Busking Bushido [OPEN]

The duo hadn't expected to see someone and especially not a Namekian. Pheny's ears drooped and she glared at Shakuhachi with distrust. She had gathered basically all of the money from the delinquents and now some guy had come to ask for a majority of it. Ries sighed, rubbing his temples. He wasn't upset with the man's proposal, but because he knew exactly what was coming. His pupil scoffed loudly and pointed an accusatory finger at him.

"Psh! I definitely believe you. And I'm the Queen of Arcose. Listen, pal... we've only been on these streets for a few days and I can promise you that we already know what you are. A conman! A huckster! You're like these losers but with a more intellectual plan."

"Give it to him, Fen. I haven't ran into too many Namekians but they're an honourable people, they stick to themselves. He's not malevolent at all. How much money did you lose? Sort through this purse and take the Zeni that belongs to you then throw us the leftovers."

His student fumed, making a bewildered expression at the calm old-timer. She groaned and put all the Zeni she collected into a small sack, tossing it into her master's lap who proceeded to toss it in Shakuhachi's direction to sort through as explained. They secretly argued and yelled at each other through telepathy, though it looked more like they were meditating. They were a truly odd pair, especially considering they hadn't even introduced themselves yet.

"You could have went on your spiel before I said all that stuff to him! Why'd you purposefully wait to embarrass me in front of a civilian?! And after my cool display on those punks..."

"You forget yourself too often. I am imparting the most important lesson: humility. So shut up and apologize. A swordsmaster who can't swallow their pride is one doomed to fall. Ultimately, your blade is to protect people, is it not?"

The girl's eyes opened and she stood up. She cautiously bowed to the Namekian but said nothing before reseating herself next to her master. She was brooding like an angry child. Her reptilian tail slapped the floor beside her over and over in rhythm as she seethed. The eccentric man spoke up, not quite done with the Namekian yet.

"What brings you to Earth, Namekian? I'm sure it's an interesting story. Actually... forget the story. How about we have a little game for that last bit of coin? Battle my pupil. Person who wins pockets the extra Zeni. No pressure of course." 

His power-level wasn't very high which meant that they could hone Pheny's technique AND entertain the man while getting some money in the process. Unlike the cautious stranger however, Pheny's power-level was on full display so he could see just how easy a bout like that would go, assuming he wanted the little bit of cash badly enough to just thrash her. The grumpy Bioandroid finally stopped sulking, turning her attention back to the two of them, awaiting his answer.

---

Pheny's PL: 4,500
KP: 6/6
MP: 0/6


Ries stared up at the Namekian as he stated his terms, it was a pretty simple request but the man rubbed the back of his head as he thought about it. His student was not so eager, a look of worry crossing her face as she thought about being just as broke as they were when they started this mess. But the old man didn't relent and nodded up at him, giving his pupil a big hearty slap on the back. 

"We accept! Get on up Pheny, earn us our money." He chuckled. Ries didn't care if they won or lost ultimately, it was just a bit of fun but even beyond that, he assumed it would be an easy win for his protégé. Shakuhachi's cockiness would hopefully net them some nice coin and some experience under the biologically altered alien's belt. Pheny got up and placed a cautionary hand on the hilt of her blade, the sheathe hanging off her hip. Her eyes narrowed as she assessed him and made sure to thoroughly look him over. He clearly wasn't making any sudden movements, so she would begin the dance.

"I'll be going first, then, Mister. Let's see what the people of Namek have got in comparison to my master's legendary sword school!" She slightly unsheathed the blade, a tiny bit of steel showing. She bent her knees, looking as if she was about to pounce. "Starting with Form One, eh? You aren't just gonna crush him in one?"

She purposefully chose not to reply to the telepathic question, her eyes completely focused now on her opponent. She was in some sort of hyperfocus. Then, she let out a long breath. In an instant, she had crossed the distance between them and her sharpened blade was coming straight for him, the edge willing to cut deep. Pink Ki gathered on the tip of her Katana. Her speed was her main weapon, meaning if someone was on par with her power or above, her strikes were easy to block and counterattack since even if she could close distance, there was no guarantee her blade would even hit. She just hadn't faced anyone that strong yet to realise. Despite her blow having full power in it, it wouldn't kill even a regular person, it would just fatally wound them. She could just get him to the hospital afterwards. Assuming he was a civilian, of course... but Pheny expected nothing more. 

---

Pheny's PL: 4,500
KP: 6/6
MP: 1/6 (+1 turn)

The male half of the remaining members of the sword school burst out into a fit of laughter as the Namekian powered up. After all, Pheny wasn't used to opponent's holding back. It had never been something the man had done, not as a cocky youth who did any job and not as an older wiser man. He was an Earthling after all, he made up for his lack in innate power with skill and finesse... but Pheny lacked both currently. Her reaction was not so jovial.

Her eyes widened, she didn't need to be able to sense Ki to feel the horror. Her blow landed nonetheless but the fact he took it so well was the concerning part, he recovered swiftly and she was still stuck processing his words from before she had even struck, let alone his own attack coming for her. Legs frozen, her mouth went dry and she wondered what she was meant to do. She sucked in a breath and tried to calm herself, time slowed as she raised her Ki. She took a bit of time as the Namekian moved in slow-motion to recollect herself before darting behind him, safely out of the way out of his attack. Her speed for a normal person was already insane but she had increased her speed to the point of easily dancing past his attack. Time resumed, a sudden strain hitting all her muscles as her period of hyperfocus ended and she went for two quick back-to-back slashes at the Namekian's torso, one from the left before retracing the previous blow from the right. If he failed to defend against her normal attacks this time, she would slam her elbow into his gut to wind him. Otherwise, she was at his mercy after putting her might into the quick strikes.

The seated old man clapped, always happy to see her use his own form, the one he had became Ordained Blade of. She wasn't very skilled in it, but her instincts made her use it especially well when she didn't lose her composure in battle. Plus, it naturally complimented her speed. Her race were pacifists, they evolved to run and sleep, not hunt. 

"Already a riveting fight! You've probably got a lot up your sleeve, stranger. I hope my pupil can at least entertain you for a bit, they do actually have a bit of technique."

---

Medium Defensive || Form Four: Worrisome Wind Weave Work (Evasive) used to evade Tsuyoi'ken.
90% of 4,500 = 4,050 vs 3,000. Evasive wins. No damage taken.

PL: 4,500
KP: 2/6 (-4 Tech)
MP: 3/6 (+1 tech, +1 turn)

Pheny smirked triumphantly as her assault continued to work in her favour, watching the Namekian take a lot of punishment for his attempted attack on her. Then, suddenly, he fell to the ground. Maybe she had gone too hard on him? She had no inkling that his power was actually higher than hers right now due to the tide of the fight, so she thought maybe they were only equally matched. The alien didn't sheathe their blade but did look worried. "Hey... do you want to stop? Let's not go too far just for a bit of a Zeni..."

Ries sucked in a breath, wondering what would happen next. He had no clue but he knew it probably wasn't the end of their fight. Of course, it was an attack meant to blind the poor alien. She didn't have the time to react, her guard lowered even if she wasn't completely unalert, blinded by her opponent in a dishonest way. The student swore Ries had said Namekians were honourable, but clearly he didn't know anything! She stumbled back, wide open and rubbing her eyes trying to regain her sight as tears streamed her cheeks. She groaned in frustration, lowering the hand that wasn't holding her sword to fire Ki blasts wildly in his direction hoping they would keep the opponent away until she could see again. Ries scratched the facial hair on his chin, considering how his pupil would work their way out of this.

"Crap!"

"That's one of the simplest tricks in the book, kiddo. Don't expect everyone to fight fair, you rarely do. So always be prepared for the worst. You're just a poor fighter if you don't. Those are the rules of a battle." 

Pheny let out a low growl, finally getting all the foreign substances out of her eyes though they still stung. She could see better now, but this wasn't the time for a damn lecture, you old geezer! She had lost the advantage and was totally open to attacks, the dishonest gambit completely paying off. 

---

PL: 4,500
KP: 4/6 (+2 no usage)
MP: 4/6 (+1 turn)

Of course, considering the Namekian's constant ability to raise his power, Ries should have been a tiny bit worried about his student's safety. But he knew that no fighter with such a power would kill his student for some Zeni, especially not when they'd been fighting for a bit already. If her opponent truly wanted this over with, he could end it in one blow and Ries expected that. So the fact he had been playing the fight fair was enough of an explanation to him that Shakuhachi wouldn't take this fight beyond just beating her to the point of victory. But there was another reason he wasn't worried.

Pheny saw that Shakuhachi was just standing back, observing and planning but it must have been useful because he was coming for her again with another attack. She still could barely see and she was recovering from dodging the previous weaker version of the attack, so there was nothing she could do. It hit her square, sending her flying. She skidded along the concrete as an attack that was stronger than even her ceiling of strength collided with her without fail. Her brain rocked and her vision swam as blood dribbled out of her mouth, mind spinning from the weight of the blow. She lay completely still, as if dead or unconscious but her master didn't look even a shred of concern. He yawned.

"Such a lazy student, always sleeping on the job. Wake up!"

She had fully closed her eyes by this point, really resembling a sleeping person. But that couldn't be right... a blow like that wouldn't put you into a nice peaceful sleep like that. It was a trademark of her race, similar to Namekians in a way. Though they hibernated over long periods to heal major damage, she had all sorts of different cells swirling around her make-up that had enhanced that regeneration. She could heal on the spot if she desired, though she was still quite new to using it so falling into a brief sleep was to be expected of someone who thought you had to hibernate to regenerate. Her eyes snapped open and she wiped the blood from her chin, coughing lightly. She was still hurt, a lot, but it wasn't nearly as bad it could have been. She pointed her katana at the Namekian once more.

"You're really strong... someone who gets stronger as they fight, huh? I'm havin' a lot of fun, so I won't just lose like that! This is what it's all about... this is a real fight!!"

The abundance of Saiyan cells in her raged, ecstatic at the combat she was finally experiencing. Her senses were heightened and she was more alert than before. She was raring to go again.

"Sorry about my student, you won't get a quick fight out of her. She's a nuisance like that. I beat her and planned on killing her once and when I left her alive, she clung to my leg and asked me to train her! Imagine that. You're gonna have to work for that small amount of money my friend, we're real beggars." It was clear this was very much not about the money and probably never had been for the two, it was just a chance to test their progress in training. But the Zeni really would be nice...

---

Tsuyoi'ken hits for the full 5,000 PL dealing 111% of Pheny's PL.
REGENERATION activated bringing Pheny's HP to 51% damage instead.
PL: 4,500
MP: 6/6 (+1 damage, +1 turn)
KP: 6/6 (+2 no usage)
HP: 51%/250%

Pheny gave him a big wide grin as he essentially taunted her giving her the chance to go first. She was drunk on the ecstasy of the fight, losing herself bit by bit to her raw instincts, her Saiyan cells wrestling for control over the rest of her. Despite clearly being amped up to fight and filled with adrenaline, her master shook his head in disappointment. One must never lose oneself in battle, instead you must become a part of it and follow the flow of combat itself with your movements. By becoming so excited, she was losing focus and the mindfulness required to fully battle at the peak of one's power. Even if Saiyan's were granted strength by anger and battle, she was barely even half a Saiyan, so she didn't qualify for strength boosts like that... just mere increases in ability.

Placing her Ki into the hilt of her Katana, the blade was coated in a thin film of water as if the blade itself had melted into liquid. She slowly coaxed the water forward, turning her once solid weapon into a long watery tendril on a hilt. Not yet done, spikes of Ki began protruding from the weapon as well. "The 2nd Form. The river flows..."

Suddenly, the whip of water cracked as she began swinging wildly, the range of the weapon increasing dramatically as it stretched to strike at the Namekian over and over. Should the Namekian fire back with his own offensive technique to clash with it, she would summon up blades of Ki to fire to assist the whip in the struggle. "Form 2: Audaciously Ambitious Aqua Assails!"

Rule Zero of the dojo was "name every technique". Although it had never been said by her master, he did approve of all of her move names so it was clearly an important part of the school. Ries wondered how the Namekian would respond to her new frenzied state in which she was burning through her Ki and stamina at a much faster rate than before. She had lost the sense to pace herself and conserve power.

---

Heavy Offensive || Form 2: AAAA used (60% - 5KP - Overflowing (+10% if clashing)) - Transformation Boost + Power Boost used = 6,300 PL damage
(7,200 if clashing)
PL: 9,000 (Transformation Boost)
KP: 1/6 (-5 tech)
MP: 0/6 (-4 transformation boost, -2 power boost)