Wisteria Banshee vs Regimental Samurai

[Kuro]

His hand sliding over the list of available names, Kuro was feeling a little excited about going for another match of Brain Burst.  It had been a few days since he'd last enjoyed a fight, and the suspense about going back into his avatar was close to killing him.  One big thing was that this was the first time he was going to fight without his parent right there with him.  This was the first challenge that was all him.

"Regimental Samurai..."

Kuro's hand stopped as he saw this name.

"Sounds like an interesting color.  I wonder what their style is like."

The curiosity getting the better of him.  Kuro lightly tapped on the name and initiated the challenge.  The world digitized around him and swirled as he was swallowed by data and transformed into his Wisteria Banshee avatar.  When he could see again, Banshee heard the familiar sounds of mechanical clinking and saw the scene of the factory field stretched out in front of him.

"This stage again huh?  Seems to like me."

Banshee sat back and prepared to move when the game announced the start of the fight.

[Sado Ikaru]

Masashige was just about enter a cafe when the world froze over and he began to change into his Duel Avatar, «Regimental Samurai». I don't think I'll ever get tired of this.

A NEW CHALLENGER HAS APPEARED!

Samurai appears in the middle of a factory. This place is a bit different... At least the system is the same, though. He equips his «Regimental Katana» but keeps it at his waist, left hand holding the sheath, right hand resting on the hilt, ready to draw.

FIGHT!

Samurai starts to make his towards his opponent, who he notes as «Wisteria Banshee». Not sure what a banshee is, he starts to imagine his opponent as a vine-colored rodent.

[Kuro]

With the match begun, Banshee wasted no time in beginning his advance.  But he didn't charge blindly at full speed.  Damage from the field was very possible in this stage.  Dangerous machinery that could end up backfiring on you if you hit it or even were thrown into it in the wrong way.  Banshee didn't even dare to try and attack pieces of the stage to start his killer gauge.  It wasn't worth chancing the electrical recoil.

The compass helped keep the direction of his foe known, so Banshee progressed quickly but carefully, avoiding equipment and also keeping all his senses focused on being the first to find the foe.

[Sado Ikaru]

Making his way through the factory was tough. It was the same factory from before he was reset, but he couldn't seem to find his way around. He knew that «Banshee» was somewhere in front of him, but the twists and turns of the factory made it difficult to tell where «Banshee» really was. He thinks about hitting stuff but decides against it. He wouldn't want to break his katana.

[Kuro]

The setup of the factory stage was something that kept an avatar on edge.  Never knowing if you'd stumble into either your opponent or the machines of the stage itself when you entered a new room or passageway.  Banshee felt that it was about time that he should be nearing Samurai now.  He'd been jogging in the direction of the pointer for a while now.  But the oddly poor designed twists of the factory were messing with his sense of actually how much distance he'd covered.

"I hope to find him before-"

As he dashed around another corner, his pointer disappeared and he found himself staring down the straight stretch of a small rectangular room with an assembly line of some sort.  Coming into that room from the other side was another avatar, sort of blueish in appearance.  Banshee didn't get a chance to confirm anymore than that.  He immediately stopped his advance and dove behind a machine to his left.  He'd now seen his opponent, but had to think of how he'd get close enough to hurt him.

[Sado Ikaru]

As Samurai entered the room with an assembly line, his compass disappeared. He thought he saw something purplish flash in his peripheral vision, but he couldn't be sure. He turns a little so that the right side of his body was in front. Crossing his left leg over the right as he walks, he tightens his grip on the hilt and slowly heads towards the other end of the room. He knew that «Banshee» was close, but he could be anywhere in the room - or even a floor up or down.

As he neared the other end of the room, he remembered that "wisteria" was a purple flower. He grins as he realized that his opponent was another purple.

[Kuro]

Banshee was crouched behind the machine, but that did more harm than good.  In this close proximity, the compass had deactivated and didn't track Samurai's movement.  To make it worse, the sounds of the machines were drowning out any noise that Samurai's movements would be making to let Banshee know if he was coming close.  This lack of location information was making Banshee's mind go crazy with paranoia.  Was his enemy closing in on him or not?  He figured that it would be best to stop hiding and get started with his attack.

Crawling a few feet from his starting hiding spot, Banshee quickly peered over the assembly line.  Samurai had his hand on his weapon and was slowly progressing through the room looking for him.  A sword...that will give him an advantage in reach.  I'll have to try and make a sneak attack.


With this thought in mind, Banshee hid completely behind the machine again and slowly advanced further down the room while Samurai did the same on the other side.  When he thought he'd given enough time for them to pass each other, Banshee jumped back to his feet and threw himself over the line, slashing at Samurai's right back side with his left claws.

[Sado Ikaru]

What the... ?! The noise of the factory had covered any sounds that «Banshee» was making. Before «Samurai» had time to react, «Banshee» jumped out from behind the assembly line and slashed him in the back. Caught off guard, «Samurai» loosens his grip on his katana.

Gah! That stung a little. He tightens his grip once more and slashes at «Banshee» four times - once almost vertically, once more straight down, and twice horizontally.

After attacking, he re-sheathes his katana.

95%/4.5%

[Kuro]

Banshee was pleased with the success of his attack.  The low amount of damage didn't surprise him.  His low melee potential was slow to work against many opponents.  With an enemy like Samurai who seemed to have a fair amount of armor on his avatar, Banshee would have to work hard to wear his health down.  The unpleasing part came after the attack.  Samurai showed that he was not just armor.  His reaction speed to Banshee's surprise attack was frighteningly fast.

"Shit!"

Banshee felt air breeze past his face and pain shoot through his shoulders as the katana flashed upwards out of its sheath, narrowly missing his body, but ripping his left wing from its base.  He quickly tried to dance behind Samurai to avoid the following downward strike, but wasn't fast enough to stop the same fate from coming to his right wing, leaving both his shoulders with ugly red stumps protruding from them.  Samurai was relentless with his combo, still keeping the assault up with a horizontal strike that followed Banshee's retreat.  As this attack caught up with his movement, Banshee could only thank his low-armored body for being light enough to be swept away by this attack.  He was heavily damaged by the sword connecting with his torso and flung into a machine on the other side of the room, adding insult and additional injury to his already massive loss by causing electricity to surge from the damaged equipment into his avatar.

(Health: 100 -> 90 -> 80 -> 30 -> 25%
KG: 4.5 -> 13.5 -> 22.5 -> 67.5 -> 72%)

Banshee got to his feet, but felt extremely weary.  His avatar's armor seemed cracked and dented in several areas.  There were also scorch marks where the electricity had entered his body and zapped him.  If he'd had visible eyes in this form, tears would surely be flowing from the pain he had just felt and was still feeling the after effects from.  But he wouldn't give up.  Going through such pain had given him access to his specialized weapon that he'd use to make things more even in this fight.

Banshee activated the charging action of his Scream Meter.  Giving up two increments of 25% from his killer move gauge, the sectioned third gauge on his HUD gained two segments of its maximum three. (KG: 72 -> 22%; SM: 2/3)  One of these segments immediately disappeared as Banshee activated his ability, Death Call.

«Death Call: ATK» (SM: 1/3)

Banshee's face plate glowed with a purple light so bright that it looked closer to pink in color.  The light shone out of his face along with a bloodcurdling screech that echoed in the small room that he and Samurai were fighting.  The light spread wide out, bathing the area Samurai stood in in its brightness.  Banshee did not move at this time, waiting for the effect of his ability to show its success before he moved in against this powerful foe.

Regimental Samurai's new ATK if hit:

ooc: If you're confused as to how I came up with the individual reductions to DIR and SPL, just pm me and I'll explain the formula I used.  I used a lesser damage for the first two attacks since they made contact, but only hit more decorative, less vital parts of the avatar.  If you feel this should be edited, just let me know.

[Sado Ikaru]

95%/72%

«Regimental Samurai» was confused as «Wisteria Banshee» began to glow. When «Banshee» released his «Death Call», the screech was deafening. He braced himself for an impact, but all he felt was a little tingle. When the screech stopped, «Samurai» tries to move back into position. For some reason, moving was difficult. What did you do to me? Ugh. «Samurai» grunts as he starts to move towards his opponent. Realizing that his strength was reduced by quite a bit, «Samurai» was pretty sure that his attacks would not work quite as well as they did last time.

Once he reaches «Banshee», he attacks Banshee again - one near-vertical upward slash, one downward slash, and a slash to his left. With one (almost) smooth motion, he re-sheathes his katana.

(I'd say that «Samurai» is moving at about 75% of what he was last post.)

[Kuro]

The signs were all there after the light was gone and Banshee's attack finished.  The sluggish movement, the grunts of effort; all of these were indicators that Samurai's capabilities had fallen.  With how much trouble he seemed to be having with his new strength levels, it appeared to Banshee that Samurai didn't have a lot of resistance to special curse moves like his.  It was the perfect time to strike while he got used the changes.

Banshee charged in at the same time as Samurai.  Going head on rather than wasting time and motion trying to dodge, he instead messed up the timing of Samurai's assault and broke his combo by catching his arm after the upward slash had struck his front.  (Health: 25 -> 15%, KG: 22 -> 31%) He grunted in pain again from the hit, surprised that Samurai still had that much power in him.  He must be a highly melee specialized avatar.  But with them close like this and Samurai's sword arm in his grip, Banshee grabbed at Samurai's other arm to hold him close as his face began to glow again.

«Death Call: DEF»

Banshee's scream meter lost its other point as his debilitating ray of light shone out at Samurai at point blank range, this time set to remove the damage resistance that had made Banshee's first attack do so little damage to him.  He finished up this assault of his by letting go of Samurai's non-sword arm and slashing savagely at his front with force to separate the two of them.

Regimental Samurai's new DEF if hit::

[Sado Ikaru]

95/81 (With no AMR to weigh me down, I'm back up to normal speed. Just so you know.)

With his reflexes and movement as stunted as they were, «Samurai» only hit «Banshee» once. He couldn't do anything as «Banshee» once again glowed with that purple light. As the light faded, «Samurai» pulled his head back and slammed his forehead into his opponent's face. (Kinda hard to dodge from this distance... I'm going to assume that «Banshee» will do what anyone else would do after getting hit in the face like that: let go and pull back.) Ow... That hurt more than I thought it would. «Samurai» staggers backwards as he realizes that his opponent did more than just make him sluggish. That's not a speed debuff, is it? Samurai shakes his head, trying to clear his vision, but that only made it worse. It didn't help that his opponent scratched him as they pulled away, either.

(Let's see: my DIR is 12.5, my AMR is 0... and I connected with a lightly armored avatar.... Ouch. If you disagree with my math or my actions, I'll edit it.)
65%/100%

[Kuro]

*Smack*

Banshee was forced to deal with some minor resistance from Samurai before completing his agenda, taking a headbutt in the face plate.  It didn't give nearly as much pain as the attacks from before, and thanks to Samurai's lowered power it didn't do as much damage as his sword had, but health was something that Banshee didn't have in large quantities right now, so every hit from samurai was trouble to him.  At least he'd managed to take out a respectable amount of health from Samurai now that his defense was low.  (Health: 15 -> 11%, KG: 31 -> 52.6%)

"Tch..."

Though a calm guy by nature, Banshee was starting to feel the pressure as his health was reaching dangerous portions.  He quickly weighed the options he had now.  He'd wanted to use this opportunity after debuffing Samurai's attack and defense to get in and use his killer move to deliver a larger bit of damage, but with as much health as Samurai had taken from him, getting close like that for an all or nothing attack would likely end up as the latter with Banshee losing the fight.  He cursed quietly to himself as he decided that he'd have to keep up his current strategy of weakening Samurai until the end of the fight.

«Scream Charge»  (KG: 52.6 -> 2.6%, SM: 2/3)

Banshee converted almost all of his killer gauge into scream points for further debuffs.  This was the problem with dealing with purples like himself.  Their balanced build allowed them to keep fighting even if their strongest weapons were weakened.  To truly have a full advantage, Banshee would have to take away everything from Samurai.  But his strength would be returning soon, so Banshee didn't know what to do.

He's seen my Death Call twice now.  If I try and shine it at him from a distance, he'll probably predict it and dodge the light.  It has a wide range, and is hard to escape once started, but he'll likely anticipate it and dodge after it's aimed before I fire.


The room they were still in was small and tighter than other areas of the factory, but fighting in the middle of it with the long ends stretching out to either side of them gave Samurai a wide area to dodge into.  It would be better for Banshee if he managed to maneuver around and trap Samurai in the tight dimensions of the room.  With that in mind, he darted to the side, keeping a distance from Samurai and his gaze locked on the opponent.  If he could get proper positioning, he could make it that much harder for Samurai to dodge the next debuff.

[Sado Ikaru]

With his body almost as light as it was before «Banshee» screamed at him, «Samurai» was feeling a lot more secure again. He could keep up with his opponent with ease. «Banshee» was keeping his distance, but «Samurai» was fine with that. He dashes towards «Banshee», stopping 3 meters away. «Rift Edge»! (100-30-30-30=10) «Samurai» aims all three of his attacks at «Banshee», but there's not way to tell definitively if any of the 3 will hit.

«Rift Edge»:

(Note that it's possible for you to dodge, but it's a lot easier for someone with more AGI.)

65%/10%

[Kuro]

Banshee had gone on the run, but Samurai was not letting him get a lot of distance.  Banshee saw the warrior closing in on him.  This was the final annoying part of his opponent's stats.  And if Samurai wanted to attack him, he'd have to pay the price. (SM: 1/3)

«Death Call: AGI»

While running and looking back at his pursuer, Banshee let his screech and light fly out for the third time in their fight, spreading right over the path of the advancing samurai warrior.  But even then he was not in the clear.  While the debuff was being fired, before taking its effect, Regimental Samurai was still closing in and his killer gauge suddenly did a three time decrease of about a third of its maximum.  The first of three of this strange attack that Banshee could not easily perceive caught him in its area of effect, damaging him with the full force of Samurai's remaining strength.  Banshee kept running during its execution, and was able to get out of range by the time Samurai had sheathed and drawn his sword for the second and third time, but his health was dangerously low at this point. The force of the attack had also made him lose his balance and prevented any quick counter strike at this time.  (Health: 11 -> 6%, KG: 2.6 -> 7.1%)

After an embarrassing topple to the floor, during which he was grateful for not running into any machines this time, Banshee pulled himself back to his feet and watched Samurai again.  It had been about a minute now since his first Death Call, meaning that Samurai's strength would be returning in seconds.  Soon after that, his defense would be back.  None of this was looking good.  He'd have to hope that the troublesome speed that had helped Samurai keep an edge in this fight despite losing his other stats was crippled enough now to let Banshee even the scores a bit.

Regimental Samurai's new stats:

[Sado Ikaru]

(Had to edit my Health in my last few posts. Somehow, I forgot to include the first attack. Fun fight~)

«Samurai» thought he was sluggish before... This was an entirely different feeling. No matter how much he tried to move, he felt like a snail. He could barely see «Banshee» as he moved, let alone keep up with him.

Samurai decided it would be best to just stop moving and wait for «Banshee» to get close enough. He stands with his legs slightly bent, left hand holding the sheath, right hand gripping the hilt. He knew that it would be difficult to hit his opponent now, but he was winning at the moment. He could afford to wait.

65%/10%

[Kuro]

The stage was set, as far as Banshee was concerned.  Though he'd taken a hit by that nasty killer move just now which had interrupted a chance to strike at Samurai's lowered defense, his debuff had landed again, cutting that troublesome speed of his down.  Banshee mentally berated himself for not targeting that first.  He'd let his priorities get influenced by the fear of the massive damage that Samurai's first combo had landed on him.  Targeting the power first had allowed for the quickness to persist and enabled the additional hits that he'd taken afterwards.  Banshee made a mental note to try and prioritize taking enemies' speed in the future.  But now was not the time to waste with over thinking.  Samurai's defense would be returning to normal any moment.

Banshee charged forward, feeling more confident now that he had the speed advantage rather than the other way around.  But he still had to be careful.  Samurai had abandoned his aggressive chasing tactic and seemed to be standing there, watching and waiting.  That would be problematic if he managed to connect a hit at this point.  So Banshee pushed himself to the left, feinting an approach from Samurai's right before shuffling back to the other side and charging straight past Samurai's sheath side where it would be more awkward for him to draw and make a slash with his sword.  As he passed, his left claw lashed out, swiping at Samurai's chest and upper arm area.  He had originally planned to use his now superior speed to make combo attacks like Samurai had used on him so far, but felt that with Samurai on guard, it would be more beneficial to use blitzkrieg tactics with a hit and run goal in mind.

Samurai Stat Update::

[Sado Ikaru]

In his eyes, «Banshee» was practically a blur. He thought that he saw his opponent move to his right, so he drew his katana, hoping to impale his assailant, or at least cut him as he passed, but «Samurai» noticed too late that «Banshee» had feinted. As «Banshee» flew by him, all he could say was Gah! Damn. He felt the searing pain in his left arm and chest as «Banshee» slashed him. (45%/28%) He used his opponent's momentum to turn him, but «Banshee» was already out of him reach. He re-sheaths his katana and stands in wait.

45%/28%

[Kuro]

It worked...  (HP: 6%,  KG: 7.1 -> 25.1%)

Banshee felt a rush of confidence as his attack worked and he tore past Samurai unscathed.  He had managed to take another good piece of his opponent's health with that attack.  Samurai was now beneath the halfway mark.  Of course when compared to Banshee, Samurai was still looking quite good.  He still had a huge lead, and Banshee was sure that using the same feint again wouldn't work, even with the speed advantage.

An approach from the sheath side probably is still the best approach.  It's the hardest spot to attack with a sheathed weapon, but he is aware of that after my feint and will probably be able to react to it.  

Banshee wasn't a fan of repeating previous moves.  His analytic way of seeing a situation always convinced him that using the same move twice would be read by the opposition and countered, like he would try and do himself in such a position.  So he tried to use that assumption to its fullest and come up with a way to capitalize on both the weakness and the foresight of the opponent.  With a few seconds of thought, he had an idea. (SM: 0/3)

«Death Call: DEF»

There'd be no point to an attack if he couldn't damage Samurai a lot again.  So Banshee turned back to face him and let loose his debuffing screech again, set to rob Samurai of the defense he had gotten back.  Taking advantage of the shining light, Banshee rushed in during the attack and approached Samurai's sheath again.  He waited until he was almost right on top of Samurai before leaping over him and hopefully any counter attack he would attempt.  The motion of his jump carried Banshee into a forward flip from which he launched slashing attacks twice, first with the right hand then the left, at Samurai's head as he passed.


ooc: Sorry for the late reply.  I had a busy day at work yesterday and crashed right after getting home without getting on my computer at all.

[Sado Ikaru]

«Samurai» knew to expect that purple light again, but there was no way for him to avoid it.

He blinked and just barely saw «Banshee» coming in on offense. Anticipating his opponent's attack, «Samurai» slashes horizontally at about chest level, but «Banshee» was already in the air. He tried to duck, but «Banshee» still nicked him. (15%/55%)

«Samurai» sheathes his katana. You're quite a handful, «Banshee». He decides that standing still definitely wasn't the right choice, so he starts circling around «Banshee» watching him carefully.

15%/55%

[Kuro]

(HP: 6%, KG: 25.1 -> 52.1%)

This was it.  They were both at a level where one good hit could take them out.  Banshee spent his killer gauge to charge up his scream meter so that he could try and use tactics in these final moments. (KG: 52.1 -> 2.1, SM: 2/3)

Samurai seemed on the move now.  Likely deciding that being a stationary target was not as smart as moving around.  And he was right.  Banshee couldn't make foolish and hasty decisions against a target that was moving.  There was also his gauge to consider.  With the dual attack that Banshee had just connected against him, Samurai was definitely able to use that attack from before again.  Banshee shuddered when remembering it.  But nothing would change if he backed off out of fright.  Nothing other than his debuffs running out and having to deal with a full powered Samurai again.  That wasn't going to happen.

«Death Call: AGI» (SM: 2 -> 1/3)

Banshee quickly fired his debuff at Samurai to keep him slowed down and prevent him from getting the speed advantage on him back.  If his new plan was to work, he had to keep Samurai pressured with that sluggish speed.  A quick enemy would always have options, while a slow enemy against a faster one had not as much.  At this point, Banshee charged in with a straight run at Samurai, closing the gap between them fast.  But at the last moment he veered off course, kicking off with his left leg to dart in the other direction to Samurai's far left.  

His high speed charge had all been a bluff to try and get Samurai to counter with that strange mid range ability of his he'd shown earlier.  After taking it and dodging the other executions, Banshee had a decent idea of what its range was, supposedly.  If it could be launched at further ranges, his plan would be a folly and he would lose.  But if it worked, he could lower Samurai's killer gauge and feel safer for his real final attack.

[Sado Ikaru]

«Banshee» was a tough opponent by all accounts, but «Samurai» wasn't about to give up after regaining «Acceleration». The problem was that his opponent kept him weak with that Scream of his. It seemed that his attack and defenses were up to par, but he just couldn't move nearly as fast as he wanted.

His opponent began charging straight for him... again. Suspecting that «Banshee» might not even complete the charge, «Samurai» merely pointed his katana at his oncoming opponent. Just as he thought, «Banshee» launched himself to the left. You're playing games now, «Banshee». Why don't we finish this? We both know it's a close one. The first one to mess up is gonna lose. Why don't you be that guy, hm?

He continues to circle around his opponent, sword sheathed and ready to attack.

[Kuro]

Damn...he didn't fall for it.


Banshee's feint hadn't managed to draw out the special move.  His plans weren't totally foiled through this, but it kept a degree of tension on how to execute his next move.  Samurai would still be slow for a while, but his defenses would be back up in about half a minute, and Banshee didn't want to have to use a third scream on bringing that down.

Guess I'll have to go all or nothing.


Banshee wondered to himself if there was any merit to trying mind games on Samurai at this point.  His opponent had just tried for some intimidation with that comment about Banshee being the one to lose.  Banshee answered with a chuckle from behind his blank face plate, his voice hollowly echoing out, "Says the one who's so slow and vulnerable right now that a baby could beat him."

With this sentence acting as more of a personal reassurance than an intimidation attempt, Banshee darted low at full speed towards Samurai with his claws at the ready.  His scream meter emptied out as he put his final scream of the duel into a bright light aimed at the warrior growing larger in his vision.

«Death Call: ATK»

The light shone out as a means to try and temporarily block Samurai's vision and allow Banshee to finish this.  But the disciplined warrior had shown enough control to handle this move before.  If anything, it would only slow down his reaction to Banshee's attack by a split second.  But that was all he hopefully needed.  Going for no more evasive tricks, unlike his tactics so far in the match, Banshee poured all of his dash effort into charging straight into Samurai's front, stabbing his left hand's claws right at Samurai's heart.

[Sado Ikaru]

«Samurai» grinned as his opponent took the bait. «Banshee» was fast, but «Samurai» was ready. As «Banshee» started to scream again, «Samurai» jumped forward, into his opponent's path. «Rift Edge»! «Samurai» doubted that his opponent could dodge with only a couple meters between them, but he wasn't taking any chances. He attacks with an oblique attack, bottom left to top right.

15%/25%

[Kuro]

The attack came, Banshee knew it would likely come, Banshee was ready for it to come.  As Samurai jumped forward and his special gauge took a dip in its level, Banshee only pushed himself further.

Try and outrun it...if that's not possible...overcome it!

Banshee held out his right arm and tried to shield himself from the strange effect of the seemingly vorpal attack.  But even with Samurai's ATK reduced, Banshee's arm was sliced clean off by the quick attack.  Banshee could only imagine that it still had such cutting power because of being a special attack.  He had only enough time to give out an anguished scream of pain from the loss of his limb before his avatar burst into fragments of data after the attack reduced his health bar to 0%.

After decelerating from the Brain Burst, Kuro would remember this match.  Though he had lost in it, he'd made great use of his abilities to come back from a disadvantageous situation.  He'd also learned what skills to prioritize targeting in a fight to take away the enemy's advantage.  Regimental Samurai would be a rival that he would remember and respect.  He would also be sure to repay him for this defeat in the future, once he was stronger.

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