View source for 3194/WMAT ASF The Combat Vagrant vs Cortex

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/10/12
|Location=Papaya Island - Stadium
|Synopsis=Cortex and The Combat Vagrant meet in the WMAT semi-finals!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=101, 414, 756, 760, 769
|Tinyplot=WMAT 2015
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the stadium again. Almost all of Cortex's matches have been here. As the tournament approaches its end, more and more people fill the stands, to see the amazing fights take place. Cortex never thought he'd make it this far. As he looks up at the sunny sky, feels a slightly chill breeze sweep through, the black-and-purple-garbed super hero thinks about what he has learned so far. What he has gained from every opponent and every match. How these lessons have helped him, and how they have hurt him. How they have shaped his view of fighting and using his powers against other people, even if they aren't villains. He no longer needs to make excuses to use his powers against other heroes to have his full determination.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's not sure how he feels about that. But he has much less guilt over blasting someone's brain than he did before. What's the difference, after all? A punch or a psychic attack? What makes one form of violence preferable to the other? Further, this is not crime-fighting. He now understands that. Both what it means for him as a hero, and for his role here.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He is more determined than ever to win. And he has even been practicing some new tricks. He's been speaking to one of the greatest psychics that Paragon City has lately. Mostly about the unusual feelings emanating from Woodvale. A sort of... 'Presence'. But he has picked up some tips as well. While there are certain maneuvers or tactics that come more easily, there are other uses that can be made of them, outside of what trainers might teach. It's up to him to make his powers HIS instead of just a template.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And in pitched combat, when neither of the fighters is in danger of dying, that might be the very best place to innovate and become stronger.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So now Cortex is ready to face off against a mysterious fighter known only as the Combat Vagrant, and to keep pushing ahead, aiming for the final prize. The money that will go to Dr. Vasilikos's charity, and all of those in need. No holding back this time.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chrysanthemum is here, dressed in a sharp suit rather than her flowing dress. She's already snagged... a tree branch. The supposed announcer is shouting into the mic to no effect, but Chrys's voice booms when she speaks into the stick. "Good evening, fellow Multiversians! It is I, Chrysanthemum! I am here at the Papaya Island Stadium today to witness a semifinals match right out of history, and sharing it with you! It's a battle of brain versus brawn, with the upcoming superhero Cortex looking to prove himself, against the Combat Vagrant Shin Tokuyama! It's sure to be an incredible fight as both of them work through their tournament arcs, ready to reveal their newfound strength and baffle an enemy after their inevitable plot-based powerup! Tune to 900.8 for commentary!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:414|Revan (414)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the stands, a certain Jedi Knight grinned widely. When she had first encountered Cortex in Paraqon City, he had been a fledgeling superhero even within his own universe's standards. Of course, the non-Elite superheroes were impressive by those standards, but it was easy to see why the young psychic would feel overwhelmed. All these powerful people from worlds well beyond even their expansive existence would be enough to make even a Jedi Master feel inadequate. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And now here he was, facing off in the mutiverse's most prestigious martial arts tournament against other Elites. It was downright inspiring...and Lowri Revan-Shan hoped he would be able to realise that. Sure, he still had much to learn -- didn't they all? -- but he had come a long way already. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The familiar piercing whistle -- along with a slight mental nudge through the Force -- resonated from her perch. Should Cortex look up, he would be able to spot his pale-haired mentor waving again, cheering him on. it was the very least she could do to show her support. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin's making his way to the ring. While his poise and his gait are more relaxed than one might expect from someone heading into the semi-finals of a major tournament, the martial artist still has his eye on the prize. He'd had an interesting series of fights to get here, one that left him fairly satisfied with his path. Shizune in the qualifiers, then Dex Alruin. Ivraala. Then Shizune once more. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he reaches the edge of the stadium ring, he calmly takes off his sunglasses and suit jacket, handing them, along with his tie, to a ringside attendant. With a practiced pace, he steps up the stairs and into the ring. He's unbuttoning the cuffs of his dress shirt and calmly rolling them up to his elbows. He takes a few moments to look around. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spotting Chrysanthemum, he gets a huge grin on his face. With her here, even if he lost he knew it would be a theatric sort of affair. He clenches his hands together and cracks his knuckles loudly, rolling his shoulders a bit afterwards. He points to Cortex and says, "Oi. Don't give me a boring fight. If I get DQed here, I want it to be against someone cool and tough. I won't be a jobber and neither should you, yeah?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is an important part of my plot arc, so make it a good fight either way."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Combat Vagrant arrives! With his usual flair, he asks for a clean, entertaining, and difficult fight form Cortex! Meanwhile, across from him, Cortex looks determined, a man with purpose. Perhaps he has something to fight for beyond personal glory? Will such a driven man be able to measure up against the Vagrant's enthusiasm for the ring?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex looks around in confusion when the announcer starts talking about tournament arcs and plot-based power-ups. His concentration wavers a bit as he tries to puzzle through that. "...What?" he asks under his breath. But when he looks around, he doesn't find the commentator. Just Lowri in the stands. She's been here for him. Encouraging him, advising him, serving as an example of a what a hero should be. And also something more. He smiles widely up at her and waves, then turns to face his opponent as the Combrant Vagrant enters the ring. The declaration of what kind of battle is expected causes Cortex's smile to slip away for a moment, for his mouth to just slightly remain open.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To actually throw himself into it, and enjoy it. To take pleasure in hurting others? No. Not THAT kind of fight.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's smiling again, grinning and showing his teeth as he gives Shin a thumbsup and calls out loudly, "Same to you!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The kind of fight where he enjoys testing how much he has grown against a challening opponent! He can do THAT kind of fight!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he draws one hand back, and leads off the fight by hurling what appears to be a dart gotten from a utility belt of some kind right at Shin! It has a self-concoted tranquilizer that isn't especially effective against most Elites, but may at least cause some small sense of fatigue momentarily. And the dart itself is pretty sharp.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The dart is just a distraction though! Because Cortex then takes the dart in his psychic grasp and propels it forwards with telekinesis, vastly increasing its speed! ...But maybe also its accuracy!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin grins a bit as the guy calls out that he expects the same from Shin. The Combat Vagrant hopped up and down on his feet a little, warming up as he rolled his head from side to side and got ready for the event to really start. His hands open and close several times. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Cortex takes an opening move, Shin darts forward. He doesn't want to hesitate for too long and give his opponent any kind of advantage. Unfortunately, the hasty advance means he wasn't expecting a ranged attack bolstered by psychic powers. As he advances, the dart hits him right in the leg. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ow! Damnit!" He winces, the tranquilizer slowing him just a little bit before his natural ki-flow tries to start purging it from his system. His own goal is to close the distance in towards Cortex and go into close-range, where most of Shin's power and ability is.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If he can draw in close enough, he tries to make his opening assault a simple flurry of direct punches aimed at the chest and midsection of his opponent, probing for weaknesses to exploit.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Cortex appears a little unsure about what he's in for, but in the end he gives a friendly thumbs up! Whatever happens here, it isn't personal... the best kind of tournament fight! Perhaps the two will become friendly and team up as part of an ever-growing posse of adventurers that meddle into the affairs of villainous persons while trying to keep their home life bearable? But for now they are enemies and rivals, and Cortex starts this off with some kind of dart gun! Shin takes it, and it looks like he's stumbled... but not enough to stop him from closing in with his trademark martial arts, showing Cortex what HOT BLOOD can do when it's behind fists!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:760|Allenby Beardsley (760)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"BUDDY COPS!!!" A certain blue-haired gundam fighter screams from the spectactor stands. Allenby's sporting a big foam finger with "#1 CV!!!" on it. Someone had been 3-D printing them the other night and Allenby jumped at the chance. "BUDDY COPS ARC!!" Allenby yells, not really thinking this particular option through. Don't horrible things happen to Love Interests in buddy cop plot arcs...?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex's main weakness is that he's some sort of strange hybrid of two not-tough Archetypes by the definitions of his world. It's actually something that Doctor Vasilikos has been going over with him. The unusualness of his powers, and the fact that Cortex himself granted himself these abilities. But that doesn't really help in this situation. He is not strong in melee combat, and he's not good at taking hits. His strength is in his control-type offenses.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So taking a barrage of punches sends him staggering backwards in pain from the jarring impacts... Only to rebound by trying to unleash a psychic blast that may build a sort of psychic resonance for Cortex himself to make his own attacks come faster and hit harder! Assuming it succeeds, anyway!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If his opponent is a tough melee fighter (like just about all of his foes seem to have been so far, basically the worst kind of opponent for him, and yet here he is!), the best thing he can do is to either reduce the effectiveness of their HOT BLOOD or to build up FIGHTING SPIRIT of his own!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pink energy blasts are kind of like fighting spirit, right?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"UWAH!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin is hit with a mental blast that sends him staggering back a couple steps from the sheer impact of it, "Oh man! You've got crazy Esper powers! That's fucking BADASS, man!" Shin cries out happily, despite the ringing in his brain at that moment. It definitely hit, but Shin seems almost unnaturally resilient for a guy that looks like a totally average human. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I can use my head too! WANNA SEE?" Shin asks as he puts a huge grin on his face. He hops up and down eagerly, clearly excited to fight someone with a new power set he hasn't encountered before. Ki, he's seen. Magic, he saw some of that. Martial arts he's seen a lot of. But Psychic powers are new. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shin Tokuyama Special Head Blast Technique!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He has no psychic powers, by the way. His definition of 'using his head' for attacks is to lunge in towards Cortex and try to throw his bodyweight forward for a thunderous forehead-to-forehead headbutt attack.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It doesn't look like Cortex is really built to take a hit, but he must have some trick up his sleeve to have gotten tot he semi-finals! Perhaps he is merely hiding his power until the right time, whereupon he will laugh and grow into a muscled madman of unstoppable rage! Or perhaps he will demonstrate his confidence with pink beams of light, which send the Vagrant reeling! It is a surprise, one which has impressed the Vagrant and started them on the road to mutual respect and grudging rivalry, perhaps? Will these two seek to outdo one another in mutual alliances without ever publicly admitting their friendship? We will see! For now the Combat Vagrant counters Cortex with the Special Head Blast Technique, using his own flair to copy his opponent as best he can and butt heads in a more literal sense than the future friendly arguments!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Owch! Bad place to get hit for a psychic! If you need to focus to use your powers properly, a brain-jarring headbutt is pretty bad news! He has already learned in the past that trying to go into fisticuffs with someone who specializes in that sort of thing usually ends poorly for him. So he tries to clap one hand on each of the Combat Vagrant's shoulders after being headbutted, his head still arched backwards from the blow, his eyes widen in pain, and then gets a determined look as he throws his head forwards once more... Is he going to headbutt right back!? Yes, but he's combining it with a telekinetic field in front of his forehead to not only shield himself from the impact but to try to hurl Shin away forcefully!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Cortex School of Anything Goes Psychic Arts: Special Head Blast Technique Counter!" he yells out fiercely! This is the most enthusiastic he has ever gotten about a fight! His head is ringing, his chest is sore... But he's not fighting with a heart full of regrets, or flashes of terrifying memories hanging before his mind's eye. N'raha Tia in particular showed him that he couldn't let all those things bog him down in a fight. He's not here to make friends, and he's not here to save the world. Right now, he has to have his head in the fight! ...Literally, it seems!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which is unfortunate when the buddy coppy and future alliances stuff from the commentator and audience have Cortex's head spinning as the words enters the periphery of his awareness. Or maybe that's just the side-effect of two head butts in a row. Oooogh. He can't get distracted by that now!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;BAM! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Forehead (and psychic shield) slam Shin right in the forehead. Shin goes staggering back and away from Cortex with stars dancing across his vision. Shin holds two hands up to his forehead, "Owowowowow. Good counter, good counter. I dig it, man!" He calls out, even as he stamps a foot to work out the pain. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm getting all fired up! Gonna pop this early, so get ready! It's how you know I'm serious! I learned it from a crazy Saiyan girl and made it my own!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin puts his hands at his side and throws his head back, "OOOOOOOAH!" He calls, energy starting to swirl and kick up around him. Eventually he slams a foot down and calls out. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" bold_fg_r bg_n ++ hr">"COBRA KAI TIMES TWO!"</span> <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's an explosion of energy and roaring power around Shin as he starts to glow a fiery red and face off against Cortex. It's important to note that this move doesn't actually buff him or enhance his abilities. It's a theatric move at best that makes him look REALLY cool! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What is REAL, however, is when he lunges forward towards Cortex again, trying to close in with a flurry of kicks aimed at his opponent. It's an incredibly simple, if very skillfully executed, set of martial arts maneuvers as Shin still attempts to gauge his opponent.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Cortex is pretty badly staggered by that headbutt... but they take the surprising move of countering with one of their own! Cortex hits the Combat Vagrant solidly, so hard that he's dancing around the ring and flailing about! Could this be a distraction technique? NOT ENTIRELY! The Vagrant is getting serious now, and a fiery aura of his pure fighting spirit surrounds him before he leaps forward, with a series of kicks that's dazzling in speed! Both fighters are now showing the true spirit of the competition!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex knows melee's not a good place for him to be. So with Shin CLEARLY being all POWERED UP now, staying where he can be easily reached is no longer viable. He takes to the air with his telekinesis, hovering about a foot above the ground to increase evasiveness, right as the Combat Vagrant comes dashing in launching a flurry of kicks. The first one, Cortex manages to drift aside from. But Hovering is a very slow form of movement. One of the kicks nails him in the belly painfully though, and he has to bring up an arm to try to block another, staking damage to his forearm instead of his torso! Speed like that is more than Cortex can match!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So he doesn't try to. Instead, he goes for a big hit, drawing both hands above his head and bringing them back down in a two-handed overhead melee attack in an attempt to knock his opponent DOWN! "I can't power up like that, sorry!" he apologizes. "But I can fly. I hope that's enough of a dramatic reveal for you!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two-handed hammer swing hits Shin dead on from the hovering superhero. Shin is driven down to a knee, colliding hard with it against the floor of the arena as he lets out a grunt of pain. He refuses to be put all the way to the ground, though, planting a hand to stop himself as he pushes back upwards. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Fwah! Good hit! Good hit!" Shin calls enthusiastically. He springs back up to his feet and bounes some more, trying to keep blood flowing despite the really strong injuries he's had put on him. Keeping in motion is how he generally tries to outrun how injured he actually is. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It was a good reveal! Flying is nifty! I might have a few tricks to keep up!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ryuuken!" Shin calls, thrusting a palm out at Cortex. From that palm erupts a flickering red fireball that careens towards the opponent and tries to explode into a blast of ki on impact.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Cortex is being very evasive, but still staggers back from the hits... after doing a dramatic reveal that he can fly! This is a stunning move that is enough to take the Combat Vagrant by surprise, allowing Cortex to do a double-handed blow to his foe and smash him into the ground! The Vagrant is having none of that, of course. Now that the dramatic reveals have started, the Combat Vagrant has upped his own ante to match, revealing a palm-flung ball of ki energy! What more secret techniques will these powerful rivals reveal in their extended tournament match?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Drifting backwards a bit while Shin is recovering, the super hero keeps a close eye on what's coming his way next. The psychic has seen martial arts, increased speed, high strength and resilience, some sort of power-boosting maneuver... But Cortex was not expecting any sort of ranged anything from his opponent! He switches from hovering to flying, from a mix of impulse and training more than a knowledge of what's coming, when he sees some sort of strange energy being gathered. The explosion of Ki still mnanages to catch Cortex's legs and send him hurtling through the air out of control, windmilling his arms uselessly before he removes his flight control is based off of his focus, not his physical movements.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he finally comes to a stop, just short of ramming into the audience in the stands, he takes a moment to breathe in and let it back out. That could have been bad to get hit with directly. Power like that...! Even getting caught in the blast wave was enough to do this much damage! His durable costume is tattered around his legs, and there are burns of some kind. That's not going to be fun if he has to walk. It stings enough just hanging in the air.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he grins despite his injuries and calls down to Shin, "How would you like to be able to fly too? I'll lift you up..." Then he reaches out, trying to seize his opponent in a telekinetic grip, lift him into the air... "...And return you to Earth again!" as he tries to throw Shin forcefully back to the fighting ring's tiled floor with the power of his mind!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sorry, I'm a hitchhiker, but I don't hop planes!" Shin says as he wiggles and squirms when lifted it up off the ground. When he's thrown, he tries his best to land properly, feet hitting the ground as he skids backwards. The damage from the attack, though, comes in the fact that he has to plant his hands on the ground to stop himself from skidding out of the ring and losing the match via Ring-out. This causes his hands to get cut, scraped, and fairly bloody. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He doesn't let that discourage him, though. While he may be very clearly pretty banged up, his energy levels are still skyhigh and hyper-active, "I don't need to fly anyway. I got more hops than a shitty IPA," He calls out as he runs in after Cortex once more. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;True to his word, he crouches once he's beneath him and takes a somewhat superhuman upwards leap, trying to go skyward with a frighteningly rapid series of kicks and punches that try to bring his opponent out of the air and back down onto the ground. Shin can really get some airtime off those leaps, too.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well that is indeed new! Cortex is showing off his telekinetic powers now, and after barely avoiding a direct hit from the ki blast, he's hurling the Combat Vagrant across the stadium floor! The Vagrant can't have that, and it would be improper for him to leave the ring of such a fine opponent. Demonstrating his resolve, he catches himself despite bloodying his palms, and launches himself right back after Cortex for a series of midair punches! But will he be able to compensate for the hero's flight?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, that's a pretty gruesome state for Shin's hands, and Cortex feels a twinge of guilt. But the furious assault he soon has to deal with drives everything else from his mind as he can only dodge around in mid-air when Shin leaps up to bis level! He catches several blows on his limbs, even if the force behind them makes his bones feel like they're bending under the impact. If not for the fact he's allowing the blows to push him a bit, riding with the momentum instead of resisting it, he thinks Shin probably could have busted him up pretty badly! And ultimately, the Combat Vagrant's tactic succeeds in driving Cortex back to the ground.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The pattern of the attacks drives the psychic, corralling him, and his own allowance for the blows to push him synergizes with these two things, causing him to find his back against the ground before he even realizes it! "Wha--Augh!" He has to roll aside to avoid a final blow, and the tiles splintering beneath the powerful attack still cut into the parts of his face that are left uncovered by his mask.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Scrambling to his feet, it's clear that this is a martial arts master, regardless of what his overall progress down the path of a kung-fu wizard may be. Cortex wipes at his bleeding cheek with the back of his hand, and says, "So many strong opponents in this tournament... When I look at someone like you, get hit with attacks like yours... I wonder how I'm even still in this competition. I'm not strong, or fast, or durable. My hand to hand skills are only the most basic, even if I've learned a few tricks..."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He stands up straight and says, "But maybe facing opponents like you, strong ones that I'm not suited to fighting, is why I'm still here! Because this pressure...!" Cortex raises his hands like he's about to conduct an orchestra. He remembers what Sister Psyche told him about making his powers his own, not just a template... He has practiced overwhelming psychic force. He has practiced precise control. He has practiced sustained output. Now it's time to try out his newest technique, which combines all three!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Is what lets me give my all!" Then he brings his hands down to his sides, and starts focusing his telekinesis from his fingertips in narrow channels. A shroud of pink energy surrounds them, a bit darker than his usual shade of psychic force, as he forms telekinetic blades around his hands, and slashes with one of them! ...And it seems he doesn't need to get close to wield them, because an invisible wave of force slices the arena floor apart to show the path the attack is taking as it cuts right towards Shin!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Man, I'm not even gonna lie to you," Shin says when he lands, flexing a bit and stretching, "I wasn't gonna enter the WMAT. A Love Interest said I should, so I kinda stuck with it. But this has been pretty fun. You're real strong, way stronger than I think you like to let on. You got some chops on you, guy. Just gotta grill em and make em hearty." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He might be a little hungry. That hunger may distract him as Cortex comes in and just opens up on him with telekinetic blades. Shin praces himself against the attack, but it hits him dead on, leaving a massive wound across his torso and blowing the shirt entirely off his body as his upper form turns from 'relatively fine' to 'bloody mess' in the wake of the force slash. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Bwaaaaaah, fuuuuuck that hurt," Shin coughs, spitting up a bit of blood as he stretches, "Damnit. I always get torn up in these. Already, guy, get ready. I'm gonna bring the thunder." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His hand lashes out to the side and his stance changes. He curls his fingers into a tight fist and gets ready as he says, "Haaaaaaa... IKKEN HISSATSU!" Red energy, Shin's own Ki, starts to swirl and eddy around his hand as he charges up a bit. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then he seems to vanish from his spot. He's moving blinding fast, covering the distance between himself and cortex with a good deal of the last energy he has. As he comes in towards Cortex, his fist moves forward in a haymaker punch aimed right at the center of his chest. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"RYUUSOKEN!" Shin screams as he tries to connect the fist. Whether it hits Cortex or hits the air, once it reaches the end of its ability to move, it releases a massive burst of ki that tries to erupt from his hand with an almost draconic roar that fills the arena upon explosion.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:760|Allenby Beardsley (760)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"HE WOUND UP GETTING FARTHER THAN I DID TOO!" Allenby shouts, "I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S UP WITH THAT BUT I'M STILL PROUD OF HIM!!" In that moment, she finds herself wishing that she actually volunteered to commentate alongside Chrysanthemum. "Damn. Maybe next year..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The flurry of punches has Cortex on the defensive, and though he manages to avoid him, he is realizing something. His opponent is greatly skilled and dangerous, and Cortex complements the Vagrant for helping him realize that he has indeed learned in this battle, understanding what it is like to be pushed to the limit! It's the beginning of a true respect among near-equals! No doubt there will be leapfrogging involved at some point! Cortex uses this focus to slash the air with sharp blades of nothingness, and as should be expected, the Combat Vagrat is bloodied by the assault and now shirtless and buff! But the Vagrant isn't down yet, shouting out a signature attack name that releases a dragon-roaring blast of ki!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex can't avoid an attack of that scale, or that speed! He may have managed so far thanks to luck, gradually accumulated experience, determination, and FIGHTING SPIRIT, but he is still no master of martial arts, and this is made quite clear when the Combat Vagrant unleashes his Ultimate Technique! Before Cortex can even react to Shin's sudden appearance right in front of him, he's being struck in the chest with a veritable dragon of Ki that sends him hurtling backwards in an explosive wave, flying end over end until he rams into a retainer wall hard enough to be planted in it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For several seconds in the aftermath, after the smoke has settled a bit, it looks like Cortex is slumped in the wall, and quite done for. His free hand, however, twitches. Right as Cortex looks up, blood streaming down his face, out from under his mask where he must have hit his head. His eyes are still clear. And the other hand... Still had a surging blade of telekinetic force around it. Cortex's ribs are on fire, he can't even breathe. Despite his clarity of vision and of mind, his body is not holding up.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he can't just give in. After all that he has been through, all that his opponent has put into this fight, all those depending upon him, he can't just let things lie, or put away this part of his own 'arc' with a calm smile and a 'well, I did my best'.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What kind of cheap cop-out would that be? He has never really considered himself to be a hot-blooded 'manly man'. He's the one who was singled out as a nerd in school. He's the one who devotes his time to studying something crazy like the origins of super powers instead of something that would get him a real job, because he followed what interested him.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But now here he is, in his ultimate hot-blooded battle against a fearsome foe, and he feels more like he belongs in this fight than he has for any other fight previously. Cortex starts pulling himself out of the wall with his free hand, forcing his body to breathe, to take in air even if in small gasps. He hopes he didn't damage his lungs or something. He rises up into the air, raises both hands above his head, and grabs one wrist with his other hand. That surgical blade of psychic power darkens further. A sign of its increased density maybe?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex may not be angry, per se. But his soul burns with passion for this battle, for many, many reasons. And he channels his strength into this next attack, hoping to put an end to it, while also hoping the fight goes on. He doesn't know what he wants right now. His head is filled with light. He truly feels <span class=" bold_fg_r bg_n ++ hr">Inspired</span> by this match!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He brings both hands down, and even as the now-purple energy vanishes from his hand, the ground is torn in half, in a line that tears through the fighting ring as well, only the destruction to the arena floor showing where the invisible attack is coming from, as it heads right for the Combat Vagrant!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I DON'T HAVE A NAME FOR THIS ATTACK AND I HOPE THAT DOESN'T MATTER!" he yells out.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"IT TOTALLY FUCKING MATTERS!" Shin cries out as he dashes towards Cortex. His hand glows a brilliant red color as the attack comes in against him. Ki meets Psionics as his hand connects dead on with the attack coming in towards him, Shin not trying to dodge it but instead punching directly into it. The damage is evident, his knuckles splitting and bleeding, the skin all up his arm peeling and revealing cuts and gouges. It did an immense amount of damage to his right arm, but it spared the rest of his body a much more damaging attack as he absorbs it all against that single arm for the damage. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Of course it matters!" Shin takes a break from the fighting to hop up and down, "You always name your Ultimate! You call it out! You revel in it! Sometimes you change the name or make a variant, but it ALWAYS HAS A NAME!" He's fired up, jumping around and flexing a bit as he gets into his speech. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's your signature move, bro! It's your STYLE! It's your old friend! It's the one you rely on when times are tough! It's the move you bring out when shit hits the fan, and it always has your back!" Shin points at Cortex, "Win or lose, I'mma teach you this tonight! You wanna be a hero, a villain, or ANYONE in this Multiverse? You gotta make sure you know that." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You wouldn't just NOT learn your best friends name! How would you NOT name your epic attack? The name gives it a PERSONALITY! A FLAVOR! PANACHE! STYLE! DEFINITION! CHARACTER!" Shin bellows as he lets loose. He's not MAD, and quite the opposite, he's immensely fired up and going on all cylinders, "You don't just... NOT name that! You can learn a thousand unnamed techniques and abilities, but if you got a finisher, you slap a name on that bad boy!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You want the name of your technique to be synonmous with YOUR name! You want people to remember you for it! Well no one's going to remember your finisher if it doesn't have a NAME, BRO!" Shin flexes a bit and hops up and down, "Believe in yourself and give it a name! It cries out for one! It YEARNS for one! Reach deep into your heart and grant it an identity!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Aaaaaaaaaaaah! I'm all fired up now! I gotta really go at someone!" Shin cries out, cracking his bloody knuckles as he raises his hands at Cortex, "Get ready, guy! You got me on the ropes, but I'mma pull some Rocky Balboa shit. I MAY LOSE, BUT I AM GONNA MAKE YOU REMEMBER THE DAY YOU FOUGHT SHIN TOKUYAMA!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin dashes in again. This time, his entire fighting style is different. He's switched over to vanilla boxing. He's throwing crosses and jabs, driving in towards Cortex with an immense left-right flurry of punches and boxing maneuvers. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He actually goes so far as to quote the movie as he does so, "Ain't gonna be no rematch, baby!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"THIS IS IT! The punishing fury of Shin's ultimate attack slams into Cortex, and it's strong enough to send the hero reeling! Yet... he's not down! Oh no, he's just feeling more inspired! It looks like these two heroes, just as predicted, are feeding off one another's hot blood and lifting themselves to new heights! Cortex builds up purple energy in his hand... and lets it rip across the stadium in a massive wave! It tears up the stone and right toward the Combat Vagrant... who PUNCHES IT! That's right, Cortex didn't name the attack and the Combat Vagrant has decided that NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED! Though it brutally damages his arm, he forces the wave apart with sheer guts, and shouts his defiant fury to the heavens! He's on the ropes, about to fall, but before he does, the Combat Vagrant is determined to teach Cortex about the spirit of battle, unleashing a hearty combo with his fists into the hero!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex listens closely, with rapt attention, after observing Shin punch mental energy away, even at the cost of high damage to his arm. "I see, I see..." he mutters. Who knew naming attacks was such a complex issue! He'll have to think about this. As he floats back towards the ring and lands during the Combat Vagrant's speech, he considers not just what's being said, but also how he's going to conduct the rest of this match. And while he's lost in thought, Shin finishes up and charges forth! Cortex snaps his attention back on the fight, bringing his hands up. He's started studyign boxing under the Back Alley Brawler's tutelace, but isn't anywhere near proficient at it. Certainly not enough to avoid the battering blows that come his way, pummeling him so fast and so hard that his body is basically jerking this way and that before it even has a chance to finish moving in the direction of the blows that came before!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Their positions seem to be reversed! Now it's Cortex who might be about to lose! But what was that about what Shin said? Cortex tries to grab one of Shin's hands as it comes at him, even as the bones in his own hand crack under the force is successful (or not). He tries to grab the other hand in the same way, to avoid taking another hit to the chest, where he's already bruised heavily, and has a gaping hole in the front of his costume over his heart, burnt away from that huge Ki attack before.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Variations, huh?" Cortex manages to get out dizzily, blood dripping from his nose and mouth, pain ravaging his whole body, exhaustion starting to fill him. But he's still running off of his <span class=" bold_fg_r bg_n ++ hr">inspiration</span> and he digs deep into his reserves for even <span class=" bold_fg_b bg_n ++ hb">more</span>. Channeling psychic energy into a blade. That was the fundamental basis of what he was attempting. He'd thought he was combining everything he'd been practicing. But he'd left something out. Because he'd focused only on telekinesis.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he doesn't just have telekinesis now does he? He isn't sure if he can attack at the same level as he did before again...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But he has enough for this. Cortex grits his teeth, his eyes widening, veins pulsing in his face as he combines strong psychic force, precision, and sustained output into a variant of his psychic blades, that attacks the mind rather than the body.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Mind Control: Mind Stab!" he yells out as he attempts to drive a blade made of his will and his psyche into Shin's own head telepathically.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A bit darker than usual for him, but hey, if it works, it works, right? It's just a tournament after all!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin is definitely fired up and coming at Cortex full bore with that flurry of punches, wanting to leave a mark on him as best he can. The blows are coming out fast and fierce, right up into the point where he's grabbed with both hands. He has, despite the violence he was committing, a bit stupid grin on his face as he stares Cortex in the eyes, "Yeah! Varia-" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin is cut off by getting stabbed in the head with a psychic knife. He somewhat eyetwitches for a moment. He staggers back a few steps and clutches at his head and blood begins to pour from his nose in the aftermath of the attack, his body compensating for an aneurism. He's not gonna keep fighting, but he's trying to figure out a good famous movie quote to go out on. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders- The most famous of which is 'never get involved in a land war with Asia'- but only slightly less well-known is this: 'Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line'! Hahahahaha! Hahahaha...." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then he tips backwards and lands on his back on the floor of the arena, wheezing out a tired, "Nailed... it..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:101|Chrysanthemum (101)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's coming down to the final moments! This has been a great fight! And the Combat Vagrant is still going at it, using a final surge of vitality to send a flurry of blows against Cortex! Cortex isn't a hand to hand fighter, but shows grit and determination when inspired by the Vagrant, attempting to block... and his body is making some pretty disturbing sounds from trying that! That had to hurt! But it sets him up in position to do something called a MIND STAB which sounds painful indeed! In keeping with the spirit of the tournament and his own will, the Combat Vagrant struggles to stay up long enough to do his most important action yet: the final words! After a suitable movie quote, he goes DOWN! It was a match of true combatants, but it looks like Cortex managed the win!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortex is still fired up. Still exhilirated as he watches his enemy stagger back, make a confusing bunch of final words (Cory is not a movie buff), and then fall down. He has never felt so pumped about a fight ever. It's always been a distasteful thing to him. And now... Well, it felt really good! Even if he also feels really bad in terms of pain, and is probably going to be aching for days afterwards. But right now? He just... Feels good! It felt good to stab an opponent in the brain with his own brain too, kind of! Weird, right?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he wipes the blood all over his face with the back of a tattered costume sleeve, doing nothing to stem the flow, he just looks down at his fallen opponent, still breathing laboredly with what his ribs and lungs have been through. What a great fight! What a great opponent!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What a great final attack! And he doesn't even feel bad about it! Weird! Isn't it weird for him to not feel bad about hurting someone? Heh. It's kind of hard to remember. But he hopes he doesn't forget this feeling as he grins down at his fallen opponent, and raises a hand and gives him his signature thumbsup. "You sure did, buddy!"<br> <br>


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