Tournament: Mikage vs Arashi

Tournament semi-finals, Mikage vs Arashi

June
Village of Eas

    June is... June. She stands in the MC spot once more, this time she's brought her own pony keg rather than waiting for someone to refill her beers while she works. She also already has snacks, a yakisobapan in her hand as she taps the enchanted 'mic'. "Hey everyone and welcome to the semifinals!" she waits for the crowd to roar or chirp or whatever they manage. Luckily there are fans out in the seats and so a solid aplause and shouting lift up. "Tonight for your viewing pleasure we have Arashi, the pony with the money... honestly I don't know how much money she has but rhyming pony is hard." she shrugs "She's in the Semi so she's kicking butt." she turns "And in this corner, in the green trunks." no one is wearing trunks June. "We have Mikage! The Ranger with the stranger, well with the lynx anyway, and how strange is a lynx? Little bob tail and tufty ears I mean is that even a cat? Well Rama is out there so that's a thing." she grins wide "Now without further ado I bring to you the Semi final match between these two fighters. Count down the duel timer with me!" she shouts and starts the count down with the crowd. When it hits 0 she throws a red hankerchief into the ring... so start?
Mikage
Village of Eas

Over the course of the tournament, some of the tension has eased out of Mikage. That isn't to say that she's relaxed, far from it, but at least she isn't bound up quite as tight with her own anxieties in those moments before the match begins.

The Were Fang ranger steps out, reaching for the strange mechanical rod that is held in a holster along her back. Pulling it out, it extends into a bow, the pieces snapping into place. It is, certainly, a unique looking weapon. The roar of the crowd still spikes her adrenaline, a feeling that mixes both good and bad along with it. Her mouth moves, as if she were saying some sort of silent mantra that isn't brought to voice.

Then, to Arashi, she holds the bow in both hands and bows forward, lowering her eyes in a respectful bow. Even Rama does a similar motion, as if he's been trained to do so. When she rises, the ranger backs herself up, blue eyes watchful. "Good luck." She offers out, "I know you're good, so I'll come with my best."
Arashi
Village of Eas


    There's not much response from Arashi to the crowd as she enters. A sort of casual wave, but really, nothing else. She seems to have her mind on the match, and the opponent across from her. Two vs one? Sure. That's fine.

    At Mikage's bow, Arashi does the same before Starshadow, is drawn into one hand, and simple sword is drawn into the other. They simply give a nod in response to the comment. She'd reply in kind but well, fight's on. She won't be distracted.
Mikage
Village of Eas

As the red handkerchief falls into the arena, Mikage is quick to react. She had been more on the defensive in some past rounds, but knowing how powerful Arashi can be, there is no doubt that this will be a DPS vs DPS show-down.

Rama darts in one direction, possibly acting as a distraction. Then again, it's possible that the lynx is simply trying to ge tout of the way. There is a feeling of electricity that passes over the arena, enough to make a few spectators have their hair stand on end. The power seems to crackle into a gemstone just above where Mikage's hand rests on her bow. The gem starts to glow, as if it were absorbing elemental energy from throughout the arena.

Sometimes, you start a fight with a bang. In this case, those familiar with Mikage's fighting style would recognize that something big is coming. Keeping her distance from Arashi, Miki grabs for an arrow from her quiver, the mundane looking bolt quickly taking on a strange glow as the weapon channels magic into it. She seems to track Arashi across the battlefield, waiting until just the right moment when her mana has reached full to fire.

The arrow zooms across the arena, dragging waves of elemental energy behind it, seeming to lash out like storm waves upon the shoreline, intent to batter her enemy with that tidal force.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    That is one heck of a start. Arashi -would- say that, but again, she's focused. The lynx goes one way, but with Mikage drawing that arrow and a lot of energy coming in, the warhorse is more concerned about the attack to come. It's clear when she makes a move and not one, but two thunderclaps roar out as she -swiftly- closes distance. There was no avoiding -all- of that arrow, but she clearly has avoided the majority it.

    Up close, Starshadow is turned and the blunt side of the blades is brought to bear against the other were fang in a set of brutal blows.
Shiruba
Village of Eas

"Aroooo! Go get her!" Shiruba purposely doesn't specify names in her cheer, because she's cheering for both her friends & guild members.

She's also stuffing her face with food from the vendors, but that's no surprise to anyone.
June
Village of Eas

    June cheers "Ooooh look at that, it's a quick start. Making waves there and getting things off to a bang. Arashi is just as quick with a thundering step out of the way. You paid for the whole seat but it looks like you might only need the edge!" she says in her best monster truck announcer voice.
Mikage
Village of Eas

There is something unusual about the way that Mikage avoids the incoming blows that sweep her way from Arashi's Starshadow. It's almost as if a mist forms around the edges of her image, making it hard to locate exactly where she is. For some, it might be reminiscent of the strange mist that the undead use in the Ninetails Dominion. The water seems to hang in the air where she was like a shimmering after-image.

However, at that same moment, the girl actually emerges a short distance away, bow still held upright in her hand. Rama is still keeping his distance for the time being, the little cat not engaging directly in the battle, at least thus-far. It's hard to tell if she's saving him in reserve or if the Were Fang is depending more on her own Ranger capabilities at the moment.

Whatever the case, the crystal beneath her palm is already glowing again. It seems that she's determined to use up her higher mana attacks at the start of the fight, likely trying to push Arashi's defenses to their limits and wear her out early on. Another arrow as Miki skids along the floor of the arena, stopping just long enough to get a good shot towards her opponent.

Unlike the previous arrow blast, this one glows with an almost blinding light. It radiates an eerie sound, with shockwaves of energy that blast outward from the point of impact, bringing with it intense light magic.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    Another big shot? This one isn't entirely avoided despite the resounding boom that sounds off as Arashi moves to avoid. Shortly after, though, the dire-shire seems to completely vanish for a moment, only to reappear just a bit above the archer, coming down with a set of spinning slashes from her blade.
June
Village of Eas

    June takes a big swallow of beer. "Oooh big shots back to back, Mikage is putting it all out there. But there she is Arashi is moving with speed and coming in with the melee to try and push the ranged combatant back and force the brawl!"
Shiruba
Village of Eas

Shiruba winces a little at the exchange. Though it's a good thing that kind of hit came now, and not later in the fight when they're tired out. Maybe. She's not really all that big on PvP herself, so she's just alternating between cheering and eating.
Mikage
Village of Eas

Mikage blinks as it seems like the other Were Fang seems to vanish. Her eyes dart left, right, then a shift of air draws her gaze upwards just in time to see that blade coming down towards her from above. With her own quick movements, Miki darts backwards, using the metal edge of her bow to help deflect some of the damage in the process.

With a shift of her hand, she moves Dawnbreaker back into the holster at her back, her powerful bow attacks likely on cool down for the time being. Instead, she sweeps out her sword, which, at a glance, looks to be far too low level for this sort of combat. The blade isn't quite starter gear, but it is close. However, the unique thing about it is that it has a distinctive slot where she can slip that gemstone into it, transferring that ability to channel elemental energy.

"Storm winds, heed my call." She speaks outloud, her sword beginning to glow blue as water energy is channeled into it. The blade is lashed out into the air, drawing three lines in front of her which change into discs of water energy and are then launched towards Arashi. In follow up, Miki raises the sword upwards, calling down a series of icy shards from the sky above, making it seem like the damage is coming from all sides.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    It is clear that Arashi is used to being on offense, but after that initial flurry, it seems that the warhorse has found her stride. Seeming to walk upon a bit of her own water, and then at a sonic pace, Arashi avoids the brunt of the attack Mikage launches! Having to close distance once again, she takes up Starshadow and sends a twisting stab toward her opponent as she surges about the battlefield, looking to get ready for the next assault as well.
Mikage
Village of Eas

Mikage's eyes follow the quick movements of the warhorse, knowing that the two are likely quite close when it comes to their maximum speed. This really is a battle of two very similar fighters, even if their styles are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

Rather than trying to avoid the attack as she had before, Mikage draws her hands together at the hilt of her sword, catching the blade with a concentrated burst of light magic. There is a strange effect, as if the power of Arashi's blow and her own healing magic were both taking effect at the same time, causing a flickering across her form.

Drawing one hand from the hilt of her blade, she lashes it out in the air in front of her, the place where her fingertips ripped the air seeming to take the form of a phantom claw. It crackles with cold, causing her breath to hang there as the taloned fingers swipe at Arashi.

"Rama!" It seems that after all this time, it is finally the moment for the Lynx to take the battlefield, as he races in, trying to use the distraction of that elemental attack to swipe at Arashi's heels with one of his claws.  
June
Village of Eas

    June takes big bites of her yakisoba pan. The sounds of June eating and drinking beer is broadcast as she watches the fight, forgetting to announce as she gets sucked into the action... but that's what you get when June is MC, random nonsequitors and distraced combat gazing.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    Hearing the name called, Arashi doesn't even look, instead the mare continues her quick pace,still sliding on a self made,magical torrent, before stepping forward in a potent flash to try and avoid both the Lynx's bite and the icy claws sent at her by Mikage. Coming around, the swings for the fences again, bringing both Starshadow and her off-hand blade toward the archer in a set of 3 quick blows.
Mikage
Village of Eas

Mikage seems to be breathing more heavily from the effort of the prolonged assault, keeping her DPS high over the long term taking a toll. The short reprieve that Rama offers her doesn't seem to last long, as Arashi comes at her again with more of those powerful blade strikes from Starshadow.

Electricity pools around Miki's feet as she throws herself backwards, skidding with a bit of static electricity that makes her hair stand a bit on end. Rather than pushing another sequence of attacks, however, she seems to focus in buffing her own abilities.

Channeling magic, an aura passes over her form that seems to radiate various natural elements, shifting in tone. Once more, that sword is held above her head, calling down those familiar icy rains from the sky above. However, these ones seem more powerful than before, as if the buffing magic had amplified the spell.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    Well, if there's one thing Arashi knows, it is when she is about to take it. As a result, though? She's about to give it. Rather than move to avoid, the dire-shire simply plows straight forward toward Mikage in a series of strikes while the mare spins from one blade to another, looking to try to do as much as she was just dealt.
Mikage
Village of Eas

It was only a matter of time before Arashi decided to shift from the defensive and go all out. While Mikage might have expected it to come, that doesn't mean that she has a perfect answer to the series of strikes that comes her way. A series of slashes appear across her form as she takes repeated blows, the effect causing Rama to growl from the sidelines.

"Try to slow her down a little!" She calls to Rama, who seems to bristle as if he were taking some part of her own frost magic along himself. The cat darts forward, biting at Arashi's heels in an attempt to give his companion some space to recover from the attacks.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a vial and pours it over the length of her blade, the rune symbols turning a sickly green. This must be something she borrowed from Cyrus, likely one of his poisons. Lashing out with her sword, she just seems to be trying to make any sort of contact, knowing that the lower level weapon isn't likely to do much damage.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    Well, at least she got some damage in, right? Arashi will take some solace in that, however, the dual assault of both the lynx and poisoned slash, the horse has to activate a defense buff before thundering forward to assault the other werefang with her blade once more.
June
Village of Eas

    June shouts... after washing down her current bite of food with beer. "It's a flanking attack looks like Rama is getting in on this action. Oooh and the poison debuffs start, I wonder if this is going to stay a duel of DPS or will it come down to a slow grind?"
Shiruba
Village of Eas

Shiruba leans forward to watch while chewing on another kabob. Now she's watching how Mikage and Rama work together, and taking a few notes. Though at the same time she feels bad for the rough time Arashi is having because of it.
Mikage
Village of Eas

It's obvious that Mikage has taken quite some damage, though not as much as her opponent, at least at a glance. The injuries leave her with a tight expression, meaning that pushing herself to those higher levels of speed can be more painful than it was earlier when more whole and healthy. Miki winces as she slides underneath the blade strike, managing to only take a little damage from the blade.

After so long in the fight, it is only normal to expect that some abilities would come off of cool down. So it probably is no surprise to see Mikage reaching back for Dawnbreaker, extending the bow once more. Her hand quickly shifts the gemstone between the two weapons, powering back up the Elemental Machine bow for a second go-round of archery attacks.

Once more, storm energy starts to form around the arrow that Mikage draws out, trying to keep on the move as she fires. There is a bit less of an elemental explosion that follows, perhaps because there is just not as much to call upon in the area after so much of it has been used. But that doesn't make the attack any less fierce.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    Heh. That's the thought that slips through Arashi's mind. There's simply a clear difference in the folk that do this often, and the ones that don't. Last year it was the champ, and maybe again this year it is too? Hard to say, but when that Tsunami arrow comes roaring across the field? She takes it, but at least it's with a smile. Sure, she could have prolonged the match, but despite this being only the second time in as many years that she's engaged in PVP, she also knows when she's lost.

        "Good Luck in the finals."
Mikage
Village of Eas

As the arrow strikes home, Mikage is left standing there, looking more than a little bit surprised. There is a moment where her mouth moves, as if she were trying to form words, but they don't seem to come. Even as the system announces her as the winner, the girl still looks a bit surprised.

Slowly, she lets the magical energy fade from Dawnbreaker and the weapon retreats back into the rod-like form, placed into the sheath at her back. Rama trots over, head tilting right, then left.

After a beat, she offers a hesitant sort of smile, "You fought well." She seems to be genuine about that. As for the offer of good luck, she just inclines her head, "I'll try my best."

Looking around, Mikage raises a hand to wave at the crowd, before walking closer to Arashi, "If you ever want some training, feel free to let me know." It seems important to her to help those in the Alliance.
June
Village of Eas

    June is caught off guard by the WINNER! popping up over Mikage "Well shit in a classroom! That... was fast!" she announces "I didn't even get through my first beer. Man Mikage really brought it with that massive bow. Lets hear it for the victor! And lets hear it just as loud for for Arashi, she did a great job out there." she then signals the Fireworks
Arashi
Village of Eas


    "Ah, I appreciate that, but I'm not entirely fond of close quarters. That and I've forgone shardseeking far too long," the warhorse points out befor showing Mikage Starshadow properly. It's partially reforged, but it is still clearly a broken weapon with both it's blades clearly still not fully reforged. "Maybe next time around this will be restored, as it should be. ... I'm glad you're on our side, to be sure."
Shiruba
Village of Eas

Shiruba oofs. That was a rough turn of events. But Shiruba gets up and cheers for both of them because she's still insistantly impartial when it comes to friends.... And they got farther than she probably would, she only tolerates PvP slightly more than Arashi does. For training purposes.
Mikage
Village of Eas

"Well, if you need any help, let me know. I'm always up to help out." Contrary to what many might think, Mikage isn't actually all that keen on PvP, herself, but her experiences prior to the Apocalypse mean that duelist tournaments like this are familiar territory to her. They don't exactly come easy, but they... remind her of who she was, who she is.

There is another bow of her head, showing proper respect to Arashi, then, she lingers long enough to make sure the other fighter is able to get out of the arena okay before she'll do her usual vanishing act. Mikage - does not - like crowds.
Arashi
Village of Eas


    Seems Arashi is fine to move on her own, and appreciates the concern. A quick trip into her inventory helps see to that. Another wave to the crowd and off to... well, wherever her maps aren't drawn in. Seriously. She hasn't found a new shard in months. Time to fix that..