[Tournament Battle] Pierce Veil vs. Yamamoto Shanben

[Johnathan]

Standing in the combatants waiting hallway, Pierce's expression was twisted in mild disgust. The stenches of sweat and exertion were prominent here at the ground level and were nearly enough to make him consider withdrawing. Clicking his tongue in distaste, he turned and walked for the bright exit into the arena proper. Doning a smiling and amiable expression he stepped out into the sun to the uproarious applause of the student body.

"Representing the home team, the charismatic, enigmatic, and diplomatic student council president of The Academy of Forgotten Arts, Pierce Veil!"

Giving a showy bow to his cheering fans, Pierce waved and blew kisses as he made his way to the center of the arena.

[Horo]

”You can do this! You were born for this. The people love you. You love you. No pressure, sure it’s your first tournament but you made it! You can win! I can win!” Yamamoto bounced around the waiting hall as the announcer spoke to the crowd. His hand were a flurry of motion as he shadowboxed while pumping himself up both mentally and physically. Finally it was time.

He walked out into the light and lifted his hands into the air like a champion. ”I am a champion! I am a winner!” he told himself. Shanben had been reading into positive thinking books. The results were apparent to him and other, although, others saw something rather different. He bounced into the arena and walked up to pierce. Extending his hand. ”Let’s do our best!” he said happily, waiting for Pierce to shake his hand.

The announcer continued talking, bringing up an amusing fact.

“If the crowd would have a look at the screen you would see Yamamoto Shanben’s name written in common. Now if you were to translate his name into two separate languages which shared the Hanzi writing system you would find that it reads 山本山本 (Yamamoto Shanben) Now isn’t that interesting?!”

[Johnathan]

Cloak preemptively removed this round, Pierce was dressed in his standard suit and white gloves with one noticeable addition to his attire. Hanging from his left hip was an ornately decorated saber.



Meeting his opponent in the center of the ring, Pierce extended a hand in a friendly greeting. "Good afternoon." He declared with a pleasant smile. "I polished my sword specifically for this match. Though my fencing may be a tad rusty, I felt that not having a blade would be disastrous when faced with a skilled practitioner such as yourself. I can only hope that my skill will be advanced enough to avoid offending you too greatly."

[Horo]

Yamamoto’s face glowed at Pierce’s words. With a glance down to the saber he nodded with approval. “Your blade looks absolutely beautiful. I’m honored that you would go to such lengths for me.” Giving a bow to the crowd, Yamamoto retreated to his side of the arena to await the start of the match. He drew his sword, a gladius, and on his arms pressed a button, causing a round shield to expand to a 2 foot diameter.

The announcer raised his arm between the two and with a deep roar declared “BEGIN!”

Yamamoto pulled his shield before his body and began inching forward in a spiral pattern. His style was simple, he awaited his opponent to move and then after blocking striking. He tapped his sword to the front of his shield, getting closer and closer to Pierce to take advantage of his short range blade.

[Horo]

Making note of his opponents reactionary approach, the hints of an expectant smile pulled at the corners of Pierce’s mouth. Acquiescing, he dashed forward stopping just as he was in range and began to poke out at Yamamoto with a series of quick uncommitted strikes meant to test the defense. His form was that of a dignified fencer, one hand on his blade with the other tactfully balanced behind him.

Yamamoto moved his shield with practiced ease, deflecting each of the weak blows away form his body while awaiting the opening he was searching for. His Qi’Long abilities granted him a moment of opportunity as Pierce’s final shot bounced away from his body. His shield opened up, exposing his armored body to Pierce and thrusted with his gladius for Pierce’s abdominals.

Grin growing by another fraction as the tip of his blade was knocked away, Pierce did not retreat as he was attacked. Instead, he allowed his blade to be directed away and instead struck the flat of Yamamoto’s gladius with the pommel of his saber redirecting it to his side. Continuing to press his way into the swordsman’s guard, Pierce positioned his left hand ready to intercept his opponents sword arm as he slid his blade harmlessly along the front of his opponents armor. This seemingly needless action belied a more insidious goal however as the tip of his blade was directed beneath his opponents shield arm, angling behind him. A slight shift in stance was the only warning before Pierce attempted to shift his blade up and into the weak point in the armor at the armpit, as he drew away aiming for a continuous slice through the tendons of the underarm.

Yamamoto twisted his wrist smacking the saber with the side of his gladius while his body arched away trying to avoid the sting of the blade. A slight nick to his bicep, the blood dripped out the fine incision as he rotated his body further away and reset himself behind his shield. Looking up to the crowd he roared “Tis but a flesh wound!” They cheered. He slid forward slowly, keeping his distancing he inched until he was close enough to strike again, then he lunged forward, attempting to ram Pierce with his shield, then follow up with a stab.

As he was charged with the shield, Pierce allowed himself to fall back with the momentum of the charge. Gripping the top of the small buckler, he rolled with his momentum and moved to plant his foot in Yamamoto’s gut, aiming for a simple judo throw.

Yamamoto flexed his arm, causing the strap holding his shield to release as he was sent flying over Pierce. He landed with a roll, and quickly drew a second sword from his right side. He crossed the blades in front of his body, before holing them on either side of his body. An open stance. His slow approach method wasn’t working as it normally did, so he would need a change of pace. He dashed forward and began performing X strikes (making an x) as he approached Pierce. hopefully his opponent would stab, allowing him to parry to the side, spin and slice down at Pierce’s neck.

Noting his opponents change in style, Pierce reversed his hold on the saber, spinning it in his hand so that the blade pointed opposite of his thumb. Stepping into Yamamoto’s charge, he slashed upwards with the blade, aiming to catch the dual swords and lock them temporarily in their downward strike. He would then pivot to the right of his blade while he pushed forwards on the hilt, using the point of contact as a pivot in an attempt to smash the handguard into his opponent’s face.

Yamamoto leaned back, ducking the hilt strike with less than an inch to spare. His foot lifted off the ground for a quick kick before his body collapsed on the floor. He rolled backwards and sliced a full strength to push Pierce’s blade away and hopefully catch him at the base of one of his legs.

Leaping back, Pierce allowed the force of the kick to bleed into his own momentum and propel him further so as to be out of reach of Yamamoto’s blade. Smiling, he allowed his sword to fall loose in his hand, dangling from his finger by the handguard as he pulled his gloves snug. In response to his casual regard for personal decorum, there was an enthusiastic cheer from the audience to which he smiled and waved amiably.

“Why, isn’t this exciting then.” He declared to Yamamoto showing no signs of physical exertion. Pierce began to walk a wide arc around his opponent, turning his head slightly so he could fashion Yamamoto with an amused and slightly condescending smirk. “Though, if you would allow me a request, I would ask that you attack me with full regard. Worry not about injuring me with your strikes and fight with everything you have. Otherwise, I fear this engagement will continue to be quite boorish.” Maintaining his casually condescending expression, Pierce ceased his slow gait and squared his shoulders with his opponent once again. With a deft flourish, he took ahold of his saber and settled into the ready position and waited for the next strike.

“Tis fighting words” Yamamoto replied, cold anger burning in his voice as he spoke in a deep voice. He followed Pierce in his arc, but sheathed his left hand’s sword so that he could retrieve his shield as he passed it. Pierce’s smirk was his target, and it was Yamamoto’s intention to cut it right off his face. He walked forward, shield raised, ready to defend, but unlike his previous advances with his shield, he struck first with his blade, a diagonal slash from his lower left to upper right, then positioned himself to defend the counter attack he was sure the speedy fencer would throw by following up the strike with a quarter turn to his right, placing his shield between Peirce's position (at the beginning of the attack at least) and his own. From there he bashed forward, anticipating a slice.

Taking a step back and leaning with it so as to angle himself away from the strike, Pierce’s smirk never wavered. Following the dodge, Pierce thrusted his blade forwards towards the coming shield. As his blade deflected up along the top edge, his smiled widened by a fraction. When Yamamoto pushed forwards aiming to bash with his shield, the trap was sprung. With no visible sign, the coefficient of friction between the edge of the saber and the rim of the shield increased dramatically. What was once the easy slide of metal, became a powerful lock as strong as interconnected gears.

Pierce pulled back on his saber at the same time Yamamoto bashed forward, seeking to throw him off balance. At the same time, he angled his right side back and aimed a strike at the base of the Qi’Long’s armored ribcage on the right side with his left fingers. To most, a bare handed strike against armor would seem foolish, but should the strike connect, the insidious energy behind it would bypass the armor all together and fracture several ribs before the energy dissipated enough to avoid further harm.

“WHAT!” Exclaimed the suprised warrior as his shield was met with so much resistance! It was unheard of, and based off the materials present, impossible... but it was happening. He gasped as the friction vanished, his arm opening up his body as pierce swerved to the side. In a last dirch effort he dropped his right arm down, hoping that maybe the swinging motion of his blade could catch Pierce’s arm before or as it connected, unafriad of the damage fingers could do to his greeko-roman armour. He twisted her torso, trying to steal his balance back and swung his left arm for a haymaker, using her shield as brass knuckles but found himself halting his assault as he body began to fold in on itself. His hand was stopped on Pierce’s forearm, causing his slash to fail, but the blow from his fingers. He stumbled backwards, his sword arm drooping down, his shield before his body as his hand held his ribs.

“What... was... that?” he huffed out, starring the unphased Pierce down with bewildered eyes.

“Oh?” Pierce questioned as he relaxed his stance with the sudden cessation of hostilities. “I had thought you lunged too strongly through my strike, but if you think something was amiss perhaps you merely stumbled instead.” Shrugging noncommittally, the blonde once again began to pace a small arc around the wounded swordsman. “Forgive me, but I must admit that I find myself a bit disappointed. I had been of the impression that the famed martial schools of the Qi’long would be more impressive than this.” With a sigh, Pierce closed his eyes and shook his head in mock disillusionment. “I had so been hoping to put on a good show as well.” Turning a look of mocking sympathy on Yamamoto, he continued. “I know it may be asking quite a lot, but do you think you might be able to give these people their money’s worth? It would be a marked shame to our reputation if they were forced to leave dissatisfied.”

Yamamoto’s eyes widened in anger. His arts weren’t impressive... A good show! He clenched his teeth together tightly, before dropping his sword to the ground and smirking. “A good show... “ He lifted his arms up into the air, resisting the pain in his side with a proud face. “Are you not entertained?” He called out to the crowd before looking back at Pierce. “Then let me entertain you.”

His eyes connected with Pierce, the confident and slightly condescending tone in his voice directed fully at Pierce. Yamamoto dropped his shield to the ground, lifted his hands up, unlatching the greek armor at the shoulders and left side until it fell from his rippled bronze chest. Without the armor, he was left in red undergarments. (Think 300 Spartans) He reached down and retreived his sword and shield, but switched up their hands, putting his sword on the left, shield on the right, meaning to cover his wounded ribs. Yamamoto took in a deep breath.

He set his shield before him and raised his sword up, his arm in line with his shoulder, parallel to the ground. He waited for Pierce to come in closer, rotating his body with slight steps to keep Pierce perfectly aligned with his sword.

Ajax came on the mic. “Folks... He is here. The mountain (山=Yama=mountain) has taken his stance! Remember back to the previous tournament he competed in. Upon taking this stance he defeated every opponent in his wake until facing Liu Ke Sephora in the semi-finals.”

Pierce smiled to himself. These martial artists, always so prideful. he thought to himself. Stopping his slow arc, Pierce turned to face Yamamoto and lowered himself into a stance as well. Drawing his right arm and sword back and slightly above his shoulder, he allowed the tip of the blade to rest on the thumb of his left hand. (Think Saito from Ruroni Kenshin) He lowered his center of gravity directly above his right leg as the left extended slightly out in front of him. Giving a condescending smirk, he wordlessly challenged his opponent to strike.

Yamamoto adjusted his shield slightly so that it was perfectly aligned with Pierce’s sword. He smiled and kept his eyes wide and focused on Pierce. Immobile like a mountain he continued to wait.

“Oh?” Pierce drolled sardonically. “I suppose it wouldn’t be quite right if the mountain rose to meet it’s foe. Very well, let us see if we can’t move the mountain instead.” Pierce blurred forwards in a direct charge. When he appeared directly in front of Yamamoto his sword lunged forward in a point blank strike at the center of his opponents shield. At the beginning of the lunge, the apparent mass of the blade plummeted to near zero at the same time the space in front of the blade simulated a vacuum, pulling slightly at Yamamoto and causing Pierce’s blade to rocket forwards at immense speed. Then, the moment before the blade struck, it’s mass returned. It then was increased to the 5th power.

What was once a fairly average if not well made blade suddenly possessed the force of a large metal support beam traveling at the speed of an incredibly fast lunge. All of that force concentrated into the miniscule surface area of the tip of the blade would allow it to pass through weaker metals as if they were nothing more than thick paper. Sturdier alloys that were reinforced to a high degree could likely stand against it, though not without cratering under the concentrated force. If the strike was met solidly, the force of the impact would cause the air around them to suddenly cavitate, creating a vacuum that would fill again with the tremendous force of the atmosphere.

Times moved in slow motion as Pierce stepped in. The beads of sweat dropping from Yamamoto’s forehead glistened as he began his counter attack. A slight shift to the side to deflect, push- Yamamoto found himself sliding backwards as the blade made contact. His voice grunted out in pain as he fell to a knee.

It took a moment for Yamamoto to drag his eyes from the floor and look at Pierce once more. Pierce’s body had been moving in slow motion, but his blade moved so much faster! The positioning of his shield had blocked his view of it fully, but the shoulder movements... the force.They didn’t make sense to him at all. He rose back to this feet and lifted his shield once more.

“GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

His eyes darted to the source of his pain, the giant indent in his shield that had forced his forearm in teh wrong direction. The bone was exposed, dripping... He had to end this fast. Yamamoto lifted his shield, fighting against the pain and made his sprint forward. He tried to position the shield to catch the rapier, his mind clouding from the pain. With a strong step he sent himself lunging in one final time for a stab to Pierce’s neck.

As Yamamoto’s defense crumble, Pierce allowed himself a victorious leer. He continued a brisk walk forwards as his opponent attempted one final desperate charge. Eyes turning sinister, Pierce silently mouthed a sentence only his opponent’s enhanced eyes would read. “It would seem that in the end, the mountain was no more than a mole hill.” Spinning, Pierce deflected Yamamoto’s wild stab to the side while allowing his back to turn to his opponent. Using the momentum, the fingers of his left hand came together as energy gathered into them for what would likely be the final strike. The hand struck out behind him with the speed of his spin aimed upwards at the base of the sternum. Pierced silently hoped that the magic of the arena would be too slow to prevent the energy hidden in his strike from rupturing the fool’s heart.

Yamamoto was transported from the arena and to the medical ward. The mages there rushed to correct the injuries he had obtained. . .

On the stage, the crowd roared. Ajax entered the stage and moved to stand next to Pierce. “You saw it here first folks! The Mountian was defeated by our very own Pierce Veil! Pierce is a true sportsman! Watch here in the instant replay, he always waits for Yamamoto to regain his footing before making his next strike! Don’t you just love this guy!?” The crowd roared in agreement. Ajax slowly wrapped his hand around the winner’s wrist and lifted it into the air. “YOUR VICTOR!”

Composing his face into his friendly public smile, Pierce twirled his sabre with a flourish before sheathing it. Turning to begin waving and blowing kisses to the cheering crowd, he spun in a slow circle so that he could face all of them in turn. His eyes purposefully scanned over the assembled masses until he could pick out the QiLong. Very purposefully, he stopped facing them and with a grin, slowly put his hand to his mouth before directly blowing a kiss their way. With his celebration finished, he turned to make his way for the exit.

[Horo]

The QiLong clenched their fist. Those with stronger eyes were able to follow Pierce’s moves batter. One of them was Liu Ke, whole heartedly regretting his loss to Manco in the first fight. If only I had used my blade. He stood up and walked out the crowd, playing the match over in his head once more. Each time Pierce made a strong attack, it was like the world stopped working. He would need more time to figure it out.

Liu Ke entered the Medical bay, and looked down at Yamamoto. His eyes were blank, soulless. The doctors were working hard to keep him from dying. Fear rose in Liu Ke’s belly.

“I pray, you don’t have to fight that monster... Mikoto.”

Among the remaining QI’Long there was outrage. The tournament, ment to showcase their abilities had become a proving ground for just the opposite. Hope was being loss match by match as the students from the academy advanced. Their hopes rested upon two schools. Sephora, and Saito. Their pride rested on those schools.