Grand Opening: School rivalry

[Geurin]

The scene had been set, the tickets completely sold out. Scalpers sounded off outside the door gouging citizens for a ticket to see the grand opening of what could only be described as the greatest sensation of inner human angst revealed.
The Super Dome was actually an economically stable idea. It helped to fund different parts of the city, provided shelter when not in use, and was ultimately a great asset to the city, although morally comprehensible to the common days standard. Geurin however had the ability to pull out the primal urges in people. Much like the need to eat, sleep, and fuck, this dome provided another instinct, the need to kill. Granted, most humans had grown soft, no longer willing to kill each other, or even really openly fight each other.

The Super Dome would change that.

Geurin's hidden agenda was working perfectly, his plans finally coming to light and yet he could not reveal them yet. He could not possibly hope to have his subordinates understand, not yet anyway. No he would need more time.

That said the day had finally come for the first fight. The match up was one that for the average person was legendary. The head masters of both Victory and Crane. Victory would be encumbered by training weights, and Crane would have his choice of weights. The two combatants could enter at any time.

___________________________________________________

• Death optional, not required
  
• Gravity will be set at X35
  
• Scenery will be a grassy field, no tree's
  

(You guys can start posting your entrance, talking with students, etc etc etc. This is for character development. The actual fight will start next friday with the first combat post going to Zach because he is faster.)

[Jorlaxl]

((Low blow, Geurin ))

The students wished Jorlaxl good luck, and he respectfully bowed and shook hands when appropriate. Today was the day he was to venture into the Super-dome, where his school would be finally brought into the light of the world, gaining popularity and hopefully, renown. Ever since he opened the school, it's been a hidden diamond in the rough, not many people knew about it. So with his fight against Zach looming over him, Jorlaxl left the school, allowing some of the students to follow him to the dome, if they wished. Some of the younger students were more than eager to tag along, with some of the older, more experienced students staying at the school, meditating and going about their daily activities.

The walk to the Dome was uneventful, save for the idle conversation that took place between Jorlaxl and his students. Even though the knot in the pit of his stomach was intensifying as the Dome grew ever closer, he kept the talk lighthearted between the students. The last thing he wanted was for them to feel his own tension and uncertainty. Sure, Zach would have weights, but would that greatly affect the outcome of this battle? Jorlaxl wasn't sure, but he was hoping beyond hope that it would. It would be a shame for the first publicity the Crane School receives to be negative.

Shuddering at the thought, Jorlaxl finally reached the Dome, students in tow. The front door that led to the reception lobby was unassuming, and definitely a mismatch for the grisly deeds that will surely later be committed inside of the arena proper. The crowd outside of the building looked excited, although they wouldn't be able to view the fight first hand. When Jorlaxl and his young companions bypassed the crowd and met the security in front of the door, there were a few angered voices permeating the crowd, shouts of "Why can he get in?"

"He can't just skip all of us, could he?"

"Why does he have purple hair, mommy?"

That last comment made him shift his head back to the crowd, where they all saw his face clearly for the first time. Most of the crowd suddenly stopped talking, hushed whispers reigning over them. The gears in their heads clicked as they matched this man's face with the one seen all over the world, one half of the fight they were unfortunately too late to see with their own eyes. Smiling, Jorlaxl spoke, trying to ease the crowd. Motioning towards the plasma television screens lined around the arena, he said, "Worry not, my friends. I bypass you all to participate today in a fight that will win everybody's attention." Turning back to the guard who was already fumbling to unlock the door for him, Jorlaxl bowed before walking in, hearing muffled cheers behind him.

Inside of the dome, the crowd already lined the sides of the facility. The students saw their own assigned seats in the front rows, designated as {Crane students of honor}, and began walking to them, but before they gave some final words to Jorlaxl. Their kind words echoed through his head, beginning to actually assuage his feelings of incoming dread. Following them to the seats, Jorlaxl began talking amongst them, waiting for the fight to begin. Where was Zach?

[Zach]

The day had come, Gurin's grand opening of his personal edifice. Zach wasn't particularly looking forward to this day, it offended his sensibilities to glorify violence in the way that Gurin was aiming for. He'd protested this dome when Gurin first summoned him here weeks before but the green man wouldn't be swayed in his lust for a spectacle. So without any ceremony at all and even without taking Rito with him, Zach set out alone from the Victory school, flying towards Central City with it's soaring skyscrapers, magnificent residential and commercial complexes and now, a domed bastion of violence and depravity, a Roman Coliseum for the modern day. Zach would not glorify this place with his blessing so he traveled without an anterage, without the signs and pennants of his school, he was simply Zach, Earth's mightiest protector. He would participate not because he wanted to, but because it was expected of him, as the mightiest, he was the shining beacon of hope and the people needed to see that beacon.

He arrived in the city quietly, gliding in over the rooftops and eventually setting down on the dome's helipad, after all, what important structure didn't have a helipad? Flying cars and such were common but still, the crème de la crème still needed a place to park away from the common rabble down below so as not to be fettered by incessant pleas for autographs and commentary. Zach of course didn't share that aristocratic view, indeed he was starting to hate his fame. At first it was simply an inconvenience, he couldn't go anywhere without being recognized, now though he rarely ever left the school and only taught a hand full of classes a day. The rest of the time he was sequestered away in his office or private gym. This public appearance was something he would have greatly liked to have avoided but Gurin had pushed the matter and short of 'accidently' burning the dome to the ground, there was no way Zach was going to get out of it.

And so it came to pass that Zachary Cranston, head of the reconstituted Victory school arrived at the dome, touching down on the building's helipad. Without a word to the lone guard on duty, Zach was admitted into the building and descended the service stairs into the lower levels. He had no need to stop at the locker rooms as he was already dressed for combat, wearing his heavily weighted wrist bands, pants and boots. He passed by the medical station too without stopping, he didn't need a physical before the match, not unless an issue was made of it. Continuing in silence past throngs of employees and staff, Zach made his way through the lower corridors up to the stage level, that's what it was after all, simply a stage for debauchery. Zach though would make sure it stayed clean as long as possible, he would not be the first to draw blood, nor would he reciprocate is his own were drawn. As he made his way out into the arena and into the public's view, his expression was quite plainly that of a man who didn't want to be there. He wasn't afraid of the situation or bored as an arrogant man with his power might be, he simply did not want to have to go through with what he was being forced to do.

[Geurin]

(Sorry Jor, you knew it was two weeks)

[Jorlaxl]

As Jorlaxl was mingling with the students, he noticed a figure trudge up from below the arena. Eyes clearing through the glare of the sun, he saw that it was none other than Zach. Scouter ever-vigilant, it chimed in, "Readers indicate powerlevel at approximately 49,000 and some change, Jorlaxl. Are you prepared?" Nodding slightly, Jorlaxl looked at his own medium weighted armor, graciously provided by the "benefactor" of the arena. This halved his own powerlevel, putting him at a comfortable 40,000. While the power difference isn't huge, there is enough of a gap for it to be noticeable that Zach has a slight advantage. Gulping, he shook the hands of his students.

"Geurin said this fight may be to the death, dependent on the victor. So... wish me luck, kids." Repeating their names as a mantra while he walked up to the middle of the arena, he felt he was ready. As soon as he stepped foot in the ring, he felt his body tense up.

Gravity.

He hasn't been under its increased influence since when Suki was his lord, and it's been too long. The chamber he had built in the school hasn't had a chance to have been used, yet. 35 times the normal level of gravity, according to Geurin. He had mastered this strain 5 years ago, but it was not easy to grow accustomed to it like he once was. Walking to the middle of the ring to meet Zach, he meekly smiled. "Well, this is it, isn't it? On behalf of myself and the rest of the school-" he stuck his hand out vertically, seeking to shake Zach's hand. "Good luck, and may the best man win."

((Ugh, sorry for the terribad post))

[Geurin]

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

His voice rang throughout the rounded arena as the two combatants stepped into the ring. For the first time the planet Earth would witness the glory of the Super dome. The gravity pushing in on the fighters so as to slow the action enough for human eyes to see. The weights holding back the fierce blond so that one might even hope to see a fair fight, and of course the arena, which was made of nothing more than dirt and sand. The audience was jam packed, crowds of those whom had not yet bought tickets were turned away as the stadium met its capacity. The turn out had been more than Geurin would have ever hoped. His dehumanization of this race had already started and in the best way. Zach was the perfect example of his plot, and now he would show him off, make him a hero, and it would all start today.

"Today we are honored to not only present to you the first of many entertaining bouts to be held in our fair super dome, but also to introduce you to the schools that protect this planet, and keep the draft at bay. In the right gate, a man whom has sacrificed his own essence to protect our planet from the creatures that wish to do us harm. The head master of the Victory school, ZACH!"

The crowd let loose, the victory school section getting a front row seat for the action. Zach may or may not have noticed the absence of Ritoru, but there was the one empty seat in a sea of filled ambitious fighters. Across from them on the other side of the arena would be the holding seats for the crane school, bolstering equally impressive numbers.

"In the left gate, a master of the spiritual arts and holder of the most ancient title of Crane Head Master, JORLAXL"

The crowd would not cheer as loudly simply because Jor was not a terribly public person. They knew little of him other than the title he held, but that was all he needed. Being at such a pristine position was the perfect chance for him to gain fame for his school, or ruin it entirely. The purpose of this fight after all was to gain volunteers for the schools so that when the time came the fighters could be mobilized in defense. Or at least that was Geurin's explanation.

"Let this legendary match up begin, if you will all turn to the nearest screen you will see the match as it is happening"

The dome was suddenly shrouded, the arena entirely non visible to the audience, this was of course the simulator working its magic. On the screen the two warriors would be show cinema style, several different jumbo screens giving off different positions and angles. Within the mist however it was not cloudy. Jorlaxl and Zach would appear to be fighting in a grassy field, where the shrubbery rose to their waist, and there were no tree's or rocks for cover. They had unlimited space to move and fight in, and the audience was safe from any attacks they provided. It was the perfect set up for a deadly match.

"Fighters, may the beast Headmaster win. Begin!"

[Zach]

Stopping in the middle of the ring doing his best to ignore everything around him both real and unreal, Zach stood with the same disinterested expression on his face, arms at his sides and generally looking like he wasn’t having a good day. Indeed he wasn’t having a good day at all, this who business with the schools competing with each other was ridiculous as were the idiotic rules of this tournament. Long ago Zach swore he wouldn’t participate in these inane displays of barbarism any more, unfortunately his position as the planet’s most prominent protector forced him into yet another such display. Zach was not going to engage in blood sport however, no matter how much the crowd was ginned up to see it the blonde would make the fight as fare and uninteresting in the barbaric sense, as possible.

Remaining in the center of the squared ring, Zach watched passively as the purple haired android approached and offered his hand commenting about the timing of the match and wishing him luck. Zach didn’t need luck, at any time he could level the building, weights or no weights, but that option wasn’t in the cards, nor would even consider it, no matter how blood thirsty this wretched place was attempting to make Earth’s people. No, Zach would work within it this time and this time only, doing his best to make sure the place remained ‘clean.’ Baring this out was the fact that contrary to what Gurin might have wanted, the entire section reserved for Victory school students was empty. Zach had not taken a single student with him, especially not Rito, he was not going to tolerate his school taking part in these games and most certainly was not going to endorse them by making a school showing.

“Know this, we keep this clean…” Zach responded to the android, gripping his hand firmly and not letting go until he was finished. “No trickery, no weapons and no murder. I will not feed into this disgusting place or the barbarism it’s trying to breed and I expect you to honor that if not do the same. If not I will withdraw from the match and leave. This place will be kept bloodless. Understood?” Zach stated and then asked, directing a steely gaze into the android’s eyes and maintaining his firm grip on the other’s hand. Gurin was already trying to nudge them on, changing the terrain and making announcements, but Zach wasn’t going to be pushed. His stubbornness could be quite handy at times and this was one of them.

[Jorlaxl]

Acknowledging Geurin's words, Jorlaxl regarded Zach as the arena began to enshroud itself in a mist of fog. In a second, however, it cleared, revealing an infinite expanse of a green, open field. Passively, Jorlaxl was reminded of the spring, and how temperate the temperature was at this time. Still grasping Zach's hand, he listened carefully to these words, thankful to hear them. No death, no tricks? This was the most agreeable situation in the world, he thought. "Aye, that seems fair. Brutality aside, let's see if we can't have fun with this, alright?" Retracting his hand softly, Jorlaxl took a few steps back from the human, and got into a defensive position.

Five years is a long time, and Jorlaxl hardly remembered Zach from that time, let alone his fighting style from when the two fought Suki together. All he knew was that they were more or less on even ground, with Zach's weights suppressing him to the point where Jorlaxl was only given a slight disadvantage. How Zach would use this slight advantage was unknown to the bio-android.

Purple eyes blinking resolutely, he cleared his throat before saying, "Thank you for the gravity chamber, by the way. As a token of my thanks, I'll offer you the strategic advantage of the first move."

[Zach]

Zach held onto his opponent’s hand for as long as it took to get the answer he wanted and thankfully that answer presented it’s self quickly and readily. It appeared the android was just as reasonable as he hoped and agreed that they wouldn’t try to butcher each other on stage, the arena would be kept clean. Releasing Jorlaxl’s hand, Zach turned away and moved off a few steps before getting into a ready position, once more facing the purple haired man. As they were assuming their ready stances though the android thanked him for ‘the gravity chamber’ which made Zach quirk his eyebrow. The blonde had no idea what the other man was talking about, perhaps it was that he was getting to use Victory’s gravity generator here at the dome but the wording was too off for that. What ever it was he was being thanked for Zach wasn’t the one to receive compliment, he didn’t even know the Victory chamber had been dismantled until the day Gurin announced the dome to the two school masters.

“Don’t thank me just yet.” Zach responded, it sounding like the only sensible thing to say considering he didn’t know what the android was talking about. Putting it aside now, Zach advanced on his opponent, fists held high up about his head and chest as he waded through the artificial grass. Picking up his pace as he closed, Zach broke into a full run in the last ten feet or so and jumped up, intending to bring his right knee up and crash it into the android’s chest as he sailed into the other man. The primary goal was to knock the other man to the ground but where there would normally be a follow-up, Zach intended to regain his footing and back away, preferring instead to see how well they were matched. If though he did not succeed in bowling the purple man over, Zach intended to extend the remainder of his right leg, effectively kicking Jorlaxl in the stomach to get the leverage to push himself away. So far he would not utilize his capacity to fly, preferring instead to relay on his physical strength for now.

[Jorlaxl]

Jorlaxl's appreciative comment was met with seeming confusion, something he found as strange. No matter, either way. He would have to talk about it whenever the two of them had more time to have a chat. This, however, was neither the time, nor the place. Jorlaxl left himself in the defensive stance, ready to counter anything the young blonde had in his mind to attack him with. Slowly at first, Zach walked through the grass, seemingly to just come back over and have a conversation. Puzzled, Jorlaxl knew something was bound to happen, so he kept his stance still and defensive. Suddenly, he saw what Zach was doing, nearly too late to defend himself. Zach jumped, kneeing Jorlaxl hard in the solar plexus. With a grunt, Jorlaxl was nearly launched into the air, being blasted more back than up.

Using this to his advantage, Jorlaxl pushed his feet out, meeting the ground once more, using that and his bukujutsu powers to right himself, landing back on his feet. The blow hit him hard, but this was just the beginning of the battle. Instead of running at him like he expected, Zach instead backed up, seeming not to want to engage in hand to hand combat. Smirking, Jorlaxl decided to use this to his own advantage. Being more accustomed and having an advantage in ki combat, he was more than alright with this. Forming a O by linking his index fingers and thumbs, he began to focus ki through it, aiming at Zach through it. Slowly, purple ki began to coagulate around the opening his fingers made, and seeing this, Jorlaxl chose this as his time to strike.

Closing his eyes, he focused all of the ki inside of it and some of his internal life from his body to explode through the opening. This was the kikiho, an attack that Jorlaxl can put his own lifeforce through to increase its power. He chose not to put in too much, for this was only the beginning of the battle. Even if this O shaped ki-blast missed the target, it would explode, with an albeit small blast radius. Would Zach be able to dodge? If so, what about the tiny explosion that will occur when it meets Earth or flesh?

This done, Jorlaxl took a deep breath. That move tires him out, even with such a tiny display like that. Rubbing his solar plexus that was already sore, he waited for Zach for react, and possibly counter.

[Zach]

Launching himself at and indeed landing his knee to the android’s chest, Zach landed back on his feet and resumed his ready stance while watching his opponent’s reaction to the impact. The blow seemed to be effective, knocking some breath out of the other man and sending him tumbling. The other righted himself in due course and Zach was at the ready when the purple haired man started to charge energy into his hands for an immaterial attack. Jorlaxl appeared to be taking his time though which was a mistake, it gave Zach plenty of time to react and in spite of the gravity and the additional weights added to his normal training weights, the boy would still be able to react at least as fast as his opponent could, possibly faster considering the time going into the attack.

Zach would have much preferred a physical confrontation but seeing as his android opponent read his withdrawal as the opposite, rather then just pulling back to observe, Zach played along. The other seemed determined to expend a large amount of energy on a single attack so Zach was going to go ahead and let him waste it. He waited and watched carefully, his muscles practically twitching from the anticipation and when the moment finally arrived that the growing charge was released, the blonde bolted to the side. He took only two steps before kicking off with every ounce of pour he could throw into his capacity to fly. Zach didn’t know if the blast launched at him could guide it’s self or be guided by it’s user, but he wasn’t going to take the chance, making sure he bolted out at a ninety degree angle relative to the attack’s flight path and then flew at his best speed, close to the ground in a wide circle aiming to come right around to Jorlaxl’s side. At any moment there would likely be an explosion to his side as his course was taking him in a circle around the blast and in the worst case scenario that explosion would be taking place right against the teen’s exposed side. He was however going to take that risk, again not knowing if the blast could be guided and continued with his high speed flight. Working his evasive maneuver into an attack, Zach extended both of his fists forward, coming in just over the grass with the intention of plowing both fists right into his opponent’s midsection.

Should the double punch land, Zach intended to keep moving, pushing Jorlaxl along with him to put some distance between where they started and the repercussions of that errant energy blast. The teen would fly a good five hundred feet provided of course his opponent hadn’t managed to dislodge himself or otherwise interrupt his flight, and then retract his arms, letting the other man drop to the ground.

[Geurin]

(Pregrade 2025 for Zach)

[Jorlaxl]

The blast was a dud, of course. As Jorlaxl shot the O shaped blast, he saw Zach dodge it, and sighed to himself. It was an idiotic move to use up so much of his energy so early in the encounter. Were Jorlaxl a regular human, the ki within his body would already be relatively tapped. He, however, was no ordinary human. The DNA of Namekians flowed within him, and with it, their amazing reserve of ki. Mixed with Icer durability even Zach would find surprising, Jorlaxl would be no helpless adversary.
However, helpless at the moment to the Blonde, he shook his head while waiting for the blonde’s counter. It was foolish of him to charge up for such an attack. Bracing himself as best as he could, Zach slammed into his chest with a force unlike any that Jorlaxl has experienced in a long while. This truly was an indicator of how out of practice the master of Crane had been. Not satisfied with this, the blonde began pushing Jorlaxl with him into the air, not leaving the stance he assumed when he began flying. Seeing this as his chance, Jorlaxl placed his hands on Zach’s arms, smirking. Channeling his purple ki throughout his body, he began to shoot missiles out of his fingertips. Although they were dug into Zach’s arms, the missiles would be red-hot against his flesh, searing and burning before exploding. Over the course of this attack, Jorlaxl used his legs and pushed them upward, kicking straight into Zach’s midsection, hoping to get free of this assault.
Zach’s attack finished, however. Dropping to the ground, the momentum ceased. The physical weakness of his body exploited, Jorlaxl intended to keep his distance from now on. Levitating above the air slightly for a moment, he slowly moved backwards, bowing.

”Breathtaking, Zach. I see that Geurin’s training has helped you much.”

Raising his head after his bow, Jorlaxl began to again pool his ki into his arms and legs, ready to strike. The punches and kicks he would exchange with Zach would be stinging at first, but quickly dull to a throb, and then nothing. What Jorlaxl prepared was his paralyzing palm technique, something used to immobilize enemies. Any appendage Zach would be careless enough to let touched would grow useless for a time. How will Zach make his next move?

[Rensou Hiruen]

2,390 PL for Jorlaxl.