Round Two: Kiruna VS Kihaku

[A Dragonian]

Legends of Dragonia: Tournament 2006--
Esperanza Edition:
Round Two: Viva la Dragonia!

Match: Kiruna VS Kihaku
Final Score: 1 - 4
Location: Larleta
Starting Date: Monday, September 4^th, 2006
Ending Date: Saturday, September 15^th, 2006
Judge: Kilix

Reminder - Be sure to be well informed of the Rules and Format of each match. Be sure to include your surrounding area; remember, YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING ON THE TOURNAMENT GROUNDS! The first person to post can set any additional conditions, such as the weather or the exact location of where the two are fighting, to further the environment. Also, be creative with what you do, and be sure to have fun!

[kihaku]

Kihaku was standing before the portal once more in Esperanza, the swirling blue in front of him beckoning him onwards to his next challenge. The crowd was only somewhat interested in this dark figure, being only one of two black visages that Kihaku knew of, the other being a homicidal android running around. Though the stares mattered little to him, it was what lie beyond it that gave the tall sorcerer pause. He didn't know what waited for him on the other side, but he knew in his breast that he would conquer whatever it was. A two simply wouldn't do.

Giving a final resigned sigh, he stepped through with closed eyes.

The first thing he noticed was that the air was suddenly oppressively hot. Despite his closed eyes, he could tell there would be no light where he was now. The chirruping of noctournal insects ground against his sensitive hearing, their clicks and whirs a definite distraction. Just as he was about to give a small smile of familiarity, he opened his eyes and ducked. Some large primordial moth, wingspan wider than the warrior's chest, flew right at his face, missing him by mere centimeters. He spun around just in time to watch the ancient creature fly off to whatever distant black history from which it found it's genesis.

Yes... this was DEFINITELY Larleta.

The squelch of mud still wet from a rain, probably weeks ago, stuck to his boots as he stepped into a mud puddle. He gave a small grunt of annoyance before stepping onto dry, leafy land. He knew that his enemy would be on his way, but after Musashi, Kihaku was certain that no matter whether he hid now or not, there wouldn't be a snowball's chance in hell he'd be able to stay hidden.

Deciding it best to survey his surroundings, Kihaku looked about and finally discovered the source of light, or lack thereof. In the Larletan jungles, there was little enough light at daytime, but now, at night, Kihaku couldn't help but chuckle in satsifaction. Back in Bedoe, there had been little cover to play mind games with, but here in the oppresively humid forest air with noises and glowing eyes all about, Kihaku had opportunity at every turn.

His crimson eyes surveyed the area, finding relatively little room to maneuver, the widest area about being only two hundred feet or so across. Well, that would limit his skill with Oblivion, but only just. Nirvana would be useful in such close quarters combat, and of course his skills in his particular mode of energy would be almost unbeatable.

Kihaku leaned up against the rough bark of a leafy green tree, silently awaiting his next opponent. He kept his crimson eyes wide open for any sign of an approaching entity, and his senses on high alert. Musashi had been an honorable warrior, though without proper knowledge of his new enemy, Kihaku knew that he was at a small disadvantage.

But then again... his opponent knew nothing of him either.

[damian]

While Kihaku explored their designated fighting area, Kiruna hopped down the street struggling into his last armoured boot of his new suit. He had only just gotten back to the hotel when his next match was announced. He turned up a couple of minutes after Kihaku stepped thorugh, then checked his armour over one more time. He hadn't really used it last time, but it was a precaution, and one he was grateful for.

Before stepping through, Kiruna thought about what he knew of the next match. Kihaku Sagaku. KIruna. KIlix. KIhaku. Someone was making a joke against Kiruna in management, and he wondered who would have as annoying a sense of humour as to see the similarity between his name, Kilix's name, and Kihaku's. He sighed, straightened his shoulders, then stepped through the blue portal.

"Another jungle?!" Kiruna cried in disbelief. He had fought in Easter Parmecia against Kilix last, a close battle, and one that he wasn't too pleased with the result. He couldn't lose twice, however. Nobody's luck could be that bad, especially not his own.

The darkness worked for Kiruna, who naturally blended in, and he soon found his opponent by way of sensing for him. He bowed to Kihaku, saying,
"I am Kiruna Elstrom, your opponent." Then he raised his head and smirked at Kihaku, showing his determination. He would not lose here. Then Kiruna continued,
"If you don't mkind, I'll begin." And so he did.

To assess Kihaku's skills, Kiruna decided to throw everything he had at him at the veyr beggining. So, using his telekinesis, Kiruna caused the tree behind Kihaku to break away from its roots and fall. Hoping this would distract Kihaku, he charged up, his aura exploding around him, and fired an immense Ki blast, coveing the space between himself and Kihaku, and also tall enough to hit a warrior twice the size of Kihaku.

Not trusting the darkness of the jungle too much, Kiruna crouched low and shot up into the night sky, breaking through the canopy with ease. From up here, all the trees looked the same, but at least the stars and moon now provided some base form of light. Kiruna looked down at where he had launched his attack, awaiting Kihaku with a smile on his face.
(Good luck man.)

[kihaku]

Kihaku looked to his right when his opponent arrived, a dark shadow seperating itself from the rest of the dim gloom of the trees. Though Kihaku could have hid himself, he'd decided not to go through the trouble. He was pissed enough as it was without having to be found when he tried to hide. No matter, Kihaku was just fine when Kiruna appeared, putting himself in harm's way without even realizing it.

Why did his opponents feel the urge to introduce themselves? It only served to waste time and give him one more edge on them. Hands crossed over his chest and crimson eyes glowering at the intruder, he growled, "Actually, I do mind." He seemed either not to hear or not to care, for his aura burst into life, lighting up the clearing with a bright white, black swirling in with the power to create an almost hypnotic light show. However, the excitement was short lived as quite suddenly the tree was uprooted and thrust down upon Kihaku, followed up quickly by a huge Ki blast.

Amateur.

The tree fell right atop Kihaku, smashing down upon him with a force strong enough to send tremors through the earth. The immense blast of Ki ripped the roots and rocks from their moist home, slamming into the tree and rending it apart. Surely Kihaku would be severely injured right now, but when the smoke cleared, he wasn't even there, and Kiruna was now up in the air, a black splotch clearly visible against the starry, moonlit night sky.

Somewhere in the thick jungle, Kihaku's black form crouched on a thick canopy bough, his power not even registering on any level. Wraith mode had indeed served him well once more. Peering through the thick leaves, he could very clearly pick out Kiruna hovering in place, an arrogant smile on his face. Kihaku, his annoyance growing by the second, pulled out the Yang talisman and pondered on the best use for it. Struck by sudden inspiration, Kihaku grinned maliciously to himself and held his arms outward as if to perform a Ki attack. The Yang talisman floated two inches from either palm, awaiting commands. "Hail of Arrows."

The black glass spun crazily, and like turning the tap on in a shower, slivers of black energy shot out of the canopy, ripping the leaves from their stems as they flew by the hundreds at Kiruna. As the black energies continued their on their journey, Kihaku watched and calculated, trying to figure the best way to follow this up. Bah, forget it, time to improvise. The very moment Kihaku saw Kiruna's move to counter, he teleported directly to the Shadowhurican's left, bringing a spinning heel kick right against the small of his back. This then led into the drawing of the Nirvana, the long, black, purple tinted blade didn't even sigh as it was slid out of it's home, slicing upwards to take off one of Kiruna's wings.

Using the upward momentum, he entered a backflip as he began to fall like a rock towards the earth, the canopy rushing up to meet him with it's leafy embrace. Just before he disappeared, he raised his upturned palm and fired off a single orb of dark intentions, a single Spectresphere flying towards Kiruna with the air sucking in towards the sphere of black like a miniature black hole.

When he entered the trees once more, he caught himself on a branch, crouching low and sliding the Nirvana home. Okay Kiruna... let's get serious about this. His power level ebbed to nothing once more, and he flew from tree to tree keeping out of sight of the clearing.

[damian]

Kiruna watched the approaching attack of black energy and frowned. That was a little obvious. However, he wasn't sure what form of energy these approaching attacks were in. So for safety's sake, Kikruna brought his arms and legs in close and formed the Shadow Sphere, the attacks shooting out the other side of the opauqe orb as they reached where Kiruna had been.

The Shadow Sphere retreated back into Kiruna just in time for Kihaku's kick to hit Kiruna in the back, forcing him forwards. However this helped Kiruna as he turned and brought his wings back, avoiding Kihaku's blade. As Kihaku fell and fired another blast of his odd energy, Kiruna pursued him, easily dodging the attack and answering with a hail of blasts all focused on his falling opponent. As Kihaku entered the canopy, Kiruna swung back up into the night sky.

Kiruna had also seen where Kihaku had landed and so, wasting no time, he sent out a strong telekinetic wave at that area. This wave was powerful enough to force the trees that Kihaku could have landed on, Kiruna wasn't certain which of them, into the air. Kiruna brought the trees up around him and then used them as another form of weapon in this fight.

But that wasn't all, as Kiruna's mind fired out this telekinetic wave, at the same time Kiruna also crossed his arms at his chets like a corpse. Two Ki balls appeared in both his hands and he fired the Chaos Cannon down to the same spot where he had seen Kihaku fall. Not only would Kihaku now have to deal with the force of the telekinetic attack, but also the Ki blast nearing him would do even more devastating damage.

Kiruna crossed his arms and watched the destruction he'd wreaked, the massive crater that the Chaos Cannon and the telekinesis had caused. The trees around him, five in all and eight feet tall, floated idly awaiting their telekinetic orders. Kiruna knew he'd have to use them against Kihaku, but the fact Kihaku hadn't remained airborne confused Kiruna. Perhaps he couldn't fly? Strange, but not entirely unbelievable.

Kihaku was well-armed, that was true. Kiruna hadn't noticed the sword until the last moment, nor had he even been aware of where Kihaku was. He wondered how he could have done a trick like that, but Kiruna was grateful he had come out of the first clash relatively unharmed. His back was already feeling fine, too.

[kihaku]

Kihaku breathed a sigh of relief. He was leaning his back against the rough bark of a tree a few hundred feet from the smoking crater. His face was set in a grim smile, and his red eyes glowered from within the black depths of his hood. He hadn't done this well in his fight with Musashi, probably because this new territory suited him better. Kiruna's strength was being able to fly, but then again, it might also soon become his downfall. The only way Kihaku would be able to get any kind of upper hand would be to force him to the ground and into the trees. Giving a final sigh of resignation, he called up his misty indigo aura and several shadows shot from his body into the darkness.

His powerlevel instantly shrinking, the damage was done. He knew Kiruna would zero in on the signal, even for the breif moment it'd been up. He had no choice but to fight now, and with a mighty leap, grabbed the black staff from his back and leapt from the trees, the wind picking him up and assisting him in his skyward ascension. Pulling on the Nirvana as well, he knew those trees would cause problems, which is why he had a contingincy plan.

The instant kihaku's dark from flew from the canopy, seven other black shapes shot out of the leaves, much faster and without the resistance that Kihaku felt. Made of pure chaos energies, seven Shadow Forms rose up to meet Kiruna, arms formed into sharp, pitch black blades to slice away at either Kiruna or the defending trees.

There was a single tree in Kihaku's path, and with a single swipe, the huge sentinel, probably centuries old, was cleaved in two and Kihaku passed easily through the two halves. With a strong swing, the end of the night black staff went on a whistling path for Kiruna's upper arm, while the Nirvana sliced at his middle, the two forming a kind of scissor motion. Quite suddenly, a blade longer than an arm slid out of the staff like a dangerous talon, shining silver glancing the light of the stars and pale moon back at the sky.

The Shadow Forms darted towards the pair, and with only four whole trees left, three got through and brought their knife-like apendages at Kiruna's body. One came from behind to the small of his back, a second to his legs, and the third to his upper back.

If Kihaku's own attacks missed, he would use the larger momentum of the Oblivion to enter a spin and bring the Nirvana around for a second strike at the shadowhurican's middle, the scythe soon following suit for a slice at his chest.

Sight was all the warrior had to keep track of Kihaku, and wearing his black garb against the dark backdrop of the trees and stars, he would be little more than a blotch of blackness, the moonlight casting the only light for which Kiruna could find him. Perhaps this needed to be rectified...

[damian]

As his tree sentinels were dispatched, Kiruna became aware that Kihaku had avoided his attack. He also now knew that Kihaku wasn't alone, and decided now would be a good time to active his armour once more. Not only being able to absorb Ki, the armour could also absorb physical impact.

This became very helpful, as Kihaku's first attack was nimbly dodged by Kiruna merely moving backwards but, unfortunately, towards the Shadow Forms. All of their attacks struck the armour; but, thanks to Kiruna's decision, no damage was done by the attacks' impact.

Kihaku's second strike would end up most likely hitting his Shadow Forms as, when he spun around, Kiruna teleported above the four of them. Kihaku was probably too far into his momentum by now to avoid destroying one of his allies, and probably only realised this before a split second afterward a Ki blast came screaming down towards another one of Kihaku's Shadow Forms.

Kiruna himself followed at the same time as the blast, both his feet down in a massive double-footed kick towards Kihaku's skull. His opponent found far too much confidence in his weapons, which Kiruna looked on with disdain. A true warrior fights with his own body, turning it into his own weapon. Kiruna even hated using the Absorption Armour, as it felt like a bastardization of his natural strengths.

Kihaku obviously thought he had the advantage, or he wouldn't have tried such a daring stunt. Kiruna knew his opponent would fall again, and he wasn't going to give Kihaku much time. He dashed in front of him, using as much of his own, now accustomed eyesight as he could, and triggered Dark Dynamo. Moving with a speed that had not been seen yet through out the fight, in five seconds flat Kiruna had launched fifty punches and kicks, scattered around Kihaku's body, his hands blazing with blue flame that cast a light enough so that now Kiruna could see his opponent better.

Kihaku would not be able to use his strange staff at such a close proximity, and his sword would be no use at the speed Kiruna attacked other than blocking some strikes, but Kihaku would be hardpressed to equal Kiruna's speed. But stranger things have happened, and Kiruna wouldn't be surprised if Kihaku could. To protect himself from the Shadow Forms, Kiruna exerted a telekinetic wave backwards at them as he used Dark Dynamo.

[kihaku]

Kihaku was getting annoyed again as his attacks failed time and again, however, there was something that crossed his mind the instant the Oblivion sliced one of his shadow forms in the chest, the rip in the clone closing almost instantly. With each new attack, Kiruna had to get more and more inventive with what he needed to do. Whilst Kihaku attacked with his weapons and clones, expending as little of his own energies as possible, Kiruna was wholly dependant on his strength, speed, and energy attacks. Therein lay his weakness, for the more energy one expended, the less able one became to fight.

Kihaku tossed his weapons at a free clone, the Shadow Form catching them easily and falling, no, more like glided back to the canopy to store them safely. In the meantime, Kihaku looked up at the source of Kiruna's energy signature, since it was no longer in front of him, and gave a small hum of predictability. It's always above or behind, never to the side as Kihaku had. He continued the forward lunge, now weaponless, giving a wince as the ki blast flattened a clone in place. The dark energy that it had been made of flew right back to Kihaku's body, strengthening him with the power that'd been sacrificed to make it. Looking behind him, he smiled as the kick at Kihaku's head missed him by mere inches, the boots passing by his face as his momentum carried him under the attack.

So, time for a quick observation. One clone was gone, leaving six. A second was off hidey-holing the weapons, leaving five, plus Kihaku. Kiruna was getting ready for another attack, as the spirit felt the shadowhurican charge up for some sort of blazing attack. Well, only one way to counter an attack such as that, and it was to simply wait it out.

The Yang talisman flew unbidden from his belt pouch and into Kihaku's hand. Threads of blackness wove themselves out of the black glass of the Yang talisman to form a sphere around him, not unlike the one Kiruna had made himself. Kihaku sat behind the dark negative energies and laughed at himself. If Kiruna didn't halt his attack, he would expend energy uselessly against the negation, and if it were instead some kind of physical attack... well... he'd lose some flesh against the barrier.

Meantime, the five remaining clones charged downwards at the dark winged warrior, their blades flashing in the moonlight and slicing for any kind of exposed skin. His face, his arms, his legs, anything they could lay their sharp edges on.

When Kihaku sensed the end of the furious attacks, the dome exploded outwards, threads of negation flying out in a tangled web of black power. They disappated twenty feet from Kihaku, who grunted in appreciation of the warrior's talents. The clones had launched a few good strikes, but were forced away by a strong blast of telekinesis. After such a strong offensive, Kihaku rushed forward with his own, the Yang talisman still clutched in his hands. In mockery of Kiruna's Dark Dynamo, Kihaku's own hands were shrouded in flame, but this was pitch black, created of pure, unfettered negation. Kihaku dashed onwards, throwing a flurry of jabs and punches at the Shadowhurican's vital areas, certain that the anti-energy around his hands would do some certain damage.

Perhaps five punches later, he was gone, instantly below the shadowhurican, laying on his back with both hands extended forward. His aura spilled out of his form like mist from a swamp, thick and yet intangible as they swirled, forming wraith-like shapes that tore themselves apart in the wind and buffeting energies. In each palm, there hovered a globe of black, darker than nightmare, and more terrible and destructive than fear. "Spectresphere!" They flew forwards, mere feet from Kiruna's boots. The wind howled as it was sucked in against the negation, Kihaku so close to the vacuum himself that he had to strain not to be pulled by their suction. His aura still swirling about him, indigo energy spiraling around his right hand as another Spectresphere formed, just in case he needed it.

[kihaku]

((auto-hit time expired))

Kihaku was shocked the next instant he assessed managed to assess the
situation. Kiruna had been smart and not attacked the dome, but there was
something that definitely wasn't expected. Not only had Kiruna been cut on
the open areas between the bits of armor, bleeding profusely from multiple
incisions, but the threads of negation had managed to catch his legs, eating
away the skin in tiny little spider silk thin lines, but he'd also been
pummeled without resistance by Kihaku's physical assault. There were dents
in his armor where the firey negation had transformed the metal into energy
and cancelled it right away. Unfortunately for the Shadowhurican, the
Spectrespheres had missed his feet, and instead slid up along his body,
removing streaks of skin and armor from his frame, right up his back until
they hit his wings, sucking up and destroying feathers and skin until the
spheres were finally full and could consume no more, simply disappearing as
if they’d not even existed.

Feeling that a third Spectresphere wouldn’t do any good other than to get
him disqualified, he retracted it’s power back into his body and instead
reached into his two belt pouches, feeling around for the black and white
glass trinkets he always carried with him.

Now with the upper hand, Kihaku, in a most cliché move, and teleported in a
blast of cold mist directly in front of the Shadowhurican, Yin and Yang
talismans firmly in hand. Thrusting his fists forward, a twin shafts of
light and darkness shot forward from his hands, curling around one another
in a swirling blast of pure, chaotic energies. White and black power
streamed the final two feet between Kihaku’s outstreached arms and Kiruna’s
face.

Kihaku knew that something would be instantly done in order to avenge his
hurts and pains, and with his wings sorely injured, he was certain that he
would be grounded. Keeping his talismans in hand, he shot downwards with the
help of gravity and the wind, caught easily by his five clones and helped to
his feet. “Time to see what you can do on the ground,
Kiruna.”

[Archer]

The auditorium was filled with the rining Judge's voice over the speaker system:

"The winner of this fight is...

Kihaku Sagaku!!!"

((Would've been quite hard to judge, if Kiruna didnt' stop posting; that autohit is the first of what was potentially many, so the score is Kihaku - 4, Kiruna - 1. Good luck to both competitors in the further rounds!))