“Hello martial arts fans!” The voice of the announcer echoed throughout the grand arena as he greeted the energetic crowd from his announcer’s box, eliciting a cheer from the audience who had gathered to watch the match and root for their favorites.
“Wow, you can really feel the electricity in the air! So what do you say we get this party started!?” The crowd cheered in affirmation, ready for the match to begin.
“Alright then! Round one of the Tournament of Glory features Om and Jackie! Give ‘em a warm welcome!” As the combatants stepped onto the pristine alabaster tiles of the arena, a dome of bright blue energy formed to encase them inside and keep those outside of the arena safe. Once the combatants took their positions, the announcer grinned with excitement. This was always his favorite part.
“Fighters, get ready!” The whole arena fell silent for a moment. So silent, one could hear a pin drop. At last, the announcer signaled the start of the match.
“BEGIN!!!” Raising his hand with a cheer, the crowd went absolutely ballistic. It was sure to be an electrifying match. The crowd cheered on the participants, eager to see what they could do.
Thread PL: 1,760,000 (Superego x16 Active!) Items: N/A Om was late to the tournament. He wasn't too good with directions yet, but flying around made things a cinch. Finally, he touched down and bolted inside. Going through the hassle of registering and confirming who he was—like he knew—and taking the elevator made him almost throw his hands up and give up on the whole ordeal. But no. Something about this event called to him, even if he didn't know why. Maybe it would bring him closer to the person he was before.
Nevertheless, he made it to the show on time. But what to do about this face of his? People recognized it, and that wasn't good. People who recognized him tended to ask questions, which wasn't very pleasant. Why couldn't he just be? Then again, what was he expecting following the vapor trail that was this Yogu he used to be? Om strutted past medical services as he made his way to the stage, nabbing some gauze out of a box as he went. He kept wrapping layer upon layer over his head until he was good and mummified in the stuff. The only problem was the horn, still sticking out from his temple. And that, well, he couldn't exactly see. Maybe this was a little dumb. Too late to back out now. He had to commit! With what he gathered about his opponent, the wrapping around his face wouldn't last long anyhow.
Someone, he wasn't sure who, guided him to the fight. The moment he stepped across the threshold into the arena, the screams and cheers of the audience became audible. Om could feel a smile creep up on his face. The horned boy was in his element—he felt it in his soul. Pieces of memories flashed in his head. Fighting in martial arts tournaments as a youth, becoming bloodied and battered in gladiator arenas on Konats. Yes, combat had been his life. The announcer screams to get ready, and Om tenses up. His energy shifts and recedes momentarily, like a tense wave preparing to crash on unsuspecting people in a tsunami. As the crowd's cheers reach a fever pitch and the announcer gives the go ahead to clobber one another, he calls out to his opponent,
"This is my first fight, ya know! Go easy on me while I try to pick it up, alright?"
Hopefully, he could recall a move or two to get him through this. KP: 6/6 MP: 0/6 -> 1/6 HP: 0% Total WC: 406
Jackie was here for a number of reasons. One of them being to hone her skills, of course, but she also served as spectator to others' fights. She wasn't sure when or how this tower was constructed so orderly and quickly, but she was aware that its tournament attracted some dangerous brass that had to be babysat. Unlike most of that suspicious brawn, the kami had no need to hide her identity or presence. Approaching her side of the arena with the bolstered confidence afforded by the cheering crowd.
The sunkissed lady spread her arms wide and waved to the crowd, wearing that infectious smile of hers as the announcer went through the routine of introducing the pair that would be fighting. Jackie, of course, and the mysterious 'Om' who she only really heard as a surname of sorts. What she saw wasn't entirely familiar in look or sound however. After flexing one last time for the audience, she turned a full 360 to face Om with proper respect. Offering a curt bow.
This random stranger was inexplicably strong. You'd expect he would be slapped in the highest bracket with the other high horses, but that wasn't to be. This would be a separate test of grit from the norm; If she had to go up against people like this she'd be forced to tapping into that fiery wrath for sport. It made her uncomfortable. In a sick twist, the girl just continued smiling and lifted from her bow.
"Your first fight, huh?" Someone wasn't just THAT strong. She had her doubts out the gate. Jackie couldn't really dispute something a stranger told her without just calling it bullshit, which isn't how she worked. "Maybe it should be you who goes a little easy on me. I'm only human after all." She offered as a curt gesture of kindred inadequacy before stomping a foot into a wide horse stance. Tightening hands into fists as a pale orange aura flew around her. In an instant, her meagre ki shot through the roof. As did her muscle tone, Jackie's muscles tense and grow ever so slightly to accommodate taking in more of her inner spirit at once. If Om could feel such a thing, it was still nothing compared to what he had.
"After you, then. Show me what ya got!" She maintained her broad stance, keeping an eye on Om and any sudden moves he might make... Was it a mistake to let him have a crack first, even after the announcer called for them to begin?
Jackie prepares herself, not understanding who she is fighting! She patiently waits for this 'greenhorn' to start!
Om snaps to attention, realizing he was supposed to bow. He copies what Jackie did, not wanting to be rude. "Yes, Ma'am! First fight." The kid didn't really get what was happening anymore, but it all felt right, so that was something. He eases into a stance as though it had been practiced thousands of times, knees bent, one fist at his side and another raised by his head. Jackie's gesture is lost on him, "Don't worry, I'm human too, I think!" He attempts to reassure her. Their difference in power was significant, after all. If only he knew the off switch on all this crap. That would be the polite thing to do.
Splinters of memory shoot out across his mind. In another time, another life, he faced this woman in a battle. It did not go his way. Broken bones, burns from divine flame, and tears. She was a killer. But here she was now, smiling and being polite. Humans were funny. Was Yogu like that, too?
He's given the courtesy of first blood, which the boy is more than happy to oblige. "Gotcha. Wouldn't want to keep the audience waiting any longer." Om taps his foot anxiously; the building anticipation made him unsure of himself. Curses whisper under his breath, "Knew I shoulda gone at her when they said go... Stupid..." Time to show what he had, whatever that was. Om hoped it was good.
Suddenly, the boy's body becomes rigid, and he lurches forward before disappearing entirely, a faint afterimage left behind where he once stood. A scream sounds out from above, "LET'S DO THIS SHIT, KAMI!"
From the peak of the dome they were entrapped in, Om comes crashing down! His hand burns with an amount of ki that feels almost magnetic, drawing everyone's senses toward a center point of furious power. A tiger claw strike intended to smash Jackie's nose comes flying out! He lands, three precise strikes so swift the audience could not perceive them shoot out at her belly, sternum, and throat. Another afterimage, he was coming at the side now, a sharp elbow intent on crushing her ribs into dust. Behind this time, flipping in the air and slamming his leg down like a warhammer trying to crack her head! He would not let up, not allowing her even a half-second to breathe. Wrathful vengeance lay dormant in each blow.
Something about this felt personal, though Om couldn't put his finger on it. Om lets loose with a barrage of attacks using Medium Offensive || Ki Overdrive! Incoming damage is 880,000 (50%!)
"YOU THINK?" Jackie's head cocked to the side at the odd answer, giving him another square look. Trying to peer into that energy that was simultaneously familiar yet held itself in a very abstract way. A body snatcher of someone she knew? Why was it ALWAYS something like that? maybe she was overstepping and overthinking. That coupled with his strength, it made no sense that he'd be familiar while all of THAT. "Whatever, let's show these people a good time!" Bracing herself for the sheer difference in strength, she was hoping to maybe catch him on the advance and hold out with a defence.
There was no such luxury. And Om knew who she was subconciously. Jackie preemptively held up a barrier of light in front of her as she witnessed him vanish, expecting a side assault. A screaming title call out catches her attention just outside the tanned warrior's peripheral. Her head whips up to look only to feel the sturdy meat of digits rake at her nose in an instant. her barrier was shattered with ease, sending its protective energy out in destroyed shards. Like broken glass that disappeared into the air soon after as embers. The crash of power Om threw around himself while fighting Jackie catches her off balance even further, a resounding 'crack' followed by blood reveals his very first strike to be true and to pop a vessel. Her nose sprays blood and continues to bleed as she puts up her arms.
Only, he was so far as to aim right under her mistimed defence. Arms went up, his fists dug under. The air is knocked out of the kami within the first few seconds of contact, leaving her quickly battered as she feels her stomach and ribs beaten. She chokes out a cough of pain. She was about to be launched away from the sheer force, even with her good footwork, but Om made sure to really catch her before her body could react. Another crack at her ribs as an elbow digs into her, then another overhead onto her cranium.
"AAAAAAUGH!" The kami cries as she is beaten down into the tiled arena facefirst. She didn't know where his own anger came from, that vitriol subtle and hidden under a sanctioned fight, but Jackie felt something was off here too. Her face struggles to pick itself up from the rubble as her crimson eyes strain a look back up at her opponent. While he was standing overtop her, she wasn't out just yet! She stomps a knee into the earth and pushes herself onto her back, just before holding out her hands and letting loose a wild wave of energy and fire from her fingertips. Hoping to make up for the bad start with some clever grit.
Jackie throws up a Protective Novae (2KP 20% DEF SHIELD | 130,000) to absorb the brunt of the Ki Overdrive (880,000)! After the clash, and a further reduction from the Shield variant, she takes the remaining 525,000 (80%!)
Jackie tries returning the favor with a Fire Wave (2KP 50% OFF MA | 325,000) @ Om!
Om thought for a while about her response to his uncertainty about what he was. Did everyone have it figured out that easily? Was it that strange to not know who you were? Who cares! He felt electric! His blood was pumping, his heart was pounding, and the crowd was roaring! He drew blood. This really was what he was meant to do. Thank the kais he found his thing so quickly. It takes some people their whole lives to do that, he was pretty sure. Righteous fury simmered under the surface, and the boy allowed it to flow through him, curious where the feeling would take him. If fighting all divine beings was this fun, he'll be taking on the heavens by the end of the week.
He crouches down by the fallen foe, "How'd I do? Sounds like they're fans." Om's words were upsettingly genuine, as though the brutality in his blows was nonexistent. "I thought you'd be- AHHHH!" He screams as flames shoot out and blast him right in the face! The wrappings around his head catch fire, and flames enshroud his head. Forget hiding away that face and everything that came with it! He couldn't let his hair burn! Om scrambles around in a panic tearing it all off, but it and the flames were finally gone now. Panicked, he puts a hand over his face in a pathetically desperate attempt to hide it. "Ugh, screw it." The hand goes down. Well, he could use the surprise to his advantage, at least. "Do you know why I feel mad at you?"
Om springs forward without waiting for a response. There was no slowing down, no more chances to get burned or think things through. This was a tournament, after all! The show must go on! Classic martial arts tournament phrase. The kid whips his head back before swinging it forward for the headbutt of a lifetime! Maybe the recoil would jog his memory. Or give him a concussion. Om tanks Fire Wave! 18% damage received. Om retaliates with Light Offensive || Devil Claw flavored as a headbutt! 352,000 potential damage (20%) incoming!
"Tchah..." Was it luck of brilliance that she managed to scratch him in this form? Om recoils from the sudden flames wreathing his form, licking him to minor annoyance or panic at best. Still, it hurt enough somewhere to make the man tear those concealing bandages away, revealing... Yogu??? Jackie's eyes maintained full contact with him as she watched her fire surge, hands still held up with palms out, ready to blast again or scramble up a defense right before this. All of that was froze on the spot as Jackie's eyes widened.
"Y-yogu!?" As if answering his question about that underlying hatred, she looked more concerned and scared for a moment than angry. Had this been where he was at? Locked up in a body he couldn't control? The man sounded little like the upstart that yelled at her, begged her to stop using rage as a tool. Yet here she was facing him with a power she thought hard to swallow for anyone like herself or him. If this was even him to begin with... Before she could get another word out she had to prop another barrier of light up between him and her as Om retaliates with a headbutt. It sends her reeling back into her little crater, bells rung in her head.
"A-aah..." Through it all though, she knew she HAD to get up and away from Om who was seizing control in this position. She couldn't let the pain and shock stir her soo badly. Before he could get back up from his concussion-inducing stupor, she'd yank her arms up and spread her fingers out near her forehead. Closing her eyes tight and gritting her teeth before shouting back up at him suddenly. It was a technique Yogu probably knew better from watching and hearing it alone, if he could subconsciously react to it.
"SOLAR FLARE!" The arena lights up with the color-deafening flashbang, the crowd going ecstatic with a familiar technique. Even if most could not see what she does next- Use any time bought with it to stand back up, hope away from Om in a single leaping bound, and catch her breath. Little leaking faucet of a kami would need to buy herself time to even understand what was going on in this match.
"Yogu, is that really you? What happened?!"
Jackie throws up a Lesser Novae (0KP 20% DEF ITEM | 130,000) to absorb the brunt of the Devil Claw (352,000). Jackie takes the difference being 222,000 (34%!)
Jackie will use a non-mechanical flavored Solar Flare (SUPPORT) to get herself off the ground and back into the fight.
Elemental Aspiration: Light (UT) and Balm of the Stars (UT) for item flavor ofc.
There was the confusion and surprise he expected. That was a nifty slight advantage to have. However, there was some other emotions there that rubbed Om the wrong way. He couldn't see what was so concerning about the whole thing.
The headbutt makes everything sound like it was underwater for a second. Spots dot the kid's vision. "Aw, nuts..." That was a dumb move. He would never do that again. Ever. Lucky for him, the blow to the head clears some things up. The scrap out in the Rocky North came into focus. Defenders of Earth coming together to stop their own guardians. Yogu had fought so hard and was useless against divine might. His own family abandoned the fight—left him for dead. The same family member that created the draconian Dragon's Law. The same law this Kami now does nothing about.
Going over all this at once allowed for the solar flare to take him by surprise, his vision whiting out just as the spots went away. Om cries out in pain, clutching his face and stumbling back. He falls on his butt, stunned for the time being. The question to end all questions came at the most inopportune time. Was he Yogu?
Om adjusts himself, sitting criss-crossed, facing away from Jackie due to his now nonexistent sense of space. The boy was utterly defenseless as he babbled on, "I guess that's me. It's a little bit of a doozy to figure out, honestly. Physically, yeah, I'm wearin' his handsome mug. Up here?" He taps his head, "I got his memories—well, some of 'em. They come back from time to time, like just now! Ones that don't belong to him are bleedin' in, though. As for if I act like the guy, you tell me." And what about the million-dollar question, what actually went down? "What happened? It's spotty, like my vision, heh. He... He battled his demons and took 'em with him for a ride on 'ol Samsara, if ya catch my drift. Think some Kashvar magic was involved. Now I'm here. Goin' by Om right now, but... No, I'll wait to be Yogu again until I remember everything. That title seems to carry a lotta baggage, though."
Thank the kais that this tournament thing really did start to get his brain working again. New thoughts were running through his head. "You're holdin' back. Why? Doesn't it hurt to get punched? You were afraid when you saw my face. Are you scared? I think Yogu was scared, too. Is that why you don't stop the Dragon's Law? Fear?" Om climbed to his feet, the world around him coming back into view. Time to take on the gods. Om is blinded and takes the opportunity to make a bunch of words with his mouth.