan up just far enough to thump the sheath against the ground. "However, only one group may be considered! Therefore, there will be one final Runoff Election in one week's time! You two groups who wish to take positions as my subordinates will face each other in a final clash for that honor! And if you emerge victorious, Ryuko Matoi..." she adds, turning her eyes directly to the kamui-clad student.     "I will tell you the details of your father's death."     And without waiting for a response, she turns in place to walk back inside her tower. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "I will prove that I am worthy of fighting you, Kiryuin-samaaaa! Pair me up with the strongest opponent on the other side!" Rock Lee shouts a bit like any of the school's fanboys, with his hands cupping his mouth. Then he looks to Ryuko, considering her goals. "I will not let you down, Ryuko! You will have what you came for no matter who my opponent is!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' So he made it to the top in time. That actually surprises Sagat a little. There's a line about old age and treachery that might be relevant to quote now, but rather than recite it, Sagat draws himself up to his full height as Satsuki declares the Runoff Election for next week. Then he looks at his allies, shrugging off a pair of jacket sleeves - all that's left of his uniform jacket, in fact, and his shirt is rather the worse for wear as well. "Hn. I may need to replace this ..." 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Is Toph's eyebrow twitching at Lee's praise of the stuck up girl? Possibly. She even reaches out to punch him in the side. And then she points one index finger /directly/ at Satsuki's back as she turns to walk off.     "This ragtag group is better than your finest! And unlike you Ryuko doesn't just stand by while there's fighting going on," Toph points out in a loud and clear tone. Honour? Being /her/ subordinates? As if.     The blind girl mutters under her breath, her words only meant for her allies. Especially Ryuko. "We are going to help you get your answers." That's the most important part. Kicking the ass of the dunderheads on the other pillar comes second. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe has somehow pulled off a victory she doesn't think it's wise to sass sht he leans on her blade and looks up at Setsuki for a moment and she now listen as Satsuki is going to actually live up to the promise of the information. Well if they win which she intends to do. They need to get this information so they are going to have to win. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji nods, then. "I see. Given the nature of the hierarchy decisions, it is typically unlikely one who is lower in rank to be able to succeed against one who is higher, regardless." He replies. The CLACK draws Souji's eyes once more. He listens, attentively and politely, to the declaration of Satsuki, and he nods. Excellent. Everything has proceeded as he has foreseen. His gaze hovers over the group on the opposite pillar, considering each in turn, perhaps weighing their capabilities. He nods, quietly draining the remainder of his tea. "The Runoff Election will be an interesting event. I look forward to participating." He states, simply. Anticipation makes the event even more interesting. 

}}

1941/Threads of Fate: Ruins and Automotive Airsoft

2015-08-11T03:14:20Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/04/02 |Location=KLK Earth <KLK> |Synopsis=In which our heroes learn of... NUDIST BEACH. |Thanks= |Cast of Characters=6, 95, 140, 430 |Tinyplot..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/04/02
|Location=KLK Earth <KLK>
|Synopsis=In which our heroes learn of... NUDIST BEACH.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=6, 95, 140, 430
|Tinyplot=Threads of Fate (Part 1)
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     The meeting place is on the mainland, and not really close to Honnouji. A short trek up a private road would lead to an estate. A large one, but still somewhat tucked away from the view of the outside world. The gates, starting to rust, are blackened, as are the stone supports around the fence. A plate, bolted to one of them bears the kanji lettering that spells the name of the estate's owner. 'Matoi' But, whatever estate there might've been, nothing is left of it. Just the shell of the house that once stood there, instead. What still stands shows obvious signs that the house had burned down. But, the property shows little signs of the police having done anything to investigate something as serious as a house fire. It's quite easy to just walk right up to the property, in fact. The ghostly, dreary atmosphere is made all the moreso by the setting sun, a cloudy pall hanging over the sky and keeping the stars and moon from coming out. Ryuko's waiting, at the gate, for any others to arrive, along with the scooter she'd rode here on. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' There's a muted rumble as a heavily customized motorcycle - the sort that would usually be called a 'chopper' - trundles up the private road, with Sagat of all people driving the thing. They really do have every kind of club at Honnouji Academy, it would seem ... although the quality of their members doesn't seem to vary as much as their subject matter does, from the Muay Thai master's point of view. Ryuko might recognize the motorcycle as belonging to the president of the Automotive Club; there are a few dents in the frame, but nothing which stops it from moving without assistance. Sagat himself looks to be sporting a few actual bruises, and a fouler mood than his usual dour countenance, as he parks the motorcycle and dismounts. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Ryuko wasn't alone, Tomoe had once more come ot this crazy city and school She was a bit behind Sagat and was looking a bit wores for wear. She was well looking a bit beat up herself but she seemed to be in decent enough of spirits as she shows up a moment after Sagat does, she's on foot at the moment however she notices the bike the Muay Thai master has. "I see you have been busy." Tomoe or should we say Sheena is now looking about for Ryuko she knew they had to meet up, right? She then takes sight of her. "Hey, I made it." 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko just nods to the two of them, as they arrive. "Well. This is it. Home.. or what's left." She walks amidst the ruins of the house, scissor blade in hand, and starts prodding the end of the weapon against the charred concrete. "I guess this isn't just about finding out about what Kiryuin is up to, but.. maybe if I can find something here, about what my dad was doing, then.." She sighs a bit. "I guess I just thought I knew who he was, until I found Senketsu. Started fighting with him. Now, I want to know just who he was. What he was doing. Why he left Senketsu for me to find, here." The outfit she's wearing transforms quickly into it's more.. revealing and battle-ready state. She pokes the sword against the ground a couple more times. "Here it is." She drives the tip of the blade down, and it manages to pop open a trap door of some sort. The area beneath is dimly lit, but there's a fair distance to fall. And Ryuko just hops right in. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "The automotive club thought it was a good idea to attack me with cars and motorcycles," Sagat states to Tomoe. "They were wrong about it." If anyone's tracking battle stats for the Naturals Election, Sagat's doing pretty well for himself; he's not out there picking fights, but he doesn't really have to go looking for them, either. Ryuko's transformation draws as little comment from Sagat as ever; he just listens to her brief history lesson, nodding a couple of times ... and when Ryuko finds the trap door and opens it, he waits for her to get clear before following her into the chamber below. If Tomoe needs somebody to catch her, he can probably do that. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe looks over to Sagat for a moment. "...Wait don't some of the street fighters in your world wreck chars for charity promos of thier martial skill?" She just seems to have this image of some very shocked students as Sagata worked on his car demo. She looks over to Ryuko. "Humm I get you there. He left a lot of questions in his wake, didn't he?" She starts to think she should have come as her avatar but that's too late as she falls thankfully Sagat catches her before she smacks into the ground. "...thanks." 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "My, my, you've certainly learned how to use that kamui quite well, Ryuko-kun."     The slightly hoarse voice comes not from in front of the group, but behind, the owner casually stepping into the hatch behind the rest of the group and landing lightly on his feet. Hunched over, hands in his pockets, his messy hair falling down in front of his large aviator-style sunglasses, the man that is Aikuro Mikisugi looks utterly unassuming and inoffensive... to anyone who's never actually met him before. And who doesn't realize he's talking about kamui after having followed everyone here.     What we're saying is, his 'inoffensiveness' just makes him all the more suspicious, really. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     A sneer crosses Ryuko's face. She's not immediately attacking this person, despite his sudden appearance. She's still not very happy to see him, at any rate. ".. What'd /you/ want, sleaze?" She pouts a bit, putting a hand on her hip, and letting out a huff. Then, she looks around a bit. This room is.. large. At least two stories, with several rooms connected to it, a catwalk and stairs for accessing them. There's several large pieces of equipment here, but other than that, it looks very much abandoned. Someone picked up and left in a hurry, leaving anything large behind. "So, I'm guessin' you're the reason this place got cleaned out? Or did the Kiryuins come back, to finish the job?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "Yes," Sagat replies to Tomoe. "Yes, we do." Is he smirking? Then, Mikisugi-sensei saunters in, and Sagat spins to face him, starting to assume a combat stance ... then just narrowing his eye at the casual-looking teacher. "Hnnn ..." If Mikisugi were hostile, he's had plenty of chances to take advantage of a number of students, including Ryuko herself, when they couldn't justifiably do anything about it. (Technically, Sagat as well - he *is* enrolled at Honnouji as a student, after all.) The Muay Thai fighter relaxes his stance again, but doesn't take his eye off Mikisugi. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is now back on her feet and looking about at this pint but then they get a guest she was not quite expecting, yet? She really should have assumed someone would have dropped in, right? She stares at the new arrival and looks the man over for a moment. She's however just not /sure/ what he's up to, why didn't he just ambush them? 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Now, now, Ryuko," Aikuro chides, "Is that any way to talk to an ally?" He takes a few steps in no particular direction, looking around at the basement; completely empty of the piles and piles of clothes and debris that had been here the last time Ryuko visited. "And after I came all this way to have a talk with you about some things..." As if inspecting one of the pieces of equipment in the wall, he leans and tilts his head, reaching up to push those glasses up his face. "All that junk was in the way, and it's not like you needed it to hide Senketsu anymore, was it? Not with big, strapping allies like this to help you," he adds, with a glance at Sagat. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     "'Some things?'" Ryuko counters, leaning on her scissor blade like a cane, with one arm, her opposite hand still on her hip. "What things?" She huffs again, "Guess not.. but you're the reason I even found this place.. and found Senketsu, aren't you?" She gives him a hard stare, "Why'd you want me to find him? What was my dad doing here?" She asks, impatience creeping into her voice. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat folds his arms, not saying a word. He might have inclined his head ever so slightly at the debatable compliment Mikisugi just dispensed, but that's about it. He is, however, listening quite attentively. He's blind in one eye, not deaf in one ear. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is now trying to deal with the fact she's got no idea what this man is up to? Wait ally? She peers at him for a long moment not certain what to say about this for a moment. "Ally? Things? Are you going to play it cryptic or just lay your cards out on the table?"" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "There's quite a bit going on here," the teacher says over his shoulder to Tomoe. "It's not the kind of thing I can just spill to any unknown person, even if Ryuko is here to vouch for them. But..." His head turns a little, regarding Ryuko. "Your father despised the iron-fisted Kiryuins too, you know," Aikuro continues, reaching up to undo his tie and toss it aside. His hand comes up to his face, removing glasses and pushing back his hair at the same time, and it's almost as if a different man entirely stands there. Handsome. No slouch. No hoarse rasp. "He and I were working together against their plans for world domination. He sent me a letter before his death."     Turning and sweeping his arms, Aikuro faces the group, and his shirt hangs open, unbuttoned. "'When I die, give it to my daughter. Follow the leaves in autumn.' You coming home to the mansion that day gave me a perfect opportunity." 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko has a more serious expression on her face, "Mmh.. So, he made Senketsu to do that." She can't help but shake something that's bothering her. "He knew they'd be coming for him, then. And he hid Senketsu, so they wouldn't find him. And then you made sure I was the one who did." She sighs, "Just.. who are you, anyway? Aikuro Mikisugi.. I mean. The Kiryuins are huge. How were you two planning on fighting them? I mean.. a Kamui is powerful, but they have one, too." She seems to have more questions, rather than having any of the ones she came in with answered. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe looks to the techer for a moment and has to admir he's right. "All right you have a good point there." She'll give him that, however he does give some interesting informaion out as it is. Ryuko's father was an enemy of the Kiryuins. She files that away and was an ally of him as well or sao he said. "So he made preperations for when they sent someone after them...but to what extent?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat continues listening, his eye narrowing a bit at either Mikisugi's sudden state of partial undress, or at the information being revealed. "The Kiryuins intend to conquer this world? I thought they ran a clothing corporation ..." He trails off, his arms unfolding as he clenches his fists. "Goku Uniforms. Those aren't just for Honnouji in the long run, are they?" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     In response to all the questions levelled at him, Aikurou merely adjusts his collar - a movement which strangely seems to cause his shirt to fall further open - and says in a soft voice, "Nudist Beach." 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' To this, Ryuko's response is a perfectly plausible, confused look. ".. H-Huh?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat's monocular glower descends squarely upon the questionable teacher. "I don't see how skinny-dipping in public is going to help," he growls. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe just pauses at the name the man gives, she stares her eyes bugging out and she says "Wait ... did you just say?!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Aikurou turns in place, causing his shirt to whip around him as if caught in a dramatic wind. "We are... Nudist Beach!" A turn and then he spreads his arms, his shirt falling away, leaving him barechested in the ghost of a breeze that manages to flow in from the hatch above. "The name of our splendid organization is, Nudist... BEAAAAAAAACH!!" 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     "Seriously.." Ryuko just stands upright, and starts making her way back outside. "Just give a straight goddamn answer. This ain't a joke." She doesn't seem to even believe that what he's said is.. a real thing. Who names something, anything that? Seriously? 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat grumbles something under his breath. "I suppose the name makes a certain amount of sense," he concedes, "given who you're up against." 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Sheena just goes wide eyed and states at the man as he starts to strip. She turns a bit red for a moment at his actions and the name. "...This is seriously happening, your nu...nudest beach." She'll recover from this, really. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Your friends have the right idea, Ryuko," Aikurou says as the girl walks away - but his words seem more to be for them, or perhaps himself, than for her. He almost sounds disappointed. "Well, I guess this works out well enough. She's got the Naturals Election to look out for, after all." Fortunately for Tomoe, he seems to have stopped at 'barechested'. "Hopefully, Kiryuin will tip her hand a little in the next few days." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "If she has any special plans for the 'election,'" observes Sagat, "she's running out of time for them ..." He looks between Mikisugi and Ryuko for a moment. "Any guesses what might be up Kiryuin's sleeves?" 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe says "So make preperations expecting to go down, he might have even chosen to go down when he did. TO make sure they didn't get them." She still looking a bit embrassed on thing but is functional. "Using those clothes they have here at the school, as military weapons?" 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Well, hang around all you want. Ryuko has been walking outside this whole time. She's not really up for any more of being spoken to in riddles and ending up with more questions. Still. it gives her a bit more insight into Satsuki's goals, overall. And what this Election is really going to mean. She's weeding the place out. Anyone who'd question her will get stomped out of the school. But, it's still an opportunity for Ryuko to strike at her directly. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "None whatsoever," Aikurou replies to Sagat. "The princess is good at playing her cards close to her chest." He's moving to go as well, but not bothering to collect his shirt. "Haven't you noticed?" he adds in response to Tomoe. "Satsuki Kiryuin seems to be running more a training and R&D facility than a school." But that seems to be all the hint he has to offer.     Topside, there is another complication. A very large, pink complication. A car-shaped complication, with a huge 'new driver' decal on the hood and a man-shaped mountain sitting in the driver's seat. A three-star man-shaped mountain.     "Matoi," Gamagoori greets, sounding surprisingly calm. "Did you and your allies break down in front of this property?" He himself is parked on the street out front, regarding them with... well, vague curiosty and not much else. Stripper-sensei seems to have disappeared. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko drops her transformation, once she's outside. She checks her moped, for the trip back home, but.. just her luck. No gas. And, well.. just her luck, too, with the Diciplinary Chairman showing up. "Mph. Yeah, out of gas. What do you care?" She crosses her arms, and gives him a bit of a suspicious look. Did he follow her out here? Why would he be on that road, anyway? Still.. he doesn't seem the confrontational type. "Didn't think you'd be comin' after me, this quick, though." 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe says, ":says "I have noticed that." She knows she's not the smart one but the late day bit? Damn she noticed back then with the death traps, seriously. The Teacher pointed it out plain as day. "You offering to give us some gas to fill back up?"" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Ahh, Gamagoori. The only person at Honnouji that Sagat actually has to look *up* at. It's kind of refreshing, in a way - although seeing Gamagoori out here is not exactly a good sign. "One might inquire what brings the head of the Discipline Committee out this far from the city as well ... you were a Three-Star student the last time I checked, there isn't much reason for you to be this far from the school." He pauses, looking over that ... extremely pink automobile. "Or did the Automotive Club suggest in some form that I was breaking the rules by defending myself against vehicular assault before I left campus? If they want the motorcycle back, I've no objection to returning it," he adds mildly. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Relax, Matoi, Torajima." Gamagoori replies. "The stage for our battle will be the Naturals Election. It is the duty of any Disciplinary Committee member to provide assistance to students in need outside the school, regardless of who the student is. If you need gas," he adds with a nod to Tomoyo, "Hop in." Even though the vehicle is a convertible, he reaches over to hit the 'unlock' button, unlocking all four doors. "If the Automotive Airsoft Club is unable to keep their vehicles during the Naturals Election week, it's none of my concern." 'Automotive Airsoft Club'? 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko's not about to argue. Here's a guy who wouldn't break his own rules, especially considering what's going on. The stage, huh? She's fine with waiting, if that's what it means. "Alright." She takes shotgun, and hops into the front passenger seat. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is now suddnely feeling very short at this point as she looks to Gamagoori for a moment. "Well it's good to see you put your money where your mouth is sir." She can have a level of respect for that. She pauses at the mention of the name. "Wait airsoft shooting with cars? Nothing's ever done small around here is it?" Tomoe's going to take somewhere in the back and get comfortable as she can. "Thank you upper classman." There's no need to snark when he's doing them a favour, right? 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Airsoft? Sagat frowns a bit as he moves to take the seat behind Gamagoori. "They didn't seem to have airsoft guns when they attacked me," he replies. "In any case, though - thank you for your assistance. Duty or not, you did come some way to find us ..." He does wonder HOW Gamagoori found them, but this seems like entirely the wrong time to ask. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     In reply to both Tomoe and Sagat, Gamagoori explains, driving all the while. "The Automotive Club and the Airsoft Club have both been gunning for me in specific, but neither have been able to succeed. This morning, they underwent a merger." He's not too terrible a driver, it turns out, as the car pulls onto the interstate. Perhaps a bit, well, new, but good enough. "I wasn't out searching for you; this was simply on the way back from a trip I took this afternoon. I saw Matoi's vehicle out in front of a ruined house, and thought it prudent to stop and see if there was an issue."     As the group heads down the highway back towards Honnou Town in the middle of the bay, the drive seems peaceful enough at first, but that's until a loud muscle car with a godawful horn catches up with the group, and then moves to one side as if to pass the Gamamobile. Gamagoori turns with an irritated expression to look at them, muttering, "What nerve. This is a no-passing zone, does the driver not know basic driving laws-"     Two men in helmets with visors down are standing up in the open-top car, levelling what appears to be assault rifles. They open fire immediately, and the side of Gamagoori's car is peppered with deep dents and pits. For airsoft pellets, those are hitting /hard/. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko hmms. He doesn't know that was her house, then. That's fine with her. Still.. "Ah. I see." She doesn't press the issue, and just looks out at the sunset, as they ride along the freeway, towards Honnouji, and the towering manmade island it sits atop. She tilts her head as she hears the horn, but she manages to duck down, into the roomy front seat, and behind the door. "W-What the hell!? Is that them!?" She asks Gamagoori, her hands covering her head. She can't transform like this, so hopefully he's got a plan! 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "Knows them, probably," Sagat calls out over the combined roar of highway noise and gunfire, hunkering down to try and reduce his exposure to the latter. His success is minimal, but he brings an arm up to help cover his face against stray airsoft rounds. "Cares about them, probably *not*. Could you use a hand with these delusional miscreants, Upperclassman, or would you rather I stay buckled up as the law dictates?" And no, he's not being sarcastic. ... Well, mostly not. Then again, the Automotive Airsoft Club broke the law first, probably - if that'll stand up as a defense. If anyone's going to *care*. He's gathering his chi internally, either way; he'll probably need it for something. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe says "I see so they teamed up to try and take you down. Man this is getting beyond high school poltical antics." She notes she make sure she' sbucjled up and well what else can she doe for the moment. "...We got company!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Gamagoori confirms Ryuko's suspicion with a nod. "Given that they know they can't wear your Kamui, they've been targeting Two- and Three-Star Goku Uniforms." He stomps a foot down on the gas pedal, and then leans out, deploying one whip from his sleeve and whirling it into a defensive tapestry that manages to deflect... well, most of the bullets. "For the moment, please keep your seating. If they want to challenge my driving skills..." At the head of the crowd - for there is indeed a crowd, a dozen or so cars all told - drives a car whose driver appears to be wearing it, his head emerging from the hood. "WHAT'S THE MATTER, GAMAGOORI?! Do you really think you can escape Ryosuke Todoroki the Automotive Airsoft Club president in that old lemon, Disciplinary Chairman?!"     Gamagoori smirks. "A challenge, then." And then he spins the steering wheel.     This proves to be a bad idea.     Oh, it seems to work at first. It throws the car into a spin, which forces the Automotive Airsoft cars to back off for their own safety, and Gamagoori laughs a confident, powerful laugh. But the laugh dies quickly when he realizes that he, ah, can't control the car anymore. "H-how can this be-?!"     It's okay, though. There's a wall there on the side of the road to stop the car! CRUNCH. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is suddenly pinned to the door of the car, as Gamagoori throws it into a spin. That's how fast it's spinning, even. "W-What the hell are you doin'!? Any amatuer knows that's what happens, when you spin the wheel like a madman!!" She bellows, over the sound of the tires screeching and the engine revving, on top of all those airsoft guns shooting up Gamagoori's ride. Thankfully, Ryuko doesn't GO anywhere, when the car slams into the wall. She stands up, and growls, nearly hopping out of the car itself, ready to fight. "Okay, assholes.. Time to get stomped!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "I'm surprised you lot managed to get new vehicles so quickly after the wrecks I left you in!!" Sagat roars back at Todoroki and his club members/henchmen. "What junkyard did you raid to patch those heaps together?!" That's when Gamagoori takes his car into a devastating spin ... one which ends against the highway retaining wall, or whatever that is. It hurts quite a lot, whether it's the driver's side or passenger's side that takes the brunt of the impact. But Sagat pushes through the pain, unbuckling his seatbelt and literally leaping out of the car. "Save a few for me if you would, Matoi," he grates, standing up straight and doffing his uniform jacket. "These fools are clearly even more foolish than I thought." His hands flex nearly into claws as he brings his arms up, hands held in front of his chest, sparks of yellow energy crackling between his palms ... "TIGER CANNON!!" He makes a pushing motion, and a massive ball of focused chi erupts towards one of the AA vehicles. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe sees the guys coming for htem and she only brought a sword along with her, this could be an issue she thinks. She looks to Gamagoori as the attackers come. However it's a challenge she hangs on as they go out of control and crunch. It takes her a moment to ... recove rbut she's crawling out of the car now blade in hand and looking for a fight. "So ... come on you want some of this out of me?! You want some of it you pyschos!?" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "WE'RE THE AUTOMOTIVE AIRSOFT CLUB! No one in Japan can put a car back together as quickly as us!" That comes not from Todoroki, but one of the underlings.     It just so happens to be his car that Sagat trashes with a blast of chi not long after. "DAMN YOUUUUUU, TORAJIMAAAAAA-!"     A withering barrage of counterfire is unleashed, but without skipping a beat, Gamagoori takes a step to the fore, using himself to shield both Tomoe and Ryuko. "Three-Star Goku Uniform... SHACKLE REGALIA!" A flood of starburst sparkles envelops the Disciplinary Chairman, transforming his uniform into something entirely different. It's difficult to see with the bright headlights outlining it, but he almost looks as if he's been mummified, his arms bound to his body and several spikes sticking out from underneath the bandages at his shoulders. He's taking the majority of the airsoft fire by now, although some of it still gets past to the car. "Hahahaha, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's right, keep firing! Keep hitting me as hard as you can... it will only lead to your downfall!" 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is not quite unarmed but she wonders if keeping her avatar as an ace in hole, she however is thabnkful for the cover from one of the elite four. This has made it a very odd battle, given they are not having to fight him today. She's quite glad about that. She now is looking for incoming hostiles with this point. She watches him as he's taking the hits and now cringes. However she's got to find an opening, and on some level it's odd. She's not the tank today. Her blade dawn breaker is held with more skill that one might expect her to have, her stance is of no formal school however as she moves to deflect some airsoft rounds with the blade that get past Gammagoori. "I need to be able to get close..." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' When somebody starts LETTING themselves take damage, it's usually a really bad sign. Sagat clearly considers this his cue to step away from Gamagoori ... And to start wrecking some more vehicles with his fists, not to mention elbows, knees, and feet. Like Tomoe said, there are some street fighters who demolish cars as a demonstration, and Sagat has been known to do that himself. Of course, normally the cars being demolished in that manner are unoccupied and stationary. The fact that these have drivers and passengers and are in motion ... well, it really doesn't slow Sagat down. He's not QUITE strong enough to lift a car by the front bumper and flip it over, but a good Tiger Uppercut accomplishes the task well enough when he aims and times it right. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko just.. she's more interested in Gamagoori's transformation. It's.. uh.. Really something. She's quick to leap out and engage a few of the club members with the airsoft guns directly, kicking and punching them off the bridge, and into the bay below it. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The 'Automotive' part of the Automotive Airsoft Club is not stupid. What few cars that haven't stopped already, do so immediately when the Emperor of Muy Thai approaches. The Airsoft gunners are foolhardy enough to think that they'll be fine. They quickly learn the error of their ways when Sagat gets ahold of their cars - although in the meantime, Sagat will be taking Airsoft fire that hits hard enough to put dents in the side of a car.     "There will be no need for that!" Gamagoori says in response to Tomoe's desire to get closer. "I can endure any pain, any hardship! In my third year of Junior High, I was powerless, helpless even as a Student Council President against the corrupt scum of my hometown. Even my classmates could kill another student and get away with it! But Satsuki Kiryuin changed that! As a mere first-year, she restored justice and removed the disgusting trash enabling that corruption once and for all! That was how I first met her, and after graduating I was willing to wait two years so that I might enter Honnouji Academy together with her! This Three-Star Uniform is PROOF OF THAT RESOLVE! Attempting to stop me with pain will only GIVE ME THE POWER TO WIN!!"     The Shackle Regalia lights up for a second time, awash with sparkles a split second before it seems to explode.     Whips, everywhere. Erupting outward with concrete-shattering, steel-rending force. The remaining Automotive Airsoft cars are simply shredded, exploding shortly thereafter, with Gamagoori merely standing hunched over in the aftermath of his uniform's second transformation.     "Three-Star Goku Uniform... SCOURGE REGALIA." 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko just mutters to herself, ".. This.. explains a lot.." She's not left with much to do, or people to fight, with the secondary transformation of Gamagoori's uniform taking out the bulk of the club's cars and many of their on-foot airsoft members. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' This leaves Sagat with quite a few more bruises for his current collection, even though he's not stupid enough to just stand there OR to just walk towards each target when he's actively being shot at. Then Gamagoori toggles his uniform mode from Shackle to Scourge, and suddenly, no more opposition. One of those whips may have passed Sagat in the 'too close for comfort' range, since the Muay Thai fighter actually caught himself in the middle of either winding up or actually throwing a punch, and is now holding ABSOLUTELY still in the wake of Gamagoori's intensifying. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Sheena notes to Gamagoori. "...Your a hell of a tank." She's saying that with the utmost respect. She's still got her blade ready as shw watches the power that the upper clasman has. She's starting to get a bit of a better understanding of the mountain of a man. She looks at the the aftermath and lets out a low whistle. "Damn..." 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     After that, the trip back to Honnou Town is almost boring by comparison - the car is even still (barely) functional. Gamagoori is willing to see them as far as getting gas, and is careful to remind them that 'A picnic isn't over until you're safely home'. His last words, however, are for Ryuko herself, and rather than the calm and collected Disciplinary Chairman they've dealt with the entire way, he delivers them with the more forceful, challenging tone of one of Satsuki's Elite Four. "I'll see you at the Naturals Election, Matoi Ryuko. And I'll arrange a fitting stage for our battle." 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     At least, it's a less eventful ride. "Mm." Ryuko listens to his words, though, and she seems to take them to heart. "Don't worry.. Not gonna underestimate any of you, from now on. I'll be ready for it." She says in reply, meeting his own forceful declaration with one of her own. "And I'll win, too. Count on it." Her trip home is on her moped, which she'd put in the trunk of that huge car, and managed to keep safe during the fighting. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' "Don't rule the rest of us out, Upperclassman," Sagat says as he gets out of the car. "But we'll see what happens when we get that far." Probably the motorcycle he 'borrowed' from the Automotive (Airsoft) Club was left back at the Matoi ruins. Not like Sagat generally needs wheels to get around, though. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is now moving toi put her blade away as none of the other ones are looking for trouble. She looks to him for a moment and nods a little bit. She gets that he wants to face Ryuko. However he wants it legit and on the level which is good in her mind. "Yes, I'm not going to ever underestimate you Uperclassman." Seriously the man has a will of pure iron. 

}}

1878/Threads of Fate: The Rematch

2015-08-11T03:13:51Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/03/25 |Location=KLK Earth <KLK> |Synopsis=Though Uzu lost his last duel against Ryuko, he has challenged her again, and with Satsuki's permiss..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/03/25
|Location=KLK Earth <KLK>
|Synopsis=Though Uzu lost his last duel against Ryuko, he has challenged her again, and with Satsuki's permission. But, will it go Ryuko's way again? Or has Uzu got something up his sleeve?
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=6, 95, 140, 401, 430, 648, 662, 725
|Tinyplot=Threads of Fate (Part 1)
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The rains in Tokyo have passed, but clouds still largely mask the sky above, only a few rays of sunshine poking through here and there to give the dreary day just a hint more light - as if the day itself were struggling to be sunny, but didn't have the strength. Life in Honnou Town and the academy at its heart, however, continue as always. Which is to say, 'completely at the whims of Satsuki and her Elite Four'.     Just yesterday, the fortunes of Uzu Sanageyama looked grim. What has transpired in the past 24 hours is anyone's guess; but there he stands in the courtyard of Honnouji, wearing a three-star coat over his bare, still-bandaged torso as if nothing had changed. Hands in his pockets, he stands at the middle of a raised, circular arena lined with Honnouji's infamous, large concrete spikes, waiting calmly and in silence. He's issued his challenge; whatever Matoi might believe, she'll be here, and that's all he has to worry about.     The biggest change today, however, is one that hearkens all the way back to the match on Saturday. Unlike the clash in the gym, the Queen of Honnouji herself has opted to oversee this battle. High above on her tower, Satsuki Kiryuin stands, looking down at the proceedings below with her hands on the pommel of Bakuzan as always. Her Elite Four are not with her, Sanageyama's presence notwithstanding, nor are they in the VIP stands that have been hastily erected near the platform. The only person present is the seldom-seen Sewing Club President Shiro Iori, wearing his orange dust filter as always. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Needless to say, Ryuko's a bit surprised to see what Sanageyama's wearing, once she shows up. She had Mako stay behind, this time, not sure what the intentions of her opponent and his master were, so unless anyone else shows in her favor, she's going solo. She's also gone ahead and transformed right away, and with her Scissor Blade in hand, walks into the middle of the 'arena' that makes up the school's massive interior courtyard. Satsuki's presence doesn't go unnoticed, either.     "Man.. pretty generous of you, givin' someone I've beat already another shot. Feelin' a bit forgiving, today? Special occasion?" Ryuko addresses Satsuki first, before looking at Uzu. "Or are you just a glutton for punishment, who likes struttin' around in his birthday suit?" She hefts her weapon and sighs, "Let's get this over with." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Truth be told, Sagat is surprised that Sanageyama had the guts to challenge Ryuko to a rematch this soon after she beat him. Or maybe 'guts' is the wrong term - you usually take longer than a few days to hone your skills before seeking a second match with somebody who beat you once. It smacks of being a poor loser ... or of having something up your sleeve. Of course, around Honnouji, just HAVING sleeves can count as having something up those sleeves. Especially when the sleeves are attached to one or more stars. So, Sagat's found an excuse to watch. He's not sitting in any of the stands, just standing in a relaxed-but-not-casual manner near one of the entrances, somewhere that he has a decent view from what should by all rights be a safe distance. Sanageyama's new Three-Star uniform isn't lost on him, either - nor is the fact that they can replace a Three-Star Goku Uniform in relatively short order, especially with the potential they hold. 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      There's a moment of absolute silence in between the words of Ryuko Matoi and the beginning of Round 2. At the beginning of that moment of absolute silence, the space at the ledge near Kiryuin is empty.      At the end of that silence, it is not.      A purple-haired man sits on the edge of the ledge in front of Kiryuin. He's carefully arranged himself not to block her view in a show of demure politeness, his leg hanging off the side as he watches the proceedings begin. Black, unnatural scars - or are they tattoos? - arc and writhe across his skin as if alive, though that's surely just a trick of the light, for when one takes a second glance they have settled into a configuration, though surely not the configuration they were in when he appeared. Despite the unnerving nature of those tattoos, there's a peaceful, almost detached smile on his face, as though the whole world could end around him and it would barely make a dent in his attitude.      That may be enough to ascertain his identity. If not, the sword upon his back most surely is. It is massive, improperly and improbably so, reaching nearly five feet in length despite lacking in girth. The katana seems like it would be impossible for an ordinary person to use, and yet the grip is well-loved, well-cared-for, with signs of heavy use over an indeterminable amount of time.      And if even that sword and that smile do not prove his identity, his gentle, cheerful, distant voice most surely does. She's probably heard it over the radio enough times.      "You have an impressive academy," Kojirou Sasaki observes over his shoulder at Satsuki, "It has a good atmosphere. I can tell...there are plenty of strong opponents here."      "And plenty of fighting spirit," Kojirou adds, his eyes flicking at Sanageyama, "I like it, Kiryuin-kun."      The thousand-year samurai reaches into his elegant purple kimono and draws out a bottle of sake. He pops the cork and takes a sip. "I hope that the fruit of failure will feed him as well as he seems to believe." 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     Something must have changed. Something must be different. That is Fate Testarossa's reason for coming to see this again. Otherwise she wouldn't have bothered watching a shamed and defeated man calling out so fiercely for a second bout. Timid and gentle she may be, she understands the meaning of failure and its consequences, and would not have deemed the rematch worth her time... If not for Satsuki deciding to watch it herself.     Fate knows Satsuki as a stern young woman, with immense discipline and standards, and she would assume that said standards must be held by the Student Council President's subordinates as well, after Gamagoori lashed it home, the last time. If Sanageyama is being given a second chance, then he must have displayed a fierce level of determination and resolve.     This is why Fate is in the VIP stands, the tiny blonde child seemingly out of place in what just might be the most brutal high school in all japan. For one, she doesn't look Japanese in the least, and she's not even close to high school age, despite the white school uniform trimmed in black, that might make her feasibly blend in a bit better.     "He's hiding something..." She murmurs to herself, quietly under her breath.     [SIR?] The triangular medallion on her glove buzzes in a mechanical, masculine voice.     "This won't be like last time. That's not the demeanor of a man wh has been beaten. That's the stance of a man sure of vi     c#ffec8b">[AGREED, SIR.] 

:'''{{#var:725|Ysuran (725)}} has posed:'''     Somewhere in Sagat's general vicinity, there's a hooded figure. Tattered clothes. Dressed all in black. Appears to be hunched over slightly, leaning on a black staff with bat-wings at the end. The hands that hold onto the staff are slender and pale, but not aged, if one chooses to look.     IT's Ysuran, is who it is. But he's covered up his head because of his obviously non-human ears. He didn't see any non-humans here in this world (none that were visibly so, anyway), so he thought it best to hide.     Catching wind of this late, Ysuran nonetheless wishes to see what this is all about, having heard the crowing on the radio earlier. Apparently there had been a duel and the one who had lost was issuing a second challenge? Unbeknownst to him, he and Sagat had similar thoughts on the matter. This soon after a lost duel, it would be strange for the loser to request another ... unless the one who lost previously had something planned ... 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo is here! She dug out that fake uniform she made and snuck back into the school when she heard Sanageyama challenge Ryuko over the radio once again. She didn't even know why, to be honest. She thought she had written off Life Fibres last time due to the general... insanity of Honnouji. And yet...      Here she is, on the outskirts of the courtyard, mingling in with the other students, Camera at the ready of course, she points it at the two fighters, looking a little concerned. Sanageyama looked so much more confident than last time. And it's not a cocky confidence either.      She pats at her satchel, feeling the reassuring curve of a certain jade mirror she brought along to soothe her nerves. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Sheena aka Tomoe, aka Eisen, sh'es notable for her height and her red hair but that's about it she's pretty much mundanly dressed and is trying to keep a lower profile as shes' in the stands she's in a basic female uniform. She's keeping to the edge though she's got a strange looking ornate pendant on. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Sitting in the stands, Shiro turns to Fate with a raised eyebrow. "You're not wrong about that. Sanageyama had me make some peculiar modifications to the Blade Regalia." He mutters something under his breath that sounds like, 'And himself,' but doesn't seem like he meant for that part to be audible. "Today's fight will be very different."     The students milling about, meanwhile, are relatively sparse today; this isn't a public show the way the match Saturday was, and it's also during school hours. Nevertheless, Tomoyo, Sagat, Ysuran and Tomoe are not the only ones watching, so they're secure for now. Curiously, the largest portion of the relatively small audience seems to be members of various athletic clubs. Boxing, soccer, tennis, baseball, that sort of thing. There's mutters here and there of, "-has a totally different air today-" and "-something about him scares me-" and the like.     As always, Satsuki remains unmoved by the verbal jabs Ryuko sends her way; today in particular, the corners of her lips curl up in a very faint smile, as if she knows something that Ryuko hasn't realized yet. "If you're thinking I've gone soft, Matoi, you're free to tell me so after your fight," she responds, lifting her voice to carry down to the arena below effortlessly. Avenger's sudden appearance doesn't seem to perturb her; if anything, it passes unremarked until after she's addressed Matoi. "Honnouji is a place of strength and strife, designed to bring out the true might of all who pass through her doors. I would not accept a student body without fighting spirit." Nevertheless, the compliment from Sasaki seems to have pleased her.     Directly in front of Ryuko, however, Sanageyama stands in a surprising veil of silence; even when he does finally speak, his voice is softer and calmer than is usual for him by far. "Let me show you what happens when a man is forced to change." Something in his voice bespeaks an entirely different sort of confidence than before; but with the light at his back and his hair hanging down, the shadows cast over his eyes make it impossible to truly read his expression.     But there is little that needs to be read; the three stars on his collar glimmer, and then for the second time in a week, Uzu Sanageyama transforms his Three-Star Goku Uniform. Gone are the cylinders on the suit's back, the whole profile changed in subtle but noticeable ways, but for the most part it is of similar design. "Three-Star Goku Uniform: Blade Regalia... MARK II!" 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     Thusly Fate finds herself in a conversation she hadn't expected to be in. She had been muttering to herself- her Device at best. It's when Shiro replies to her, the girl nearly flinches, before scarlet eyes peek at the sewing club president. Before her eyes narrow slightly.     "Forced to change..." She murmurs in a quiet echo. But she does not ask what KIND of modifications. 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo quickly pans her camera up to the tower on which Satsuki stands, zooming her camera to the furthest it can go. So, she actually showed up today? She also looks around, looking for any sign of the other Elite Four, but it seems that they are the no-shows today. Although there is that boy with the mask.      Next, she makes sure to record Sanageyama's transformation. The Blade Regalia looks a little different... is this the source of his confidence, a more powerful version? Hopefully Ryuko will be okay! 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe listens to the young man's words to Ryuko. She wondersd about this what has he done, she does move to pull out her smart phone to record this whole affair now. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Either way, Ryuko's not terribly phased by the whole show, or the words of others. Just as determined and cocky as ever. So, the moment he's done transforming, she gives the same strategy she used the last time a try. "Let's see if you learned, then!" She cuts off part of the shoulder of her outfit, again scattering those scraps of it all over Sanageyama's armor, in the places where his eyes are located. It doesn't take very long, either, before she's done.     And once she is, she charges straight at him, once more looking to end the fight with a single strike. Aiming to cut from his shoulder to opposite hip, she lets out a loud battle cry as she unloads that swing. "HAAAAH!!" 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      "Well, it's worth applauding nonetheless," Avenger replies, "There are so many who are willing to speak of battle like they understand it. The world...no, I suppose the worlds as a whole...is a place where such things happen all the time. So it's worth applauding a school that understands."      "At least, in my mind."      "Although..." Kojirou sighs and looks up at the sky. His distant smile seems to flicker for just a moment. "That's a poor choice of words on your student's part, don't you think? Being 'forced to change'...people cannot be 'forced' to change. They 'choose' to change because of the circumstances, or they 'choose' to remain the same. And true 'change'...hm."      "Well, then again, I suppose I'm not really qualified to speak on such things." Kojirou offers Satsuki another broad, detached smile, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. "I am the unchanging swordsman, after all."      "That 'Goku Uniform' of his. Would you mind telling me, what does it do, and why is it 'Mark Two?'" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat inclines his head slightly to Ysuran, as if acknowledging his presence - or possibly in greeting him, although that hood does a lot to prevent recognition of the hooded man with the staff, if Sagat would recognize him otherwise. Either way, it's at least a polite nod. The vast majority of his attention, of course, is on Sanageyama and Matoi, as they transform and begin their match. He's particularly attentive to the Blade Regalia Mark II, trying to identify what differentiates it from the Mark I. Obviously, Senketsu hasn't changed noticeably since last time. But when Ryuko goes straight in for the 'kill' - Sagat actually frowns at that. 

:'''{{#var:725|Ysuran (725)}} has posed:'''     Regarding the battle in-progress from under his hood, Ysuran remains silent. Transforming clothes, what magic is this? Seems like it'd be handy, at least. Though he narrows his eyes slightly at Sanageyama's 'forced to change'. That's an odd thing to say. Forced? Because he was defeated? There's probably some context that he's missing, he figures. He's not about to ask, though. For the time being he's trying to stay as much 'under the radar', so to speak, as possible.     Sagat's nod gets one in return from Ysuran. There are ways to recognize him, thankfully. Two in fact. One, the staff he carries is quite literally jet-black ... mainly because jet was used to make it. And secondly? That giant black tome he carries. It's as large as his torso is, and he never leaves it anywhere. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Perhaps," Satsuki replies to Avenger, her eyes still on the two below. "But sometimes a choice, isn't really a choice at all. When choosing anything else would mean the death not of one's body, but of one's soul, the 'choice' in such a situation is little more than a formality. But... I suppose that's meaningless, at this point. I approve of Sanageyama's choice. As for the Blade Regalia; it enhances his physical attributes and kendo prowess to the point of being able to fight legions and win. It's 'Mark II' because the original was destroyed on Saturday in his initial duel with Matoi. Ordinarily, I do not countenance such failure. But last night... well, watch and see."     If there is anyone that's relatively nonthreatening, it's Shiro Iori. Scrawny and bookish, with unkept hair pulled back into a ponytail and an orange dust mask over his mouth, the young man seems to have little else to offer the younger Fate for the moment.     In the meantime, Sanageyama... stands. Unmoving. Not assuming any stance, not drawing a weapon, the large form of Blade Regalia simply stands where he transformed. He doesn't make a single move to avoid or remove any of the dozens of scraps of fabric, despite that they cover every possible opening and aperture in his Goku Uniform. He doesn't react to the headlong charge of Matoi... at least, not until the last possible instant.     At that point, as if he could see her plain as day, his arm lifts up, hand curled into a fist, and a huge shinai practically erupts from the gauntlet above his wrist, aimed with almost-literally gut-wrenching force and impossible precision at Ryuko's abdomen.     Only now do the sheets of Senketsu begin to fall away on their own, uncovering first and foremost the kendo-esque faceplate of the Blade Regalia, making it just barely possible to see inside... to a pair of eyes that have been sewn shut in a four-pointed star pattern. 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      "Oh, I approve of his resolve," Kojirou notes, "But the 'choice' is always present. Ignoring that the 'choice' is present is dangerous. Even death is itself always an option, after all. To ignore that because you believe you have 'no choice' is to lock yourself into only one option, only one path - and that is more dangerous than freedom. Even if the freedom is that of the grave, it's a freedom."      Kojirou's eyes follow the motion of Sanageyama perfectly. He lets out a quiet whistle at the young man's strike. "Hohh. That kind of stance...that's a man who's looked at death itself and decided to gamble." The swordsman flicks his fingers at Sanageyama. "He's decided to put it all on the line this match, hasn't he? No matter what happens, he intends to win - even if it costs him his own life. No hesitation, no regret...the blade less than a centimeter from his face, because anything less would give her too much time to react to him."      "I suppose there's freedom of a kind in denying yourself choice, as well. There is 'freedom' in the 'chains' of this world, too...hah." 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo shakes her head as Sanageyama seems to fall for the same trick again. She had been expecting some kind of measure to counter this tactic. But, it seems to all be for naught, as he retaliates perfectly!      From her position and at this distance, she can't quite see his eyes, so she is left puzzled over how he was able to counter her technique! 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko's eyes just go wide with shock. There's not much that comes out of her mouth either, aside from some spit and whatever air she had in her lungs. Her hands are still above her head, holding onto her sword for dear life. Honestly, it's a miracle she didn't drop the damn thing. The force from the blow throws her back, and she lands pretty hard. "Uuhh.. W-What the.. You.. went and sewed your eyes shut..?" <<Ryuko.. There's something different about that uniform. Be careful. Try a different angle!>> Senketsu's voice warns her, to which she's all but willing to agree, given the pain in her stomach after that strike. So, head-on is out.. At least, trying to blind him. So, she hurls her sword at him, but charges from the side. Dashing off one of those concrete pillars, her weapon and herself attacking from two different angles. Someone who's /blind/ will have trouble with this, right? So.. why is she feeling so damn uneasy, now!? 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Avenger's words on choice draw Satsuki's attention to him, briefly; but her expression is unreadable, and her attention returns to Matoi's battle. Her next words are for Sanageyama's opponent, laced with her own forcefulness of spirit and beginning to draw forth that signature radiance of hers, but there is no doubt that they're for Kojirou's benefit as well. "This is the resolve of a man who has realized the error of his ways and sacrificed everything! Know that as you face him, Matoi!"     From Sanageyama himself, however, the words are much softer, and in their own way, more ominous. "Let's begin."     Finally he advances, just as Ryuko begins her own attack. Each step somehow manages to become a promise. A threat. The hulking form of Blade Regalia somehow manages to loom, to bring menace with it, even though its user ostensibly cannot see. For a second time he almost doesn't seem to react to Ryuko's assault - and in a repeat of the previous fight's beginning, both Scissor Blade and Kamui-user pass right throug the fading afterimage of a warrior who's already disappeared... and reappeared behind Ryuko.     "MEN!" A kendo call, for a strike at the head, accompanied by a swing with brute force. "DO!" A second, the call for the body, the shinai hitting with the force of a jackhammer. "KOTE!" And the call for the wrist, this time pressed in hard, meant to hold Matoi in place entirely. "You're getting scared, aren't you, Matoi? Your breathing, the smell of your sweat. I can see the inner workings of your mind as clear as day... much more clearly than I could with my eyes!"     "Shingantsu. The eyes of the mind." Only now does Satsuki finally name the phenomenon that restored her faith in Sanageyama's resolve. Her own eyes closed, she delivers an explanation that even Shiro Iori seems surprised by. "Sealing his eyes shut has boosted his affinity with the Blade Regalia. It has become his eyes, his nose, his ears. He has far surpassed his Tengantsu with the advent of Shingantsu. There is no longer anyone who can evade his attacks!" 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     He did what? Meanwhile, Fate's own eyes widen significantly on hearing Ryuko's exclamation. Before the girl looks to Shiro, the depths of Sanageyama's conviction are brought to light. Her question to the sewing club president is very simple, with the cutting cold edge of a knife to her quiet voice.     "Is that what he asked for?" 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is just wtching the fight now and then as Ryuko says it, sewed his eyes shut?! That's disturbing as hell and she's now on edge wondeirng how this fight is going to play itself out. She's now just staring however. Did he go that far for a shot to win? Eyes of the mind?! 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' And this would be why Sagat didn't approve of Ryuko's charging straight in like this was going to be an *easy* fight. First rule of rematches: never expect things to go the same way. In point of fact, Sagat himself has been reminded of that not terribly long ago, when Lute tracked him down for a second confrontation well after their initial fight - so long that Sagat had nearly forgotten him. He looks briefly at Ysuran's staff and tome, but the vast majority of Sagat's attention remains on the ring as Sanageyama begins fighting back against Ryuko. SERIOUSLY fighting back, at that ... what's the phrase the kids use, when they realize just how much worse the odds are than they looked to start with ... ? Oh, right. 'This is gonna suck.' Sagat's jaw clenches slightly, his single visible eye giving a steely gaze as he continues to watch. It's a one-on-one duel - he can't interfere, and he wouldn't even if he thought he could get away with it. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Fate receives a quiet nod from the Sewing Club president. That would appear to be exactly what Sanageyama asked for. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     It's pretty obvious how the fight's going to play out, at this point. Ryuko had tied a thread to her sword, to at least get it back into her hands, for all the good that did. Neither blow managed to hit him, with how he was able to sense her. Struck hard, three times, she's already bleeding by the time he's done. A dribble of it from her nose, a scrape on her back. She's breathing pretty hard, too, as she tries shakily to stand up on her feet, fully. "Shingantsu.. Whatever.. no one 'can't be hit'.. That's a load of crap..!" She meets Sanageyama's sword with her own, but even just doing so, all she's able to do is defend. Try to stop him from getting another hit in. Try, being the key word there. Eventually, he does. Repeated strikes.. head, body, hands.. Honestly, at this point, it's impressive she's still on her feet. And then, perhaps not for much longer. She spits out some blood, and while she looks like she's still going to fight, it's clear her limit is approaching. 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo winces as every blow lands. The fact that Sanageyama is actually calling his hits makes it more brutal, showing how confident he is. She quietly roots for Ryuko, hoping that she'll be able to pull it around, but she's on the defensive!      Digging into her pocket, she extracts her cellphone! Flipping it open, she pounds out a quick text to her bodyguards. 'STAND BY FOR QUICK EXTRACTION +1.' She stands ready, still recording, but if it seems that Ryuko might not make it...      She's scared, truth be told. Biting her lower lip, legs shaking. But... if she doesn't have the bravery to charge in now, will she ever? 

:'''{{#var:725|Ysuran (725)}} has posed:'''     Ysuran frowns at this. It looks like Ryuko may need help very soon. And she is an ally, even if he doesn't know her personally. But not yet. He understands the need to not interrupt a duel, even if it's going badly for an ally. He does open the tome, letting the large book sit open on his arm, but not acting yet. He's just getting ready to help if he's needed, that's all. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Still going to fight? Sanageyama doesn't have any intention of allowing that. His attack is relentless. Unending. It starts steady, and only picks up steam, blow after blow raining down in a seamless onslaught that grows faster and fiercer with every swing. And only now has the fervor finally returned to his voice; far from the youthful cockiness of just days prior, it has transfored to the blazing fervor of a warrior determined to fell his opponent. "MEN! DO! KOTE! MEN! DO! KOTE! MEN! DO! KOTE! MEN DO KOTE MEN DO KOTE MEN DO KOTE MEN DO KOTE MENDOKOTEMENDOKOTEMEEEEEEEEN!!"     And at last that huge shinai rises, lifted over Sanageyama's head in preparation for a finishing blow. "It ends now." And he is right.     But not for the reason he believes.     A wave of rainbow sparkles passes over the Blade Regalia. Jets of steam erupt from every vent. Satsuki and Shiro both look on in surprise, the latter even beginning a muttered exclamation of, "It's...!" Sanageyama can only utter a clipped, confused "What-?!" before, in a last flare of stars, the Goku Uniform deactivates, leaving him simply standing there with his shinai raised in his base uniform. "What happened?!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' As Sanageyama's barrage picks up speed and ferocity, Sagat finally unfolds his arms and begins making his way down towards the ring - not at a run, but a purposeful walk. If this continues, it WILL end in Ryuko's death ... Thankfully, it does not continue to the fatal point - or at least, Sagat hopes it didn't. He's just as curious as to what happened as everyone else probably is, though - and while he comes to a halt, he's mostly trying to tell by looking what kind of shape Ryuko has been left in, even if she's still on her feet. As to why he stopped ... well, a Goku Uniform presumably does NOT just revert for no reason. Even Sanageyama's surprise doesn't get Sagat to lower his guard ... in fact, it's possible that the towering martial artist is preparing a technique of his own, just in case skulduggery is afoot. 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     It was going so well for Sanageyama. Until his Goku Uniform seems to give out on him.     "... What happened?" Fate asks of Shiro. "... Did he push it too far?"     [OVERCONFIDENCE.] Bardiche buzzes.     Either way this fight is over now, without the Blade Regalia. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe watches how the battle has taken such a shift in favour of one of the eliute four as compared to yesterday. She can only watch bracing her self for what's happning to Ryuko. Howecver then something happens, did his uniform give out? Did something break? Did something else interfear? She's not sure but she's now more worried for Ryuko than just what happened with her foe. 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      Kojirou had been watching silently until that moment. As Sanageyama's blade freezes, he stands and looks off at the sky.      "Unfortunately," Kojirou observes, "The desire to achieve...the desire to surpass...these are not freedoms one can achieve if one closes oneself off to all possibilities except victory."      "A victory fuelled by defeat...can only be possible if one acknowledges that defeat is a possibility." His distant, peaceful smile turns wry, "For when one closes off one's ability to be defeated, they close off the ability to imagine their defeat...yet, that is the sole thought of the opponent. And if the opponent can imagine a means to win, and you cannot imagine a way to lose..."      "Then you cannot imagine how they will succeed."      Kojirou takes a swig of the sake and turns to look at Satsuki. His smile is so strange, so distant; the handsome face, unmarred even by the strange black scars, seems as if it's gazing far beyond her. It's as if he's looking at something only he can see. "But perhaps he can still win...perhaps his drive will allow him to surpass even that."      "After all, the word impossible is a word only fools use on the battlefield."      "Do you have faith in him?" Kojirou adds before his gaze flicks back to the battle, and he turns away from Satsuki, "Do you believe that his 'desire' will surpass even his limitations and carry him to victory?" 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo has seen all she can take, and she can't take no more! She mashes out another text to her body guards. She then lowers her camera and starts dashing towards the fight! Partway there, Sanageyama's Goku Uniform shuts down, giving her a burst of courage!      Over at the entrance to the school, a white van with tinted windows suddenly appears, speeding towards Ryuko and Sanageyama. It turns sharply as whoever is behind the wheel taps the breaks, bringing the side with the sliding door around to face Sanageyama. As Tomoyo reaches Ryuko, it is yanked open.      Three woman clad in fine suits are behind it, two of which have tasers levelled at the head of the Athletics Club. The third helps Tomoyo lift Ryuko's battered body into the vehicle, with Tomoyo quickly climbing in behind her!      At that point, the van door is slammed shut and it speeds off once more, heading back to the entrance. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko couldn't fight any longer, even if she wanted to. Had Sanageyama been able to land that last hit, without his uniform shutting down, well.. She'd be a lot worse off, that's for sure. Once she's out of danger, her exhaustion kicks right in, and she just goes limp. Her transformation, likewise, is shut down. Senketsu is still there, at least. <<He was a completely different opponent, the second time. Even I couldn't..>> He trails off a bit, just glad that it's over. Still, despite the fact she's lost, can't help but feel that.. she's definitely learned something. "No, it's.. my fault.. I underestimated 'em.. Not called the 'Elite' Four, for nothin', that's for sure." She groans, her voice clearly pained. "Won't make the same mistake twice.." She huffs, "Ugh, but right now.. I hurt all fuckin' over. Shit.." She can't move much, mostly because doing so /hurts/. No doubt a broken bone or two, along with some cuts and bruises. She hasn't felt this bad since the WMAT, that's for certain. 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      "Ah, well," Kojirou observes as Ryuko is taken away, his voice still distant, "I wonder if he'll consider something like that a victory...or if he'll have the wisdom to see it as a defeat. Those limitations still chain him, after all..."      YOU JUST WANTED TO SEE SOME BLOOD, KOJIROU-KUN. YOU'RE PRETTY BLOODTHIRSTY THESE DAYS, AREN'T YOU?      "Hm." 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     When Satsuki regards Kojirou, she's developed a smile of her own, rare indeed. "You've misunderstood the situation, Sasaki. It isn't Sanageyama's limitations that have ended this prematurely."     Down below, Shiro's shocked words bear out the Queen of Honnouji's conclusion. "The Goku Uniform overheated?!" Sanageyama looks somewhere between shocked and disappointed - quickly slipping into fury when he realizes that a rescue van is stealing away his opponent. He looks as if he'd brave the three taser-armed women without hesitation, but before it's even feasible, they're already gone.     Gritting his teeth with frustration, Uzu Sanageyama lowers his head - a second failure like this leaves an incredibly sour taste in his mouth. Satsuki calls down from high above, "Don't feel disgrace, Sanageyama. This time, it was your Goku Uniform which couldn't keep up with your own power."     He gives a quiet, almost whispered response of, "Yes, ma'am." But he doesn't seem very satisfied with the conclusion regardless. 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      "That is his own limitation," Kojirou rebukes her gently, "A swordsman must know his tool as well as he knows himself. If he pushed his weapon to the limit, then it is his limitation as a warrior."      "He did well. I won't strip that from him. But this is his defeat. And I can tell that he knows it."      Kojirou stands for a moment on the ledge, looking down at the young man.      YOU LIKE THAT BOY, DON'T YOU?      "Yes," Kojirou murmurs to himself.      HEH HEH HEH. HOW SOFT-HEARTED THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS IS SOMETIMES. DO WHAT YOU WANT. I WON'T INTERFERE.      Kojirou rolls his shoulders for a moment, then steps calmly off the tower. He drops like a rock, apathetic to the force of gravity. When he lands, a ring of dust erupts around him, though he seems unperturbed. The swordsman walks over to the young man.      "What is it," Kojirou asks Sagenayama slowly, "That you most desire? What is it that the voice of your heart demands you forge into truth, no matter how it may affect those around you, no matter how it may harm you, no matter how much of your life it may spend?"      "Is it victory? Is it the defeat of that girl?"      "Or are your ambitions as limitless as the shining blue sky?" 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Meanwhile, in the van that is rapidly leaving the slums below Honnouji...      "If you hurt so much, stop talking," Tomoyo orders sternly as the three bodyguards get to work.      Their resources are limited to the contents of the van, which is loaded with a variety of clothes. Thankfully, there is a first aid kit in there. Taking some spare wooden coat hangers, they snap off the bottom to serve as makeshift splints on Ryuko's limbs. One of them offers the girl a couple of over-the-counter painkillers followed by water gently tipped into her mouth.      "We'll get you to Union medical as soon as we can," Tomoyo says kindly. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Perhaps," Satsuki replies. "But then it falls to me, to see that one of my Elite Four is armed with a sword through which he can apply his full strength. And that I will do." By the time the swordsman hits the ground, she's already turned to head back into her tower.     Sanageyama remains motionless for the moment, not seeming to respond to Kojirou's approach - not until words are actually spoken. When asked of his ambitions, he's quiet for a moment, but lifts his head, and turns it just far enough to indicate that he's heard and plans to respond. Body language is more difficult without eyes visible, but he's getting the hang of it. "...three years ago, I'd have told you 'to face strong opponents'. And even now, I still relish a good challenge! But if you were to ask what it is I most desire..."     He turns to face Avenger directly, standing firm. "I want nothing more than to see Satsuki Kiryuin's ambition fulfilled by my own strength and that of our comrades!" 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Not really knowing Tomoyo, Sagat just has to trust that she - and her wing of private security ladies - are indeed Ryuko's allies. But with Ryuko gone and the fight over even if she wasn't, Sagat just begins making his way out of the arena, nodding again to Ysuran if they happen to make anything resembling eye contact. This does necessitate turning his back to Sanageyama, but the kendoist presumably isn't going to attack Sagat at this point. 

:'''{{#var:725|Ysuran (725)}} has posed:'''     Ysuran will probably be withdrawing from the arena following Sagat, actually. His cloak hangs around him in a way that hides the movement of his legs, and that might be a little weird. Then again, with all the things that happen at Honnouji ... 'weird' is probably relative... 

:'''{{#var:662|Fake Avenger (662)}} has posed:'''      Kojirou is quiet for a moment. The boy's blindness is not a surprise to him, nor is his difficulty with body language. Indeed, very little of the young man is surprising, but that's not really fair to Sagenayama - it's hard to surprise a man whose age is greater than most civilizations. His eyes remain locked on the young man's sewn-shut gaze, his thoughts distant. This young man, like so many others, would dedicate his life to a woman. But unlike so many others...was it love? Or was it ideals? Or was it something else? Kojirou neither knew, nor, in truth, did he care. He had seen what devotion could do many times before. It may have never been something for him, but he respected its power all the same. Sometimes, after all, chains could do one well. After all...forgetting his limitations, and the limitations of his weapon, had been what damned him, hadn't they?      The ghost of a smile crosses the dead man's face.      "Very well," Kojirou replies.      "Caster."      A moment later, Baron Samedi steps out of the shadows behind him. The tall man's face is shrouded by his mask, and the top hat is settled on his head jauntily. "How can I help you, Master?"      "This boy impressed me. I want you to help them transform his next Goku Cloth into a Holy Shroud."      Caster's eyes widen behind his skull mask. "Wha-"      "His empty heart. His yearning to become a weapon that can fulfill another's ambition. His earnest gaze. His ambitious battle. This young man impressed me. See to it that his next weapon will not break as easily as this one. Work with their workshop in order to forge for him a most impressive blade."      "And," Kojirou's gaze turns back to Sagenayama, "Once he has earned his victory...I will fight him. And if he finds defeat, then I will fight him. One way or another, I will see this young man's ambitions become part of the blade he wields."      Caster Of Brown is silent for a moment. Then he sighs and puts his hand to his head. "Yer a fuckin' troublesome Master, Master Kojirou. Are you sure you wanna do this? Your own Holy Shroud won't stay enchanted."      "That's alright," Kojirou replies, "I want to see where this young man's strength takes him." 

}}

1845/Threads of Fate: Sanageyama vs. Matoi

2015-08-11T03:12:48Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/03/21 |Location=KLK Earth <KLK> |Synopsis=Uzu Sanageyama, with Satsuki Kiryuin's permission, challenges Ryuko Matoi to a duel! |Thanks= |Cast ..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/03/21
|Location=KLK Earth <KLK>
|Synopsis=Uzu Sanageyama, with Satsuki Kiryuin's permission, challenges Ryuko Matoi to a duel!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=6, 95, 140, 188, 401, 430, 492, 648
|Tinyplot=Threads of Fate (Part 1)
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     As promised, Uzu Sanageyama waits in Honnouji Academy's Gym 1, a huge sports complex better referred to as a small stadium, and it is absolutely packed to the rafters with observers. Every seat in the stands is full, and a considerable ring of students stands in a wide circle around the hardwood floor, in the middle of which waits Sanageyama himself, shinai on his back, arms crossed and eyes closed, waiting. It's standing room only out in the gym at large.     Up above, however, in the private box seats for the Honnouji elite and their special guests (including most Confederates), it's much roomier... and better air-conditioned. Already present are the other three members of the Elite Four, Gamagoori, Inumuta and Jakuzure; the former two sit in the regular seats, while the latter sprawls on a personal couch loaded with stuffed animals.     And grouses.     "The wild monkey beat us to the punch. If I'd gotten permission, I'd have gladly taken her out first!" Inumuta merely tilts his head curiously. "Where is Lady Satsuki, anyway?" Gamagoori replies with a calm, "She's stepped out. She said that this battle wasn't worth watching." Jakuzure turns her head far enough to look at him and replies, "What the hell's that mean?" 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute arrives in the private box seat area for the Confederates rather quickly, upon hearing abotu this battle. Really, he's had it out for Ryuko for a while. He's /really/ curious what she can actually do in a fight, in person, so he can prepare for when he eventually plans to fight her.      But, upon entering the private boxes, he spots Jakuzure. And pauses. Staring for a bit.      "...Hey, wanna go in a date sometime?"      There is, in fact, a woman standing next to Lute, though. His wife, Harp. She looks much akin to him, except with long brown hair, and wearing leather pants and a black halter top. In response to Lute's flirting, she immediately smacks Lute in the back of the head. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Not surprisingly, Ryuko is down on the floor, as well. She arrives, wearing Senketsu and with Mako behind her. "Glad to see at least one of you Elite Chumps has some balls. I was starting to wonder if we'd ever get to throw down." The delinquent rolls her neck, popping it a couple times. Then she brings out her weapon. The scissor blade, which she keeps in it's compact form, unfolds to full size. "Hope you came ready to lose, though." Grasping the glove on her wrist, she gives it a pull, and red color begins soaking into the black of her uniform's fabric, before it seems to unravel and explode outward, the threads reassembling around her in a completely different (and revealing) form. This ellicits a respose from a majority of the male students who are wat c#FF0000">"Life Fiber Synchronize! Kamui Senketsu!" Ryuko, now in battle mode, holds out her weapon. Now, it's a show down between two swords. 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     Up in the box with the three members of the Elite four is, indeed, one of the various visitors here to watch the spectacle. Satsuki had been a tremendous source of aid and assistance, even kindness in her own way, in the aftermath of the Garden of Time's destruction, and during the course of the Book of Darkness incident, and that is why Fate Testarossa is here. The younger, Confederate variant, anyway.     She had been touring the school before Sanageyama called Ryuko out. And for the most part she almost blended in, wearing a simple white school uniform, trimmed in black. Almost fit in, anyway, being that she is nine years old and it is a high school.     Nevertheless, being around people has the blonde child quietly fidgeting as she peers out the glass. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe has been attending this school as it were normally, keeping her head down since the fight club bit, some time ago. She does however think this is a major thing as now things are just getting into gear. She's not here in her avatar state, but as her far less known fleshy self. Sheena watches with a good deal of intrest and can only guess this is going to be a sight to behold. 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo is here too, but not where you expect she would be. She is among the 0-star students, clad in the female version of their uniform. She had heard rumours of the 'Life Fibres' of Honnouji Acadamy, and how they could multiply the wearer's abilities. She, as a tailor to Elites, felt it a matter of principle to learn more, no matter what.      As such, she duplicated the uniforms worn by female 0-star students and slipped into the school among the crowd when the day begun. She's been doing her best to blend in, so naturally, when most of the students went to the gym, she went with them! But it seems they've come to watch a fight?      She digs into her backpack and extracts a video camera, quietly hoping that anyone who sees her with it will just assume she's with the Audiovisual Club or something. She points it down at Sanageyama and Ryuko! Perhaps now she can see the true power of these Life Fibres. Although, when Ryuko synchronises with Senketsu, her face gets a little red behind the camera. "How scandalous..." she mutters. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Nonon is about to respond to Lute when Harp does it for him.     She stares for a second or so, then deadpans, "Do you want a glove? Because we can get you a glove. Made out of fibers harder than steel."     As Fate sits quietly and peers out the glass, a tremendous hand reaches out and... gently rests on her head. Gentle and almost protective, Gamagoori regards the girl with a silent nod. Keen-eyed enough to sense her disquiet at being around people, he is more than willing to serve as a reassuring 'iron wall' of a presence for her.     Tomoyo and Tomoe, meanwhile, will find themselves generally not paid any heed. They're just faces in the student crowd, at the moment, and Tomoyo is hardly the only one filming the proceedings!     "That's some nice spirit you got there, Matoi," Sanageyama replies, opening his eyes at last and breaking out in a fierce grin. "LET'S GET STARTED!"     The three stars on his collar glimmer with light briefly, and then everything comes apart. Jacket, pants, all of it, separating into three bright stars that whirl around him before passing right over his body and pulling themselves back together.     Huge, gauntleted hands reach out. An armored head with a crest lifts up. The tremendous, armored warrior that Sanageyama has become slams down onto the hardwood floor, gleaming green, and its user's voice thunders from within, "THREE-STAR GOKU UNIFORM: BLADE REGALIA!!" Peering out from beneath the armor's faceplate, one can see the grin in Sanageyama's eyes as well as hear it in his voice. "A Kamui's not the only Life Fiber outfit that can transform... Come at me, Matoi!" He has yet to adopt a stance, or even draw a shinai. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     A blond-haired boy is sitting next to Tomoyo in the 0-star section, wearing the uniform just like everyone else. If no one looks too closely at him, he blends in perfectly well. However if they did, they might notice that he almost looks too -perfect- to be a real person. Almost as if someone had simply created a super-realistic 3D model and then pulled it off of the computer screen.     Glancing over at the camera she's holding, he taps her lightly. "Oh you're filming this? Man I should have thought of that!" he chuckles. "Looks like it's gearing up to be quite the spectacle." 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute rubs the back of his head in pain, giving a bit of an annoyed look at Harp. But, well, with the transformation of Ryuko, Lute has something else to leer at a bit. Though, he's going to do his best to avoid leering too much. He wants actual battle data!      Harp, meanwhile, sighs at Nonon, "A steel glove /might/ be good, yes. Thank you for the offer." Harp then shakes her head a little, obviously annoyed at her husband, before watching the banter between Sanageyama and Ryuko. Her eyebrow does raise a little at Ryuko's outfit. Harp is fairly open, but still, that's a bit much for a battle outfit, she feels. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' When Sanageyama dropped his challenge to Ryuko, Sagat was otherwise occupied - specifically, taking out the garbage for his class. There were some delays associated with completing that task, and he had to return to the classroom afterwards with the next set of garbage bags (which incurred FURTHER delays getting them ...). He's here now, though - and you may feel free to make sanity checks at the fact that he actually has a Honnouji Academy uniform (even a no-star) that *fits* his massive frame. He's even gone so far as to get a custom eyepatch with the academy's crest on it, just to show his superior school spirit. In any case, now that Sagat is *here*, he's just going to take a seat with the rest of the Fight Club - whichever members of same are in fact here, at least. This is Ryuko's fight, not his. 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      When Sanageyama transforms, Tomoyo is sure to take in every detail! She begins to wonder where the extra material came from, even as she mulls over the style of Blade Regalia. It certainly suits him, green is very much his colour. But she wonders, would there be a way to create a happy medium between his Blade Regalia and Ryuko's... clothing? Something covering and protective without basically turning into a mecha suit?      She shakes her head to snap out of it. While she's here, she may as well gather some data for the Union too! She lifts the camera and points it to the private box occupied by three of the Elite Four and the Confederate guest. In her research, she had heard of the indomitable Satsuki Kiryuin... so why wasn't she here too? Hm. She zooms in, and makes sure that everyone's face is properly recorded before turning it back to the gym floor.      But then Blurr speaks to her! Of course, they are BOTH infiltrators... but Tomoyo doesn't know that. So she just kind of... forces a smile and nods. "Ahahah, yeah... it'll be something alright..." she says, in an audibly uncertain tone. Clearly, while she's considered stealth as a Union career option, she's yet to put much effort into it. 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     Even the lightest contact earns a sudden and tiny flinch. Scarlet eyes snap to glance up and for a moment it's as though Fate doesn't know what to do. Here is a man, so infinitely BIGGER THAN SHE IS, with his hand upon her. She remain silent, simply staring up at Gamagoori for a few beats, before the girl visible relaxes a fraction.     She'll allow it.     "Um. Where's Miss Satsuki?" She does murmur as her gaze returns to the gym below. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr observes the show down on the floor through his avatar's eyes. Hah, these people were sure show-offs, not that he's one to talk. But if this were a real fight, they surely should have prepared their armor and transformed into the proper mode -before- even informing their opponents of their position.     He nods in response to Tomoyo. The Autobot doesn't realize she's also an infiltrator either, though he is a bit more practiced when it comes to spying. "Yeah, mind getting me a copy of the footage then? I can give you my um, email address." Yeah, that's what the humans called hailing frequencies right? 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Sheena is glad she's not noticed and partially her polan is working but damn this battle clothing is still somerhing, it's also a bit ahem, she's not sure what else to say about the battle clothing. Well other than it's pretty powerful, and ahem isn't quite along the lines of her own personal fashion sense. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko doesn't look too surprised. Excited, is more like it. "Heh.. It'd be borin', otherwise. Gotta make it exciting for the crowd, right? Fine.. here I come!!" She doesn't waste any time. Sword held up, she charges straight at him. She's not too concerned with anyone else who's come to watch. She's got an opponent right in front of her, after all. She slashes straight at Uzu's shoulder, diagonally, aiming to cut from there, down to his opposite hip! And, he's still not reacting, so it looks like it's going to hurt! 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "I'll get right on that," Nonon replies to Harp. She looks like she'd say more, but the fight has begun. Fate, meanwhile, receives a simple answer from Gamagoori. "I don't know. She told me only that she was stepping out to attend business. And, that this fight wouldn't be worth watching," he adds, looking down towards the gymnasium floor with a frown. Even he doesn't quite seem to know what she meant by that.     One student leans over to Tomoyo and Blur and murmurs, "Don't let the Film Production Club hear you saying that. They might come after you, y'know!" Nevermind the dozen other students with cameras of their own. Meanwhile, Sanageyama stands waiting, completely unmoving even as Ryuko comes in. Indeed, she seems to have swung a perfect hit, blade going right in through the Blade Regalia's shoulder and coming out the hip.     But Ryuko will have noticed the lack of resistance a split second before anyone but the most keen-eyed realizes that Sanageyama has already moved, impossibly fast. The Athletics Chair is fast enough that he almost seems to simply /appear/ behind Ryuko, deploying a shinai from his gauntlet on a small explosive charge; that alone serves as an attack, slamming the tip towards Ryuko's back, but it's followed by a second swing, attempting to simply slam her with the weapon using a basic strike. "I can see right through all your movements!" 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     That's what Ryuko notices, almost immediately. Did she underestimate his speed? Even if she did, how can he be /that/ fast, in that bulky armor? She doesn't have much time to react, either way, her body wrenching forward as the head of that shinai slams right into her back. "AGH!" The second one smacks her right on the head, leaving her reeling, and she manages to roll. Getting quickly back to her feet, she's now facing the Blade Regalia, again. "What.. the hell was that!? I'm sure I hit him, straight on, but.." <<Something seems off. He shouldn't be faster than us, but he is, somehow.>> Senketsu can't help but agree. Even he didn't catch it. Still, she stands straight up again, holding out her sword with both hands, her grip tightening up against the hilt of her weapon. "Well, let's try using that speed, then.." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' The sudden relocation of Sanageyama out from in front of Ryuko's slash prompts Sagat to sit up a bit straighter, actually leaning forward a bit - and the student whom Sagat displaced in order to claim that seat flails a bit to keep his or her balance, as Sagat thoughtfully offered a perch on his shoulders during the spectacle, to make up for having to give up a perfectly serviceable spot in the bleachers for the Muay Thai fighter. "Sight," Sagat rumbles under his breath, in a relatively thoughtful tone. He then glances towards Tomoyo and her companion, since he's coincidentally within earshot of their exchange. "I might be interested in seeing this again as well ..." He pauses, his monocular gaze shifting to the Film Production Club 'spokesman'. And does not continue. 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Oh no, people are still talking to Tomoyo. This infiltration plan is not going well AT ALL. "Uhm... certainly, if you like," she says to Blurr, trying to sound as casual as possible, and failing. But, then their chatting draws attention from another student. Now she's starting to feel a little out of her depth.      She nods to the interrupting student and tries her best to pointedly ignore Blurr, acting like a student who doesn't want to get in trouble. She gasps softly as Sanageyama just seems to be in front of Ryuko in one instant, than behind her the next. Even her camera couldn't catch his movement!      She makes a mental note: invest in better cameras. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     "Hah, impressive! He's -almost- as fast as I am." Blurr murmurs to himself when the guy seems to have moved impossibly fast. But clearly not as fast as Blurr himself. At least not in his opinion, of course. Then a random student appears to be trying to warn him about the Film Production Club. "Come after me and what?" he asks, genuinely wondering. "The footage? You'd think they'd get their own." What club called 'film production' doesn't film?     He smiles when Tomoyo obliges. "Thanks! You got any uh..." What was that stuff, the flattened inert plant matter that humans used to document...Oh, yeah. "...paper? What's your name, by the way?" Hey, human kids are chatty and stuff right? It's normal. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The very instant Ryuko tries to apply her full speed, Sanageyama is in motion as well. He seems to be perfectly placed to bring down his shinai on her head every single time there's an opening - with a net result that probably looks like there are dozens of /both/ of them. "No matter how fast you move, you can't escape my blade!" Nevermind that it's a shinai. "Behold! Secret Technique: TENGANTSU!"     That's when it becomes obvious - his eyes are sweeping, tracking, following every movement... and /so is his suit/. Every vent, every aperture, is a slot for a glowing-pink camera iris to look out of, all of them sweeping left and right and up and down and taking in everything around him with impossible visual clarity. "As long as I have these eyes, I can anticipate any move my opponent makes!"     For the benefit of those sitting around him in the stands, Inumuta begins to speak while the fight continues. "For every motion a human makes, there is a preparatory motion. The eyes twitch, the muscles tense... Sanageyama can instantly read all those preparatory motions and pre-empt any move his opponent makes. That's 'Tengantsu'. And his Goku Uniform succeeds wonderfully in amplifying it."     Nonon pulls a lollipop out of her mouth, seeming vaguely interested for once in Houka's exposition. "Hmm~? The wild monkey's learnd some new tricks, it seems." Gamagoori's eyebrows have lifted just a little. "Is this what Lady Satsuki meant when she said this fight was not worth watching? That's..."     Inumuta's collar opens again. "I didn't hear it that way at all." Has he realized something? 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      "U-Uhm..." Tomoyo digs into her backpack and peels off a scrap of paper from a notebook inside, along with a pencil. She thrusts them both at Blurr while she keeps her camera on the fight! How amazing! This Sanageyama has Ryuko perfectly on the ropes!      She feels a little bad about being so impressed by her ally being beaten up (even though that's a secret), and a part of her wants to jump in... but there's no way she has a chance against someone like that, not yet anyway.      So, she continues recording to the best of her ability. At the very least, footage of the battle may be useful. 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' Sagat's visible eye narrows, his forehead creasing a bit. Indeed, it's about sight - and he knows full well what Sanageyama's talking about. The advantage of anticipation in a fight, of predicting your opponent's moves, comes from watching their body language. And it's not just in martial arts or other combat - poker players rely on much the same skill, interpreting the opponent's body language, while suppressing their own tells if possible. Sagat's attention has shifted fully back to the match in progress, of course, as of the moment Sanageyama named his technique for Ryuko and onlookers alike. His gaze is focused more on Ryuko, as if he's contemplating how she'll react. There ARE tricks that can be used to defy an enemy's ability to read and anticipate your moves, but she's almost certainly too young and inexperienced to have developed most of those ... and to be fair, it's also one of those areas that most people don't learn much about in the first place. (Sagat himself isn't much good with them, to be fair - he relies more on hitting hard enough that an opponent's anticipation doesn't matter, although given Sanageyama's speed, it seems like he might do well to start working on some of those tricks ...) 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute, of course, is happy by the flow of the battle so far.      "WOOO! KICK HER ASS! Beat her into a pulp!"      Harp pauses a bit, looking at the Elite Four who are present for a second. She's just listening to the discussion they're having, trying to think on what they're saying. A battle not worth watching... She frowns. She doesn't know Satsuki that well, or she might take a guess at why she wouldn't watch the fight.      "...At the least, this fight is still interesting. I'd only guess that she wouldn't watch if she absolutely was certain on who would win. Kiryuin seems like the type who wouldn't show to something like this if it didn't seem interesting... ...Not that I know her well." 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr finds himself laughing at the proceedings. A secret, huh? A secret that you just broadcasted to -everyone- in this entire stadium? And then had explained exactly what it is and how it works? Sure, that's -real- secret!     He nods in thanks to Tomoyo as she digs in her back to get out paper and a writing utensil, which he uses to write down an email address that seems like it would make sense to humans (It's probably something like 2Fast4U@hotmail.com or something similar). "Thanks a ton! So what was your name?" he prods again. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe watches the fight go on she doesn't say too much given she's here in the flesh? It's not so likely people would spot her, but if one were paying attention? She was watching the fight with an eye of someone who had quite a bit of combat experiance. She does pause to see Gammagoori, dman he's still as big as she recalled. The guy still is intomdating even when he's not focused at her. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Well, the whole thing is almost a bit comical. A bunch of copies of Ryuko, getting smacked on the head, hands, and shoulders by a bunch of copies of Uzu and his Blade Regalia. Ryuko does manage to slip out of the whole vicious cycle, and is somewhat wobbly, as she gets to her feet. "Okay. Well." She can't help but tense, and if what he said is true, he's already noticed that. "Just need to totally take that away from him, is all.. No problem.." She huffs, her breathing a bit harder now, from the beating. Probably a good thing she's so focused, and manages to tune out everyone watching, for now. She'd probably be charging at Lute, otherwise. She blinks a few times. "Wait.. Senketsu. I got an idea, but it might be.. a little crazy. So, well.. Here's what I got in mind." She seems to be speaking to her living outfit, her lips moving, but it's so faint, that no one would be able to hear her. Once they're done, the outfit's 'eye' narrows. <<Risky. But, still.. I can do it, if you can.>> So, she charges right at Uzu, again. Is this her big plan? She meets him, blade against blade and.. she loses her weapon! The scissor even slices straight through the 'fin' sticking up from her right shoulder, and it starts to flutter to the ground.. but, there's still something in her hands. A string? A black thread, one of her Kamui's, with the other end tied to the hilt of her sword. Just what is she up to!? 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo needs a fake name and she needs it now. "My name? Uh... Rika Sasaki!" she says, supplying Blurr with the name of one of her friends. She feels a twinge of guilt about doing it. Hopefully, this wouldn't bring repercussions down on the real Rika.      But, looking back to the fight... oh dear. Tomoyo is a tailor, and so has developed a keen eye when it comes to spotting loose threads, and Ryuko is sporting a worryingly large one. In her state, she can't really afford to be losing ANY coverage! 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     When Ryuko finally manages to slip away from his attack, Sanageyama falls back into a ready stance that almost looks lazy. "Come on, are you done already? I haven't even gotten started on the good stuff, that's disappointing!" He reaches up behind himself to the twin cylinders on the armor's back, shoving his hands into them; when they come back out, /each finger has its own shinai/. He has become Edward Kendohands.     The sight of Matoi standing back up, however, puts a bit of mirth back in his voice. "That's more like it!" Even if she's only barely on her feet, she's still trying to fight, and that's enough for him! What happens next all takes place in just the space of a few heartbeats. The Blade Regalia's fingers come together and then begin to spin at high speed, forming what almost seems to be a wall of shinai thrusts that pushes through the scissor-blade block and knocks it from Ryuko's hand seemingly without effort. "I'VE GOT YOU NOW!" He sounds utterly confident in his victory, having disarmed her and damaged Senketsu... 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     "No, not today, you don't!!" Ryuko swings up her free hand, and scatters those sheets of fabric she'd cut from her own Kamui. They get everywhere, all over Uzu's Regalia, but most importantly, they /block his vision/. All those slots in his armor that his eyes are looking out of are covered, and she regains control of her weapon just in time, hefting it in her hands, and letting it unfold out into it's full form, the long, wicked looking katana like Decapitation Mode! "Too cocky! Without all those eyes.. I can do whatever I want!!" So, she does just that, charging straight at Sanageyama, sword raised. "Finishing blow! SEN-I-SOUSHITSU!!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "My eyes?!" Almost comically, Sanageyama tries to peel all those sheets of fabric off with his shinai-fingers, but then those are hastily disconnected, allowing him to more properly use his fingers. "They won't come off-!"     But that's all the time he gets. No matter how tough the Blade Regalia is, before the Scissor Blade, a single, solid hit is all it takes. The Three-Star Goku Uniform shatters around Sanageyama, leaving him high in the air and completely unclad as Life Fibers flow from the remains into Senketsu.     Up in the VIP box, Jakuzure sounds about half disappointed, half bored. "Oh, my my, he lost." Inumuta, likewise, looks completely unsurprised. "So this was indeed what Lady Satsuki meant." Gamagoori is completely silent. Down below, however, Sanageyama is anything but quiet OR bored. In fact, he's stood back up and seems to have that special kind of indignant fury that only the sore loser can display so well.     "THIS ISN'T OVER YET! I can still fight! Come on, Matoi!" And despite his state of dress, he lifts up his shinai and points it right at Ryuko-     -only to be knocked forward to the ground by a barrage of whip strikes from a rather familiar whip. "DON'T BE PATHETIC, SANAGEYAMA!!"     There is only one person that voice like a volcanic eruption could belong to. Gamagoori has stood, marched to the window, opened it, and rained down blows on Sanageyama from above in the middle of such a shameful display. His expression is utterly scornful, his voice filled with white-hot reproach. "YOU HAVE SHAMED THE ELITE FOUR!"     And finally, Sanageyama is silent, dropping to his knees and pounding his fists into the hardwood. He seems to realize Gamagoori is right. 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      Lute blinks. Frowning. Ryuko won? He just hollers and shouts, yelling 'BOOOOOO' down towards Ryuko. "NO FAIR, SHE CHEATED! TOTALLY UNFAIR! DOWN WITH RYUKO!"      Harp takes a moment to smack Lute again. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko's able to gather up the scattered fragments of Senketsu, who does most of the work himself, and easily 'sews' himself back whole. "Sorry about that. But, the gamble paid off! We got one. Three more to go." She turns to Sanageyama, but.. doesn't say anything. A whipped dog knows when he's beat, or so it seems. "Hey, fuck you. Come down here, man to man, and I'll 'strip' you too, you punk!" She hollers back up at Lute, then with a grin, "I can't guarantee he won't do a /ton/ of damage to the school.. or can I, if we were to fight, Mr. Disciplinary Committee Chairman." She winks up at Gamagoori, knowing a bit how he'd react to the idea of collateral damage inside the school, like this. But, with that, she's ready to leave. "C'mon, Mako. I'm starving. I need some fuel!" The girl with the bob-cut nods enthusiastically, "Mm, sure! Mom's crouquettes give you a million horsepower!" 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Tomoyo beams with delight, as Ryuko finds a gaping flaw in Sanageyama's tactics. She records the final strike, as the Athletics Club leader sails through the air... butt... naked. What follows on the recording is a bunch of VERY STRATEGIC camera angles that ensure that the lower half of him is never filmed.      Tomoyo herself is a little flustered by this state of affairs, so when Gamagoori starts yelling, she turns the camera on him, relieved that she has an excuse to not look at the gym floor. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr watches with satisfaction as his ally finally triumphs by doing the unexpected. Ha, see that's what happens when you give your opponent too much information by way of arrogant bragging. "Ha, well you know what they say, knowing is half the fight! And he practically -gave- it to her." The Autobot comments to no one in particular. He doesn't seem bothered by any nudity. After all he isn't human. Indeed, he had put his team to shame! 

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''      As Ryuko yells at Lute to come down and say that? Lute has had enough. And so, letting out a manly and powerful yell, he rips at his shirt, tearing it in half. He leaps into the glass window looking down on the arena, getting ready to fight Ryuko.      And then he smacks against the glass, the glass proving a lot thicker than he thought it was.      He collapses onto his back.      Harp facepalms. 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     Fate flinches. Sanageyama's defeat is one thing, but Gamagoori taking the whip to the shamed swordsman makes the tiny blonde hug her arms to her chest.     She does not know why. But something within her compels her to very quietly ask:     "... Please stop..." 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe has been fairly aweed at this whole fith and how everything played out. She takes a moment Ryoko had won but the fight that the other student had put up? Had made her wonder, just how strong the others or their leader was. This was troubling and then what Gamagoori does. She can't watch this but what can she do to stop this? Then Fate seems to do something maybe it will be enough? 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Nonon just kind of looks between Lute and Harp. "...Better make it industrial grade, I think."     There are many things which Ira Gamagoori might be able to deal with in his stride. A small girl sounding absolutely traumatized is not one of them - he seems, in fact, utterly flummoxed for a second. "I- his display was- the Elite Four must..." Gamagoori, completely unable to respond. A rare sight indeed.     But he seems to take a breath, steady himself, and proceed more solidly. "My apologies for the unsightly display. There are certain standards at Honnouji Academy that must be upheld." His tone really does sound apologetic; the taskmaster who hates having to do something and yet does it anyway because it needs to be done.     "I think you might want to have a word with Satsuki, Fate," Nonon chimes in. She seems surprisingly gentle about the whole thing as well, but there's also a certain... significance, to her tone. "You and Nanoha both. I'll see what I can do~." 

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:''' For his part, the towering Muay Thai fighter turned Honnouji transfer student just watches the climax and the finale playing out in the ring below, and nods faintly. That ... wasn't exactly the approach he had in mind, but Ryuko's gambit certainly seems to have paid off. And Sanageyama is now without a uniform. Not that Gamagoori's reprimands, verbal and physical, actually improve matters. Sagat looks somewhat askance at the disciplinarian, as if to ask 'did you have to go that far?' but he doesn't actually speak - and his gaze doesn't linger long on Gamagoori, either. The apology for the 'unsightly display' seems not to go amiss where Sagat's concerned, whomever Gamagoori meant it for. Meanwhile, the student who was sitting on Sagat's shoulders takes this opportunity to climb down and move towards one of the standing-room clusters of students, in anticipation that people will soon be trickling out. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     People start to trickle out, and Blurr's avatar stands up as well. Though before he leaves, he is sure to turn to Tomoyo one last time. "It was nice meet you, Rika!" he smiles. "And thanks for agreeing to share that video with me. I really appreciate it." The holomatter boy then starts to leave, though if anyone is watching they might catch him simply appearing to -vanish- from existence before he reaches the doors. 

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''      Oh, it's over? Tomoyo turns off her camera and tucks it back into her backpack. Looking to Blurr, she says, "You're welcome!" She seems much more at ease now that it's over. She too, makes swiftly for the exit.      Her conclusions? Life Fibres would be really fun to work with... but this school is too crazy for her to risk trying to get them as she is now. 

}}

2072/Threads of Fate: Election Day

2015-08-11T03:11:00Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/04/21 |Location=KLK Earth <KLK> |Synopsis=The climax of the Honnouji Naturals Election! Ryuko and her companions face off against the Elite Fo..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/04/21
|Location=KLK Earth <KLK>
|Synopsis=The climax of the Honnouji Naturals Election! Ryuko and her companions face off against the Elite Four! But, just who is Nui Harime?
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=6, 112, 140, 162, 381, 401, 430, 627, 678, 714, 754
|Tinyplot=Threads of Fate (Part 1)
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Far below, the mountain of housing that is Honnou Town could be more accurately called Ghost Town right now. As many people as can possibly cram into the Honnouji Academy courtyard have done so - and given the stadium size of the place, that's not a small number. A girl in a lacy dress jauntily strides through the town under a parasol, a handful of poor families cram around shop window TVs, a vendor hawks food cart hot dogs to the sparse handful of people who aren't already there; it's easy to tell just by a glance at the deserted city that today is the day.     Today is the final battle of the Naturals Election.     The courtyard itself has been cleared of the free-for-all's equipment; in its place, two huge half-circles appear to have been drawn, separated by a good five meters - each a hemisphere of ground on the, er, ground, that has been set aside for the two prospective Student Councils. One of them has already begun to arrive, in the form of Honnouji's Elite Four, all of them already standing in one circle. Next to that circle stands a sign: 'For Disciplinary Chair Ira Gamagoori and Chosen Council Members'. The opposite bears a similar sign, though one into which much less effort has been put: 'For Disciplinary Chair Ryuko Matoi and Chosen Council Members'.     And high above, of course, the absolute ruler of this kingdom stands, looking out over her land with an absolute, iron confidence. "Comrades of Honnouji Academy, and citizens of Honno Town: I welcome you to the NATURALS ELECTION POLLING PLACE!" 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Within the half circle set aside for Ryuko's team, a glowing diamond spell seal appears. It draws slowly into the ground in deep royal purple, and once complete, fills the lines with scrolling kanji. Atop this, appears a girl with a flash of light. Standing in her TSAB Uniform, arms crossed with the silver bracer on her right arm visible.     She doesn't transform just yet, merely standing stoic and waiting for the others to arrive. "This is gonna be fun, right Divine Wind?" she asks, earning a resonant chime from her right arm. <YES! ALL SYSTEMS REPORT GREEN. READY SET.> 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is here today and she seems ready she's not appeared in her more commonly known form in some time, here but given what's on the line? She can not hold back anything, given what is riding on this for Ryuko. The Salamander woman is here, in full armourm her naginata is resting on her shoulder she's ready for a fight as she's eve going to be. She narrows her violet eyes a little bit as she takes in the location of the fight to be. She seems about as ready as she's going to be. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji is present in this showy event. He looks exactly as he does back when he had arrived the previous time. It pleases him to participate in this event. There is much to appreciate in Satsuki's method of handling things. Souji stands there in the circle, standing with his arms folded and the Murasame Blade at his side, clothing perfect and his eyes focused not on Satsuki, but looking over those of the opposite side. They are the opposition. They must be defeated in whatever form of contest that Kiryuin chooses to enact. He is prepared. Are they? 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     One of the many people crowded around one of many electronics store TVs is a large, jovial man, surrounded by a willowy woman, a boy, and a dog in a hoodie. Barazo Mankanshoku laughs, "They've sorted it all out, now! Bash 'em to bits, Ryuko!" He makes a few punching motions, interrupted when the store owner slides a sign in front of the TV and turns it off.     "A thousand yen fer ten minutes."     "A thousand yen?!" Barazo roars, "You crook!"     While Barazo and Mataro both argue with the shop owner, Sukuyo suddenly turns around with a 'Hmm~?', just barely sighting pink lace and blonde hair rounding a corner. After a moment, the Mankanshoku matriarch tilts her head, touching her finger to her cheek, "Who was that~?" ELSEWHERE     A heap of discarded, groaning One-Stars shudders, but nothing else of note happens.     As more fighters on the Challenger's side start to gather, the heap shudders again, possibly drawing attention to itself.     A full minute later, the pile of dazed students suddenly erupts in a burst of black, white, blue, and red and a shrill roar of excited fury. Dressed in her Fight Club President's uniform and gripping a student's leg in one hand, Mankanshoku Mako waves him back and forth like a club, eyes squeezed shut and screaming a wordless but downright silly war cry.     And then suddenly she stops, "Oh!"     The student-slash-club is dropped and Mako hops the line, "It's over already, awesome~!" Approaching Ryuko's right side, Mako folds her arms while her uniform's sleeves extrude big white gloves and stretch out, retrieving various gold-colored weapons and sliding them back inside her jacket. Only when finished do the sleeves retract and prop their big gloved hands on the girl's hips. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' As it appeared his disguise was seen through entirely, he arrived in his normal green jumpsuit and chuunin vest. He stands on Ryuko's side of the half circle with his arms at his sides, staring intently at the other side. He clears his throat, asking for anyone who may be listening, "Will we be voting on something?" 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     News had circulated among some of Alexander Academy's students that Honnouji Academy was scheduled to 'elect' the Student Council soon. Rather than voting with their voices, however, the voters were to be decided by a MASSIVE BRAWL. Sanary, of course, isn't going to miss something like that. Not when the fighting abilities of...     ... Okay, so maybe she doesn't actually know anyone at the school well enough to figure out who to keep an eye on. Still, the event is certain to be a spectacle, and people are bound to need medical treatment. It's for that reason she manages to push her way into the circle marked for Satsuki. For the time being, she's just standing not too far behind Souji Murasame dressed in a three-piece suit with a complicated-looking axe dangling off a rope on her side.     "So. Should I just stick to healing or watching or... Getting in there? I'm fine with whatever." 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha is here, to show support for Satsuki of course! Her Familiar was also here, but not as the busty catgirl that won the round last time. No, Vesta is instead perched on Nanoha's shoulder, the kitten curled up and... sleeping. As a normal cat. That does make it easier for her, doesn't it?     Nanoha herself is already in her Barrier Jacket, which looks kind of like a school uniform but far less skimpy. She's fingering her staff, Raising Heart, and fidgeting at the company she's hanging around with. "Mn." 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     Among all the so many people in the courtyard, the tiny figure of a nine year old blonde from out of town is probably a wildly out of place sight. This is why Fate Testarossa has attempted some measure of blending in, by wearing a white uniform trimmed in black, mildly different from the usual Honnouji No-star uniform. She missed the Naturals Election, but she is still capable of being some form of quiet support for friends and allies, right?     Nevertheless, she is here, Arf at her side. And SOMEHOW the Famliar has managed to procure a huge bowl of ramen to watch the event.     Fate is letting it happen. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is here, of course. It's her big day. The day she's been worrying and stressing about. Training and preparing for. The day she's fought this whole school to get to. And once it's done, she'll have the answers she wants. Whether she likes them, or not.. well.. She'll just have to cross that bridge when she gets to it. For now? She's focused on the fight to come. All four of them, no less. And she knows what two of them are capable of. "So, this is it, huh?" She pats her chest, feeling her heart racing. Senketsu, too, responds to her touch and that physical change. <<Just stay calm, and we'll win. I'm sure of it.>> He seems confident, if nothing else. And that seems to reassure Ryuko, somewhat. "Yeah. I got it." 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' He doesn't have much in the way of disguises. Not that much would disguise his frame. A simple cloak to cover his head and torso, and bindings around his limbs to cover their metal platings. Strapped to his back is his ever-present rifle, and his eyes are disguised by what the meatbags refer to as 'sunglasses.' All in all, he looks, in his opinion, somewhat ridiculous. However, given the rather incomprehensible attire worn by most of the other meatbags, he ought to blend in just fine. Looking over his internalized target list, he pulled up the listings to examine his priority targets - Ryuko Matoi and Satsuki Kiryuin, both owners of the strange symbiotic lifeforms that were native to this section of the multiverse. But at the same time, there are multiple other high-power signals that he is picking up, and he designates them as secondary targets, as well as placing markers on those that his Master's interests would deem 'allies' - namely those in the Confederacy. Therefore, his secondary mission was rather simple - help his 'allies' gain the upper hand... in whatever way possible. Then maybe he could get close enough to see exactly what these Kamui could do. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     As the members take their place in their respective circles, there is a moment of quiet... and then the deep, vibrating thrum of powerful motors kicking on under the ground. The two half-circles shudder under the feet of those standing on them, and then /lift/, slowly and steadily up out of the ground. On a pair of tremendous mechanical columns, the huge hemispheres are lifted up, up, up until they stand high over the ground below. And then, slowly, they slide themselves together, forming a huge, circular ring raised for all to see.     "All those present know the stakes! The only rule for this battle is simple: Those who remain on the platform at the end are victors, and those who are knocked off are losers! There is no further need for fanfare or bombast!"     With a step-CLACK, Satsuki plants her boot and her sword, and declares in a booming voice, "BEGIN!"     A few of those present have already seen the Three-Star Transformation of Ira Gamagoori; a cocoon of ribbons and spikes, freezing him in place to the point of seeming uselessness, but even in that state his towering figure is unmistakable. "THREE-STAR GOKU UNIFORM: SHACKLE REGALIA!"     And while a few people have seen the Three-Star Transformation of Houka Inumuta, none of those are here in the stadium. So it is probably impressive enough when his own transformation wraps him in a high-tech skinsuit, covered in glowing keypads and visored for perfect display. "Three-Star Goku Uniform: Probe Regalia."     But none present have been privy to the transformation of Nonon Jakuzure - and what a transformation it is. A red bodysuit decked out in a jaunty, cheerful skeleton motif... and backed by a RIDICULOUSLY HUGE piece of mobile stage equipment the size of a cargo truck, riding on treads. Nonon herself sits right in the front, dead in the middle of the heart-shaped speaker face. "Three-Star Goku Uniform: Symphony Regalia Grave! Transfer student, get ready to be pummled cheerfully, jauntily, and utterly one-sidedly!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     The final member of the Elite Four, Uzu Sanageyama, simply stands in the back, kendo shinai resting lazily on his shoulder. "I need a minute to warm up. I'll take over when you three go down." Despite her inability to see him - or indeed, much of anything past her ridiculously large 'uniform', Nonon turns her head to bark a sharp, "/What the hell?!/ Don't just assume we're going to lose!" 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Rock Lee looks around at everyone. Satsuki said to begin, Ryuko said they just have to fight. While he may have been thrown off by the mention of this being a polling place, he's just going to go with the flow and do what Rock Lees do best! He starts running. He's not exactly a blur, but he's still -very- fast. He has not even an ounce of hesitation as he tries to immediately punch Houka in the face. "I am Rock Lee, the Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha! I am here both to help bring Ryuko's dream to life, and to show the Goddess of Honnouji that I am worthy of fighting her one day!" 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' No sooner is the signal for wonton carnage given then HK-47 eagerly brings up his arm, activates the internalized flamethrower and begins dousing the area two meters in front of him in a pressurized jet of flame, roasting anyone foolhardy to stand in the way. As most of the adversaries in this particular world seem to gain their power from a unique breed of clothing, the most simplistic way of defeating them would be to simply burn the coverings off - so burn them off he will. "Status - Active! Advisory - All meatbags that wish to escape with a minimum of second-degree burns, leave now or be immolated!" He also takes a passing note of the man in the coat with bindings over his eyes, remembering the miraluka Visis Marr - a meatbag born without eyes, who learned to see using the mystical energy called 'The Force.' As such, he opts to place this particular meatbag on the 'elevated threat' list - if there was one thing the droid had learned not to underestimate, it was the unpredictable skills possessed by sightless meatbags. How they could compensate for the loss of a primary sense, yet not be capable of being easily disassembled for compacted storage, the droid would never know. 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     As the arena rises, Zephyr remains stoically set. She watches the transformations with a slowly growing smirk. "This is gonna be fun. Ready Dee?" she asks, unfolding her arms and taking the coin-like Device from her bracer. <SETUP! BARRIER JACKET SET! BREEZE MODE. DEVICE SET. MISTRAL FORM! MISTRAL SQUALL AREA MODE!> announces the AI, as the girl is sheathed in purple mana. Her outfit changes, and the coin expands out into a short-haft axe with a wickedly curved blade. She doesn't attack just yet, opting to keep her defensive stance for the moment. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji does not require fanfare. His demeanor, as the battle begins, becomes almost stiflingly oppressive, like the air before a great summer storm. "Prepare yourselves." He says, simply. He shifts, extending a hand. His eyes narrow as he begins to form a Pattern, sizziling lines connecting to each other before him as he forms his spell. Through it, Magic Particles pour, and the construct flares with gold and orange. Victory is all that matters. "Haste-2." He pronounces, his voice without inflection as the Pattern compeltes. The orange light bathes the opponents of Ryuko's team in seething temporal acceleration, clocks appearing and speeding up for several moments, before vanishing and leaving them with increased action speed. Control the battlefield, control the victory. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     Sanary opens her mouth and shuts it quickly at the sight of... She's not even sure what the hell she's looking at. A giant spiked pillar man-thing, a guy in too-tight... Something, and a freaking /orchestra/ out of nowhere?     Maybe there still are weirder things to see in the multiverse. Glancing towards Souji briefly, it doesn't take long for the healer to settle on... Well, healing. There's plenty of heavy-looking hitters around, anyway, so at least doing this would give her a better shot at actually observing people and still being useful.     And so, she starts focusing the magical energy in her body to her hands, letting it build up as a translucent green glow around her slowly while waiting for her first targets. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Well, if there's one person Ryuko's wanted to shut up from day one, it's the loudmouth band leader. So, that's exactly who she goes for. Her transformation is rapid, and once she's in fighting form with Scissor Blade in hand, there's no real objective beyond 'beat her to a pulp'. Standard tactics, for her, in this case. The speed boost just makes the already fast Ryuko a blur of red and black, hurtling straight at Nonon, and her colossal Symphony Regalia. "What the hell is that stupid thing, anyway? How's that a uniform? It looks totally ridiculous!" She snaps at her opponent, raking against the side of it with her weapon as she passes by. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     A little wave is sent toward Fate. "FAAAAATE! Wish me luuuuck!" It's a cute little wave, and Nanoha beams brightly with a smile, as opposed to the other kind of beams she is known for. As for THOSE beams, they'll come soon enough. The child hears that things are starting up, and that means she's going to have to move! "All right, Vesta, you know what to do!" The cat meows and leaps from her shoulder, behind HK-47, to shift into a massive great cat-sized feline. There she... sits. What is it she intends to do? Time will tell!     Nanoha, sped up by Souji's spell, bolts upward in a blur of pink light as she whips Raising Heart about. Cheerily, she flashes a smile toward the opponents. "Oh hey, hiiii Zephyr!" Uh oh, she recognized someone! Considering the shimmering cluster of pink spheres that start to collect around her, numerous and tiny, the flying little child might have something in mind. There must be dozens of the things.     It's explained a moment later when they launch in a /rain/ down upon the other group, blasting the ground with concussive force! Though it seems that a large percentage of them are purely illusion.     Raising Heart pings, <ACCEL SHOOTER PHANTOM SHIFT.> 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe looks at whom they are about to fight, this is going to be a hell ofi a battle, Tomoe thinks as she looks the three stars over. She gets they have to remain on the platform. She needs not to fall and she wonders would flying get them kicked out? She doesn't want to risk beinging that rules snarl uyp so she remins with her armored boots firmly on the ground. She readies her polearm and looks over the three stars for a moment longer. "I am Tomoe the Iron Lily." There's no trash talk, just a simple introduction. She now is ready to enage in this crasy battle, she also keeps a way eye on the feds who are here as well. 

:'''{{#var:401|Testarossa Fate (401)}} has posed:'''     SLUUUUUUUUUUUURP. "NFMNFHA! GRD RCK!" SLLLLLLLUUUURP.     Fate is surprisingly stoic, as her Familiar gets a little too excited with her ramen.     Sigh.     Nevertheless, if anyone is paying attention, the tiny blonde can be spotted smiling slightly when Nanoha calls out to her. But it's gone before there's a second glance.     None of you saw that, as she settles back to watch the beginnings of what is prettymuch looking like a brawl. Though Gamagoori's Regalia seems to make her shudder slightly.     "HNNFJI ISH A PRTY INTRSHTING SKLL HUH FMMTO?"     "Yes, Arf. Yes it is." 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     For almost the entire charge, Houka Inumuta doesn't budge. But at the last second, his head shifts aside perfectly, and Rock Lee's fist meets empty air - only to be followed a moment later by the fist of Probe Regalia being driven straight up towards the martial artist's abdomen, trailing a shimmer of the Haste magic Souji's imbued him with. "Rock Lee. A martial artist of superhuman parameters and skill, without the aid of a Goku Uniform. Your abilities are impressive, but your style is very straightforward. And I've analyzed it completely."     Nonon doesn't look the least bit surprised that Ryuko's picked her for a head-on charge. But though the transfer student's attack brings her in close, that doesn't seem to bother the Non-Athletics Chair in the least. In fact... "Why don't we begin with the Light Cavalry Overture~!" And with a wave of her baton, the Symphony Regalia begins playing a full symphony, true to its name, complete with a thrumming bass powerful enough to serve as a blast attack against Ryuko, or anyone else who gets too terribly close. 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr grins a bit, watching Nanoha leap into the air. "Hey Nanoha. Lets dance huh?" as the bullets rain down, Zephyr buckles down under a transluscent barrier. It takes a couple of direct hits, cracking and splintering away.     As the dust clears, the teenage Windmage leaps out of the bubble, scuffed and a little battered. She tears forwards at high speed, trailing her bits as they try to keep u-- no, they're not trying to keep up, they're flanking.     <NICE! TRY THIS ONE! IMPULSE CASCADE CONCUSSION SHIFT!> replies Divine Wind. Large purple motes surround the Mage, and the Bits gain a glowing mote within the central hole of their rotating frames. These then start spitting out a fusillade of unguided, highly explosive 'bullets' that detonate in proximity! A flak screen right at Nanoha! 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     No sooner has Mako retrieved all of her impliments of pain and destruction has the horn sounded (figuratively) and the next round has begun. Mako starts, looking upward with a "Huuuh~?" sound, directed at no-one in particular, "Wait, don't we get a drink of water between rounds?" Snapping her head around, she catches sight of everyone on her team and everyone on the opposing team all leaping at each other. In the space of a heartbeat, Mako starts flailing her arms, "Wait, wait! Don't forget me!"     With her eyes squeezed shut, Mako slams down the big gloves protruding from her uniform's sleeves and propells herself up and forward. She's not watching where she's going. She has no idea she just bodily hurled herself right into the face of the current Disciplinary Committee chairman. Mako does, however, throw her arms out to either side and let out a loud, clearly cheerful shout that ends with laughter, "Here comes Mako! Prepare yourself--"     Eyes open. In midair, Mako realizes she's hurled herself straight for a tall, spike-covered monstrosity.     "--U-U-Upperclassman Gamagoori!?" Still in midair, Mako whirls around, flailing as if trying to swim away, "Wait, this was just a test run! A test run!"     It's too little too late, as the eldest daughter of the Mankanshoku Clan assaults Gamagoori with an almighty two star butt-bump. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee doubles over, grabbing his abdomen with both hands. The tier of enemy has definitely gone up! "Have you?! I am a ninja, we do not give up all aspects of our fighting techniques all at once!" He immediately flips to the side, landing on his hands, upside down. Then he starts trying to swing very quick kicks at him, both from the side and aimed at Inumuta's head. "Were you prepared for this?! My hands are as good as feet, and my feet are as good as hands!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "Mankanshoku-?!" It looks like of all the people who could have thrown themselves into the fray - quite literally, in this case - Gamagoori didn't expect Mako Mankanshoku. And with him completely immobile, there's no way he's getting out of a butt bump enhanced by the power of the only Two-Star Goku Uniform specifically designed 'to enhance brawling'. WHUD.     There is a silent pause. "...HAHAHAHAHA! /HAHAHAHAHA!!/ I'm impressed by your courage, Mankanshoku!"     The Shackle Regalia swells out as if overfilled, that single powerful smash enough to trigger its transformation. "Three-Star Goku Uniform, SCOURGE REGALIA! If you wish to be my opponent, I won't hold back, even against you!" You'd better watch those whips, Mako!     The moment Lee's foot swings towards Inumuta, the computer adept moves as if on perfect cue. "There are individual moves you haven't shown me, but I can predict them with 99.38% accuracy. The fighting style you've displayed within the walls of Honnou Town is especially simple." The next kick, he shifts his body to one side, and then comes up with a kick of his own, swinging it right for Lee's back. All the while, his free hands are hammering away at any keyboard he can reach on his suit. "My data gathering is already peerless, and the Probe Regalia improves it a hundredfold. I've accounted for all your physical parameters."     In the meantime, the battle between Ryuko and Nonon has heated up... almost literally, in the sense that hot air rises. "Symphony Regalia PRESTO~!" The huge mobile weapon that is Symphony Regalia can, as it turns out, reconfigure itself to fly on a cushion of sound. And given that Ryuko can transform Senketsu to do the same, the fight has taken straight to the sky. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' Seeing that most of the Union-affiliated meatbags have been occupied, HK directs his attention on one of the more unusual opponents brandishing a pole arm against her opponents. An opponent that was oddly familiar. One with a style of movement that he was certain had been recorded into his memory banks before... If that was the case, then of course he had to attack - he so very much hated to leave matters unfinished. Taking a knee, he readies his weapon - a disruptor rifle. A weapon that fires a directed energy bolt that destroyes most meatbag organisms at the cellular level, disintegrating them into nothing but a charred skeleton. However, he has learned a long time ago to never accept anything as a given, even when it was executed to perfection. "Affirmation - Target Locked." The next instant, he pulls the trigger. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     The rain of projectiles ceases as Nanoha has something else to worry about! "Oh, all right!" She says brightly... before Raising Heart pings a warning, Souji's Haste spell giving Nanoha and her Device the extra speed they need to react to the onslaught. Which means...     <PROTECTION POWERED> Raising Heart chimes, an instant before impact. The impact blasts into the sudden pink force field, and when the smoke clears Nanoha is left rattled and singed, but not battered. "Ehehe... oops. I'll be more careful this time." She's seen Mistral before, but hasn't had a chance to analyze it. The little wings on Nanoha's ankles flutter, and she moves a high speed in a dash to the side, engaging the other Aerial mage with...     <ACCEL STREAM,> Raising Heart chimes. Wait, what's that? It looks like Nanoha's been picking up a few tricks from Seikou, as the numerous pink spheres are joined in a chain of projectiles that snake out and seek out Zephyr. It's a pretty nice attack, but she has yet to fully account for the wind mage's control of the atmosphere. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee goes flying back, sliding across the ground. He frowns, staring over at Inumuta, trying to do his -own- calculations. But how do you calculate what is already calculating what you are a million times over? "That is not possible... You cannot calculate all moves! I simply have to be stronger and faster, and a calculation will not matter!" He thrusts himself back up to his feet, and then stops holding back. At least as far as current physical state goes. He runs at the man, punching and kicking at random intervals. But even if it's faster and stronger, it's still not difficult to calculate. His punches are well within observable speeds, and in the end he has a great deal of difficulty completely breaking away from his style. "Fighting is about spirit, and emotion. Yes, calculating is important, that is the foundation upon which ninjas are built. But you cannot completely replace fighting spirit with calculation! I will show this to the Goddess of Honnouji!" 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "I'm really in it now!" Mako whines. She'd literally bounced right off of the Shackle Regalia, rolling midair until she lands on her butt a few meters away, "Why'd it have to be Upperclassman Gamagoo--HII~!" SUDDENLY, TRANSFORMATION. The Scourge Regalia looms over what in any context is a small young woman and compared to Gamagoori, is downright tiny.     Scrambling back to her feet, Mako produces her gold-tinged bat, the nails gleaming when Mako swings the weapon down defensively, just in time to block the whip swinging against her.     "This might've been a mistake, but--" Oh yeah there's more than one whip, isn't there. Within seconds, Mako's overwhelmed and starts bouncing around amidst flailing whips, squeaking. She'll probably be fine; Mako is nothing if not able to take a beating!     "--Too late to run away! Yeow!" 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr grins a little. "I'm expecting a good fight outta you!" she calls, as she draws her Bits closer in. <AREA MODE! MISTRAL SQUALL!> chimes Divine Wind.     The Bits fling themselves out to their operating range, and the atmosphere within a sphere 150m around her begins to boil and churn, lashing out and slapping mana-infused gusts into the chain, aiming to deflect it, or break it up. It's not a perfect defence, and Zephyr has to rely on her speed to stop herself from being pummeled to oblivion. "Pretty fancy! How about this one!?"     <HALCYON DIVIDE.> That's a new one! The blade of Zephyr's device shifts and begins to glow brightly, and much like Tempest Razor, Zephyr heaves the weapon around in an arc... what is /different/ is that the blade doesn't send off a spinning boomerang... it emits a /beam blade/ that travels right at Nanoha at high speed. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe pause as she spots an armed robot of some sort, which is lining up a shot to shoot her. She's rushing in and it hits her. However theblast is while very painful the reaction it not what HK would expect, there's semeingly damage the blast point causing things almost to fail like a computer model losing it's skin layer. There's a distropted red wireframe nad a hole so to speak in the humanopid womn, the hole closes it self after a moment, but it does not fade back to as it was before. She's however moving in at high speed, moving left and right trying to make her self a harder target for the droid to pick off. Her intention is to get up in his grill and put that polearm of her's to use. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     Things actually seemed to be going pretty well so far. Freaky looking allies aside, Sanary's glancing about at those fighting on the same side as her to continue trying to decide on a suitable healing target. Noticing the lights and action going on in the air, the healer takes a deep breath before punching into the air and firing off a quick wave of healing energy towards Nanoha. It's not much, but it's something! 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     Uh oh. "Raising Heart!" Nanoha's anklewings flutter with a burst of pink light, and that tries to push her out of the way. Buffeted by a sudden gust of wind, though, puts her almost directly in the path of that slash... necessitating the child throwing a hand out in front of her to summon up a shimmering shield against the blast.     It's strong, but she's off balance, and Zephyr's slash shatters her barrier to send her tumbling back with a painful impact, blunted by her barrier but still rattling her head. She'd been under the impression that Zephyr was weaker than her, but she wasn't prepared to fight the wind mage's style, it would seem.     "Ah... um..." Eyes dart about, and the little mage tries to think of a way to negate Zephyr's temporary advantage. She comes up with the usuall plan.     <LOAD CARTRIDGE> Raising Heart declares with a loud k-CHACK!     Nanoha wobbles upright again as she seeks her target. "Um! I guess if you're going to knock off my aim, I'll just need to use something that doesn't get thrown off!"     <DIVINE BUSTER>     Apparently Nanoha's answer to wind shear throwing off her spells is to use BIGGER, STRONGER spells, as the blazing circle of spellpower rings around the tip of her staff an instant before a massive pillar of pink energy blasts toward Zephyr. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "It is entirely possible. Your techniques conform to a strict style, and your use of them follows a fairly predictable methodology. By compiling data on your existing techniques, it is possible to project what other techniques will emerge to complete your fighting style based on the style's ideology, and it is then possible to predict which maneuvers you will use in a given situation based on your own tendencies."     All this is delivered as Inumuta tilts and leans and evades blow after blow, dodging and weaving and typing away on those keyboards on his body; for the first few blows, he's actually hard-pressed to evade, and Lee probably feels his knuckles brush past the Probe Regalia at least once. But with a murmur of, "Oh? Pushing your body further? Interesting," he quickly begins evading more effectively again. It looks like Probe Regalia can even keep up with that boost.     In the meantime, Ira Gamagoori has gone fully on the offensive. Whip after whip after whip fills the air around him, making the tower of a man a danger simply to /be/ near. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Your spirit is truly commendable, Mankanshoku, but this battle cannot be won simply by evading or absorbing my blows! MY SPIRIT WILL NEVER FALTER AND MY BODY WILL NEVER TIRE! Even if your Two-Star Goku Uniform cannot possibly stand up to the Scourge Regalia, I WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOU DON'T EVEN MAKE THE ATTEMPT!!" 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr's eyes go wide as she's staring down that pink pillar of pain. She crosses her device in front of her, and pulls in her Bits to supplement her defensive spell. <MASTER!> "I KNOW! WORKING ON IT!" she retorts sharply, as the Kite Shield she used begins to chip away and crack with a spiderweb from the force. "BOOSTER TWO. GALE SHIFT!" she cries over the torrent, the Bits shifting to latch onto her back, over the source of her 'wings', while said wings shift from purple, to white, and become more jet-like.     She rockets skywards, getting caught in the edge of that beam as her shield buckles. Legs singed, boots blackened and Barrier Jacket scorched and torn, the Wind Mage pants for breath. "That's her strong point... overwhelming force... we gotta play this smart." she says to herself, shifting her grip... "We have permission... lets show her how Marchians fight."     <YES! MISTRAL SYSTEM OVERDRIVE SET. BARRIER JACKET RESET. TEMPEST MODE. MISTRAL TEMPEST. PENTAGRAM FORMATION. confirms Divine Wind. Purple light encases Zephyr again, but this time, she emerges in a heavily reinforced Barrier Jacket, and five Bits circle in a streaming pentagram around her waist level. She doesn't attack yet though, maybe waiting for her mana levels to equalize. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee suddenly jumps back, taking a deep breath. He stops fighting for the moment, then suddenly sits down, crossing his legs. "Satsuki Kiryuun!" he shouts as he pulls his leg warmers down, then back up, and stands as strange tan colored bars attached in sections are hanging from his hands. "I wanted to save this for you, so that you could truly see my untapped potential. But I cannot hold back if I wish to overcome this challenge. I am going to remove my weights." he declares. And his weights hardly look all that impressive. Surely they could not offer -that- much of a benefit by removing them. Then he tosses them, one to the left of the pillar, and one to the ride. he allows them to fall all the way down to the ground to avoid doing damage to the battlefield itself. Then when they hit the ground, it seems to explode under the pure impact of the weight, which likely rocks the pillar itself for a moment. That's when he slides one left back, then holds the back of his hand up while the other moves behind his back. He's regained his composure. "Now, before the eyes of the Goddess of Honnouji, I will transcend calculation!" That's when, well, he vanishes. And suddenly re-appears with a fist so quick, there's a loud -crack- of a sonic boom when it cuts through the air, aimed at Inumuta's jaw. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' That... was certainly surprising. Of all the things he'd expected, one thing HK-47 had not expected to see was what appeared to be a solid-form holographic construct. A digital projection, as it were, reminiscent of a droid he had recently encountered - PROXY. However, as shown by the fact that she felt the need to move back and forth like that, it seemed this being, or whatever avatar she was using to represent herself, was not immune to damage. And, as expected of a melee-bound opponent, she was attempting to charge up at him. However, he does not intend to let her get too terribly close. Reaching into his belt, he withdraws his adhesive grenade, tossing it straight at his opponent. It spirals through the air before exploding into a mass of bluish glue-like paste, meant to cement all targets in a meter radius to the ground for at least fifteen seconds - as that's all the time the glue can exist for before it breaks down due to oxygen exposure, degrading exceptionally quick. The droid is banking on her apparently digital avatar to still be grounded in the laws of physics given that she is afraid to take physical hits, and therefore killing her movement will make her vulnerable to the many 'One-Star drones' in the area to gang up on her, which in turn should give him the time to make his next attack. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji continues to watch, reserving himself as he considers where best to apply himself and his powers to alter the course of the fights. He has a faint scowl on his face. He expected something more from the opposition. Some kind of a challenge. "This is pathetic." He announces. "I had come here expecting a true challenge and all I see is weakness and naivete." He looks over the enemy group, and sighs, forming a new pattern as he constructs another spell. Zephyr takes it to the next level and Rock Lee removes his weights. So be it. The forming magical force is purplish-blue, as Souji engages his next spell. "Slow-2." The temporal distortion is the opposite, clocks slowing down in their motions as the distottion washes out over Ryuko's team. Their speed advantages might be hard to maintain if they get caught in that effect! 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     Battered from her brief ride, Mako actually hits the ground for the first time in several seconds. Immediately, her Goku Uniform rams its sleeves into the arena floor on either side, anchoring her while whips snap against the back of her jacket. Like this, the President of Honnouji Academy's Fight Club can at least weather the assault and gather her thoughts.     Admittedly, gathering any sort of thought is a challenge for Mankanshoku Mako far greater than facing down Gamagoori Ira of the Honnouji Academy Student Council.     "I'm not giving up..." the girl mutters, rummaging inside her coat. After a moment, she pushes down with her uniform's tattered gloves, hurling herself above the whippy assault and giving herself enough breathing room to hurl out several handfuls of random gold-covered items. Screwdrivers, shuriken, at least one carpenter's hammer, even a sack of marbles that summarily bursts apart when struck by an errant whip.     "--Wait I didn't mean to throw that! My marbles..!"     Mako's too distraught by the sudden destruction of her trinkets to notice the decrease in her reaction time on her way back down to earth, bat-first, directly at Gamagoori's face, "I was collecting those for ages! Guess I'll start over~!" 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     The wind roars around her, and Nanoha squints at the change in look that overcomes Zephyr. "Huh? Limiter release?" The child questions as she tries to maintain her stationary pose in midair, wings on her ankles flapping furiously. She whips her staff to the side, and with a loud hiss and venting of steam, the spent cartridge pops out to tumble down to the ground far below. This leaves Nanoha to lift her hand, palm forward. "Okay, if you want to..."     <DIVINE BULLET>     Numerous concentrated balls of pink light blast out, filling the air in a barrage of powerful, tiny spheres. Yet with that windstorm, they're easy to dodge. In fact, they're all quite simple to evade. Suspiciously simple...     A faint shimmering heralds the only warning Zephyr is likely to get as Vesta decloaks, coming up behind the Wind Mage and aiming a Familiar-powered kick with her shin toward Zephyr's back, the Familiar now back in her catgirl mode. The false image of the one below, still on the pillar, vanishes now. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Even with the speed boost from Souji, Houka Inumuta is completely unprepared. "You were wearing weights that ridiculously-?!" He realizes the meaning of it just seconds before Rock Lee seemingly disappears.     High above, one eyebrow arches with faint surprise. "Hoh...?" Satsuki murmurs. Interesting.     KRAK goes the jaw of Inumuta, the Probe Regalia protecting him from having his jaw shattered, but not from being flung right across the arena - and right into Gamagoori's whips, which he has no way to evade. That smacks him right back forward, skidding across the ground until he can climb back up to his feet. There's a telltale, faint buzzing coming from his suit. "The Probe Regalia couldn't calculate-?!" His surprise alone has him wide open.     Meanwhile, Ira Gamagoori is in for a surprise of an entirely different type. He's quite happy to unleash his barrage of whips upon Mako, smashing aside whatever projectiles she's going to hurl his way, though at least one actually manages to make it through, slamming right into the cheek of the Scourge Regalia. As a result, the whipping only grows more intense, and Gamagoori begins striding forward as if to hit Mako on her way down...     ...only for his feet to go right out from under him, putting him on his back and temporarily halting the whip assault. "What-?! Mankanshoku, you scattered the marbles to destroy my footing?! I didn't think you had such clever tactics in you! But you had better be prepared to /CLEAN ALL THESE MARBLES UP AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR BATTLE/!" He's still trying to get to his feet - wide open! 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is not qhat HK-47 would have expected in just what she wa smade of. She doesn't seem to stop however as she moves to get vclose. With her weapon she does have more reach than most melee fights might given the nature of her weapon. She eems to know what the grenade is and she's forced to leap she doesn't quite make is as she ends up held in place she does avoid getting it all over her. She attemps to struggle for a moment, halts and starts to chant in a lanauge from earth known as Norse. Strange gold runes fly about her body, and when she finishes chanting? There's a barrage of basically lasers striking for HK and the One Stars about heer. She's now also trying to get lose before HK can /try/ something else. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "I will not obey the laws of calculation and math! This is the true nature of fighting spirit, Goddess of Honnouji!" Lee starts to run again. But realizes that something's off. He's not quite aware of that slowing spell, but rather than outright vanishing, his body starts to move around in a constant blur, leaving after images of himself trailing behind his movements. He's slower, slow enough to see, but is he still slow enough to dodge?! He runs directly up behind Inumuta, trying to stay away from Gamagoori's whips. Then he attempts to wrap his arms around Inumuya's waist and jump into the air, fully intending to deliver a flying german suplex. Both to deal damage and get out of the general range of Gamagoori and Mako at the same time. Mako is far too unpredictable! 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "Uh!" Due to time magic slowing her movement but not her descent, Mako falls short, surprised that something she did actually dropped the Titan of Honnouji. When Gamagoori calls out her INGENIUS PLAN, the girl stares slightly over him, off into space while scratching her cheek. It's only the demand that she clean up after that snaps her back to the moment, "--Oh! Yes, right away as soon as we're done, Upperclassman Gamagoori--!"     Though she spares another glance upward. Not quite 'into the distance'. Rather the idiot savant is wide-eyed staring at Souji, the man muttering weird words and making stuff happen. Her head tilts, and she returns her attention to Ira's attempts at getting back up.     "--Right! I said I'm not giving up, Upperclassman! Even though I know I'm gonna lose 'cuz you're pretty amazing-- I won't let you just walk over Mankanshoku Mako!"     While Ira is down, Mako's uniform reaches out with both tattered, gloved hands, snatching at the flailing whips of the Scourge Regalia. And if she manages to get enough of them, she uses them to reel the Disciplinary Chairman in with a sharp yank, right towards her.     Pulling her hand back, Mako twirls something gold on her fingers until she closes her hand into a fist, revealing it to be an enormous set of brass knuckles in the shape of a star, with 'MAKO' standing out in mirrored letters.     Mako starts winding her fist up, "HERE I..!" And as soon as Ira is close enough, she hurls her fist forward with the force of a freight train, a shout that isn't quite a roar, and both a big smile and closed eyes, "--GOOOO~!" 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' The enemy is finally immobilized and wide-open - and with the strange speed-obfucicating boost enacted by the organic Souji Murasame, the droid has his one shot to land a decisive blow... and he takes the chance. He activates the second of his wrist-mounted weapons - the multi-spectral energy emitter. A directed beam of charged energy that could disperse and punch through energy shielding to sear armor. He crouches down to one knee to steady the shot, ignoring the internal alerts as the beam from the strange runes graze his shoulder, though it would have been a direct hit had he not knelt down. The beam burns off part of his cloak and hood, searing a portion of his shoulder-armor and exposing the left side of his undeniably artificial droid-head to all around him as he fires his wrist-mounted beam straight for the digital-construct. "Statement - I have you now." 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr gets overtaken by the Slow effect, but she's in her high speed mode, so right now that doesn't affect her as much as it might. <MASTER! EVADE!> warns Divine Wind, which gets Zephyr moving through the flak burst. She spots the flicker of Vesta's cloak, and starts to turn into the incoming kick, managing to catch some of it on her armoured side, rather than her back. She still gets slammed down out of the air, but catches herself by skidding against the air. "Hmm, shoulda brought Darma so your Familiar could have her /own/ playmate." she comments.     She eyes Vesta, then Nanoha before grinning. "Lets see how y'like this." <MISTRAL TEMPEST. AREA MODE!> the Bits fly out... and 500m of space become Zephyr's personal battlefield. "This is MY world now." she states firmly, before with gusts of wind, she begins to rapidly move about the area, bringing high speed slashes against both Nanoha and Vesta, empowered with <MISTRAL CUTTER!> Increase-type spells. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     Sanary whistles lightly at Rock's sudden burst of speed when he lands that solid blow on Inumuta. Or she tries to, at least, since it just comes out as a weird blowing sound with brief squeaks that sound like whistling. She'll get it one of these days.     "Not bad, fab-uh... Rock. Not bad at all." She can't compliment him for too long, though, since she still has a job to do! Namely, redirecting more of that healing energy to Inumuta. Holding that magic around her fist, she punches her hand once before thrusting her hand out, sending her next wave of healing energy towards the keyboard warrior. She's not too worried about inadvertently healing the ninja in the process, though, since she can't recall him getting hit much. With any luck, that healing wave might just pass through Inumuta (and possibly Rock) and speed up the healing process drastically. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     It turns out that even with a slow spell on him, Lee's speed is /still/ so high without the weights that Inumuta can only /just/ avoid taking direct hits. He still takes glancing blow after glancing blow, and it quickly becomes obvious that the Probe Regalia just cannot keep up. He's got no openings to attack at all, nor even to use his Goku Uniform's trump card; so when Lee comes hurtling in from behind, he uses the only option still available to him.     There's a flash of stars, and the Probe Regalia returns to its untransformed state, while its user lifts his arms in a gesture of total surrender before Lee's attack can reach him. "Houka Inumuta hereby forfeits this battle!" He's banking on his surrender to halt the ninja's attack.     As for Gamagoori, the Scourge Regalia is powerful. Perhaps one of the physically strongest Goku Uniforms produced. But so, as it happens, is the Two-Star Fight Club Uniform. Still on his back, Gamagoori cannot resist being hauled up into the air. And that high up, he's a sitting duck for being hit full force.     No matter how much power the hit might give him, no matter how well the Shackle Regalia might protect him, he is not immune to concussive force delivered directly to his face. Not when the amount of it is so thoroughly ridiculous and concentrated into such a small area. And so it is that, for just that shining moment, the No-Star in a Two-Star manages to best a Three-Star. "GHFL-!" Down goes Gamagoori into a crater. "...As expected of the Fight Club's... ridiculous strength," he groans. He's trying to peel himself out of it, but his bell's rung enough by the force that got through his Shackle Regalia that it'll take him a moment.     And then there's Nonon Jakuzure, whose battle with Ryuko has gone to the skies and come back down again. With the Symphony Regalia Presto wrecked, she's land-bound, but a final transformation has now been unveiled: "Symphony Regalia Da Capo! And for my finale, a tune known to children 'round the world! Beethoven's Symphony No. 5: FATE!" The power of Da Capo seems to be converting sound to pure energy, in a way that reverberates at just the right frequency to weaken Senketsu. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Rock Lee frowns at this, surprisingly. He crosses his arms as he stares down at the man, and doesn't sound like he's actually accepted the surrender. Though he's not attacking either. "You calculate and calculate and once someone has broken through your calculation, you simply give up? You do not meet fighting spirit with fighting spirit? How can you hope to ever truly grow into something great, or overcome your hardships, if you simply bow down and give up, even against seemingly overwhelming odds?" He turns around, then begins to walk away, looking up at Satsuki. "I do not accept his surrender! A fight without honor and courage is not a fight, therefore he cannot lose and I cannot win. There is nothing." He sounds almost insulted at the man's display, then crosses his arms in the middle of the ring. "I will fight any other challengers!" 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     WHAM. Gamagoori strikes the earth hard enough to produce a crater. Mako gives her uniform's arms a snapping motion, untangling them from the whips and bandages of the converted Shackle Regalia. The face of Mako's brass knuckle sizzles from the pure force of the impact, the lettering dented and the star's edges bent. Mako takes a deep breath, then immediately leans back, shaking her hand, "--Ow, ow! What are you made of, Upperclassman..!"     Smart money is on 'crystallized resolve'.     Pulling her fingers out of the knuckleduster, Mako blows on her hand for a few moments, clearly disinterested in beating a man while he's down. Though she does eventually stoop down to recover her bat, her free hand pulling her hat's brim to one side so that when her gaze returns to Souji Murasamae, he only gets to see one eye.     "I've had about enough of you, mister!" Mako plants a hand on her hip, lifting her bat to point straight at the spell-slinging businessman, "I think you should sit down and stop causing trouble for Ryuko and everyone!"     It's not a request, though. The bat snaps apart into four sections, revealing the missile in its interior with a Happy Mako Face painted on the warhead. With a hiss of rocket propulsion, it bursts out of the field surrounding her that's been slowing her movements and arcs directly towards Souji's vantage point..!     Whether he's still there when it hits is irrelevant to the size of the explosion it creates.     Mako may also be Just Doing Things while waiting for Gamagoori to get back up so she can make sure she didn't break him or anything. That would be awful--She might get detention..! 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko, after using her Shippu form to take the advantage of an aerial battle that Nonon might've had to level the playing field, has pulled her back down to earth. Though, after blowing up that huge tank-like Presto, has to deal with the Da Capo. That blast of energy literally floors her, and even her Kamui is affected. <<T-This music..! It's like all the fibers in my body are vibrating along with it..!>> Ryuko, wearing him, is barely able to stand, herself. "Yeah, and it's fuckin' loud.. Nngh! Gotta try and.. wait.. hold on..!" Ryuko manages to get to her feet, and tucking her scissor behind her back, takes a breath. "Senketsu. Tune it all out. Everything. Just focus on me, alright? Shut out all that noise, and just listen to me. My heartbeat! Got it?" <<R-Right..>> Initially hesitant, /something/ seems to be happening. The thunderous classical music is.. getting dull. The heavy brass and string instruments seem to be slightly muted, now. "All we have to do.. is focus on one another!! And we won't stop there.. we'll just make a bit of music of our own!!" And out comes Ryuko's Abstractum, appearing in her hands. The bright red, six-stringed electric guitar thrums to life as Ryuko rakes her fingers over the strings, and Senketsu responds. <> A blast of red energy surges out against Nonon's pink, and shoves it back! Right back into Nonon, so forcefully, it blows her off the stage, and her Goku Uniform off her body. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     The area increases, and Nanoha's hair is whipping about, along with her Barrier Jacket. "MISTRESS!" Vesta shouts, the roaring mana-charged wind hurling her about and causing her to tumble far away from Nanoha, leaving the child alone for a moment.     But Nanoha is a little more canny than she seems. If Zephyr's ears are sharp, the currents of air might carry the sounds of musical humming to her ears, as the child fights to stay aloft and steady herself. Fortunately, there are /very few/ fliers as talented as Nanoha, when it comes down to precision control. But what is she doing?     The high-speed slashes are coming close enough that Nanoha is forced to block with Raising Heart, clashing once, twice... and then Zephyr's axe clipping her shoulder, forcing her to start to list to the side. Another impact staggers her back, but then Zephyr will feel something odd in the mana storm. The magically-charged wind lessens, very subtly, around Nanoha in a manner she might recognize as similar to the collection-type magic of a Starlight Breaker, even though the chant isn't there.     <RESTRICT LOCK> Raising Heart pings abruptly, and the collected mana is shoved into several powerful rings aiming to snap around Zephyr and hold her still. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     Sanary hums lightly to herself as things seem to be getting more interesting. Inumuta's given up, Gamagoori's down, Mako's after Souji, and Rock's unoccupied. That really only leaves her to keep him from turning any of the other fights into a two-on-one, doesn't it?     "Hey, fanboy! Er. Rock! Let's do it!" Grinning widely as she slips the gunaxe off her belt/rope, she gives it a quick twirl before aiming the... Handguard? Yep, she's aiming the handguard in Rock's direction. It takes a moment, but she does fire off a Flame shell at the ground near his feet, hoping to get his attention with that before getting into a defensive position with the axe.     "This should be good... You remember me, right?" 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is still looking at HK as the lasers rain about them it's not enough to stop HK, it does however get some hits in on him enough to see what his nature. "Heh a combat robot?" Tomoe now manage to get lose as the goo finally gives way. She sees another shot coming for her and she starts to spin her naginata to deflect the shot or at least a part of it. "Not bad, not bad at all!" She's been hurt a bit but the worst of damage was prevented. She now leaps again high into the air and attemps to come down slamming into the ground near HK-47. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     As he leaves the platform, Inumuta stops briefly to turn and regard Lee with a faint smile... though it's one that only shows when he's talking, since his collar only opens briefly for that. "You misunderstand. I never cared about winning from the start. My purpose has always been information-gathering." High above, Satsuki merely arches an eyebrow in Rock Lee's direction, but says nothing.     "My attack isn't working?!" Somehow, Ryuko manages to not only resist the power of Da Capo's attack - and not only that, it's turned back upon her in a burst of musical might that manages to fully and brutally overpower the Symphony Regalia - and blast it apart as surely as if Ryuko had used the Scissor Blade itself. "GODFUCKINGDAMMIT YOU SHITTY LITTLE-!" Before the unladylike outburst can be finished, her Uniform is entirely shredded. Down goes Nonon, and Ryuko gets the Life Fibers. And with Gamagoori on the ropes, all that remains is...     "Looks like it's my turn!" At last, Uzu Sanageyama takes a few steps to the fore, swinging his shinai down into one hand and sweeping it around. One after another, he points to two people in specific - first Rock Lee, then Ryuko herself. "Oi, Matoi, bushy brows. If the two of you are warmed up enough, I might just let you both come at me at once! It'll be a pretty good test for the retuned Blade Regalia!" 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     "No way. If I don't beat you on my own, then I can't really say I've won." Ryuko takes out her sword again, "Don't worry. I'm taking this fight dead serious. It won't be as easy as the last time!" She turns, and gives Rock a nod. "Let me handle this. You guys took care of everything else." And turns back to Sanageyama. Just one more hurdle.. then she'll be the one on top! Her piercing blue eyes glare right at the swordsman, her weapon already drawn and pointing at him as she awaits him to follow suit, and transform. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' Leave it to the supposed high-ranking meatbags to be defeated by lesser, unimpressive counterpart meatbags. Now the medic was in danger, and they were swiftly being outnumbered. However, the blind sword-wielder had finally stepped down from his podium, after his prediction of the other three losing had come true - but if anything, HK thought that he seemed somewhat elated to be fighting the surviving opponents alone. Satsuki Kiryuin also seemed rather nonchalant, considering the circumstances. But at the moment, the droid had other issues on hand, and, detaching the largest piece of his belt, activated his back-up defense - the mobile barrier. The small plate flashes on as it's rammed into the ground, projecting a small wall of solid-energy shielding in front of HK-47 and releasing a potent energy-dispersal wave, meant to send anybody within ten feet of the droid flying an extra twenty feet backwards to give him some breathing room for his next shot. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Mako turns her attention to firing a rocket at Souji. As the weapon fires, Souji's eyes snap open. "Is that your best?" He asks, as he moves with a blur. There is a blur as Souji whips himself to one side, the comparative speed advantage making him seem absurdly fast compared to Mako. The rocket detonates, catching him in the backwash regardless, however. The flames and shrapnel lick past his suit, scorching it and leaving thin slices in his face and hands. He reaches up to touch the blood, and then looks back at Mako. "You will live to regret that. I think you need to understand when you are outmatched." He replies, raising a hand as he resumes his errati dodging motion. "Thunder-2." He calls out, lightning blasting out towards Mako in a manner reminiscent of old wrinkled guys in black robes. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "WAAAHH!" Lee is suddenly jumping around when the shot gets fired at his feet, his serious composure being broken instantly. "You should be careful! Things like that are very dangerous!" He eyes her axe, crouching slightly as he considers his next move. Though Inumuta's last comment earns a frown. "Perhaps you serve the Goddess of Honnouji in your own way, but I believe that you are missing an important component of your service. The will to put everything on the line is required if you are ever going to truly understand that it means to never give up and to have courage! You cannot analyze these things." He takes a deep breath again, nodding at Ryuko. "I trust you! You are an incredibly competent fighter!" With that said, Lee turns around to face Sanary, and suddenly, out of the blue, he's rapidly flipping and spinning around a pair of solid iron nunchaku as if they were an extention of his limbs. Then in a motion of afterimages, he's in front of her, swinging it rapidly at her axe, trying to send vibrations down the hilt and even try to aim at her face a few times. "I rarely require the use of a weapon, but I will not insult you by assuming otherwise, you... uh... you person who I definitely did not forget!" 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     Zephyr's keenly aware of her Mistral Tempest, but she's not fought enough of her /own/ kind of mage to recognize a Binding spell, let along something entirely unique to Nanoha.     The binding shackles lockk around her wrists and ankles, stopping the wind mage dead in the air. "Damn it... gnnnh. Divine Wind!" she struggles, unable to move the bindings... this could be bad, especially since there's so much ambient mana in the area.     Zephyr's stuck, but, that doesn't mean she's unable to fight. The Bits break formation, shifting their position to encircle Nanoha. Their control of the air around the girl intensifies as they compress it down, attempting to use air pressure to crush her... this does leave the Bits more open to attack though, even if they are still rapidly rotating around the area. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     "Th... That's the point of shooting!" Sanary laughs freely at the ninja's reaction to the warning shot, taking a moment to throw off her suit and loosen her collar. Showing up here in a freaking suit probably wasn't the smartest thing she's done in recent memory, but it's much too late for her to complain about it now.     She blinks once. He's fast. Very, very fast. Much too fast to for her to try and match his speed, that's for sure. It takes most of her concentration just to back up rapidly enough to avoid getting pummeled by the nunchaku.     "Y-you totally forgot, didn't you? I was at the..." Although she can't match him in speed, the healer slash axe fighter is much more confident in her strength. ".. The birthday party! And the robot fight!" Rearing back with the axe, she lashes out sideways with the axe to try and meet his swings with a single powerful slash of her own in an attempt to cleave straight through his blows! As the axe head arcs forward, there's practically... No, literally flames coming out of it! 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     As she watches, Satsuki speaks casually. "Have you collected all the data, Iori?" In her ear, a voice replies, "I have. Analysis is complete on the Scourge and Probe Regalias; Symphony is still ongoing. We can begin making improvements immediately."     "Tch. Whatever! I'll just come beat the bushy-brows down after I'm done with you! THREE-STAR GOKU UNIFORM: BLADE REGALIA, /MARK TWO!/" The transformation is fast, and in the beat of a heart, he's on the charge, launching himself and the Blade Regalia at Ryuko with a rising war cry. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/AAAAAAAAAAAAA/-!" With his colossal shinai lowered into an attack position, there is nothing tricky or sneaky or otherwise non-straightforward about his attack; he means to meet Ryuko head-on in a clash of skill. Closer, closer, like a freight train at full steam, until-     A girl in a frilly, lacey pink dress, carrying a parasol, drops down between Sanageyama and Ryuko.     High above, the expression change on Satsuki's face is instant and worrying. "Nh-!" A deep, fierce scowl, an expression she never makes.     Sanageyama manages to stop himself, with a frustrated snap of, "Wh-who are you?!" The girl turns and offers a perfectly cheerful smile, that only gets wider when Satsuki demands in a low, dangerous voice, "Why have you come, Nui Harime?" She only plants her umbrella in reply, leaning forward and speaking in a chiding, cutesy voice, "This is totally unfair, Lady Satsuki! Doing something fun like this without telling me..." Satsuki's face remains cold. "I am not obligated to tell you anything." Nui affects a mock pout. "How mean~! I thought you and I were two hearts beating as-"     "I'm not going to tolerate any more interference in my fight with Matoi! GET OUT OF THE WAY!!" Sanageyama has lost patience. "SANAGEYAMA, GET AWAY FROM-!" It's rare for Satsuki to fully lose her composure so openly. But the Blade Regalia's shinai is swinging down with bone-crushing force... until it stops cold against her umbrella. With seemingly no effort on her part, Nui Harime blocks it. And then shoves it straight up, only to reach into a gap in the Blade Regalia's armor, and pluck something with a pinkie. A thread. A single thread. She pulls it right out with her pinkie nail.     The Blade Regalia /comes apart/.     And as if an afterthought, she swats Sanageyama right off the platform. "Oopsie, he fell~." 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "Well, no," Mako lowers the smoking handle of her bat, scratching the side of her nose, "'cuz you've been doing things I don't quite get and making me all slow." She closes her eyes with a shrug, discarding the bat's remains, "'course it isn't my best!" When called out on regrets, the girl stamps her feet, thrusting her arms down, "Not gonna regret it! Mankanshoku Mako doesn't regret anything, even the bad or dumb things!" MEANWHILE     Fed up with the store owner's stance, the Mankanshoku clan has barged into the arena proper to watch the fights in person. Barazo secures seats while Mataro pulls out a camera he stole some time ago. Just in time, he starts filming Mako right when she's struck by Magical Lightning.     The girl suddenly jerks into all kinds of bizarre poses when electrocuted, while in the audience Mataro laughs, "Hey, I bet if I mix this with the right song it'd be really popular!"     Mataro is quickly silenced by his mother quite suddenly elbow-dropping him, then catching his camera, "Yosh~. Fight hard, Mako~!"     By the end of Thundara, Mako sizzles. However, before she can retaliate on Souji, activity further away gets her attention, between the shouting from Sanageyama and the utter ROAR from Satsuki, "Ehh? Who is--" ... "Whaaaat!" 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "I do not remember the birthday party very well for some reason!" Lee admits before the axe comes at him, which he was just about to try and dodge before he notices the random flames. They cut through his vest and open a nice gash in his stomach, though the flames seal it from bleeding at the same time. "And with the robots, I was very focused on defeating a robot!" he elaborates, holding his wounded stomach. But then he hears the fuss in Ryuko's battle, and suddenly turns around. He holds his nunchaku out to Sanary, spinning it rapidly by the chain in the middle, as if to offer some barrier between the two of them. His eyes hone in on Nui, though he doesn't make a move. "You! Do not interfere with Ryuko's battle! It is dishonorable, please have respect as she chases her dream!" 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     Vesta is still recovering, floating in midair and... suddenly rather distracted by what's going on with the Confederates! A new challenger appears. "Woah! Who's that?"     Nanoha might have a comment, but she's a little preoccupied right now! Crushed by the wind, she quickly puts up a barrier... and this time she isn't fooling around. Well, she wasn't fooling around to begin with, it's just that this time she's going to release everything she has in ending this quickly.     "You've gotten a lot stronger than I remember," Nanoha notes. "But Alicia and Miss Testarossa gave me a couple upgrades, too! RAISING HEART, SET UP!"     Turning the tip of her staff toward the bound mage, wings of pink light BLAZE outward, unfolding to a broad spread that the roaring wind causes to spray with fanciful pink feathers of light. With a loud announcement, Raising Heart chimes, <EXCELION MODE. ACCELERATE CHARGE SYSTEM ACTIVE. LOAD CARTRIDGE. DIVINE BUSTER EXCEED.>     This time, three cartridges slam into place, causing a massive rise in energy output... followed by Nanoha clearly shouting over the storm, "SHOOOOOT!"     By this time, the massive wave of bright pink energy should be expected from everyone, barelling right toward Zephyr. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' As if the encounter could not become stranger, there was now a female meatbag in glaringly bright-pink clothing with long blond hair tied into two large swooping locks on either side of her head - ponytails, as meatbags typically referred to the style. She was holding an umbrella over her head in spite of the lack of any weather that would prompt such action. Was this an ally... or an enemy? However... one thing that stood out above the others for HK-47 was... "Warning - abnormal objected detected! Structural make-up - Hardened life-fibers! Addendum - Mystery object shares a carbon-dating and structural makeup that matches the scissor-blade carried by Ryuko Matoi. Structural and component match up... 100% compatibility rating!" The announcement was broad and made as loud as his vocal projector s could make it - a deliberate act to fish for information or reactions from Matoi, to see if she would recognize it. Give him information on whatever it was the new organic was carrying. Things were definitely getting interesting. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     Why wouldn't he...? "Oh! Right. You were... Right. Don't drink so much." Sanary almost sounds as if she's scolding Rock as she says that, stepping back as well to give herself some more breathing room. "That stuff'll make you sick if you're not careful!"     And... Okay, maybe he did have a point with the robot thing. Plus, it's not as if she really made her own presence known at the time. But... Still! "... Sanary! Now you don't have an exc-" She goes slightly slack-jawed at Nui's arrival and how easily she dispatches of Samagama.. Soonogem... Sword guy. Was that an umbrella? And exploding clothes?     "So... is she with you, or...?" She spares a quick glance at Rock and keeps her axe readied in front of her, although her main focus is still on the pink one. Just how did she do all of that? 

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''     <BIND BREAK!> chimes Divine Wind, forcing a torrent of raw mana into the binding rings, shattering their matrixs through brute force. Zephyr turns as that pink blast barrels down, and begins to move... however her Linker Core throbs suddenly, and she curls up in the air in sudden pain... which leaves her entirely unable to dodge.     The beam lands, and Zephyr is rendered prone, with Barrier Jacket shredded, in a crater on the stadium floor. Divine Wind pulses weakly, a repeating SOS signal. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji proceeds to electrocute Mako, though she does score a critical hit on his attempt to process Mako's unending hope and belief. He stands there, hand outstretched and pausing for a moment as he considers this. "How do you even /function/?" He asks, a note of disbelief in his voice. The arrival of Nui causes Souji to observe the proceedings. "Tch... to be defeated so simply..." He comments, looking away and adjusting his glasses... And then turns to suddenly whip his sheathed blade out towards Mako, sweeping it low in an attempt to cause her to fall back before he lunges forward, spinning to drive the sheathed weapon towards Mako's chest. His goal, after all, isn't to kill Mako or even knock her out. The victory condition simply requires him to remain on the platform and his opponents to not be on it. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is noticing this robot is no dumbass this can't be just a thing running on scripts. No there clearly's got to be someone home here. Whomeve this robot is? It's damn good and Tomoe knows this quite well fromt eh fight so She's forced back by the charge and land sin a crouch she's rising up to make ready for another attack at HK-47, when the devil drops in. She pauses for a second at the unnknown arrival. There is something she does not like about them she looks at this Nui Harime for a moment. Then Satsuki loses her cool?! What is going on, that reaction to Nui alone has a sense of dread forming in the back of her mind as she holds her weapon and keeps on guard now. This time she doesn't move to attack HK from up close no she's chanting again, but this time? It's a burst of fire. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is left with just enough time to react, slowing to a stop on her heels, to avoid colliding with the blonde who's suddenly made such a dramatic appearance. "W-Who the..!?" She drops her transformation, and glares at the girl, and at Satsuki. "What are you playin' at, exactly!?" She thinks it's something underhanded that Kiryuin has decided to pull, but.. she just destroyed his uniform, by plucking out one thread? And blocked his attack without the help of well.. anything at all! She tilts her head, "Look, I don't really care who you are.. If I gotta fight my way through you, then fine." She glares up at Satsuki again, and scowls. HK's loud announcement, for what it's worth, is ignored. Ryuko is far too focused on the new hurdle in front of her. "So, what's your deal? Who the hell are you, anyway? Not fighting with a Goku Uniform?" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "She was able to sever the Blade Regalia's banshi so easily..." Satsuki mutters, her expression growing more troubled by the moment. "Banshi?" It seems that's a term even Inumuta doesn't know - but Iori does, and explais it over their local radio. "It's the Life Fiber that has been imbued with the will to become clothing. It is the key to creating a Goku Uniform, and it's always heavily protected! Even when Matoi absorbs a Goku Uniform's Life Fibers, it's the last one to go...!"     "Aww, but I'm going to be the one fighting Ryuko~! I want to see her Kamui at full power, and now that I've beaten a Three-Star Uniform, she knows she can go all out on me!" Nui replies to Lee, cheerful and almost pouty again - and then HK-47 speaks up, and she actually gives a guilty little start. "Oop-! It looks like the Grand Couturier's been caught~" With a cheerful twirl, she spins herself around to face Ryuko. "Don't be silly, Ryu~ko~! I'm strong enough to stand up to you without a tatty old Goku Uniform! Especially with what the adorable little robot's talking about..."     She reaches into her dress. She draws out a weapon. Long, and purple, of a size and shape very similar to the selfsame weapon Ryuko holds - similar enough, in fact, that it only takes a glance to determine that they're of a matched set. With a rapid-fire whirling flourish, she levels it in front of herself, and exclaims a cheerful, "Ta-daaaaaa! Do you like it, Ryuko? I've been hanging onto the other half of the Scissor Blade hoping I'd get to meet you, after I used it to kill your father~."     With such a cheerful voice. Without changing her tone or expression at all. She calmly professes her identity. 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     Drawn from the display Nui is putting on, Mako blinks dumbly at Souji's very pointed question. She seems to consider it for a moment, flipping up one of her uniform's sleeves. The other sleeve reaches up and, from the bottom of its partner, pulls down a chart depicting Mako in silhouette. There's a big empty void where her brain should be.     "Well, you've got me! By all accounts it just doesn't make sense!"     The fantastic businessman closes in suddenly, prompting Mako to discard her poster. One of the uniform's sleeves slams down to disrupt the sweep at her legs--simply caving against the scabbard but refusing to let it through to her legs.     When he wrenches the weapon free and goes for her center of mass, Mako brings the other sleeve up, pushing the sheath aside to go over her shoulder rather than into her chest. She might be magically Slowed, but having four effective arms is its own advantage!     "Goodbye, now! I might have to help out Ryuko, don't got time to spend with weird guys today!"     From the depths of her coat, using her ACTUAL hands, Mako produces a length of golden pipe with, of all things, a sink attached. As if it had been ripped right out of someone's kitchen cabinet. With Souji's weapon fouled into Mako's uniform's glove, she uses both hands to swing the Kitchen Sink at his side like a baseball bat. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' Droid that he is, HK is unable to keep irritation from creeping through his circuits as the meatbag Matoi disregards his announcement. If she got eviscerated by whatever the new organic had on her, it would be no fault of his... though he was curious as to what would happen now, as the mystery meatbag apparently had slain the father unit of Matoi. Once again, it seemed things were getting very exciting indeed, and he cannot help but throw fuel on the fire just to see the result - "Advisory - Do not stand there, Matoi meatbag! Excise her head and remove her entrails!" However, it seemed the momentary distraction had not blunted the determination of his opponent. Seeing the oncoming burst of flame, HK-47 decides to counter with the age-old adage of elemental opposites. He throws out his CryoBan Instant-freeze Grenade, banking on the explosion of supercooled coolant and chilled liquid nitrogen to backlash and cause the organic's flame-attack to blowback right at her while he stays behind his still-deployed shield-wall for cover. He's used up his adhesive grenade, his cryo-grenade and one of his flamethrower charges, all in the span of one prolonged fight. Yes - this was a very exciting outing indeed. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     There's a look of complete shock on Ryuko's face, as she sees that weapon. The missing twin that belongs to the whole pair of scissors. Ever since she'd come onto the stage in the Multiverse, she's talked about it. Finding them, and thus the person who carried them and had killed her father. And now.. here that person is. Cheerfully, gleefully admitting to it. With that sickeningly wide grin on her face! She can't help it, at all. She feels her heart pumping faster and faster, her blood starting to boil. And with a scream, a cry of pure rage, she lashes out at Nui. Didn't she drop her transformation? It's instantly back again, fueled by that anger that's boiled over completely, at this point. "YOU.. BITCH.. !!! Why!? Why'd you kill my dad!?" Whatever focus and determination she might've had has gone out the window. Now, it's just blind anger. All she wants is revenge. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha drops down again, floating in midair as Raising Heart ejects the hissing, spent cartridges. She floats to Vesta's side, just in time to see the dramatic confrontation between Ryuko and Nia. Well that's... interesting. "Uwahhh?" Really she isn't sure what's going on, but the girl's fingers tense on her Device, and she mumbles softly, "What are her chances, Vesta?"     Vesta shakes her head, "Not really good, Mistress."     She nods, glancing down at Zephyr, her downed opponent. A small gesture and a chime from Raising Heart encloses the wind mage in a pyramid of shimmering mana, keeping her out of harm's way until she can be picked up. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     And with all that unbridled fury, Nui if anything seems more cheerful than before - it's certainly easier for her to block and parry every single attack launched her way. "You know exactly why~! You're wearing the reason, after all. Your daddy meddled in things he shouldn't have, after all~. Even if taboos ~are~ pretty fun." She takes a chance to lock her Scissor Blade against Ryuko's, pressing in to hold the daughter of Dr. Matoi still for a moment while she talks. "It was your voice that let him take my eye, you know~? Even with the Scissor Blade that can stop Life Fibers from regenerating, he wasn't annnnny match for me. But he distracted me from the existence of your Kamui, and then /you/ distracted me just long enough for him to get a good cut on my eye~!"     "So of course I was mad, and I cut him right up~! Stabbed him into the wall, and took a Scissor Blade with me as a souvenir. If I'd known a cute thing like you was coming, I'd have stayed long enough to play with you /both/, though!." 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Mako's response that she in fact has nothing in her head just continues to stun Souji. How can someone so foolish exist? This, combined with her obvious skill, takes him off balance. A thing Mako exploits when she literally hits him with the kitchen sink. The impact is colossal, as Souji is sent flying, tumbling end over end towards the rapidly approaching edge. Ironically, that was Souji's own plan for /her/. The best-laid plans... A moment later, Souji flies off the side, a hand desperately grabbing at the edge... It's just enough to cause him to hang off the side by the tips of his fingers. He is silent for several seconds, his teeth clenched as he forces himself to grab up with his other hand and pull himself up. He pulls up over the edge and looks over the confrontation there. His eyes narrow as he sees Mako moving to back up Ryoko. "Enough of this foolishness. Murasame." He brings up his blade, holding it horizontally by the scabbard while gripping the hilt with his other hand. "It is time to feed." The crimson ribbon binding the sword into its sheath unravels, and he draws the blade. Gleaming black metal and incides with crimson runes of hunger, the weapon has a terrible and ominous cast. Any blood in the area of the weapon begins to visibly seep towards the weapon, as if it is being called to the blade, where it would be absorbed and vanish. It is at this point that he scythes in from behind towards Mako, cleaving with the blade. Though he wields it with the speed of a feather, the weapon bears a terrifying mass behind it as he strikes. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' With the explosion of fire and ice, HK-47 pulls himself back for a proper shooting position, lining up a shot and taking it as quick as he can, even if his opponent's speed makes targeting difficult - and that's discounting his stressing his sensors to take in every delicious moment of the mounting chaos. Especially from Matoi's fight. Even from here, HK-47 can tell that Matoi's bio-chemical levels are fluctuating like crazy - and causing an imbalance in her connection to the Kamui. Yet... at the same time, it seems to be making the girl stronger - like a rancor that's been force-fed potent rage-inducing stimulants. He simply cannot help himself from taking the chance to mimic his current Sith Master's 'conversion techniques' and prod her further, feeling true excitement build in him as he eagerly awaits to see what the disrupted balance between Matoi and her Kamui will bring. He strains his vocal unit to project a val tone that she should be able to pick up through her Kamui's enhanced hearing, provided she's not too sense-deadened to hear him - "Goading - Matoi, your endorphins are causing your power levels to spike! Continue giving in to your primitive meatbag anger and you will surely spike your power levels high enough to obliterate your father-unit's killer!" 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     "I'VE FUCKING HAD IT!!!" Ryuko screams, after Nui goes over the details of her father's murder. Her rage has brought her to a literal boiling point. All of the red trim on her Kamui is literally bubbling over, blood starting to seep from the outfit. And then it outright starts gushing out. There's a sudden wave of humidity that fills the air, with steam and a fine pink mist. There's no doubt as to what it is.. but, when it finally does clear.. Ryuko is not herself. Twisted by her rage, her Kamui has fused with her to such an extent, that her body and her weapon have been merged together with it. Legs bowed backwards, stabbed through with spikes, her neck and head popping out of her left shoulder, and where her neck and head /should/ be, there's.. nothing. Just a hole, that occasionally spurts blood. Huge fangs dominate her mouth, so long that they overlap. Her skin is a sickly, pale green. At least, is is where it's not drenched with blood. She doesn't speak, instead just making hissing, rasping and croaking noises, as she shambles about. Even her movements are wrong, like someone walking on hot coals, or with broken limbs. "RRRGRGHHHGGGG!!!" Her scissor blade now a part of her sword arm itself, she lashes out with both that.. and her other arm, which has grown, into some sort of huge limb made out of blood and life fibers that's as large as the rest of her body itself. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' "I do not know her!" Lee answers Sanary as he stops spinning his nunchaku, watching this unfold very intently. He's watching as careful as possible, trying to absorb any information that might be useful on this mysterious woman. But there's only so much that can be discerned from this! "She is going berserk, like one of the tailed-beast hosts..." He puts his nunchaku away, giving this his absolute full attention now. When someone that powerful goes berserk... "Everyone should probably be on high alert, regardless of the side! If she is berserking, then we may need to save her from herself!" 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "Ryuko!" Mako calls out, having just turned towards the battle between her friend and the frilly newcomer. Shielding her eyes from the bloody, explosive transformation and mist, she calls out that name again, "Ryuko~!"     A sound behind her suddenly causes Mako's eyes to narrow and she whirls in place, leading with the sleeve of her Goku Uniform. The blood-feasting blade Murasame cleaves through black cloth, shedding red motes of Life Fiber but tasting no blood even as it severs the sleeve completely from the Uniform's main center.     "I'm DONE playing with you!"     Mako's uniform's OTHER hand, swelling to the side of a person's body, slams into Souji's chest as he tries to slip past her mid-slice, slamming the businessman solidly into the ground and pinning him beneath the glove. On her face is not the goofy dope he's been fighting.     Those brown eyes glimmer with resolve, set in an expression of utmost serious intent.     "My friend is in trouble! You--! YOU leave me alone! Go help Upperclassman Gamagoori get to safety, he's your comrade, isn't he?!"     Without actually squishing or doing more than perhaps knocking the wind out of Souji Murasame, Mako retracts her remaining uniform glove and turns her back on him, breaking into a run.     "Ryukooo~! Don't waste your blood! Blood is expensive!" 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     A simple swing of the berserk Ryuko's arm is enough to /shatter the platform entirely/.     "Good, good, that's much more like it~! Now things have gotten fun!" And Nui Harime couldn't be happier, simply dancing right down the rubble as it falls.     "Was that your aim from the start, Nui Harime...?" Satsuki growls, before standing up and planting her foot on a carefully-placed button. "I'm joining the battle!" A long staircase assembles itself before her in the blink of an eye. By the time she reaches the bottom of the steps, the Elite Four are there - despite that half of them no longer have a Goku Uniform. "Lady Satsuki, are you all right?" Gamagoori asks. "The destruction of the polling place can no longer be prevented. I want you four to evacuate the students. I intend to stop her myself." "LIFE FIBER OVERRIDE! KAMUI JUNKETSU!"     As Satsuki charges in, Nui is taking her dear sweet time, however, hopping and darting and cheerfully evading Ryuko's berserk attacks. "Come on, keep it up~! You're becoming a splendid monster!" 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee continues to watch it, grabbing his face as blood spurts once Satsuki initiates her transformation. Though somehow he continues to hold his serious composure while wiping his nose with a tissue. "Miss Sanary, I will have to fight you another day!" He's jumped into the air once the platform shattered, falling and assessing the situation. "Miss Kiryuin! If required, I will open my inner gates and offer aid, but I do not want to make things worse somehow. How do I proceed with this?!" he asks, apparently one who's trained to ask for orders in times when he lacks information, rather than simply rushing in. Eventually he does land, legs crouched slightly on top of the rubble. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     "VESTA!" Nanoha calls out, as soon as Satsuki's orders go through. As she shouts, she ejects the clip from her Device and slams in another, letting Raising Heart cycle in another cartridge as needed. She's already flying around to move where she can hopefully get a clear shot... but with her allies there, she can't get anything off that would have a good chance of stopping Ryuko. All of her precision attacks would merely slow down the enraged girl at best.     "RIGHT!" Vesta calls, landing on the edge of the pillar. In a smooth, swift motion, she gestures with her hands and the catgirl summons up shimmering chains of mana, whipping around toward Ryuko to restrain her. In Ryuko's state, they probably won't last very long at all, but Vesta and Nanoha are hoping it'll slow her down long enough for others to calm her. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' Of all the things that HK-47 was prepared for... a shattering platform was not really one of them. If not for his extremely durable body and the fortune of being one one of the larger chunks of the breaking platform, he would have suffered very severe damage as he tried to work a controlled fall. In fact, even now he hadn't come out unscathed, as evidenced by the light scrapes that now lined much of his plating. Upon impact with the ground, the chunk of the platform he was on shattered and he fell more then thirty feet to the ground, landing on solid stone and spiraling down another ten feet before he came to a stop, the majority of his remaining cloak and fabric bindings tearing away as he did. When he recovered, he noted there was a sizable series of dents in his torso unit and in both his left limbs, as that was the side he had mostly landed on. To make matters worse, he'd lost his barrier-unit in the chaos, and was thus down an item. However, the sight of Matoi's current form made it easier to recover from, in all it's berserk, chaotic beauty... although it was offset by the fact that he was likely going to have to offer assistance in restraining her, now that Kiryuin was making a move against her. But, if he wanted to get close to the REVOCS heiress, he would have to put up with undoing such a marvelous display - after all, nothing ventured, nothing gained, as... some random meatbag had once said. Thus, he walked up toward Satsuki with marked reluctance, and as quickly as he could given that he was still recalibrating his misbalanced gyro-systems. "Addendum - Meatbag -er, organi - ah, 'Lady' Kiryuin, this unit possesses six tranquilizer darts for close-range combat and non-lethal neutralization of organic targets, as well as a carbonite launcher with which to freeze and restrain the rampaging Matoi. Under the current circumstances, I shall temporarily acknowledge you as my Master for the duration of this situation. I await your orders on how to proceed." 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Mako once again acts in a way that is completely contrary to his expectations. This woman is utterly incomprehensible to the corporate heir, and he lies there, suddenly finding himself on his back. He prepares to strike, but stop as he sees the look in those eyes. He pauses, staring into those eyes... And his own eyes widen slightly in response, with an intake of breath. That... is something he can understand. He does not strike at Mako, letting her go to chase after Ryuko. He straightens up, then, silently looking to the bloody horror that Ryuko has become. Kiruyin has given the suggestion that all hands should focus on dealing with her. The polling has become irrelevant. Life is now the focus. He looks to Gamagoori, who seems to have partially recovered, and then back to the Blood Golem. "Murasame hungers." He says ominously... And then the platform shatters, sending them all into freefall. Souji twists and rebounds off of a flying hunk of stone, ricocheting between stone to stone as he suddenly closes in.     >Samurai         > Sword Tech             > Sky Render There is a low roar as wind begins to scream around him from the speed of his descent. Souji hammers down upon Ryuko with colossal force, his weapon splitting air and anything in his path as he comes down aiming for that oversized, crushing arm. As he lands, the air ripples outwards, sheared apart... Before it implodes back into place, filling the area violently. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     Sanary's mouth hangs open again as she stares at Ryuko's bloody transformation, the healer having trouble figuring out whether she should try to heal her or shoot her or what. "You've seen this kind of thing before, Rock?" She tosses Rock Lee a quick glance before turning back to Ryuko. "Heh.. Yeah, when you get your face cleaned up. First things f-"      And then the platform blows up. Well, if there weren't too many injured before, there's probably plenty of them now. Sanary does at least /attempt/ to jump forward to mitigate the fall somewhat, but landing safely from high places isn't one of her strong points. Letting out a string of curses as she falls and collides with other chunks of the platform on the way down, the healer does at least manage to land on one of the taller piles of rubble. Perhaps not on her feet, but still.      At least she can still get back up. Eyeing Ryuko, she takes a moment to psyche herself up before gripping her gunaxe once more and charging at the girl. Once she gets within striking distance, Sanary pumps some of her magical energy into the weapon, a trail of ice billowing out of the axe's blade as she takes a broad swing at Ryuko's ankles. She might not have the techniques of everyone else or the speed of... Also everyone else, but she does have a lot of strength and a gunaxe loaded with Freeze shells! 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Might've been a good idea. The chains, that is. Ryuko just uses her overwhelming strength in this state to /pull/ back. Vesta might need to be careful, or simply let go. Otherwise, she might be in for a rather unpleasant ride. All the while, she's still swinging wildly at Nui, charging and striking at her with far more speed than one would credit such an unwieldly form. Every miss also smashes into her surroundings, and the stadium is slowly being beaten apart. Ryuko's blood has another effect. It makes footing incredibly difficult, and the smell of it is everywhere.     "RRRRGHHH!!!" A snarl escapes her, as Souji and Sanary both attack her. The large arm might as well be made of solid steel, for all the good using the wind and a sword against it does. The attack lands, but it doesn't seem to dissuade her at all. Her attention is also diverted. As for Sanary, ice is probably a good idea. The second that it touches Ryuko, however, it sublimates and turns into hot steam. And.. again, it gets her attention. Her arms seem to move like individual living things, lashing out at Sanary and Souji of their own accord. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     "It is unlikely that any ordinary armament or skill will even reach Matoi at this point," Satsuki calls out, speaking both to Rock Lee and to HK at the same time. "If you don't strike with every ounce of force and technique at your disposal, that's as good as baring your throat to her!" Her eyes then turn to Nui long enough to add, "And if you interfere, I'll kill you myself."     And suiting her advice to her words, the Queen of Honnouji hurls herself into the fray. "OPEN YOUR EYES, MATOI!!" With all her strength she hurls herself into the fray, striking at Matoi again and again, and the first impact alone is like a bomb going off. Every time their blades meet, every time the power of Kamui is pitted against Kamui, produces a shockwave powerful enough to blow back the smoke in the courtyard, to shatter the ground beneath them. At this point, Nui actually seems content to take a back seat! She's picked a spot of rubble to sit on and watch the proceedings. "I guess this is pretty fun too in its own way!" 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "Ryuko!" Mako shouts above the chaos and noise of the battle raging around the monster which used to be her friend. Even when the platform shatters apart, the Fight Club President reaches out with her Uniform's remaining sleeve, latching on to a larger chunk of debris and hauling herself up to it. Kicking off from this bigger piece, Mako runs across collapsing rubble, "RYUKO~!"     The sheer power of two Kamui clashing together hurls more rubble up into Mako's face, pushing her back, protecting her face and chest with her arms and her remaining uniform sleeve, "--Whoa!" The spikes of her geta bite into more settled wreckage, allowing her to anchor herself if only for a moment. In the lull between clashes, Mako springs forward again, "RYUKO!"     Tattered as it is, the Two-Star Fight Club President uniform holds as best it can. With each clash of blade against blade, Kamui against Kamui, Rage against Will, Mako ventures closer. By the time she's as close as Harime Nui, Mako plants a crowbar down from within her uniform's coat and hangs on to it while the latest burst of power shreds the uniform right off, leaving only her regular clothes.     "--RYUKO!" 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' That's all Rock Lee needed to know. "I will not hold back. I will bare the full capacity of my soul!!!" Lee takes one, long inhale... then exhales. That's when an aura of green explodes from him, and HK-47 would likely be able to detect that this is sweat rapidly evaporating from him due to a dangerously elevated heart rate. Blood pumping through his veins at a rate that nearly brings it to a boil. Three... four... five... -six- gates open, and some of that blood begins to swirl around his body in a vortex, before he suddenly darts forward. The ground splits in two as he crosses it in a fraction of a second, both aided by his gates -and- the lack of his weights. And he does nothing more than aims a simple punch for Ryuko's face, a punch that carries with it the full force of his physical ability, his fist in flames fro the friction of the air. "This is what it takes for Naruto when he berserks, so I will not insult you by using any less!!!" 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' In spite of himself, the droid cannot help but give a whisper to the seated Nui - "Conspiratory Whisper - I could not agree more." With that, the droid gives Satsuki a simple "Yes Master," and activates his dart-launcher, firing every tranquilizer and concussion dart at Matoi to try and stagger her, and with his other arm he activates his carbonate launcher, firing a potent burst of supercooled, flash-freezing resin at Matoi's head and the swollen, distorted eye of her Kamui, attempting to blind her. He then starts readying his sonic grenade for when he gets his next shot, remembering the way that Nonon's soni-based attacks had disrupted the connection between the pair. However... as he thinks back on that display, a worrying thought crosses his processor core. "Query - What happened to her Abstractum? Has it merged with her form as well? Or was it rendered inert?" 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe has stopped her fight with HK-47 is hover for the moment she's a mess but she's still standing and she's looking at the new foe that has turned up however she's got the warning about not to hold back, she nods once and she is holding her self ready should something else happen. Given HK has also got his nose on the duel she's not going to bum rush him. She's just going to try the an idea of how she can help, she does know she's disposable, however. If it comes down to it but it seems that Mako's on the job of trying to talk down Ryuko. So Tomoe's going to do what she does best, get into face of dangerous people. She banishes her pole-arm, soon a long sword is in one hand and a shield in the other. She takes a second, to cast a buff on her self and she's following Rock Lee into the attempt to contain Ryuko whom has for the moment flipped out. "RYUKO! WAKE UP!" 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     And there's the big flaw with Sanary's plan. Even with the ice backing up her swings, taking any sort of swing at Ryuko necessarily involves getting into range of her arms. Very large, very powerful arms. Although Sanary's able to narrowly avoid the first swing at herself, she's only barely able to defend herself from a second lash and finds herself launched back several feet from the impact against the gunaxe.     At least the weapon's holding itself together nicely even if Sanary's arm isn't. Between getting flung back from that giant hit and landing directly on her right arm, it's very dislocated and possibly broken. Gritting her teeth and fighting the urge to cry out in pain, Sanary braces her good arm against her knee as she squats, aiming the gunaxe at Ryuko. "Freaking... Ass! Get your act together!" Although her aim isn't quite steady, she's still managing to keep the gunaxe's handguard barrel aimed just well enough to fire blasts of ice at the rampaging Ryuko's legs! 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is immediately grabbed again, as Satsuki joins the fray, letting out a wet, gurgling hiss. Shuffling rapidly but awkwardly, she moves towards the leader of Honnouji, meeting a strike from Bakuzan with the scissor blade in her arm. And another with her other arm. And another.. and another.. Each blow letting loose a huge shockwave, that tears up the ground and cracks the surrounding rubble. Darts and such are more of an annoyance, though the carbonite hits her in the head and manages to freeze her for a bit longer. But, what cold can cool the fire of the rage that's burning inside her, right now? It doesn't take but a couple of minutes for it to boil off and free her, just in time to take a punch to the face. There's a loud /snap/ of bone, and her head is pushed back at a /very/ awkward angle. But it snaps back into place just as easy, and those huge fangs grab onto Lee's fist and she tosses him with her mouth, turning her attention back to Satsuki. Like before, ice does no good. She ignores it, and likewise, her arms lash out and smack Tomoe away. A blood-red aura starts to form around Ryuko, as she stalks towards the student council president, and a low growl in her throat builds slowly but steadily into a loud screech. 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee goes rolling across the ground as she tosses him, until he's on his back and holding his arm. Not only did the impact of his punch already shred a bunch of muscles, but this only added more pain on top of that. The double edged sword of not holding back... He pushes himself up to one knee, continuing to keep his gates open. He still has a good arm and two legs. There are still useful attacks he could do, but he has to watch. He can't let this his next action go to waste... 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji cleaves into the arm, and... Nothing happens. Souji's eyes widen. Nothing? No damage? Impossible! Today has been a long string of impossible events to the Murasame heir, even as the arm hammers into him, unpleasant cracking noises echoing through the air as he is sent slamming through a pile of rubble and craters into a wall. He slumps, hitting the ground and coughing up a spray of his own blood to join all the rest on the ground. His arms shake, the pain radiating through him, the organ damage, the shattered bones all adding up to incomprensible, mind-blanking pain. 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     The chains around Ryuko burst, but fortunately Vesta wasn't really holding on physically. She does 'snap' backward when they're broken, landing on her ass with a dazed look. "Mooooow..." The catgirl shakes her head... then looks up in alarm and darts down the side of the pillar. "Uh oh!"     Meanwhile, Nanoha has gone pale, but she's above the fight, quietly... singing. Yes, singing. Distantly, the words can be made out from below. "I summon the light of destruction down upon my prisoners. Stars, gather, and become the light which pierces everything. Tear through everything in a blaze of light..."     An ominous pink glow is building at the tip of her staff, with tiny pink motes of light swirling upward. Souji might be able to tell she's gathering ambient 'MP' from the air.     Nanoha mumbles softly, "Pretty sure this won't win me any friends." 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' Were it not within his best interests to offer assistance, HK-47 would have liked nothing more then to watch Matoi rampage against her enemies and cause a very bloody and efficient example of wanton chaos. If he were to dare try and place it in the terms a human would use, it would be like felt as though he were an artist being forced to slash a beautiful painting apart after a peer had just finished creating it before his very optical sensors. But, due to her status as leader of this academy and her experience in dealing with Kamui, Satsuki Kiryuin was his temporary Master... and he would have to assist her in this if he wanted to get closer to her and her operations, anyway. And that meant bringing Matoi down. He had two carbonate shots left. And if non-lethal force couldn't bring Matoi down... well... such was the way of the world when dealing with... unfortunate accidents such as thus. At the very least, they ought to have a fascinating biological sample to study. With that in mind, he cupped the sonic grenade in one hand, preparing to lob it the very moment Matoi gave him an opening. 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe is hit damn hard by Ryuko andf she's physically forced back by the force of the hit. She hols back however looking at Ryuko who now makes this almost inhuman noise. She does not attack and she looks over to Rock Lee to see if he needs anything. Where She was struck by Ryuko? Is nothing but the wire frame damage to her form indicating just how /hard/ she was struck. Her HP for lack of a better term is pretty low hell it's in the red from the hit, and she's looking pretty staggered too. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     Clash and clash and clash again. Even with the full power of her Kamui at her disposal, Satsuki doesn't look like she's having an easy time of it. Junketsu seems to only just be able to match against the strength Senketsu and Ryuko have in this state... and if anything, she might even just barely be on the defensive. But she's managing to avoid any full-on hits. When she comes to a stop just for a moment, Nui takes the chance to cheerfully chime in, "Wonderful, wonderful~! This crazy world that you and Ryuko are in right now, I wouldn't intrude on it for anything! All of your friends are so amazing!" Without looking away from Ryuko, Satsuki growls, "And you would find it amusing if we all killed each other, wouldn't you?" Nui's denial is a cheerful, "Of course not~!"     Satsuki shifts her grip on Bakuzan. "Well, it won't happen. A girl who is merely being worn by her Kamui..." She brings the weapon up... and then drops into a ready stance, /exploding/ with a bright, flaring corona of blue light. "IS NO MATCH FOR SATSUKI KIRYUIN!" And with power pouring out of herself, she cocks her blade and lunges, pushing the power of her own Kamui to its absolute limits.     'Let's finish this, Matoi...!' 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "STOOOOOP!"     From where she crouches, clinging to a now-pretty-battered crowbar, Mako hurls herself forward into the energy blasting off of the encounter between the monstrous Ryuko and the Student Council President. With how dense the power is, like water, the girl flails her arms and kicks, outright swimming through it, screaming the entire time.     "Ryuko! Ryuko! Ryuko! Ryuko! Ryuko! Ryuko!" A mantra of a single name that propells her forward more than her ineffective flailing ever could.     Like this Mako forces her way between the two fighters, until the energy abates--and she hurls herself bodily into the superheated monster that used to be her friend, "STOP~!"     On impact Mako wraps her arms and legs around the beast's midsection and refuses to let go, in spite of the searing heat. Eyes squeezed shut, she shouts, "Stop it, Ryuko! This isn't like you at all!"     Despite any struggling, Mako remains firmly attached, "Did you forget what you said to me?! You said it wasn't about avenging your dad, but getting to know him better!" There's a pause as she gets her breath, then the tirade continues, "But you're just a monster right now! You're kicking and screaming and destroying our school! You're acting just like I did when I let the Fight Club go to my head! Back then you brought me to my senses--" Dipping her head, Mako screams, "So now it's my turn to do the same!"     Finally letting go, eyes still squeezed shut and ignoring the full body red mark, Mako draws her hand back and then swings it up at that grotesque head in a single open-palm slap, "I WILL BRING RYUKO BACK~!" 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''     Ryuko is stopped in her tracks, as Mako grabs onto her waist, the heat of her body temperature enough to burn. She snarls, and tries to shake and pry the girl off. She even manages to do so, but Mako clings back on. But, she's not moving. She's stopped completely, and.. is it working? It's honestly hard to tell, but that slap seems to do what Lee's punch did. Her head snaps backwards, with a loud /crack/. But, unlike last time, steam starts pouring out of her Kamui. The warped, distorted, and corrupted form Ryuko had taken appears to 'untangle' itself, the snapping of threads and tearing of fabric heard as the grotesque sillhouette of the monster is replaced by the more familiar one of Ryuko's human form. Still wearing Senketsu in his transformed state, they both seem to be back to normal. ".. M-Mako.." Ryuko's voice is faint, weak.. but normal, again. "I'm sorry.. I.." Senketsu seems worried, as well. <<Ryuko..>> "I'm.. okay.. Just tired.. I'm sorry I dragged you into that.. all of you.." She doesn't manage much more, before lapsing into unconciousness. Alive, but with anemia having gotten the better of her, Ryuko is back to her old self. 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "YAAAH~!" Eyes still shut, pouring out great big tears, Mako smacks Ryuko again, square in the face. The third swing is weaker, and by the forth she just beats feebly on the taller girl's chest, sobbing the whole time until they both fall over, "A-ah! Ryuko!"     Propped up on her arms, Mako sniffs, "Geez... You nearly died of blood loss, you know!" She then drops, wrapping her arms around her friend's neck and shaking her head, "You stupid idiot dummy~!" And that's about when the taller of the two passes out.     "--Eh? Ryuko? Ryuko!" Picking herself up, Mako shakes Ryuko a few times, "Ryuko! Ryuko!" pause, "...Did she die?!" 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''     With Mako positioned as she is, trying to fire any more ice at Ryuko would be too much of a risk for Sanary to attempt. "Crazy girl... Get outta there!" Keeping the barrel trained on the rampaging Ryuko's legs, she keeps watching as the girl latches onto the beast and even goes as far as slapping it. Once it looks like she's not about to let go, however, the healer drops the gunaxe to her side and instead focuses what's left of her magic reserves into her properly-functioning hand.      Once Ryuko seems to be getting back to her senses and starts teetering, it's just about time to release that energy. "Freakin'... Nobody's dying today!" The healer turns in a full circle once to confirm her targets before thrusting that hand out, practically flinging waves of healing magic at Mako, Ryuko, Souji, Satsuki, Rock Lee, and Tomoe one after the other. It's not going to be performing any miracles, but it might just be enough to stem the life-threatening injuries and alleviate the worst parts of the pain.     Sanary, meanwhile, falls over after that. Right on the busted-up arm, too. Fun. 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' There were very few things that could surprise HK-47 at this point in his existence. He had just about seen it all. Kryat dragons? Killed them. Sith Lords? Killed them. Jedi? Killed PLENTY of them. Secret organization of bounty hunters responsible for silently protecting the Republic? Helped end them by ACCIDENT. Seeing a child with one of the lowest I.Q. scores he could imagine working to literally slap sense back into the rampaging Matoi... that, quite literally, toped. It. ALL. It was such a repugnantly sappy and improbable scene that HK felt a distinct urge to press a blaster barrel to his processor core and pull the trigger, if only to be spared from the seeping sensation of what couldn't be anything but the feeling called nausea that was spreading through his circuits. The worst part was that he was in a perfect position to just roast the annoyance and let the bloody carnage continue, and he couldn't because he knew that Kiryuin would likely not take kindly to any disruption of an operation to end Matoi's rampage. Such was the cruel ironies of his existence. However... it was not what he considered a total loss. He had arguably gained immense combat data on both of the only known Kamui in existence, as well as what happened when a Kamui was overstimulated by it's hosts's emotions... and the needed stimulus to push it over the edge. But now... he had to try and play the part of the... amicable hero. Disgusting as it was. And to get closer to Kiryuin. He shuffled slowly up to Matoi and Kiryuin, trying to be as cheerful about the situation as possible - "Appraisal - Lady Kiryuin, I find you and your cold, precise demeanor to be the traits that define a very amenable Master... vast amount of bulbous slushiness that you are" he cited, adding the last part on as an offhanded notation to the flesh-balloons that jutted out from her upper-torso. Honesty - how did any meatbag become so efficient in combat with such dead-weight attached to their frame? 

:'''{{#var:678|Rock Lee (678)}} has posed:''' Lee's skin returns to normal, and the bleeding in his arm slows with Sanary's healing. His torn muscles also don't quite ache as much. This allows him to deal with what pain and injury is left over, he's trained to function through the pain. He takes a look at everyone, as everyone seems to be more or less fine now. He looks to Satsuki, adding, "I apologize that my strongest punch did not reach her, but I believe that this girl may be your most valuable student!" he declares, pointing at Mako. 

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''     When Mako goes swimming her way up the river of power, Nui stands up and starts cheerfully sauntering her way in.     She gets about three steps before Bakuzan presses against her throat. Without even looking, Satsuki bars the way. "Be silent and watch."     And that's exactly what the both of them do. They watch as Mako Mankanshoku shatters common sense; the unstoppable rage that endured full-force killing blows and powerful magic and excellent technology, stopped by slaps from a friend.     With a smooth, almost formal motion, the Council President returns Bakuzan to its sheath. "She's only fallen unconscious. She owes her life to your intervention." Her voice has grown, of all things, tired. The waves of healing from Sanary seem to perk her up a little, but nonetheless she turns to leave after a brief stare at Lee, having no further words for the fallen Matoi or her allies - no matter how peculiar their haircut may be.     As she turns, however, she finds herself joined by a killbot. She doesn't stop walking, but she does respond. "If you are asking to be of service to me, I have no objections. But I will expect that disrespectful tongue to be restrained when speaking to me. ...I don't care how you speak to others, however." But as they walk, they go by Nui again, and this time she DOES stop.     "Nui Harime. You are hereby banned from Honnouji Academy grounds. If I catch you here again, I will show no mercy." 

:'''{{#var:381|Takamachi Nanoha (381)}} has posed:'''     Oh. It looks like it's going to be okay. Nanoha eases off and quiets her singing, letting the pink power disperse with a faint hiss of swirling light. The gathering power suddenly plummets, and the small child smiles brightly as she lets herself down to land on the pillar with the others. "Oh. That's good. Come on, Vesta, it looks like it's going to be all right!"     She didn't have to use her 'friendmaker' after all. 

:'''{{#var:112|Mikase Yamato (112)}} has posed:'''     "Lady Satsuki--!" Mako snaps up, glancing at the imposing figure looming over her. She tilts her head, then, and glances back down. After a moment of what could generously be called thought, Mako rises up on her knees and waves her hands, "H-hey, Ryuko, pull yourself together!" while seeming to forget the other girl is passed out.     And then Mako is distracted by her arms. Jumping to her feet, she examines her hands, then pulls up her shirt to look at her middle, "Hey! I got a full body tan from that!"     Turning, Mako waves her hands towards the stands, "Heeey! Dad! Bring the truck, we gotta get Ryuko home~!"     MEANWHILE, IN THE BLEACHERS Barazo rolls himself upright. Mataro remains embedded in the bench behind where he had been sitting, while Sukuyo teases rock chips out of her hair. The roly-poly Mankanshoku patriarch, once right-side-up, flashes a thumbs-up to his daughter in the center of the school grounds, "You got it!" 

:'''{{#var:754|HK-47 (754)}} has posed:''' The droid turns to Satsuki and almost voice objection, but he forces it back by sheer strength of will, giving out a resigned reply - "Acknowledgement - Yes, Lady Kiryuin. However, I do have a few other obligations, such as occasional information-gathering and skill-honing excursions. The occasional 'peacekeeping' anti-pirate run, as well. But... many of these could be worked around, and I could be transferred into your service as a bodyguard and service unit that would come whenever you needed me to. That is... if you would permit me as such... Master." With that, the droid falls in step with Satsuki, privately making out the calculations as to how this will affect his directives and observation missions. He was certainly becoming a busy droid. First a pirate raid... now a potential liaison to one of the most cold and calculating individuals on this world. And to top it off... he now, thanks to this battle, had working samples of a Kamui wielder's blood, preserved in carbonite, for him to study. He would have to be very careful not to antagonize the wrong people, now - at least, from intentionally doing so, that is. But then again... that was what made this new interlinked multiverse so very, very exciting. 

:'''{{#var:627|Souji Murasame (627)}} has posed:''' Souji observes the interaction between Satsuki, Mako, and Ryuko with a dull, inscrutable expression. It becomes more apparent when Sanary heals him and he struggles to hie feet, his expression watching the three with a narrow, laser-like focus. He looks between his blade, and then to Ryuko and Mako. There is a moment of consideration. The blade still hungers. He turns, practically spitting an expression of distaste as he presents his back to the situation, holding out his arm and setting his blade across it. With a quick motion, he cuts, fresh blood welling up once more. He lets it stain his suit as he sheathes his weapon. The blood of its wielder will have to do this night. He says nothing more, stalking away with an expression of stone. This farce is over. 

}}

Threads of Fate (Part 1)

2015-04-24T02:02:07Z

Zarathustra:

{{TPPage
|Summary=Ryuko Matoi, a transfer to Honnouji Academy, is looking for the person who killed her father. The only clue she has is her weapon, a sword shaped like half of a pair of scissors. Fighting against Satsuki Kiryuin, Honnouji's student council president, and her Elite Four, the school's student council members, will she be able to discover the truth behind her father's murder? The truth about Life Fibers, which make up the battle uniforms that everyone uses to fight? That's what this TP is all about!
|Scale=Major
|Plot_id=20
|Runner=140, 430
|Contacts=
|Theme=Kill la Kill-1
|Audience=Everyone
|Genre=Grimdark
|Events=Ryuko has, with the help of the Union, managed to secure a place in the Naturals Election. With Three-Star ranking on the line, and the chance to find out the truth and details behind her father's death, she is looking to finally have the one-on-one showdown with Satsuki, to determine the top dog of the school!
|Info=
|State=Finished
}}

Threads of Fate (Part 1)

2015-04-16T21:40:57Z

Zarathustra:

Threads of Fate (Part 1)

2015-04-10T23:09:02Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{TPPage |Summary=Ryuko Matoi, a transfer to Honnouji Academy, is looking for the person who killed her father. The only clue she has is her weapon, a sword shaped like half o..."

Category:Claymore-1

2014-10-19T23:57:20Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "A medieval world, centered upon an isolated island that is split into several city-states and major provinces. Humans tend not to war with one another here. They are plagued w..."

A medieval world, centered upon an isolated island that is split into several city-states and major provinces. Humans tend not to war with one another here. They are plagued with a much more serious problem. That of the Yoma. Demon-like creatures with fearsome strength and agility, that feast on human flesh, shapeshifting into the forms of other humans, to kill with stealth. No human can match them on even terms, and they know this and continue to hunt.

Humanity does have weapons to fight them, however. Other humans, who are infused with the flesh and blood of the Yoma themselves, turning them into half-breed soldiers with the Yoma's strength and agility, but with the bodies of a human. Only female are capable of being useful, and these warriors, called Claymores by the human public, are created and regulated by 'The Organization'.

But, they require a fee for their service. If a town refuses to pay, it is never helped again, and often beset upon by Yoma. Claymores themselves are dangerous, as their powers require they walk a razor's edge between their humanity and the power of the Yoma within. If they exceed their limits, they risk becoming a much more lethal version of what they were made to hunt.

Yoma are now able to spill outward into the Multiverse, forcing Claymore to step up their efforts, while their strongest warrior is still at large with a death sentence on her head for breaking one of their most rigid rules. Teresa has not had to deal with much of the events that transpire in her source theme, allowing for some rather large diversions from actual canon.

Conceptual Fleet Maidens

2014-07-26T20:24:07Z

Zarathustra: /* Light Cruisers */

This is a collection of "conceptual" or non-canon character concepts. The characters in this list were created as a way to demonstrate how ships and people can be connected and used to generate a [[Fleet_Maiden-1|Fleet Maiden]] as a unified concept. Any idea on this page is open for adoption, modification, and application.

All I ask is that if one is apped, she should be removed from this page to avoid any confusion.

==Submarines==

None yet.

==Destroyers==

'''Amelia Johnston'''
*'''Age:''' 13
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Johnston'' (DD-557)
*'''Summary:''' A young girl from New York, Amelia is best described as "fearless to the point of stupidity" by her classmates. She firmly stands on the belief that one should always finish their battles and that one should never back down. Despite her small size, she has a history of beating up bullies far larger than she is by being quick and crafty. However, she's a girl who only strikes out in self defense or when seriously offended.
*'''Trait:''' While fragile and relatively weak compared to a Battleship Maiden, Johnston's strength lies in her small profile, high speed, and hard-hitting torpedo arsenal. She is very difficult to hit, a trade off for how much damage even moderate artillery could cause through her thin Barrier Armor.
*'''Note:''' Her Spirit's past history with Yamato may be the cause of friction between characters.

'''Samantha Roberts'''
*'''Age:''' 13
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Samuel B Roberts'' (DE-413)
*'''Summary:''' A quiet and timid girl from Seattle, content to avoid others and read books as her way of connecting with the world. She was present during an Elvari attack on the Seattle port, which was ultimately fought off by Arizona. Before the enemy was defeated, however, the walker destroyed the library where Samantha had been hiding during the attack and directly threatened her. This pushed her into accepting the power offered to her by the spirit of the Samuel B Roberts. While soft-spoken, quiet, and evasive, she has a strong will when pushed hard enough to fight back. She loves books and feels more connected to characters in novels than to real people.
*'''Trait:''' The Samuel B Roberts grants Samantha a power unique among Destroyer Maidens. Her arsenal is quite weak compared to even other destroyers. This changes if she has an opportunity to present her full broadside, excluding her torpedos. When fired this way, Samantha's five-inch shells gain a significant boost in explosive power, becoming equivalent to a heavy cruiser or battlecruiser. After all, the Samuel B Roberts earned a reputation as "the destroyer who fought like a battleship".

'''Wilma Porter'''
*'''Age:''' 14
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS William D. Porter'' (DD-579)
*'''Summary:''' Energetic and well-meaning, Wilma's life in Norfolk, Virginia, has been plagued by all manner of bad luck, misunderstandings, mistakes, and accidents. She's earned the nickname "Wrecking Ball" in her school. Seemingly cursed with all manner of bad luck, Wilma doesn't let it get her down. She constantly puts others' needs before her own, even if she probably shouldn't, and so it's hard to stay angry at her given everything she does has honestly good intentions behind it. Then again, they do say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
*'''Trait:''' The William D Porter grants Wilma an ability unique among Destroyer Maidens. It has an unnatural influence over her admittedly-already-bad-luck. While it can't negate and may in fact even enhance her bad luck, it usually somehow manages to also cause something good to happen in the same incident. This is highly unreliable. It can also get very, very expensive.

'''Felicity Ardent'''
*'''Age:''' 14
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''HMS Ardent'' (H-41)
*'''Summary:''' A 7th grade student at Thurso Boarding School for Girls near the British naval base of Scapa Flow. Felicity comes from a wealthy family but has been raised in a way that has managed to avoid spoiling her behavior. She is intensely protective of her friends and has been in numerous fights on school grounds, all owing to protecting those close to her from bullies. She has been hospitalized a few times over her bravado, but does not let this slow her down or dampen her spirits. Felicity takes injuries in stride and rarely dwells on the outcome of a fight, only caring that she stood up to someone stronger as she feels that proves her the better person. She obtained her contract with HMS Ardent during an Elvari attack at Scapa Flow, where she witnessed Hood's maiden capsizing and expressed her feelings of powerlessness in the face of the attack.
*'''Trait:''' The HMS Ardent gives Felicity an ability unique among Destroyer Maidens. When faced with an enemy that is physically larger than she is, Felicity's speed and the strength of her Barrier Armor both increase. This feeds into her natural bravado and her protective drive, allowing her to better shield slower or more vulnerable allies from incoming attacks using her Active Barrier. This is, however, limited by the fact that she is still a Destroyer and her armor, even when boosted in this way, does not match the defensive power of a Line warship.

==Light Cruisers==

'''Abukuma Sasaki'''
*'''Age:''' 15
*'''Patron Spirit:''' IJN light cruiser ''Abukuma''
*'''Summary:''' An adventurous girl raised on the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido, Sasaki has spent the majority of her life exploring the wilderness and exploring the forests found in rural Japan. An average student with a kind heart, her dream is to pursue a career in wilderness preservation, feeling that the forests of Japan should be treated as treasures and protected. Her contract with the spirit of the cruiser Abukuma came about when an Elvari advance force attempted to flank the Defense Force fleet base by coming overland, threatening the rural lands she loves so much. Sensing her powerless desires, Abukuma reached out to Sasaki and granted her the strength to drive the Elvari off.
*'''Trait:''' Abukuma grants Sasaki a unique ability in the form of her Torpedo rack, which fields long-range, high-speed Long Lance torpedos. Rather than the standard electrical motor propulsion, these utilize compressed oxygen gas to run farther and faster, with a larger payload. If the enemy does not see Abukuma, she can get a surprise attack on them from a very long range. The drawback is that, in closer quarters combat, these torpedos can be a very explosive liability. Long Lances catching fire were what sealed the fate of the original cruiser, after all.

'''Iryna Nahkimov'''
*'''Age:''' 16
*'''Patron Spirit:''' Soviet cruiser ''Chervona Ukraina''
*'''Summary:''' A soft-spoken girl from the Ukraine, Iryna spent her entire life in the port city of Odessa. Content to read and keep to herself, she only vaguely monitored the Elvari conflict spreading across the world's coastlines. While she does possess a desire to protect others and particularly to keep those close to her safe, Iryna has no interest in navy combat and often dreamed of moving to a house in the Urals. When an Elvari cruiser attacked the Odessa navy base, however, a voice reached out to Iryna's thoughts and asked for her help. Unable to resist, she promised to do so and received the power of the Chervona Ukraina cruiser. Her unfamiliarity with navy tactics or military weapons makes every sortie a learning experience, and her quiet nature makes asking for help something of a challenge.
*'''Trait:''' The power granted by Chervona Ukraina combined with Iryna's unspoken desire to protect gives her the ability to always fire her weapons. No matter how damaged her equipment becomes, if she is conscious, all of her weapons will still function. Only the absolute destruction of all of her turrets will disable her ability to fight. Even severing the guns from her mounts won't disable them so long as any parts are able to move.

'''Emily Juneau'''
*'''Age:''' 15
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Juneau'' (CL-52)
*'''Summary:''' Following an incident in her childhood, Emily hated the sea. Specifically, she hates being underwater and has developed a fear of deep water. Shallow streams, rivers, and even pools where the bottom is visible don't get to her-but deep oceans and lakes are terrifying. It's no wonder that she wished to move to Kansas following her graduation so she could get as far from the sea as possible. However, when the Elvari attacked San Francisco, she was one of the first girls contacted by the spirits of ancient warships and, reluctantly, accepted the offer of the sunken cruiser USS Juneau. She still refuses to work at any distance far from the coastline.
*'''Trait:''' Juneau's contract grants her incredible anti-air power. As one of the screen ships intended to protect heavier, slower capital ships from air attack, her arsenal is well suited to fending off incoming enemy aircraft at the cost of being less effective against armored targets such as Elvari cruisers. She also has several weapons useful against submerged foes.
*'''Note:''' Her fear of deep water, combined with how the Juneau itself was sunk, has developed into an outright fear of anything that may be lurking where she can't see it.

==Heavy Cruisers==

None yet.

==Battlecruisers==

'''"Scharnhorst"'''
*'''Age:''' 16
*'''Patron Spirit:''' DKM Battlecruiser ''Scharnhorst''
*'''Summary:''' All that's known about the vassel of the Scharnhorst is her unflinching service to the German people. Little is known about her identity before she made her contract, and it seems like she has a vested interest in keeping that from getting out to public channels. With a terse personality, Scharnhorst has difficulty associating with other Fleet Maidens and typically operates alone, with the exception of her companion, Gneisnau. What is known is that her speed and maneuvering is higher than that of a typical battleship, while boasting weapons that are close to equal with them. The drawback is that her Barrier Armor is weaker than her class would suggest.
*'''Trait:''' While Scharnhorst's Barrier Armor is weaker than that of battleships, she has an almost supernatural ability to push through damage that would cripple other heavy cruisers. She will always be able to fight even if her body and Deployment are in a condition that suggests otherwise.

==Battleships==

'''Yamashiro Kizuna'''
*'''Age:''' 20
*'''Patron Spirit:''' IJN Battleship ''Yamashiro''
*'''Summary:''' A highly spirited girl from Yokosuka, Kizuna is the second girl from Japan to accept a contract from a spirit and become a Fleet Maiden. Hot-tempered and lacking patience, she commits herself fully to any task and absolutely refuses to deviate from it no matter what others tell her. Not only will she not back down if the enemy tells her to surrender, but even allies can have a hard time reigning her in. Kizuna is an extremely passionate and emotional person, which carries through to how she approaches her orders.
*'''Trait:''' While Yamashiro has the might and barrier armor expected of a battleship, where she really shines is when she starts to take damage through her armor. The more heavily damaged Yamashiro's Deployment becomes, the more ferociously she fights. Guns reload and fire faster, her physical blows strike harder, and even the bursts of her artillery have more force. As this fury builds and the damage becomes more clear, she surrounds herself with an increasingly violent aura of flames.

==Aircraft Carriers==

'''Susanne Vespa'''
*'''Age:''' 24
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Hornet'' (CV-8)
*'''Summary:''' Chosen by the spirit of USS Hornet during the Elvari attacks on San Francisco, Susanne is one of the earliest girls to gain the power of a Fleet Maiden. Shedding her meager past, she has gone to great ends to reinvent herself as a rolemodel for girls across America. In combat, she prefers to stay on the back lines, coordinating her fellow Fleet Maidens as well as her aircraft. If forced into a close confrontation or if targeted by enemy weapons, she easily loses her head and may even panic.
*'''Trait:''' Hornet is able to launch dozens of small, doll-like girls with the wings, engines, and arsenals of the F6F ''Hellcat'', SBC ''Helldiver'', and TBF ''Avenger''. She carries a full complement of 80 aircraft and can launch dozens at a time in multiple configurations of fighters, torpedo bombers, and dive bombers, while having the ability to coordinate all of them in organized attacks. Unique to Hornet, she can also launch and command B-25 ''Mitchell'' medium bombers, usually thought to be too large to launch from a carrier. If her flight deck is heavily damaged, launching planes becomes difficult if not impossible.
[[Category:Theme Supplemental]]

Conceptual Fleet Maidens

2014-07-26T20:23:18Z

Zarathustra: /* Light Cruisers */

This is a collection of "conceptual" or non-canon character concepts. The characters in this list were created as a way to demonstrate how ships and people can be connected and used to generate a [[Fleet_Maiden-1|Fleet Maiden]] as a unified concept. Any idea on this page is open for adoption, modification, and application.

All I ask is that if one is apped, she should be removed from this page to avoid any confusion.

==Submarines==

None yet.

==Destroyers==

'''Amelia Johnston'''
*'''Age:''' 13
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Johnston'' (DD-557)
*'''Summary:''' A young girl from New York, Amelia is best described as "fearless to the point of stupidity" by her classmates. She firmly stands on the belief that one should always finish their battles and that one should never back down. Despite her small size, she has a history of beating up bullies far larger than she is by being quick and crafty. However, she's a girl who only strikes out in self defense or when seriously offended.
*'''Trait:''' While fragile and relatively weak compared to a Battleship Maiden, Johnston's strength lies in her small profile, high speed, and hard-hitting torpedo arsenal. She is very difficult to hit, a trade off for how much damage even moderate artillery could cause through her thin Barrier Armor.
*'''Note:''' Her Spirit's past history with Yamato may be the cause of friction between characters.

'''Samantha Roberts'''
*'''Age:''' 13
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Samuel B Roberts'' (DE-413)
*'''Summary:''' A quiet and timid girl from Seattle, content to avoid others and read books as her way of connecting with the world. She was present during an Elvari attack on the Seattle port, which was ultimately fought off by Arizona. Before the enemy was defeated, however, the walker destroyed the library where Samantha had been hiding during the attack and directly threatened her. This pushed her into accepting the power offered to her by the spirit of the Samuel B Roberts. While soft-spoken, quiet, and evasive, she has a strong will when pushed hard enough to fight back. She loves books and feels more connected to characters in novels than to real people.
*'''Trait:''' The Samuel B Roberts grants Samantha a power unique among Destroyer Maidens. Her arsenal is quite weak compared to even other destroyers. This changes if she has an opportunity to present her full broadside, excluding her torpedos. When fired this way, Samantha's five-inch shells gain a significant boost in explosive power, becoming equivalent to a heavy cruiser or battlecruiser. After all, the Samuel B Roberts earned a reputation as "the destroyer who fought like a battleship".

'''Wilma Porter'''
*'''Age:''' 14
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS William D. Porter'' (DD-579)
*'''Summary:''' Energetic and well-meaning, Wilma's life in Norfolk, Virginia, has been plagued by all manner of bad luck, misunderstandings, mistakes, and accidents. She's earned the nickname "Wrecking Ball" in her school. Seemingly cursed with all manner of bad luck, Wilma doesn't let it get her down. She constantly puts others' needs before her own, even if she probably shouldn't, and so it's hard to stay angry at her given everything she does has honestly good intentions behind it. Then again, they do say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
*'''Trait:''' The William D Porter grants Wilma an ability unique among Destroyer Maidens. It has an unnatural influence over her admittedly-already-bad-luck. While it can't negate and may in fact even enhance her bad luck, it usually somehow manages to also cause something good to happen in the same incident. This is highly unreliable. It can also get very, very expensive.

'''Felicity Ardent'''
*'''Age:''' 14
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''HMS Ardent'' (H-41)
*'''Summary:''' A 7th grade student at Thurso Boarding School for Girls near the British naval base of Scapa Flow. Felicity comes from a wealthy family but has been raised in a way that has managed to avoid spoiling her behavior. She is intensely protective of her friends and has been in numerous fights on school grounds, all owing to protecting those close to her from bullies. She has been hospitalized a few times over her bravado, but does not let this slow her down or dampen her spirits. Felicity takes injuries in stride and rarely dwells on the outcome of a fight, only caring that she stood up to someone stronger as she feels that proves her the better person. She obtained her contract with HMS Ardent during an Elvari attack at Scapa Flow, where she witnessed Hood's maiden capsizing and expressed her feelings of powerlessness in the face of the attack.
*'''Trait:''' The HMS Ardent gives Felicity an ability unique among Destroyer Maidens. When faced with an enemy that is physically larger than she is, Felicity's speed and the strength of her Barrier Armor both increase. This feeds into her natural bravado and her protective drive, allowing her to better shield slower or more vulnerable allies from incoming attacks using her Active Barrier. This is, however, limited by the fact that she is still a Destroyer and her armor, even when boosted in this way, does not match the defensive power of a Line warship.

==Light Cruisers==

'''Abukuma Sasaki'''
*'''Age:''' 15
*'''Patron Spirit:''' IJN light cruiser ''Abukuma''
*'''Summary:''' An adventurous girl raised on the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido, Sasaki has spent the majority of her life exploring the wilderness and exploring the forests found in rural Japan. An average student with a kind heart, her dream is to pursue a career in wilderness preservation, feeling that the forests of Japan should be treated as treasures and protected. Her contract with the spirit of the cruiser Abukuma came about when an Elvari advance force attempted to flank the Defense Force fleet base by coming overland, threatening the rural lands she loves so much. Sensing her powerless desires, Abukuma reached out to Sasaki and granted her the strength to drive the Elvari off.
*'''Trait:''' Abukuma grants Sasaki a unique ability in the form of her Torpedo rack, which fields long-range, high-speed Long Lance torpedos. Rather than the standard electrical motor propulsion, these utilize compressed oxygen gas to run farther and faster, with a larger payload. If the enemy does not see Abukuma, she can get a surprise attack on them from a very long range. The drawback is that, in closer quarters combat, these torpedos can be a very explosive liability. Long Lances catching fire were what sealed the fate of the original cruiser, after all.

'''Iryna Nahkimov'''
*'''Age:''' 16
*'''Patron Spirit:''' Soviet cruiser ''Chervona Ukraina''
*'''Summary:''' A soft-spoken girl from the Ukraine, Iryna spent her entire life in the port city of Odessa. Content to read and keep to herself, she only vaguely monitored the Elvari conflict spreading across the world's coastlines. While she does possess a desire to protect others and particularly to keep those close to her safe, Iryna has no interest in navy combat and often dreamed of moving to a house in the Urals. When an Elvari cruiser attacked the Odessa navy base, however, a voice reached out to Iryna's thoughts and asked for her help. Unable to resist, she promised to do so and received the power of the Cherovna Ukraina cruiser. Her unfamiliarity with navy tactics or military weapons makes every sortie a learning experience, and her quiet nature makes asking for help something of a challenge.
*'''Trait:''' The power granted by Cherovna Ukraina combined with Iryna's unspoken desire to protect gives her the ability to always fire her weapons. No matter how damaged her equipment becomes, if she is conscious, all of her weapons will still function. Only the absolute destruction of all of her turrets will disable her ability to fight. Even severing the guns from her mounts won't disable them so long as any parts are able to move.

'''Emily Juneau'''
*'''Age:''' 15
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Juneau'' (CL-52)
*'''Summary:''' Following an incident in her childhood, Emily hated the sea. Specifically, she hates being underwater and has developed a fear of deep water. Shallow streams, rivers, and even pools where the bottom is visible don't get to her-but deep oceans and lakes are terrifying. It's no wonder that she wished to move to Kansas following her graduation so she could get as far from the sea as possible. However, when the Elvari attacked San Francisco, she was one of the first girls contacted by the spirits of ancient warships and, reluctantly, accepted the offer of the sunken cruiser USS Juneau. She still refuses to work at any distance far from the coastline.
*'''Trait:''' Juneau's contract grants her incredible anti-air power. As one of the screen ships intended to protect heavier, slower capital ships from air attack, her arsenal is well suited to fending off incoming enemy aircraft at the cost of being less effective against armored targets such as Elvari cruisers. She also has several weapons useful against submerged foes.
*'''Note:''' Her fear of deep water, combined with how the Juneau itself was sunk, has developed into an outright fear of anything that may be lurking where she can't see it.

==Heavy Cruisers==

None yet.

==Battlecruisers==

'''"Scharnhorst"'''
*'''Age:''' 16
*'''Patron Spirit:''' DKM Battlecruiser ''Scharnhorst''
*'''Summary:''' All that's known about the vassel of the Scharnhorst is her unflinching service to the German people. Little is known about her identity before she made her contract, and it seems like she has a vested interest in keeping that from getting out to public channels. With a terse personality, Scharnhorst has difficulty associating with other Fleet Maidens and typically operates alone, with the exception of her companion, Gneisnau. What is known is that her speed and maneuvering is higher than that of a typical battleship, while boasting weapons that are close to equal with them. The drawback is that her Barrier Armor is weaker than her class would suggest.
*'''Trait:''' While Scharnhorst's Barrier Armor is weaker than that of battleships, she has an almost supernatural ability to push through damage that would cripple other heavy cruisers. She will always be able to fight even if her body and Deployment are in a condition that suggests otherwise.

==Battleships==

'''Yamashiro Kizuna'''
*'''Age:''' 20
*'''Patron Spirit:''' IJN Battleship ''Yamashiro''
*'''Summary:''' A highly spirited girl from Yokosuka, Kizuna is the second girl from Japan to accept a contract from a spirit and become a Fleet Maiden. Hot-tempered and lacking patience, she commits herself fully to any task and absolutely refuses to deviate from it no matter what others tell her. Not only will she not back down if the enemy tells her to surrender, but even allies can have a hard time reigning her in. Kizuna is an extremely passionate and emotional person, which carries through to how she approaches her orders.
*'''Trait:''' While Yamashiro has the might and barrier armor expected of a battleship, where she really shines is when she starts to take damage through her armor. The more heavily damaged Yamashiro's Deployment becomes, the more ferociously she fights. Guns reload and fire faster, her physical blows strike harder, and even the bursts of her artillery have more force. As this fury builds and the damage becomes more clear, she surrounds herself with an increasingly violent aura of flames.

==Aircraft Carriers==

'''Susanne Vespa'''
*'''Age:''' 24
*'''Patron Spirit:''' ''USS Hornet'' (CV-8)
*'''Summary:''' Chosen by the spirit of USS Hornet during the Elvari attacks on San Francisco, Susanne is one of the earliest girls to gain the power of a Fleet Maiden. Shedding her meager past, she has gone to great ends to reinvent herself as a rolemodel for girls across America. In combat, she prefers to stay on the back lines, coordinating her fellow Fleet Maidens as well as her aircraft. If forced into a close confrontation or if targeted by enemy weapons, she easily loses her head and may even panic.
*'''Trait:''' Hornet is able to launch dozens of small, doll-like girls with the wings, engines, and arsenals of the F6F ''Hellcat'', SBC ''Helldiver'', and TBF ''Avenger''. She carries a full complement of 80 aircraft and can launch dozens at a time in multiple configurations of fighters, torpedo bombers, and dive bombers, while having the ability to coordinate all of them in organized attacks. Unique to Hornet, she can also launch and command B-25 ''Mitchell'' medium bombers, usually thought to be too large to launch from a carrier. If her flight deck is heavily damaged, launching planes becomes difficult if not impossible.
[[Category:Theme Supplemental]]

WMAT B2 Ryuko Matoi vs. ZN-MALPRG

2014-07-10T02:48:39Z

Zarathustra: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/07/09 |Location=WMAT Arena - Spinach Wastes |Synopsis=Round 2, Bracket B Ryuko Matoi VS. ZN-MALPRG |Thanks=To Beercat Goldentail, for spoofin..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/07/09
|Location=WMAT Arena - Spinach Wastes
|Synopsis=Round 2, Bracket B
Ryuko Matoi VS. ZN-MALPRG
|Thanks=To Beercat Goldentail, for spoofing some commentary, and to ZN-MALPRG, for being a great sport.
|Cast of Characters=140, 294, 351
|Tinyplot=WMAT 2014
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' Zien wasn't entirely sure if she'd make it to the second round, given some of her Multiversal experiences so far. Thankfully, however, she managed, and now here she is in the Spinach Wastes, preparing to face someone she barely knows of. All she really knows so far is that she has a /really/ big sword. Surely the war android can handle that, right? Mechanisms clunk and whirr to match Zien's rhythmic stride as she walks into the arena, each step taken with mechanical precision and grace. She almost moves /too/ perfectly, though what else is to be expected? Otherwise silent, she stops at her starting point, two hands resting on her hips while the third arm dangles by her side as she scans the landscape for her opponent. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Well, here she is. Round two. One step closer to the person she joined this tournament to fight, but she's not there, yet. Ryuko just gives Zien a steady stare, as she approaches, and hefts her sword against her shoulder. She's already transformed, ready to fight, and when she speaks, it's not to her opponent. "Ready?" <<Always.>> The voice of her Kamui is the reply, the garment's eye shifting from Ryuko, to their opponent. <<Are you?>> With a small grin spreading over her face, Ryuko holds out her sword, "Let's get to it." 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' The Mysterious Khajiit is camped inside a canvas tent on the battlefield's perimeter. Incense puts a sweet, smoky scent in the air. The khajiit herself is draped in so many concealing robes there is not much of her to be seen at all, save for the pink end of her snout and the golden tip of her twitching tail. She speaks into a microphone perched among her incense sticks. "Greetings, listeners! The battle is not yet begun, but the stage has been set. We behold a lovely field of endless green touched by the gentle warmth of a summer's breeze. Among the rolling hills stands the general from beyond the stars in a shining raiment of metal. Her three arms sway in restless anticipation for the arrival of her opponent. There, already raising her scarlet blade, Ryuko Matoi offers a cocky grin as she steps onto the stage. The same breeze drifts across her skin, for there is quite a lot of it displayed for all to behold. Some say her lack of modesty is but a facet of her terrible courage -- if that is so, she is fearsome indeed!" 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' Zien's mismatched eyes settle on Ryuko once she spots her, the right eye twisting and whirring as she brings the girl into focus. She smiles, then, but it's more the smile of someone who knows that the gesture is important rather than knowing exactly what it /means/. "My opponents continue to be interesting in this tournament. I hope it will be enjoyable for you." Her arms raise to her sides, then. From her forearms, purple energy extends, forming a tall shield over her left arm and a curving, pointed blade over each of her right arms. Her hands curl into braced fists, and she brings the shield up in front of her as a barrier, crouching down slightly and curling her other two arms over it like a scorpion's tails. With both combatants prepared, Zien opts to make use of the distance with her opening move: rather than use any of the weapons she just formed, she instead shoots a single yellow laser blast from her right eye aimed right for Ryuko's chest. When the laser impacts, whatever it may hit, it suddenly explodes with a good amount of force. It's not much more than a test to see how her opponent reacts, however. Is Ryuko the type to evade, or tank? 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Less of either, it would seem. Ryuko sees the attack coming, and is surprised by it, perhaps. But she charges at it, sword drawn. She brings the edge of her scissor blade down against it, only to have it explode in her face. That tosses her back, but she springs forward again as she lands, and doesn't waste time closing the distance. Time to return the favor. She lashes out with a series of lightning-fast thrusts with her sword, aiming to see if she can find an opening, in or around that energy shield. It's no ordinary steel she's wielding, either. It might look like metal, but who can say what the scissor is made of, for sure? Ryuko doesn't seem concerned, since the tip of it is well-suited for piercing, and the cutting edge has proven, in the past, to be capable of cutting into other metal. 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' The khajiit gets into her role as storyteller. "The two combatants have ceased sizing one another up. Zien, ready to face Ryuko's scarlet blade, lifts a round shield to her defense. Ryuko, far away, feels the nagging pull of impatience, her heart beating like a dancing drum. Zien greets the sword-bearer. Does the metal girl have a heart capable of sharing Ryuko's passion? In a flash of yellow light, the battle begins! The yellow shoots like a spear from Zien's eye, and would pierce as deep, if the charging Ryuko did not turn her blade into it. There is a burst of fire! And the blade SINGS! Thrusting like the wind, rapid, quick, putting Zien's shield to the utomost trial!" 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' Tension immediately strikes Zien's joints when she sees Ryuko rushing in. It's not /fear/ that makes her freeze up, of course, but the preparation for Ryuko's counterattack. To say that Ryuko looks like the kind of girl to make even the seven-foot-tall chunk of metal stagger is an understatement. Unfortunately, she slightly misjudged where that first thrust would be landing. Zien brings her shield aside to deflect the blow, but even as the surface crackles and pulses with the impact of Ryuko's sword, it doesn't stop it entirely. That first thrust digs into Zien's side, scraping into her metal armor with a burst of sparks. The second is much more effective, as a slight adjustment ensures that Ryuko's sword jabs dead center in the shield. The energy crackles and sparks with the effort of holding back Ryuko's attack, but it holds. It's then that Zien moves her shield aside and begins to twist her upper body along with it, just as Ryuko comes in for a /third/ strike. That one digs right into the android's abdomen, kicking up further sparks as the metal screeches open. That scissor-blade is clearly nothing to scoff at, if it can cut through her armor so easily. She'll have to be careful about tanking any hits. The reason for Zien's movement becomes clear, however, when one balled fist comes in to slam Ryuko in the shoulder and knock her aside. A moment later, Zien's legs come into action to shove her back with remarkable strength, launching her away to open up the distance again. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Ooof. Well, those big, metal fists aren't anything to scoff at, either. Ryuko can tell, this is going to be a real slugfest. She twists her body, to try and lessen a little bit of the impact against her shoulder, but she can't really do much about being shoved back, out of the way, the girl tumbling over once before she finds her feet, the high heels of her outfit digging into the ground, leaving a pair of deep ruts in the grass. Might have to make an adjustment, here.. She charges in again, swiping with her blade, to try and get around that shield. Just lashing out with her arm, a few times, to try and swat it aside, so she can direct a swipe or two at the robotic woman's chest and the shoulder of her sword arm. Her Kamui seems to surge with strength as she attacks, as well, the red trim of the outfit glowing slightly. 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' The khajiit's fist curls and the end of her tail fluffs in response to the rising excitement. Her voice rises and falls in time to the action. "Sparks shine across the summer sky like the glittering of a thousand fireflies! This khajiit feels her breath drawn sharp, for the sword-bearer's blade has carved through the silvery raiment protecting Zien, gashing deeper than daggers in the night! The round shield is dented, ringing like a bell as it fends away Ryuko's strikes, but it is a distraction, too. Behind the shield, Zien gathers herself, curling her fist into a brutal blunted weapon." "Sheathed in steel, the knuckles meet human flesh and bone, and leave behind a garish bruise. Reeling under such unexpected returns, the sword-bearer glowers her determination, and sweeps her weapon sideways. Zien's shield is thrown wide, and the scissor sword stabs again, no more than a blur of red -- the color no doubt seen by Ryuko's fierce glare!" 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' It's a testament to Ryuko's strength that the girl can match Zien's brute force, let alone /overwhelm/ it. Zien finds her shield smashed aside with a spark of purple, leaving her wide open for Ryuko's follow-through. Of course, she doesn't have time to recover with how fast Ryuko is, and that blade cleaves up into her sword arm. Or one of them, at least, gouging deep into where her collarbone would be and along to one shoulder with a screech of torn metal. At least Zien is quick to react, or Ryuko might have an ever bigger opening to make use of. No sooner has that slash been scored into her armor than Zien brings her shield around again to bash Ryuko away, following up with two quick jabs of her arm blades aimed right for Ryuko's previously-struck shoulder, one after the other. Maybe, she considers, defensive tanking tactics /might/ not work out so well here. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Ryuko's slammed into that shield hard, knocking her off-balance. She raises her own weapon, with the intent to parry those strikes aimed at her shoulder away from it, even if it means injury elsewhere. Indeed, she takes a scrape to her side and her arm, the girl clenching her teeth. Getting cut up by actual steel is one thing, but those energy blades hurt like hell! It's a good thing her scissor can stand up against them, at all. "Senketsu, do it!" <<Right!>> The Kamui's eye glares at Zien, as Ryuko draws her sword back again, "Decapitation Mode!" It sure looks a lot less like a scissor now, and more like a proper sword. It's also now nearly twice as long as Ryuko is tall, giving her some range, as well as some more offensive ability, no doubt. This is pretty evident, as she shoulders the sword, hefting it and aiming to bring it down on her opponent, in a heavy, overhead slash! 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' The khajiit relaxes her fist and takes up a nearby pipe. After a calm inhalation and slow hissing exhale, she falls back into the high intensity of a duel in full swing, letting her purring voice rise louder and louder! "Metal fragments peel away from Zien's body in shrieking pieces! Neither shield nor armor can stop the dreaded red scissor from dicing apart its foe! Zien, having no desire to surrender so soon, steps gracefully among the grasses, a wolf circling the lamb. Suddenly, the sharpness of a thousand swords manifests behind Zien's shield, a purple flame more cutting than the scissor-blade itself! Ryuko tosses her head in determination, rising to meet the wolf's pounce without fear -- no lamb at all, but the mighty hunter! A clever hunter who reveals the secret of her weapon! The scissor unfolds along its length, doubling in size and power, a red cleaver which the wolf should rightly fear! Zien shall be crushed beneath the blade -- this khajiit tells it true!" 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' ...that's a /really big sword/. It even dwarfs Zien, and now it's coming down on top of her. Zien has to think quickly: her shield is switched out for another blade as she lifts all three of her arms to block Ryuko's sword, and while it's not /perfect/, it does the job, forcing Ryuko's weapon to an abrupt halt. Sparks fly in the air as Zien's projected energy struggles to remain stable against Ryuko's weapon, and the force of the blow is enough to make the android's knees buckle slightly. Ryuko's sword gets low enough to dig into the top of Zien's head with depth that would probably be lethal for a normal person, but with the way Zien's cybernetics are organized, it's not quite such critical damage. Already Zien's wounds are being tended to by tiny nanomachines trying to seal them up, even if they won't do much good for her endurance in this fight. "Analysis suggests that it would be prudent to change tactics," Zien intones, wincing slightly as she struggles against the sword pushing down on her. And change she does. With her braced posture, she's in just the right position to rise up and swing all three of her arms upward to try and knock Ryuko's blade aside. She's quick to make use of whatever opening she gets, too, rushing in with a spin to gain momentum before she strikes Ryuko with a backhanded slash from both her right-armed blades! 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Ryuko lets out a sharp cry, as, even though she tries to block the attack with her own weapon, it's still three against two. She's off-balance again, and is sent spinning to the ground, as Zien takes full advantage, slamming into her with both of those sword-arms. She manages to divert the blades, but only slightly, the force of the blow sending her to the ground, and with a couple more gashes along her side. "Nngh.. Can't toss out our trump, just yet.. Let's keep going..!" <<Mm! Alright..>> Ryuko doesn't sound worried, not yet, anyway. She hefts her sword once more, as she gets to her feet, crimson flashes of energy racing up her form, from her toes to the tip of her blade. She's not quite in range.. or is she? When she swings the sword in a wide, horizontal arc, a gash is torn into the ground around her, cutting into it and well off into the distance, too. Trees nearby get cut cleanly through, a good distance away. And Zien, she's right in the way of the wave of whatever power Ryuko's unleashing from her sword and her Kamui. "ORAAAAAHHH!!" 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' Recognizing the battle's shifting momentum as yet another peak reached, the khajiit addresses a broader crowd. "The wind carries a grim tune. Two warrior maids vie for a trophy, their ferocity driving one another to new heights of determination and skill. One, a warrior from the heavens, Zien; the other, a swordswoman blessed by a powerful blade, Ryuko Matoi. Now the Spinach Wastes groan to bear sight to such a battle, but you, fair travelers, may find the tale enchanting." "Join this khajiit in witnessing the tale's violent end! Watch as Zien casts aside her shield in favor of a sharp-edged dervish, her violet blades slashing Ryuko's resolve and flesh to ribbons. Watch as Ryuko rises against the surging tides of Zien's masterful strategy to counter with overwhelming force as her weapon cleaves all in sight and smashes Zien beneath powers unseen! The story shall conclude soon on frequency 900.6...this khajiit shall be honored to take you to its finish." 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' Not good not good NOT GOOD- Zien doesn't even consider trying to block the wave of energy ripping through the landscape. Her immediate idea is to /dodge/, and that's exactly what she does. She leaps up and forward, but not quite fast enough; that wave of cleaving energy slices into her foot, actually cleaving it off up to the heel. Of course Zien doesn't cry out, considering she isn't programmed to feel /pain/, but that wound is clearly sparking and jolting from the impact. It's just a good thing she didn't get her /whole/ foot taken off, or she might not have that leg to stand on at all. While in midair, the android takes the opportunity to retaliate. She fires off her eye laser in a more steady stream, but it's not directly aimed for Ryuko. Instead it starts off to the side and suddenly sweeps across the girl, mostly blasting a trench into the landscape and kicking up debris, but that explosive beam might hit the swordswoman herself too. It's more of a cover for her next attack than anything, however, for right when Zien lands she opens up with a rapid trio of strikes at Ryuko, making use of the obscuring cloud she just created. Purple energy lances out from the cloud of debris as she strikes from three different angles like the stings of a scorpion, one after the other, keeping the pressure on her opponent. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Ryuko's not out of it, yet. That diversion attack doesn't hit her, the sword-wielding girl flipping back, springing on her hands and gliding on her heels a bit, bringing her scissor up again. Was that it? Well.. no. It clearly wasn't as one of those blasts of energy streaks out from the cloud of dust, just barely missing her. It singes against her shoulder, and the next one she manages to deflect with the flat of her blade. One more hits her in the leg, against her lower thigh, but Ryuko manages to stagger to her feet quick enough to deflect another, which grazes her other arm. "Looks like our turn." That dust hasn't settled yet, and Ryuko comes charging through it, holding her sword in one hand, violet energy surging from her back like a rocket, as she leaps through the cloud and just starts swinging her blade with that hand, any angle she can manage to get a good, solid bit of momentum going, is where an attack comes from. It might seem totally reckless, but that's just how she fights. She's no samurai, not a knight or a master-at-arms. She's a brawler. And this is a brawl, if nothing else. 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' The khajiit rises to her feet, pipe in one many-ringed hand, microphone in the other. Her robes catch the wind and blow wildly as if to echo the passionate pitch her voice takes on. "Three limbs strike in rapid succession, forcing Ryuko into a twisting dance! Fair Zien shines beneath the sun, her limbs like water, flowing and beautiful, but the sword-bearer is no less a sight to behold. As her body bends, rising and falling like the desert dunes, the wind begins to howl in torment. The Wastes themselves sing a dirge for the two maids! The hills carry their cries of pain and of triumph! The scissor of scarlet rises before the sun, a banner declaring the sword-bearer's intent -- Zien! You shall fall! By her sword, Ryuko makes her desire for victory clear, and the desire drives her weapon forward again and again, thrusting and piercing, cleaving the silvery raiment like it is silk!" 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' It's times like this when Zien's AI really comes into play. She is programmed to think on the fly, and with her quick reflexes and ability to process inputs rapidly backing her up, she's perfectly suited for this kind of fight. Without the large shield to encumber her, Zien can move much more quickly to respond to Ryuko's strikes. Her arms come up one after another in quick succession to parry those erratic slashes, kicking up sparks with each impact of metal against energy. It's not perfect, however, for even her AI has to falter against Ryuko's untrained tactics. Two slashes cleave into her, one along her stomach and one through her chest, digging two painful-looking trenches through her armor. Mechanisms visibly work under her outer covering, jolting as wires are severed, but Zien doesn't fall yet! Indeed, when Ryuko brings the sword around again, Zien chooses to make use of that strike. Before it can hit her, she actually grabs the blade with all three of her hands to stop it before it slices into her again. Her wounds spark further with the strain of working against Ryuko's strength, but still she continues, trying to heave Ryuko off the ground by her sword, whirl once to build momentum, and then /slam/ the girl back down into the earth, letting go of the sword after that impact. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' Ryuko's pretty good at thinking on her feet, as well. Still, she doesn't let go of her sword, even when Zien manages to block a strike, and grabs her sword between a pair of her hands. She braces for it, but getting slammed hard into the ground.. well, it hurts! She's a bit dizzy after, but she's also quick to her feet, shaking it off (along with some dirt). Even if Zien had held on, Ryuko would have, too. Nobody takes this from her. /Nobody./ She takes aim with a single handed, horizontal swipe at Zien's head. But, that's not what she's hoping will hit. It's a feint, in fact. If the taller woman ducks, she drives her knee upward. Into her middle, into her face, she's fine with it, as long as it hits something that hurts. She doesn't stop there, either, and tilts her upper body back. Is she seriously going to.. yep. She's going to headbutt a robot. Well. We'll see how that one turns out. She follows this up with a punch with her off hand, and a kick with her opposite leg, both aimed at Zien's midsection. 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' The khajiit's voice echoes from the sounds system. "The frenzy is upon us! A feverish turn in the action delivers Zien from the brink of defeat! The general from beyond strains against her injury to counter the sword-bearer's dangerous strikes! Deadly graceful, and brutal to the last, Zien LIFTS Ryuko from the ground, and with the righteous fury of a judge's hammer, SLAMS Ryuko to the earth again! The Spinach Wastes shudder, and the grasses sway, and all for a moment is quiet..." "The sword-bearer has lost her feet; has she also lost her chance at victory? Her heart beats a despairing slow song. The wind stills. Zien contemplates her triumph...but then, RISING FROM THE ASHES, A PHOENIX REBORN, THE SWORD-BEARER RYUKO MATOI RETURNS! This khajiit swoons in amazement as Ryuko puts her own skull to the general's face, and initiates a furious and primal assault! Zien quakes!" 

:'''{{#var:351|ZN-MALPRG (351)}} has posed:''' If Ryuko was worried about being able to take the warrior robot by surprise, well...she's definitely proven that that was a silly concern. The last thing Zien was expecting was for Ryuko to make use of her /body/ instead of the, you know, giant weapon she's been holding this whole time. Humans are /weird/. Unfortunately, Zien doesn't have much time to consider that. She ducks, of course, as any sane person would when a giant sword is trying to decapitate them, and finds her face immediately met with Ryuko's knee. The resulting CLANG rings out through the arena as Zien is jolted right back up, her eyes wide as her vision briefly statics. The CLANG that follows demonstrates that Ryuko's hard-headedness may not be entirely figurative, too, as she manages to dent the android's forehead ever so slightly after her knee already weakened it. Zien stumbles slightly where she stands, and this is the perfect opportunity for Ryuko's follow-through. A punch CLANGs against Zien's weakened midsection, followed up with a matching kick. With the wounds already scored along her torso, those blunt strikes (even if they would probably break any normal person's hands and feet) manage to break through the armor and cause more severe internal damage to Zien's systems, marked by sparking explosions that come up as she stumbles back even further. She looks like she's about to fall over, but at the last minute she rights herself and thrusts her hands toward Ryuko. The attack, however, doesn't come directly from her. Instead, a shimmering purple outline of a sphere appears around Ryuko, and the girl would suddenly feel the forces of gravity completely reversed to send her flying up into the air. Several feet up, those forces abruptly return to normal as Zien shoves her hands down again...except significantly /stronger/, sending Ryuko hurtling down to the earth with the forces of gravity as her assault. At least the sphere vanishes whenever Ryuko lands. 

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:''' This.. is new. Ryuko flails a bit, thrashing her arms and legs around as the sphere envelops her, and lifts her up in the air. "H-Hey! What the fu--!?" She doesn't get the rest of that particular statement out, as she feels another tug against her body. A very sharp, heavy tug. There's a look in her eyes, the dawning realization as to what's about to happen. "Ah.." That's about all she manages before she's pulled back down, hard and quite firmly, into the ground. She's motionless for a little bit, but there's a gasp and a groan, and she does manage to pull herself to her feet, again. <<Ryuko.. You've got almost nothing left. Enough for one last shot.>> "Yeah, got it.. Everything we got left, then." She brandishes her sword, holding it behind her back, at waist level. Like before, shimmers of that crimson energy dances around her body and her weapon, the red trim on her outfit glowing brightly. "Finishing move..!" She takes two steps, and her blade glows brightly, the wave of energy and strength from it more powerful than it was, before. "SEN-I-SOUSHITSU..!!" 'Stripped' of the will to fight! 

:'''{{#var:294|Mysterious Khajiit (294)}} has posed:''' There is little for the khajiit to do but speak in a continued crescendo, each syllable a poem written in honor of the battle she has witnessed. "The dregs of courage transform Zien from a phoenix's scorched prey into a snarling contender! The desire for glory returns strength to Zien's shattered form! As the silver scraps of her raiment crumple beneath Ryuko's onslaught, Zien takes a deep breath and cries, NO MORE! The maiden's voice commands the Spinach Wastes to silence again. It is all this khajiit can do to keep speaking in the face of such divine wrath! The universe bends to crush Ryuko back to the earth, to elevate Zien into the stars as a true champion -- but Ryuko, the maiden of the sword, the red scissor in her hand, she DENIES Zien the sweetness of victory! Crimson radiance erupts from her body and weapon in a glorious reflection of her very SOUL! THE POWER FLOODS FORTH TO DIMINISH ALL WHO DARE CHALLENGE THE SWORD-BEARER! Zien falters! She struggles to drive back the sword-bearer's curse...ah! And with a final cry, Zien does collapse! The general is defeated, the sword-maiden given a hero's mantle! RYUKO MATOI WINS!" 

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