3kul vs Kat_05: Mantis Challenge

[3kul]

((Considering that it has already been shattered once, I'd say that any shards of exoskeleton would have trouble standing up to much more.))

"Ha, like you could be a minor minion if you've fought Eldest Brother!"

Sao'tal's broken steam jets swivelled about to face Kat, and with the ridiculous amount of energy that she was draining from him this was about all the movement he could manage.

Two blasts of scalding hot steam shot out of the shattered funnels, aimed directly at Kat. Given that he was firing them at such point-blank range, Sao'tal felt that he was assured of victory now.

((It might seem confusing that Sao'tal's able to blast steam whilst being so drained, but his body works in strange ways. I guess we don't really have any equivalent, but to him it's as easy to do as exhaling.))

[Kat_05]

Just as Kat was charging, she sensed something was wrong... Sao'tal was SUPPOSED to be down for the count! As Kat got close enough to get in a swipe she got blasted with a facefull of steam.

Some of the tar that was starting to cool instantly melted again, and the chips of stone embedded in said tar started poking uncomfortably as they were forced further in. Kat's eyelids even stung! She didn't realize any of this though....

'My NOSE!!!! OW OW OW OWOWOWOWOWOW!'

The human eye (and canine monster eye apparently) has a surprisingly quick response time, meaning that before a damaging object can hit said eye, the eyellid has blunk. A nose (very sensitive in canines) has no such protection.

Kat's nose blistered instantly- the steam had managed to push some molten tar into her nostrils, blocking the passageway and proving to be the most annoying bit of tar Kat would ever face. About half of the energy being siphoned from Sao'tal instantly began fixing the nose, though Kat's energy boost lessened as a price. Combined with the still-stong force of the steam, Kat was pushed back enough so that her intital charge lost all force behind it.

Regardless, Kat took a swipe at one of Sao'tal's shoulders with her claws. Kat was enraged now -at Sao'tal for damaging her nose, and at herself for falling for the ploy. Kat was determined to finish this pest off NOW. She could apologize to Holloweyes and Little Sister later.

Voice harsh, Kat got in one last jibe as her claws began glowing.

"You don't know anything, do you? Your Holloweyes is just as minor a member as I am-even WITH Little Sister. They know they can't measure up against a true parasitian, why else do you think they would lower themselves to fighting humans!"

DP had trained hard with Kat to teach her how to focus her energy-stealing ability. Any extra energy Kat had left from stealing Sao'tal's was focused in her arm as Kat bit the edge of a steam vent to hang on. She knew the rest of her body would be weak to a possible attack, but she WOULD get this swipe in.

As soon as Kat's reinforced paw hit, all the energy she'd stolen would be used in an attack against Sao'tal, and the claws would draw as much energy (if not a little more from actual contact) as her tail.

(( You are doomed 3kul. DOOMED I SAY! Just kidding, but since I've only got one response left, might as well try for a big finale, right? As far as Kat's breathing goes, she's breathing through her mouth right now, though it's probably a pain with all that half-burnt tar on Sao'tal right now... so are you going to pull off a KO? Or should I?))

[3kul]

Sao'tal was in a bit of a predicament right now - he had an enraged opponent on top of him, and spraying a big bunch of high-pressured scalding-hot steam in her face hadn't made things better. He really should've thought a bit more about this strategy of his.

But he'd learnt one very important thing - her nose was her weak point! Sao'tal's steam jets were now trained on the canine's snout, attempting to cause her as much pain as possible. Kat quickly backed away, so that she was a little out of range, before charging right back in moments later. She managed to leap on top of him, and getting below the firing range of his steam vents, it seemed that she planned on getting another draining attack in.

Sao'tal was partially right in thinking this - Kat was planning to get another attack in, but it would be more excruciatingly painful than it was draining. The glowing claws drove right through the shoulder joint of his exoskeleton, Sao'tal had no idea how his opponent had figured out that the joints were a weak point, but then again he was too busy having his arm cut off to think about things like that. Whatever ligaments and muscles were holding his arm in place didn't stand up to the powerful claws of Kat, as most of his physical defense was in his exoskeleton - underneath that, he was fairly vulnerable. His now armless shoulder socket began to release steam uncontrollably, as it was more-or-less Sao'tal's equivalent to blood.

But an arm is just an arm, Sao'tal wouldn't go down just yet. "Heh, even with Youngest Sister? You don't know Eldest Brother at all, she's what's constantly holding him back." Shoving back as hard as he could, he attempted to right himself, but couldn't quite find the energy to do so. Instead he just lay there, letting off as much steam as he could, hoping that this might somehow get rid of Kat. As much as he didn't want to stay down, it seemed like he didn't have much of a choice.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, something shiny and green hurtled towards the pair from above, aimed towards Kat's head. It was a Green Mantis belt.

"Why don't you take the belt instead of killing Older Brother? You've proven that you're worthy of it."

Tausk floated overhead, having come to help his brother out of this mess and let Kat know that she'd won. From the look on his face he seemed like he was absolutely petrified, but he'd been ordered by the Saviour to come and retrieve his injured brother so he had little choice but to try and bribe the monster into leaving. If she tried to attack him... Well, he'd miss Elder Brother, but in time he was sure that he'd get over him.

((Congrats Kat, that was a fantastic display of your abilities and your skill with your weaponry, you are definately worthy of a Mantis belt! Just so you know though, I was totally letting you kick my ass, you know, to get your confidence up and stuff . Now make a post accepting the belt and stop killing my character .))

[Kat_05]

Steam billowed all around Kat as Sao'tal's arm ripped away from the rest of his exoskeleton, and Kat was ready to finish him off. Therefore, it was a bit of a surprise when Tausk came in with a Mantis Belt.


But an arm is just an arm, Sao'tal wouldn't go down just yet. "Heh, even with Youngest Sister? You don't know Eldest Brother at all, she's what's constantly holding him back."

But Mantis belt or no, Kat's chance was there. One more hit, and Sao'tal would be gone forever... no watching her back for revenge, one less enemy in the world, one more notch in Kat's new prize....

Drip.

But the small chime coming from the ruins of the original battle-room stated otherwise. The match was officially over.

Kat approached the nervous Tausk, growling menancingly. There was only one more thing to do before Kat left...

"Help me get some healing supplies out from the spare room, will you? Once Sao'tal's healed enough, I can get my official review from my new Sensei and be gone."

Bowing briefly to her opponent on the ground, Kat heads to a still-standing room by the battlefield, grabbing whatever needed to heal Sao'tal.

((Confidence eh? Time to shatter it! So how'd I do, huh? Huh?

Oh, and I take this moment to officially thank you 3kul, as I haven't been part of such a fun RP in quite a while! Maybe when I fight ya for a black belt I won't be so rusty that you have to fake the loss, eh? ))

[3kul]

((Hahaha, hopefully for that match I'll be using a slightly better developed character. I've changed your status for you, but for now I've got to run and get an x-ray done, so I'll edit this post when I get back to finish up.

EDIT: And now I'm back.))

Kat's growling was enough to make Tausk quickly inhale and puff himself up, holding his arms out in front of himself in case she wanted to try something.

"R-really, there's no need for that, we'll just get going..."

A liquid Pilelia now made her appearance, washing over Tausk in her liquid form before hardening slightly. The places that she'd hardened in blocked off his ability to release steam, containing the pressure quite nicely. "Come on Older Brother, let's go back to the Saviour to get you healed up." She looked at Kat with her head lowered, her accusing eyes suggesting that she'd like to try taking on the Council member herself if she too wasn't so scared. So they did all that they could do - help Sao'tal get up and leave as quickly as possible.

"Heh, I should've known that you'd be able to handle Sao'tal with no problems, Kat."

HollowEyes hopped down from the tree that he'd been watching from as the trio left. It was fairly obvious that he'd waited until now so as to avoid the Protectors, though he quickly continued so as to avoid having Kat ask about that. "Anyway, you've well and truly proven yourself a Mantis after having literally taken Sao'tal apart, so enjoy the belt."

He unravelled his own belt and held it out to show Kat - the ornate black belt that could only belong to the Sensei of the Mantis style almost glistened in the sunlight. "I suspect you'll no doubt be aiming for this one eventually. Nobody's come close yet, but I wish you the best of luck all the same."

((Well, it's actually the same as any black belt really I should thank you as well Kat, it's been a while since I've had to take such a beating ))

[Kat_05]

In deference to her fellow EC member, Kat dipped her head before responding.

"That's the problem with characters fighting for the good, they never put up a proper fight. I hope I haven't offended you in some of my taunts? Perhaps I will even challenge you when the time comes to aquire a black belt, though I doubt such a win against you is probable. Give Little Sister my best, would you? And thanks for the wish."

And with that, Kat trots away from the arena, proudly displaying the belt of one of the Dojo's many battle styles.