FINAL Tora vs Serafina

Busou Shinki Battle Arena
        Welcome to the Battle Rondo Arena, home of the Busou Shinki Battle Rondo.

        It is a massive stadium with a roof, easily as large as any sports arena and capable of seating thousands of full sized humans in multiple levels. Near the arena floor are numerous large boxes filled with tiny seats for shinki spectators, as well as private boxes for the Masters of tournament fighters and the fighters themselves who are not actively fighting.
        The arena floor itself is a massive holographic projector, relaying the tournament bouts on an enormous scale. Individual shinki render at close to three meters tall, along with all of the terrain surrounding them. At this enormous scale, shinki combat can be seen clearly even from the nosebleed section.

        The actual battles take place on a small table in the center of the arena floor. The visualizer here projects the images and battles re-broadcast for stadium viewing by the much larger holofield.
Contents:
Setsuko Kaminagi
Tora
Fassad
Visualizer
<OOC> Fassad says, "Yo."
<OOC> Fassad says, "So, Tora. Shall I begin, or shall you?"
<Public> Italian Batman: Ezio Auditore naknak
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Heya. If Tora doesn't mind Arthur doing announcy things I can give that a shot after I quickly handle this offwindow thing."
<OOC> Tora says, "I do not"
<OOC> Tora says, "Because speed is a good idea before I zonk"
<OOC> Tora says, "Call a coin flip Fassad!"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Heads"
Fassad has reset his combat status to default. His HP was  8
Tora flips a coin which comes up heads.
<OOC> Tora says, "You can go first then"
<OOC> Fassad says, "So be it."
<OOC> Tora says, "God I don't think I've ever seen that coin"
<OOC> Tora says, "EVER come up tails"
Tora flips a coin which comes up heads.
<OOC> Fassad says, "It did last time"
<OOC> Tora says, "Cursed"
Fassad flips a coin which comes up heads.
Fassad flips a coin which comes up heads.
Fassad flips a coin which comes up tails.
Setsuko Kaminagi flips a coin which comes up tails.
<OOC> Tora says, "Lol"
<OOC> Fassad says, "see"
<OOC> Tora says, "1/6"
<OOC> Setsuko Kaminagi says, "2/6"
<OOC> Tora says, "You don't count cheater"

         Finally, the day has come. The final battle of this years Busou Shinki tournament. And, this time, Fassad has gone all out. It's taken some bribing of the officials to get away with this, but finally, he's convinced them.

         He rides into the arena. On horseback. Waving to the audience. So far, he's only just walked into the arena. This should really get the crowd on his side. Because we all know that if you're a Face, you're more likely to win. And Fassad is one hell of a Face. As is Serafina.

         Serafina is riding on the head of the white steed, waving to the audience, smiling. So many people! So many of these people are probably her fans! /Fans/. She was an orphan until Fassad adopted her. She's so excited to be here, in this important of an event!

         Fassad shall remain on horseback for the entire battle. Meanwhile, Serafina, the MMS Type Fencer - Pearl, Olbern, flies into the arena.

Fassad flips a coin which comes up sideways.
<OOC> Fassad says, "(that would be cheating)"
<OOC> Tora says, "ASCII ninja"


        Tora does not approve. Tora does not approve /at all/. Not only is this display a hideous breach of Battle Rondo official public health and safety guidelines, but also an irredeemably ostentatious show of overblown self-importance! What is the horse just going to sit there the whole time while the fighting is going on? Dumb! Tora's annoyance is mostly only visible to someone paying really careful attention to the monitor currently fixed with a closeup of her face, standing stoicly at the ready on the opposite end of the table virtualizer, mechanized arms crossed before her as she eyes up the opposite shinki. Fassad may look like a total ponce right now, but this "Serafina" had come all this way on her own merits. A finalist isn't anything to sniff at either way.

        Of course, she'd already seen all of the Olbern's previous battle footage. It is part pride and part wild and harebrained strategizing that has Tora pressing her thumb to her emergency harness lock, disengaging her main flight booster from between her shoulders in a sparkle of diffused white light; her main gun mount going along with it. Serafina was clearly very capable at chasing after opponents with superior kiting ability, so how will she fare against an opponent who doesn't even /try/ to outfly her?! Genius! At the same time, the removal of the extraneous weight provides a significant speed boost. What would be the point of coming this far only to /not/ test her sword by going blade to blade with another melee combat specialist?
<OOC> Fassad says, "Do we wanna use a random arena or would you like to pick?"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell makes +3, and will be using that.
<OOC> Arthur Lowell will hook on +J though.
<OOC> Tora says, "Virtualizer is the only way to go!"
<OOC> Fassad says, "you mean random?"
<OOC> Tora says, "Yes!"
<OOC> Tora says, "Ride on! etc."
<OOC> Fassad nods. "In that case..."
Fassad signals the start of the match!
                                   ...3...
                                   ...2...
                                   ...1...

                                   RIDE ON

Fassad activates the Visualizer on random. The light and color swirls chaotically, before resolving into a Battle Field:

ANTARCTIC
        An expansive tundra in all directions, thick snow coating the rocky ground. Outcroppings of ice break the smoothly rolling surface at random intervals, reaching into the cloud-filled sky as jagged spikes. The battlefield is ringed in the distance by obvious mountains of dark gray stone, shot through with snow and icy glaciers. Snow falls constantly, its density changing from light flurries to blizzard conditions seemingly at random.


        Tora isn't the only one irritated with the blatant showmanship, but while Shizune has her arms crossed as well, she keeps the ire off her face, looking as if completely unruffled. "Don't worry," she says simply, staring right across the distance at Fassad but speaking in a voice for only the shinki she stands behind to hear. "All his showmanship doesn't mean anything once the virtual arena is in place. Both you and she have beaten several opponents to get here, so this match could go to either of you." Giving any further advice would be disingenuous of Shizune; by now, Tora is experienced enough to know what she's doing, and she certainly knows her own fighting style better than the martial artist would. "Do me proud, Tora."

<OOC> Setsuko Kaminagi oop
<OOC> Fassad says, "oh a nice cold arena. Just like your heart"
<OOC> Fassad says, "it's fine !shizune"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Shizune was the one who ran winter werewolf right?"
<OOC> Setsuko Kaminagi was!
<OOC> Setsuko Kaminagi says, "Er, Shizune was, yes"
<J-IC-Moderated> Arthur Lowell says, "LADIES, GENTLEMEN, and ASSORTED SYNTHETIC LIFEFORMS OF VARYING SORTS! Welcome to the FINALS of the BATTLE RONDO! I'm GUEST COMMENTATOR and INTERGALACTIC JERK, ARTHUR LOWELL! A HORSE just walked into the ARENA and I ALREADY KNOW we're in for a FANTASTIC fight tonight. Tonight's battle is going to be ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS, with the WHITE KNIGHTBOT and HEROIC REPRESENTITIVE, SERAFINA the OLBERN owned by the NOBLE and HEROIC (APPARENTLY) FASSAD versus the INTIMIDATING Lavina, TORA, owned by MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPION SHIZUNE NAKAMURA, who is literally REMOVING PARTS WHILE I AM TALKING just to SHOW GUTS and maybe lose a little INERTIA! I'm already HYPE! (Commentary continues on channel +3X.)"
Shizune Nakamura has arrived.
Setsuko Kaminagi has left.
<J-IC-Moderated> Kari Wolf says, "Yaaay~!"
Vervi has connected.

         Fassad simply smiles at Shizune. Yes, this woman is, indeed, definately an intelligent and cunning opponent. He can tell from how she ran such a cunning and intellectual game as the winter werewolf thing. But, as Fassad's teeth glow with magical light during the smile, he speaks.

         "Part of heroics and fighting is drowning out your opponent with your massive style."
 The Strarf landing and disabling fight surprises Serafina, though. But, Serafina thinks back, things her master has said. /Always/ take the chalenge. So, she too, lands, on the now artic soil. She shall /not/ use flight in this battle either. This shall simply be settled via skill with the sword.

         The Olbern decides to start strong. Running in, somewhat wrecklessly seeming. Lifting her right hand, and swinging forth the sword. She is starting with a really simple slash, aiming to cut across the Strarf. There isn't much strategy in it. It's more of a matter of testing the opponent. Her left hand is held forward, the shield ready to block anything that might be incoming.

         She smiles, though. She wants to win. But, even if she loses? She has come /all this way/. Even if she loses, she won't be sad. She came all this way on her own strength.

         "This will be a lot of fun! Hey, listen? No hard feelings from me, even if you win."

Fassad does 7 damage to Tora with a Direct hit.
Fassad hit Tora with his Slash weak attack! <Standard Mechanic>
Vervi has reconnected.


        Ohoho. It seems that even if her master is full of hot air, Serafina herself proves to have the substance to back it up. Disabling her own jump unit wont provide nearly as much of an advantage for the already far lighter fencer type, but with the choice of battlefield being a pristine, level expanse, purely landlocked with little to get in the way, somehow it only seems appropriate. No jetpacks. Swords only. Final destination.

        Tora's exosuit arms lift away from her chest as Serafina approaches, remaining crossed a ways out in front of her so that the swipe of her sword wont spill over onto her actual chassis. The result is about what she'd expected from the astonishingly accomplished fencer, even for a shinki risen out of complete obscurity. A razor thin line of cyan energy slices her forearm armour down to the actuators, leaving glowing lines of molten metal down both wrists; uncanny for such a light weapon. Exchanging the first set of blows had been Tora's plan from the start however, and so in the instant Serafina attacks, where her shield arm is weakest, the Strarf suddenly swings back one of those heavy fists and pistons it straight towards her opponent's opposite shoulder; the punch-blade stabbing out from her wrist mount like a pile spike.
<OOC> Tora says, "Do you care particular if I skip to moderate so as to minimize sleep risk?"
<3X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "We're looking at the ANTARCTIC setting on today's VIRTUALIZER, guaranteeing LOTS of DANGEROUS SHATTERING ICE and maybe a little AWFUL WIND AND BLIZZARDS for our fighters tonight, but it looks like that second one isn't gonna be a PROBLEM if they're planning to FIGHT IT OUT right there on the GROUND! If there's ONE THING I can tell from all THIS, though: The OLBERN isn't about to use their CONVENIENT COLOR CAMEOFLAGE potential here! These two are focusing on a HEAD-ON FIGHT!"
<OOC> Fassad says, "that's fine"
<OOC> Tora says, "Kay!"
Tora does 10 damage to Fassad with an Above Average hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her WHATCHAAAAA! moderate attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<OOC> Tora says, "I actually typed "attack Serafina""
<OOC> Tora says, "I feel like a derp"
<OOC> Fassad says, "pft"
<3X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "No KITING, no WEARING DOWN with GUNS, NOTHING like that this time. They're both going STRAIGHT FOR BLOOD, TONIGHT. Or SLAGGED METAL, anyway. We've gone from ZERO to VICIOUS in FIVE SECONDS and I don't think this RIDE is gonna STOP HERE!"

         The blade pierces the shoulder. Serafina is fast enough to ensure it is not too deep, but already, that's a bad place to be hit. But stil, she's remaining fairly happy about this all. She's trying to remember what her master told her about fighting in the snow...

         Right. Look as elegant as possible, to fit in with the snowy terrain. Make yourself look more beautiful.

         And so, despite the pain in her elbow? She flourishes her sword, before making a series of repeated stabbings towards the Strarf. The Strarfs are a bit bulkier than she is... So there isn't much point in trying to defend. She'll simply attack as fast as possible, while /trying/ to get out of the way of the attacks.

         "Ho! Ha ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!"

         She says this all despite only doing simple repeated stabbings.

Fassad uses Repeated Stabbings moderate combo attack on Tora.
The attacks resulted in a series of, Above-average, Above-average, and Graze strikes for a total of 10 damage.
Vervi has partially disconnected.
<OOC> Tora says, "I chortled"


        Well, Olbern and Zilvern models may be lightly equipped, but that just means more of their energy is freed up to go both into their movements and the three pieces of gear they actually have (two if you count the fact that Serafina dropped her jump pack). That means even with her heavier armour, trying to simply tank-and-spank her opponent into submission is probably the worst strategy Tora could commit to, as a sword that juiced up will cut her exoframe to ribbons in no time flat. Instead she takes a couple of steps back, leg pistons thumping through the snow as she ducks into a vigorous weave, throwing her weight side to side so that the lunging flashes of pale blue light gouge into the edges of her battle frame rather than straight into the vitals where Serafina is aiming; taking off chunks of melted plating left and right.

        "What are you even saying?" Tora replies in utter bafflement, clearly taken off guard by her opponent's 'eccentric' behaviour. A shinki that hotblooded wont be put on the defensive for long by sheer antics however, and so suddenly the Starf's heel comes down extra hard, shattering the ice beneath her so that she suddenly loses an inch of relative height, letting the last stab sail over her shoulder, leaving Serafina wide open! Too close to really use her fists, Tora's real hand instead flits to her hip mount, disengaging her mag-locked katana with a flash of neon red (complementing the Olbern's sword quite nicely) in a trademark iaido slash from hip to shoulder! Eastern swordsmanship vs Western!
Tora does 14 damage to Fassad with an Above Average hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her :samurai jack intro plays distantly strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>

<OOC> Tora says, "Aww no :actions in titles"
<OOC> Tora says, "Lame"
<3X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "We've even got BOTH of these two COMPLETELY WITHOUT their JUMP PACKS and getting STRAIGHT INTO THE BATTLE! Both of them are already taking LIGHT DAMAGE and we're only SECONDS into this! TORA feels the edge of ACCURACY and AGILITY that I think SERAFINA has on her, taking rapid STABBING DAMAGE, she'll need to get her bearings and STAND HER GROUND and-- THERE! She DIGS IN and uses her HEAVIER EXOSUIT to tank and RETALIATE with a STRONGER, HEAVY STRIKE that draws her PROPER SWORD! Here we go, this thing's a REAL FIGHT I can't start REALLY DESCRIBING without EXPLETIVES I SIGNED AGREEMENTS NOT TO SAY!"

         The iaido style slashes are notoriously hard to stop, especially if one knows how to use it well. So, even as Serafina lifts her shield? The blade simply skids off of it, cutting into Serafina herself. It cuts fairly deep.

         But, even with the cut, Serafina is trying to move in. She tries to use her shield to keep the katana at bay, trying to push it back. Until, finally, she moves in with a shield bash towards Tora's face. To do this, she switches to parrying with her own blade, to keep it at bay.

         "I am simply trying to fight with style! Style's important in battle, you know! As is calling your attacks! ...Speaking of which, SHIELD BASH!"

         Fassad is not necessarily the best combat trainer.

Fassad does 1 damage to Tora with a Mild Graze hit.
Fassad hit Tora with his Shield Bash! strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<OOC> Tora says, "Oh god I'm sorry I got wrapped up in math"
<OOC> Tora says, "I will commit honourable sudoku"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Pft it's fine"
<OOC> Vervi says, "No more math will just distract you again"


        Okay. That one was just a given. Naturally talented Serafina may be, but yelling "SHIELD BASH!" before bashing someone with one's shield is nothing less than straight up telling them what to do. The instant Tora hears the first word, her eyes go to the Olbern's energy buckler, hyper-accelerated tracking software locking onto it like a bullet in flight. Before she even gets the second and last syllable out, the Strarf swings her head out of the way in the blink of an eye; the trailing edge of the barrier just clipping her hair ever so dramatically; the ice creaking from the strain underfoot, sending spiderwebbing cracks out in all directions beneath both fighter's feet.

        "Strategy is important in battle as well! As is natural talent and preparedness!" Tora's grip twists on her katana, flipping the edge backwards so she can draw it down into another deeply slicing body cut. "But what's most important in battle is a warrior's spirit!" With her hands back down by her hip again, she punctuates that statement with a swift knee to Serafina's midsection, a defeaning "Hiyaaaa!", and then a blindingly fast tanto-draw, trying to cut across her belly before changing her grip into a twin-wielding reverse stance.
Tora does 18 damage to Fassad with a Direct hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her MEN! DOU! KOTE! strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<OOC> Tora says, "Really ham your next attack up"
<OOC> Tora says, "Because it's going to hit HARD"
<OOC> Vervi says, "GO HAM INITIATED"
<3X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "I sure wish I knew those FANCY WORDS for the EASTERN SWORD-DRAWING ATTACK! Ah well-- WOAH! TORA shows she's got her own SPEED and manages to dodge ALMOST ALL of that SHIED BASH from the fencer! That looked like it was gonna really SLAM the NECK, that was a CLOSE CALL! And aw yeah, here comes the SPIRIT, here comes the REAL SOUL! And a HARSH KNEE ATTACK with ANOTHER draw attack!"

         As this slash comes in? Serafina starts stumbling backwards, falling onto her knees. That was a surprisingly strong hit. Strarfs are well known as one of the strongest combat models for a reason. And, Serafina simply is being a bit outclassed.

         But, she smiles, as she looks forward. Her smile has become a lot more like Fassad's recently. Sure, she doesn't have the glowing teeth yet (they don't make a custom shinki part for that, yet). But despite the pain, despite her being at such a disadvantage? She is still smiling the same smile as she started.

         "Strategy? ...Yeah. That's important. I'm still learning it though. Do you know what got me through all of this though? Love. The power of /love/, and the power of /heroics/. My Master is teaching me about heroics, and style. And I love my Master. No matter what, he'll be happy with my performance today. But..."

         She stands up a gain, sword pointed forward.

         "He'll be prouder than he can imagine if I win. So I'll be doing whatever I can."

         She steps forward, doing a strange motion with her knee. She's bending it, to step to give this next attack more power. She spins, swinging the sword with as much power as possible. She makes a complete spin with the sword, in the style of the heroes of Hyrule.

         "I /will/ win this!"

Fassad does 12 damage to Tora with an Above Average hit.
Fassad hit Tora with his Spinning Sword Slash strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>


        One could probably imagine Tora's reaction to that kind of speech involving some kind of poorly held-back snort of amusement. Instead, the Strarf model shinki appears to be even more excited than when the match began, hands squeezing around the hilts of her twin blades as her eyes go practically aflame with understanding. "That's more like it! Style is nothing compared to the deep, unbreakable bond between shinki and master! Fight to preserve the everlasting bonds of unconditional love!" Despite the cringeworthy cheesiness, Tora hasn't lost her eye on the fight; nimbly lunging backwards from the horizontal sweep of Serafina's sword.

        Unfortunately, she isn't terribly familiar with that particular (and somewhat bizarre) attack, leaving her rebounding off her toes to try and skip further backward as the spinning assault continues, throwing her swords up in front of her in a crossed guard as the third sweep comes too close, only to have them knocked straight out of her hands. The best she can do is turning her shoulder towards the last cycle of the spin attack, crying out as a razor thin line carves itself deep into the plastic from her neck to her exo frame's shoulder, only very narrowly avoiding being taken out on the spot from having a CMS cable severed.

        "So it seems your master /did/ teach you something useful!" She exclaims, leaping a short distance up one of the icy, windswept spires that sticks out from the field, bracing her feet against it as her greatsword flashes into existence, held high above her head. "But my master is a martial isn't a pushover either! She's a martial arts champion!" The martial art of the moment appears to be kendo, because after an explosive leap that splits the top half of the spire clean off, the oversized, shinki-busting blade comes wheeling down six inches into the ice at Serafina's feet, going through the Olbern herself if she's unlucky enough to still be there. A second leap off the ground carries her into a wide-reaching left-side slash, and then yet another bounce off the snow goes into an equally enthusiastic right-side hewing motion, wild and overextended.
Tora does 5 damage to Fassad with a Graze hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her mendokote intensifies strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<OOC> Shizune Nakamura says, "My master is a martial isn't a pushover either?"
<OOC> Tora says, "Dammit I fucked that sentance"
<OOC> Tora says, "my master isn't a pushover, she's a martial arts champion"
<OOC> Tora says, "You know what I meant pleblord"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Permission for uber?"
<OOC> Tora says, "Bleugh"
<OOC> Tora says, "Sorry"
<OOC> Tora says, "The lamotragine is kicking in"
<OOC> Tora says, "Kinda zonking"
<OOC> Tora says, "I don't really have a problem with it if you don't feel it's too early"

         As the Strarf's massive blade comes in, Serafina moves back. She lifts her shield. Even with it grazing off of her shield, the sheer strength still stresses the joints of her arm.

         For now, she goes silent. She needs to focus to be able to do anything.

         But, as she steps away from the blade? She leaps skywards, trying to leap over Tora. As she leaps, she even flips, her head turning down. Her blade, slashing towards Tora's head and shoulders. And, finally, trying to make a stab towards the back. Yes, it's really a /dynamic/ slash. Only a light model could pull something like this off, probably.

Fassad does 19 damage to Tora with a Direct hit.
Fassad hit Tora with his Leaping Dynamic Slash uber attack! <Standard Mechanic>
Vervi has disconnected.
Vervi has connected.
<3X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "AW YESSSS! I couldn't here WHAT even was bein' said there, but that was a MID-BEATING SPEECH and it was cool! And a SWORD SPIN! I didn't think that was PRACTICAL, but it's WORKING! Now TORA is on the defensive with a graze off Serafina from a HUGE HEAVY ATTACK putting her at the disasdvantage, and the FENCER is RIGHT BACK INTO IT with the STABBINGS again!"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell went somewhat AFK breifly, sorry
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "*briefly"
Busou Shinki Battle Arena
        Welcome to the Battle Rondo Arena, home of the Busou Shinki Battle Rondo.

        It is a massive stadium with a roof, easily as large as any sports arena and capable of seating thousands of full sized humans in multiple levels. Near the arena floor are numerous large boxes filled with tiny seats for shinki spectators, as well as private boxes for the Masters of tournament fighters and the fighters themselves who are not actively fighting.
        The arena floor itself is a massive holographic projector, relaying the tournament bouts on an enormous scale. Individual shinki render at close to three meters tall, along with all of the terrain surrounding them. At this enormous scale, shinki combat can be seen clearly even from the nosebleed section.

        The actual battles take place on a small table in the center of the arena floor. The visualizer here projects the images and battles re-broadcast for stadium viewing by the much larger holofield.
Contents:
Shizune Nakamura
Tora
Fassad
Vervi
Visualizer

        Once again, Shizune can but sit on the sidelines tensely; though by now she's accustomed to the difficulty of watching her shinki fight, it's offset by the match itself - by what's at stake. And so, her fingers grip the arms of her chair tightly.

<OOC> Fassad pokes Tora
<OOC> Fassad says, "... I think she fell asleep"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Yyyep."
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "They're away on offwindow."
<OOC> Vervi says, "This happens with them sometimes."
<OOC> Fassad nods, knows.
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Yeah."
<OOC> Fassad says, "I'l copy what I have to the log, and save it."
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "I may go do that myself and come back when you folks resume."
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Jab me when you start back up and such."
<OOC> Fassad nods
<OOC> Vervi says, "this round doesn't have a deadline. I had intended to try re-scheduling after my vacation"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Ah"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell jumps to AFK for now, in any case! G'night!


Busou Shinki Battle Arena
        Welcome to the Battle Rondo Arena, home of the Busou Shinki Battle Rondo.

        It is a massive stadium with a roof, easily as large as any sports arena and capable of seating thousands of full sized humans in multiple levels. Near the arena floor are numerous large boxes filled with tiny seats for shinki spectators, as well as private boxes for the Masters of tournament fighters and the fighters themselves who are not actively fighting.
        The arena floor itself is a massive holographic projector, relaying the tournament bouts on an enormous scale. Individual shinki render at close to three meters tall, along with all of the terrain surrounding them. At this enormous scale, shinki combat can be seen clearly even from the nosebleed section.

        The actual battles take place on a small table in the center of the arena floor. The visualizer here projects the images and battles re-broadcast for stadium viewing by the much larger holofield.
Contents:
Fassad
Tora
Visualizer

         As the Strarf's massive blade comes in, Serafina moves back. She lifts her shield. Even with it grazing off of her shield, the sheer strength still stresses the joints of her arm.

         For now, she goes silent. She needs to focus to be able to do anything.

         But, as she steps away from the blade? She leaps skywards, trying to leap over Tora. As she leaps, she even flips, her head turning down. Her blade, slashing towards Tora's head and shoulders. And, finally, trying to make a stab towards the back. Yes, it's really a /dynamic/ slash. Only a light model could pull something like this off, probably.

<OOC> Fassad says, "and then I hit you with an uber for 19 damage"
<OOC> Fassad says, "you haven't used an uber yet"
<Public> Rikki Tikki Mortimer Balman says, "god I'm exhausted.  That stupid thing weighed almost twice what I do x.x"
All channels have been gagged.
<OOC> Fassad says, "I had the arthur commenting open on the wrong window so none of it is placed through the log correctly. But Arthur hadn't commented on my uber yet, though I think he was waiting for yours. not sure. :|a"
<OOC> Tora says, "Oh right"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Yep."
<OOC> Tora says, "Arthur probably has it"
<OOC> Fassad will let Arthur make the supplemental again, but otherwise, Tora's turn
<OOC> Arthur Lowell will resume and get the lines I skipped over the last time so we can rev up.


        Even for a shinki, being on the other end of a sword that huge is downright terrifying. More reach than a spear being swung around by the very bottom and faster than one too, with the entire edge lit up that shade of lurid scarlet that ensures something is going to come off with a direct hit, trailing arcs of crimson through the air. One could describe Tora's fighting style as reckless and needlessly dramatic, but closer attention paid to it reveals a strategy more of sheer, bloody minded relentlessness rather than showmanship, as the deft, almost artful sweeps of her blade cleaving back and forth has Serafina totally on the defensive, urging her on faster and harder to try and break the specialized fencer's defense.

        As it seems however, even without her boost unit, an Olbern model has more than enough in her to escape in the only direction still left; straight up. Without her thermal sensors, Tora goes with her best guess and raises her sword well back over her shoulder; sparks flying as the cutting edge collides with Serafina's, blocking her sword's progress. As the larger, slightly less maneuverable Strarf wheels around to bring her opponent back into view however, the second strike glances by the flat of her blade and skewers right through her torso, ramming itself through where someone's lungs would be were they human.

        As Tora seizes up from the simulated pair; her HUD flickering all sorts of nasty shades of non-functional, she grits her teeth, presses the toes of her boots down into the snow, and reaches behind herself, her bare hand failing to grasp anything, but the punch dagger folded out into its full pair of scissor blades on her forearm is just long enough to do the job, clamping down on the blade in her blind spot. If you ignore just how much danger it puts her in, it's a brilliant strategy. If Serafina leaves it, she'll shatter her sword with the pneumatic pressure from the scissors; if she pulls back before then, pulling Tora's arm straight spins her around and puts her face to face again, allowing her a split second inside of Serafina's guard to bring all her weight down with a limb-hewing slash on her shield arm!
<OOC> Tora says, "I typed Serafina again jeez"
<OOC> Tora says, "Also *pain"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell sets up 2X...
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "IN comes that HUGE BLADE and that's the WHOLE ATTACK tanked STRAIGHT ON with that shield! NO MATTER WHAT you do to BLUNT that, it's gotta HURT, SERAFINA'S keeping up a HARSH DEFENSE! And then--! RIGHT OVER TORA'S HEAD for a BACKSTAB! TORA'S SPINNING like a NEWSMAN'S RHETORIC but she can't get her DEFENSE around to avoid the IMPALEMENT!! Oh man, and now an IMPASSE! I don't know WHAT kind of IMPASSE is actually going on, I can't even TELL down there, but it sure is INTENSE!"

         Though Tora is showing all sorts of nonfunctional? Serafina is having it a bit worse. Especially consider that, as she pulls her sword loose from Tora's scissors? Tora manages to slash at her shield arm. She uses enough force, in fact, to cut the shield arm off completely. Her arm collapses to the ground, limp.

         Serafina says something very unladylike at this, though she quickly pretends she didn't say that. She said it under her breath anyways.

         She's just going to go crazy now, though. This is still a fun fight, but it's gotten a lot more desperate. She swings her blade in her right hand, over and over again. Each slash is random. She isn't thinking on how to effectively slash. Just general slashes at Tora's torso.

Fassad uses Randomly Slashing in Desperation strong combo attack on Tora.
The attacks resulted in a series of, Graze, Above-average, Graze, and Direct strikes for a total of 14 damage.
<OOC> Tora says, "Sorry was afk"
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "Oh, THERE we go! It was HOLDING THE SWORD HOSTAGE! Oh that was GREAT--! WOAH! LADIES and GENTLEMEN and ASSORTED OTHERS, there goes AN ENTIRE ARM! I think we've come to the end of-- WHAT. She's STILL FIGHTING! Does it count as ONLY A FLESH WOUND if the injured dude doesn't HAVE FLESH? HELL IF I KNOW, but DAMN, she's STILL GOING! Lost her ENTIRE SHIELD ARM, and she's STILL GOING AT IT!"
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "That was a HEAVY and CLEVER HIT from TORA on SERAFINA, DISMEMBERING her opponent! But she's STILL going to need to contend with ALL THOSE SLASHES! Can she do it while she's dealing with the IMPALEMENT WOUND?!"


        A direct hit! That is /exactly/ how that cut is supposed to work! Tora vaguely regrets not yelling some kind of name before doing it, but the idea was surprise after all, and she is absolutely elated by the fact that an intended dismemberment worked! That sounds sort of creepy, but it's totally not! It's the HOT BLOOD! The overwhelming excitement can be seen bubbling over in her expression as her mouth smiles but her eyes stare stone cold at Serafina's center of mass, pupils flicking back and forth lightning quick as her accelerated threat tracking software calculates the arc of each slash and her pneumatic arms move to respond, her real arms mostly going through the motions to direct them rather than operating with enough force to spring a more deadly coolant leak from the already dripping stab wound.

        Despite the fact her sword is about as tall as Serafina is from head to toe, those bulky exo-arms move it back and forth with an unerring fluidity; the augmented limbs weaving the sword side to side in a frenzied parrying double wheel, bouncing the lighter fencer's sword off target time and time again, until the slowly decreasing hydrostatic pressure in her suit begins to slow them down, and one slips under her guard, carving off one of her hip plates and biting deep into the leg joint as well; another pair of slices whipping back and forth over her abdomen in a vague X shape.

        Tora likes to be the one putting on the pressure, not being in the hot chair herself, and so as soon as it becomes apparent she can't keep this up for long with the damage she's sustained, she takes one more slash deliberately to her undamaged arm, letting the length of the Olbern's sword slide parallel along her armour as she kicks off from the thoroughly cracked and crumbled icy ground, thrusts her arms backward, and delivers a jackhammer knee strike to Serafina's stomach, swinging out with the deadly scissor blades as she goes sailing past in an attempt to catch a trailing hand or foot and snip it right off.

Tora does 10 damage to Fassad with an Average hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her The knee has a sweetspot! strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "She's got the advantage, independent motor power in those exo-arms! BUT NOT ENOUGH! A strike to the HIP! The TORSO! The ARM--! No! Tora meant to do that, and comes around with a KNEE COUNTER and a SNAPPING BLADED FOLLOWUP to try to take EVEN MORE off of Serafina!"
<OOC> Tora says, "Guh, timing. Gotta get food for my brother because he's apparently too busy doing homework. I'll have mukluk on so I can see your pose though. Probably will take 20~30 minutes"

         As the large blade comes in, Serafina /attempts/ to parry with her own blade. It's not strong enough to stop it, though. As such, it's causing more damage to her arm joint. This is not helped by the knee coming into her. She stumbles back, luckily managing to move just enough to keep another limb from coming off.

         But, as Tora comes in trying to cut again, she sees her opening. She smiles, lifting her blade. This likely won't work, at least not /yet/. But, well. With this being a simulation... If she could get a /strong enough/ hit to the right spot, or enough repeated hits to the right spot? Hrm.

         She holds her blade tight in the right hand, and then swings it forward. She is aiming for Tora's neck. Yeah, she's gonna focus at the neck from here on out, aiming for decapitation. Yaaay!

         After this slash, she /immediately/ tries to step back. Yeah, she doesn't want to stay too close to the massive weapons right now, especially while missing an arm.

Fassad does 10 damage to Tora with an Above Average hit.
Fassad hit Tora with his Neck Slash strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "NOT YET, though! Serafina's still KICKIN', and she's got BOTH LEGS to DO IT WITH! God DAMN, this bot's going STRAIGHT FOR THE THROAT now! She's trying to try to DECAPITATE Tora! CAREFUL, though; now that she doesn't have that SHIELD ARM, she's gotta keep her DISTANCE to keep in the FIGHT!"
<OOC> Tora says, "God damn that took FOREVER"
<OOC> Tora says, "Little brother wouldn't settle on anything so I had to walk out and buy more shit to eat"
<OOC> Fassad says, "wow"
<OOC> Tora says, "Sweaty now x__x"


        The scissors snap just shut over empty air, clashing red hot sparks that sizzle little holes into the thick ice beneath. Tora is just moving forward, using her lead leg now to stomp down and drive her other leg forward and upward, pivoting in a surprisingly flexible chest-level kick to the exposed socket on Serafina's left side, and in doing so only just barely avoiding a sword straight through her throat. Instead, the lunging flash of blue cuts deep into her trapezial region, shearing the pauldron off her shoulder and glancing off of the CMS casing embedded in her chest, momentarily bringing Tora's assault to a halt as she drops to that knee; hand over the deep gouge taken out of her collar.

        "Like a cornered tiger, huh?" She says with a bit of a grimace, surprised that Serafina even has room for any of these counterattacks while she's in her assured victory close combat pattern. Still though. Judging by the way that grimace turns into a cool, knowing smile, the glint in her eye means she knows that she still has the upper hand. Releasing motion control from her extra arms and wiring them directly into her CMS processor to leave her real ones free to hold her wound, Tora bursts back into action by taking an explosively fast rising step from her knee only to drop right back into a crouch, trying to fake the fencer out with a lightning quick sweep kick, wherein she braces her hilt flat and level against her chest so that the blade spins with her like a windmill. Whether or not she catches anything, the instant her spin finally grinds to a halt on the slippery ice, she leaps up into a graceful backflip to reastablish the distance between her and the Olbern, not risking another hit going through her defenses.
Tora does 4 damage to Fassad with a Graze hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her It is called "parting knee" strong attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<OOC> Tora :o
<OOC> Tora says, "Do you wanna do like an epic or an uber or something?"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Hrm. Sure. :|a"

         "Not like a cornered tiger... Like a cornered /hero/ fighting against evil! ...even if you aren't evil!"

         As the leg sweep comes in, she moves back. It strikes, though not as hard as it could of. She continues to keep moving back, though, pondering moves. She's trying to think of what exactly to do. Tora is simply far too strong and skilled.

         But, if she can get a dramatic enough hit...

         "Well. I think it's time I finish this. I don't have much energy left... But. I think I can finish this. Right now."

         She holds her blade straight up, in a dramatic fashion. And, with a flourish? She throws it straight at Tora, trying to pierce her directly in the chest.

         If this doesn't work, she's screwed. But she probably can't take a direct hit from Tora /anyways/, so.

Fassad does 23 damage to Tora with a Direct hit.
Fassad hit Tora with his Throwing your sword always works epic attack! <Standard Mechanic>
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "FOUR LEFT"
<OOC> Tora says, "Holy poop"
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "And there goes TORA, not even FAZED by that VICIOUS RUSH, and she's going for-- Woah! OKAY! I've LOST TRACK of what she's goin' for! There's a FEINTY MOVE and a SWEEP KICK with a SWORD SPIN! Damn! But Serafina took it SO LIGHT and then--! WAIT, WHAT. SHE JUST THREW THE SWORD! THAT'S NOT FENCING AT ALL!! Hahahahahaha! She's going straight for ANOTHER IMPALEMENT! And here I thought we weren't gonna see any RANGED FIGHTING this time!"


        Maybe Tora was a little put-off by the mention of fighting against evil, or maybe she was just too distracted with Serafina's expert theatrics, because in the blink of an eye, the blue blade has left its owner's hands in a deft, graceful throw, and reappeared hilt deep in Tora's "ribcage", the laser edge biting into the very casing of her CMS. The Strarf blinks in surprise, her body stumbling backward from the hefty impact of the crossguard hitting her existing chest wound, and only seems to realize exactly what had happened when she coughs up a bunch of coolant into the snow. Gross. Really impressive throw, but gross!

        "Well then if I'm not evil-" Tora's hands lower from the hilt embedded in her, knowing that if she pulls the sword out, she'll probably loose too much coolant, overheat and shut down, losing the match. Instead, she stands back up, feet braced wide apart and her own sword held 45 degrees out in front of her, trembling with the effort of her machine arms trying to sustain proper pressure. One thing isn't lost on Tora. She has maybe ten seconds before she "bleeds out", but Serafina now has no means to defend herself. The proper choice is beyond obvious to the hotheaded shinki. "Maybe /I'm/ the hero!"

        And with that ancient chinese wisdom to chew on, Tora launches herself into one last attack, crying out loud with every last decibel she can wring out from her little vocalizer as she practically throws herself into Serafina, the sheer force of her slash making the point of her sword do something close to a 360 around her body from shoulder to hip. A split second afterwards, the fingers of her exo-arm go completely limp as the hydraulics inside them simply burst; the heavy shinki-buster sword slamming three inches deep into the ice. Hissing steam pours out of the broken valve, obscuring the battlefield for just a moment. That one moment needed for everyone to sit on their feet and go "Who won?!"
Tora does 27 damage to Fassad with a Direct hit.
Tora hit Fassad with her THE GREATEST FIGHTING SPIRIT ALWAYS PREVAILS! epic attack! <Standard Mechanic>
Fassad has been knocked out!
<OOC> Tora flops over wheezing like a magikarp
<OOC> Tora says, "My heart"
<OOC> Tora says, "Hnnnng"
Shizune Nakamura has arrived.

         When the steam clears, Serafina can be seen laying on the battlefield. Split in half by the attack.

         As the visualizer deactivates, she is, of course, whole again. Yay for special effects! As she rights herself, she moves closer to Tora, smiling. She stretches out a hand.

         "Hm. Thank you for the good fight. You are definately a better fighter than I am."

         Yaay sportsmanship!



        Tora immediately responds with a hand of her own, wiping the symbolic sweat from her brow with the other hand. "Perhaps, but not by much. After all, there's no shame in losing to the shinki that wins in the end. It just proves you're stronger than everyone who tried!" A magnanimous kind of laugh follows after, the strarf clearly excited from having such an intense bout. As the visualizer reset clears her bodily damage, it also pushes out Serafina's sword, allowing her to hand it over laid across her open palms. "I really hope your master decides to keep you after this. You two fit well together." A sagely nod. "Even if you're sort of weird."

         Serafina blinks, "Sort of weird? What do you mean? ...Though, he already told me that yes, he is going to adopt me permenantly, so that makes me happy. I'm so glad! This tournament was the best thing that could possibly happen."

         But, now, she moves out of the way. Tora is probably gonna get a /lot/ of pictures taken of her. And interviews. And fame and fortune and glory.

<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "ANOTHER impalement on TORA! That's TWO IN ONE NIGHT! Serafina is pulling out EVERY STOP to take her down! With the SWORD stuck RIGHT IN HER, she's RUSHING SERAFINA, losing COOLANT and coming around for a HUGE SWING!! There goes THE LAST OF HER POWER and BOTH OF THESE FIGHTERS have PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE, AND I'M SO HYPE MY HANDS ARE SHAKING! CAN'T SEE WHO WON THROUGH THAT STEAM!!! AND... AAAAAND..."
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "TORA! TORA has won the FINALE of the BUSOU SHINKI BATTLE RONDO, with a HELL of a FINISH, what a FIGHT!"
<OOC> Tora says, "FAME AND GLORY YOU SAY?"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Pb, do you have a more complete log of this battle? I accidentally left the announcements out of mine. :|a"
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Probably sorta!"
<OOC> Fassad says, "Could you send it in for Tora and I then, to make both tora and I seem like losers who can't remember to log?"
<OOC> Tora says, "H-hey!"

        There's probably going to be more than one clip on the news this evening of Shizune Nakamura standing up in her seat and cheering as the fight is called.

        Because she totally did.

Vervi has connected.
<OOC> Vervi says, "i wish someone had poked me, I have A THING."
<OOC> Fassad says, "sorry, tora and i are all sorts of fail on this"

        With little warning, a figure enters the Battle Field. An ordinary Strarf, not wearing her powersuit armor but carrying the enormous katana typically carried by a Strarf's powersuit arms. She enters by dropping from the simulated sky, tumbling briefly, then striking the icy ground in a splash of snow and crystalline shards, her blade held above and behind her. When she rises, the weapon is struck to one side, then lifted to rest across her shoulders, the blade gleaming blue.

        Though the Strarf model is far from unpopular, the motions, the confidence, and the unwavering resolve in her golden eyes tell who she is.

        "Wha! Victoria!" one of the Shinki announcers barks out, falling out of her seat.

        "The Battle Rondo champion~," her companion says brightly, "What reason could she have to jump in when the fight's over, I wonder~? Ahh, but it's alright, it's alright."

        In the Field, Victoria surveys the combatants, then lifts her sword, using the tip of the huge blade to point at the Strarf Lavina.

        "You."

        Up in the stands, Jindou rests his chin on one hand, leaning forward in his box, "It seems my shinki can't resist strength. But will she take it, I wonder..."
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "And here's FOUR TIME CHAMPION, VICTORIA the STARF, down here! Here, I'm guessing, to CONGRATULATE our CHAMPION, TORA! And ominously point her sword at her, too, apparently. What's going ON down there?"
Members of channel <2X-Supplemental> are:
Arthur Lowell, Fassad, Shizune Nakamura, and Vervi
2X-Supplemental
Description: SHINKIFIGHTS
Owner: Lain
Mogrifier: GlobalMogrifier (#2600)
Flags: Player Quiet
Recall buffer: 82080b (10 full lines), with 11 lines stored.
1X-Supplemental
Description: ConnorScene
Owner: Lain
Mogrifier: GlobalMogrifier (#2600)
Flags: Player Quiet
Recall buffer: 82080b (10 full lines), with 12 lines stored.
<OOC> Tora says, "Sorry I was doing stuff in another window"


        "Ohoho, the previous Battle Rondo champion!" Tora isn't going to be intimidated while still flush with the glow of victory. After all, it's in the Strarf type's personality to /want/ to fight strong opponents, rather than be afraid of them. "Did you see something you liked?" With a flash of light, Tora also draws her own sword, not threatening with it just yet, but keeping it handy despite the number of scratches it seems to have sustained. "If you want a fight-"

        Suddenly Tora seems to remember something, drawing her eyes towards the stands where Shizune is standing up at the front row. "-. . . it'll have to wait. I've got a party to go to." Wirelessly, Tora hails a transfer for her personal frequency, in case Victoria wishes to send a more formal challenge.
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "Also I was supposed to write 'strarf' there."
<OOC> Arthur Lowell says, "WHOOPS"

         Serafina simply steps back, just staring. Yeaaaah, fricking Strarf models. They're all usually a bit more violent and fight crazy. Not that is a problem, but, hey. Serafina will let them go to it, while she moves back to her master, flying to sit on his shoulder.

         Fassad is still on horseback. Yay bribing the officials in charge to let him ride a horse in.

<OOC> Tora says, "Horse only final destination"

        "Of course," Victoria states evenly. She sweeps her blade to one side, twirls it despite its ENORMOUS size compared to her unarmored body, and then slides it down against her side with a flourish. It disappears into the Slipway. Only then does she open her eyes.

        "Consider it a standing challenge. Your title is won. I have no interest in taking it." Her posture straightens, "I simply wish to see your strength for myself, Strarf Lavina."

        The Strarf bows briefly, "Until the day of battle. Enjoy your victory."

        She then turns in place and exits the Battle Field. Outside, a Valona waits to pick her up and carry her to Jindou's observation box.

        "What do you think?" Iris chimes, "Strong, huh?"

        "Without a doubt," Jindou states with his eyes closed. He lifts his tablet, eyes cracking open, and gently touches the screen with just his fingertips. It displays a still image from the broadcast of Tora mid-swing, in all her ferocious glory, "...The ultra-rare Monitor type..."
Vervi has reconnected.
Vervi has partially disconnected.
<OOC> Tora says, "I got shivers"
<OOC> Tora says, "Jindou 2creepy"
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, and OTHER ASSORTED THINGS, it's looking like we may have one MOTHER of an EXHIBITION MATCH to see one of these days. But I know there's NOT A LOT that'll top TONIGHT!"
<OOC> Vervi says, "yeah he does that"
<2X-Supplemental> Arthur Lowell says, "THIS HAS BEEN THE BUSOU SHINKI BATTLE RONDO, brought to you by MULTI MOVABLE SYSTEMS! This is ARTHUR LOWELL, INTERGALACTIC JERK and GUEST COMMENTATOR, SIGNING OFF!"