[IC] The Black Mountain Tournament: Trixi Vs. Gonad

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper
Gonad's equipment and garments lay in a big heap behind him. He was buck naked, shamelessly performing a set of deep, mighty squats. It was too hot down in this crater to wear anything while exercising. The path ahead was blocked until he dealt with the next challenge, so until said challenge arrived, by God he would squat as no man had ever squatted before. Being at the bottom of a volcano was no excuse to skip leg day. Upon his grizzled mug was a look embodying stern concentration, along with a couple smudges of blueberry from the pie he had taken at the entrance. A stereotypical dumb brute, the sort that normally got booted into space by the smaller, more clever heroes early on. There would be little reason for a challenger to think twice about this. Except...

What sort of man emptied his bowels where he pleased? Who would thrive naked and unarmed among enemies, out in the open?

A mental image, unbidden, sailed by on the hot wind.



Some things do not have natural enemies...

[Fallenreaper]

Trixi was ambling around the eerie quiet scene until the calm was disrupted by a deep, rumbling sound in the background. The noise became deafening, breaking out across the skies and seemed to roar around her. Gradually billows of thick, white smoke started to float off the top of the mountain area she was currently traveling in as she looked to the source. The only thing on her mind was pretty simple: time to get the hell out of here. Running down hill was easy as she navigated through the various tropical greenery, each anchored in place within the dark loam soil enriched, and made a beeline for the most likely safe haven.

At the bottom she had reached a huge, metal door. Grinding to a complete stop by pushing down her back heel and barely winded, Trixi stopped to study it closely. Compared to herself, she was suddenly aware of how small she was. It was more rattling then she expect it might be. It was undeniably another arena when she noticed the metal doors shudder and start to pry themselves open during her presence.

Fear, always deeply rooted in human nature, filled Trixi at seeing them come to life and likely holding death beyond. She wondered in a mixture of dread and curiosity who it could be within it. Who had managed to survive this long within the mountain’s trials? Pushing aside the phantom memories from her last fight, the shrine's monks almost perfect at their repairing the wounds gained during the match, she held her thick jacket close like a flimsy shield. She knew she had little to worry about due to the rune on her body but death, even temporary, wasn’t something any living creature would enjoy the pleasure of experiencing.

Not if they were sane.

While the steel doors gradually revealed the barren landscape and its heated breath washing down her figure, Trixi mentally took stock of her equipment while she walked inside. Her weapons included: fifteen total kunai, each she personally arranged to a style she could memorize with four knives in front, five connected to a metal ring like a keychain-attached by magnets- with about fifty yards of wiring divided among them, six blades in back, and the extra surplus wiring bundled up on the side and finally her batons at her hip sides.

First thing she realized was that it was hot as hell when she entered the sauna like environment. Her feet stopping just six steps from the door as it locked her inside. Her hand immediately started to open the jacket’s zipper while her eyes sought her opponent, immediately regretting it when she found him.

“Has anyone ever told you, stuff like that could blind people? Put at least a loin cloth or something to cover that thing for Christ’s sake!” Trixi snapped in a loud, grossed out tone. In pure instinct, her hand jerked up to shield her eyes from the butt naked man squatting before her. Of course she would get the barbarian next...he possibly could’ve grossed his opponent into defeat. With the competition dwindling, her choices for opponents would’ve had them cross paths at some point during the tourney.

Still trying to avoid the image burning in her head-there was only one man she ever wanted to see naked and he was back in her own dimension- she noted the lacking equipment and clothing piled up nearby. It confused her for a moment. Then Salem’s voice edged into her attention, his voice sweet as poisoned honey and coaxing her into attacking with the guy’s pant literally down. Or in this case, off.

She shook the thoughts away, her other hand finishing zipping down the jacket the rest of the way to cool her off. Part of her was considering stripping down to her sports bra and cutting her pants into shorts, but quickly dismissed the idea. As easy it might’ve to attack him right now, her last opponent making her more cautious this time, Trixi’s heart coiled in distaste at the idea of playing dirty. Life and death was one thing when she knew her adversary wouldn’t, but competition, despite the result, should be at least fair for both.

“So, I got you then?” She asked loud enough for him to hear without straining her voice, pausing to sigh then added more. She kept her eyes averted to give him some modesty, even if he didn’t care for it or it risked him attacking her with he guard down. With that notion, her right hand drifted to her side where she could easily snag a throwing Kunai or her baton for a quick defense. “Name’s Trixi and how do you want to do this fight? Bare hands, weapons or what?”

Trixi, inwardly, hated her sense of fair play some times.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper
Gonad ceased his squatting and, arms crossed, began walking towards Trixi, intending to stop several yards away. He had apparently forgotten all his stuff. Her advice for him to cover up passed through him like wind through a keyhole. He didn't seem to even register the words. This one clearly operated somewhere beyond the stratosphere. That peculiar sort of person who had their own set of rules and customs entirely apart from the rest of the world, impossible to judge or define by social norms. This man was what long suffering psych techs called a "Deep Space Cowboy".

"Hrah! Fine be anything with Gonad! Fancy Girl do as Fancy Girl like! Share words we will after battle, for waited has Gonad for such. Then much ale will there be and many mighty tales of fertile Sky Yak! If ready Fancy Girl be, gruh, then BEGIN!"

[Fallenreaper]

It took Trixi a moment to translate, at least crudely, what the man had stated. Her head tilted in confusion for a moment while she ticked through what she assumed was gibberish and realized he was answering her last question, instead of considering her request earlier. She sighed quietly at the display but concluded he wasn’t going to make this easy. This meant she wasn’t required to hold back either as she pulled down her jacket further off her shoulders, discarding the dropped item with her right foot into the nearest wall.

She didn’t want the jacket overheating her during the match, her skin feeling the heat brushing against her skin while the magma pools casted them both in an orangish light. The lacking of it also increased her mobility in her arms. Trixi was hoping, deep in her mind, she wasn’t going to regret removing her jacket later if this large guy pulled a blade from somewhere unexpected like the last one. Through being naked made that very, very hard.

Inhaling slowly, Jake’s, her martial arts instructor, voice rang in her mind for the first time since this competition started. "The second you hesitate is the second you die. You must never hesitate." he said in a serious tone, reminding her that just because this man was unarmed didn’t mean he was helpless.

Besides, her last fight against the ‘werewolf’ in a man’s skin proved not everyone was as they seemed in this tournament.

Caution on her mind, her right hand reached for one of her batons. She slipped it through the straps, and grasped the handle before she pulled it out of the holder and snapped it out to its full length. She left her other hand open however. “Alright, let’s get this over with then.”

She saw little point in talking anymore causing her to move instead. Her right foot pulled forward as she started to cut the distance down in a steady walk toward Gonad, decreasing the 5 ½ yards between them at her own pace. Her body trying to keep a far distance between the pit's wall and the magma pool bubbling nearby. Trixi’s hands began to charge with her electrical energy, her eyes pulsed with excitement and promise of pain caused her to smirk. She let the faint, pleasant tingling start down her arm, focused into her palms, and then her fingers where if it was allowed to continue would create a charge in her left hand and the baton for later use.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper
Words could not express the joy which shone on the barbarian's face as he saw his opponent advance. She was small and with little protection, yet had as much courage as King Guzman. This meant a great deal in Gonad's eye. He strode quickly towards Trixi, more a powerwalk than anything. His arms would remain loose at his sides, but were he to get within the woman's reach he'd then cock back his left fist as if he were going to slug her right in the gobhole. It could scarcely be more straightforward, something that was easily avoided and easily countered? Perhaps, but of all people Gonad knew the true power of simplicity. From this point on, every move Trixie made would be a skip and a hop along the razor's edge. One misstep and that would be all.

She might have been more than equal to peak athletes, but one look at the barbarian's freakish body would tell her all she needed to know about what would happen should she screw up. Up close, he was even bigger. When one looked at an image of a moose or a horse, one rarely could grasp the true size of the animal. Not until they were right in front of it would the realization of its sheer size become apparent. Were Gonad to stand directly before Trixi, she would have to crane her head straight up vertically to just try and catch a glimpse of his forehead. His hips would be nearly at the level of her chest, each leg probably thicker than her waist. To hit him in the head with her baton, she'd need to be well within his long reach. Not just because of the size of his arms, but because by having to swing higher up at an angle her own reach would be diminished. Each of his scarred hands was big enough to engulf her entire face, and judging by the way the tendons played across his forearms like massively thick piano wires, her face would not stay long in contact with her skull if such a thing occurred. He reeked of alcohol and sweat, of blood and of her daddy, an all-enveloping perfume of war. Those with honed senses often encountered a strange phenomenon at this point. The ambience would dim to an almost nonexistent hum. For a brief moment the background would fade to black, leaving only the ponderous nude monster and empty space. A trick of the brain known as tunnel vision. The mind and the body knowing instinctively that the end was truly nigh, a singular threat taking precedence over all perception. Even without the illusion, Trixi would be able to feel that this was going to be vastly different than the advantage-passing cat and mouse games normally reserved for human combat. This fight was going to redefine the ways a mortal could die.

[Fallenreaper]

Trixi’s face held a determination, her mind continually adjusting the proportion difference between them, as she kept walking. Her heart thumping excitedly, her breath quick and quiet, and her fingers tingling more fiercely with each step. Boots felt little resistance against the smooth arena causing her to note the lacking pebbles that would normally be found in a landscape like this. On drawing closer several details from the distance were made very clear to her.

First off, his size. Large and tall would’ve been hard pressed to carry Gonad’s size. His hips coming to just somewhere below her chest but still high on her torso. It was pretty obvious he was way out of her normal weight class. Trixi was feeling more and more like the biblical figure David. The brave, little shepherd boy taking on the giant, Goliath, at Sokoh. Gonad was over 6 foot for sure but until she got within his range, she wouldn’t be able to make accurate estimates unlike ‘wolfie’ in her earlier match. There was no doubt in her mind that the man was huge, even by human standards, making her suspect he might’ve had some giant within his lineage somewhere. Not a surprised, she realized now, considering his behavior since the shrine and they weren’t known for their hygiene or manners.

Next were the scars lining his body. This altered the image and made him more of an old lion who had won many fights, causing her paranoia to kick up another notch and definitely not to underestimate him. Even a dumb creature can be a challenge to beat when they were an unbeaten victor because something had to help them win in the end. If she was sloppy, this was assuming he depended a great deal more on strength than speed, that little talk wasn’t likely to happen. Win or lose, she wasn’t going down without a fight.

Trixi smirked briefly at a phrase fitting to this situation fluttering in her mind, her walking slowed even more when he came into strike range. It might've seemed like she was hesitating due to his size but she wasn't. This gave her briefly enough time to brace herself for what seemed liked an incoming left hook at her face. Her eyes watched his left hand cock back and seemed ready to strike, a simple but effective move should it hit. If the punch extended past Gonad's shoulder a few inches and appeared to be dedicated to the motion, the woman reacted on instinct and muscle memory to counter it.

Trixi would’ve moved to the right of the man’s extending arm, ended up on its outside, with her right foot leading which would've allowed her head to avoid his fist by a few inches. Her left foot-in the same well practiced movement- would've followed in behind at an angle, her dodge making one side of a V if seen above with the bottom being her start point. Her feet darted across the smooth surface and didn’t leave the ground far when she took a step deeper into his range. At the same time should his arm carry out his attack fully then his arm would be extended to her far shoulder's left. It would the moment just before when her weapon aimed to come up and then smack at the radius and ulna bones within the forearm. She wouldn’t be able to reach his head and doing so would’ve been too risky. It was best to damage what was closest rather than open herself up for an attack by overextending her reach. Despite her base strength being lower than Gonad (she assumed), the combination of the baton being solid, its weight and her force put behind it might been enough to heavily damage, or more likely break, the bones should it make impact.

However, this early she could easily adapt her moves if needed at any point during her counter. Though it would only happen when he extended his fist far enough. He still had his other arm after all and she wasn’t about to let her guard down, her unarmed ‘guardian’ hand rested defensive around her chest level should/when his attack had been set into motion.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper
No sane boxer so obviously telegraphs a punch. But then, Gonad was not entirely a boxer. Like Trixi, his technique was fluid and easily adaptable. He knew her options just as well as he knew his. Gonad just so happened to have a tried and true technique that he saved for those occasions when an opponent preemptively tries to sidestep one of his big wind-up punches. It came from muscle memory, likely with considerably more speed than the woman had been expecting from so vast an opponent. Strangely, the punch would end up flying in the opposite direction of Trixi. It would come out like a hook, Gonad whirling in the direction opposite of her with a heavy "Hruff!", as if she had instead tried to move to his right. It would be exceedingly difficult to predict this "turn" of events (no pun intended), given the split second timing needed to react to a normal punch, let alone the veteran berserker's. What was he thinking, turning his back to an enemy? Perhaps it was a good chance to attack him from-

*FWOOOOMSH*

In the world of martial arts, there is a strike immensely more powerful than any other. It is known as the spinning back kick. It can blow open doors with ease when launched from just the standing position, rupture internal organs, and fold over grown men that make a living out of beating other grown men to a pulp. As the behemoth spun on the ball of his left foot, his right one left the ground in a blur and surged up towards Trixi's abdomen at close range. She'd have effectively paced right into the trap. Unlike the initial "punch", this move came completely out of the blue and with no second guessing. Perhaps she might have expected a spinning attack in the split second when he swung opposite her, but it probably wouldn't have been a kick expected. His right arm would have been raised up as he attacked, to mislead her into expecting a spinning backfist and perhaps make her vainly try to duck or escape backwards rather than to the side, not that it would be so easy to avoid the size 24 foot. "Rolling" with the blow would be about as effective as rolling off a circus cannonball. If her guts were the dinosaurs, then this was the extinction event. The entire reason David Carradine died from autoerotic asphyxiation was because he couldn't control his libido after seeing this kick. Trixi's belly was a +1 trinket and Gonad's hoof was Adam Smith.

Unless she had a backup plan, her feet would leave the ground as the warrior's heel sunk deep into her vitals. Her body would be propelled backwards through the air as he fully extended his leg, Trixi ragdolling across the ground after a rough landing. It was no truly lethal move in and of itself, but any human it connected with would undoubtedly be down for the count. There would be no lava in the way should she be given that one way ticket to Hurtsville U.S.A, and given several minutes she would probably be able to even stand up again, albeit in no condition to rock and roll for a good while. If all this came to pass, Gonad would not press the advantage. He'd instead plop down on the ground to do some yoga. Some sweaty, bare-assed barbarian yoga.

[Fallenreaper]

Why was it always hard to use a stealth attack against someone who fought Demons?

The answer was pretty much simple: Demons never played fair in a fight. There was never one instance Trixi ever recalled she had met a fair and honorable demon, one that was bent on playing by the rules and never took a cheap shot any chance they got. Never lowered their own strength or speed to play around their prey’s level, never played with the same number of limbs, and never revealed all their tricks or not use them. These experiences were enough to force her to make sure she capitalized on speed. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have been here. If a hunter wasn’t careful, they were going to end up split from groin to chest or punched by an extra limb materializing from nowhere. This experience increased her awareness about her target’s movements, extra limbs or not, and her mind processed it faster then she should’ve been able. Though she hoped he couldn’t materialize a limb somewhere from space then again… it shouldn’t surprise her if he did.

If Trixi had time to shudder and recall her past, she would’ve when it came to the Djinn hunt.

Pain was the best teacher of all to be cautious and something Trixi experienced well during that time, enough near death experiences and broken bones to never make the same mistake twice. She didn’t know all the tricks but it wasn’t hard to tell when one was coming or an attack was off, then guess at the nature of why. This made calling bluffs worth it. She was a squishy human after all so speed and endurance became her bread and butter. So as long so as she had space to move, she would use it.

At the start, they had been facing each other and almost lined up perfectly before the match progressed. Now their positions had changed based on their actions. When Gonad’s punch came out, edging past the shoulder, Trixi’s right leg stepped to the punch’s outside and brought herself to her foe’s left side, lining on the side of his planted feet. Her torso was angled at / with her left foot back and her right forward. This gave her enough space between his arm and her body to lash out with her baton without being too deep into his range. It also allowed for a quick retreat. Her eyes hadn’t moved from their forward position which was raised to look in his eyes, taking in account his body and see movements without ever moving her head. Unlike Gonad, her vision wasn’t a tunnel.

One problem happened. His arm wasn’t where it was suppose to be.

Her baton had already risen to strike only to have nothing to hit when he veered his punch the other opposite way, his voice giving a sound huff in his effort to speed along. Exposing his back… One thing Trixi learned, no matter how subtle you made your moves, there was always a tell in the body and it helped Trixi was usually on guard for an extra movement somewhere she wasn’t looking. A tail or extra arm mostly. In this case there was too much weight on the left side for a backhanded fist even with the left hook. Instinctively she there had to be an attack from below, recalling how often a tail had flickered out to wrap about her left leg or stabbed her into chest, and prompted a reaction at the last moment.

Her left leg moved to the right, bring it more parallel to her right. This brought her torso to let the back spinning kick- aimed likely for her abdomen middle if he intended to send her flying and not spinning like a top to the ground- almost skim her surface and brush by. If he continual through with the move that is. Unless Gonad was putting every ounce of his kinetic energy through an ability into his kick that she knew nothing, even with the power force of a cannon ball passing over her surface and skimming wouldn’t break all the bones in her body. It would be painful as hell, taking layers of skin and damaging/seriously bruising muscle and even mostly likely knocking her on her ass. With his strength in mind, her baton hand jerked downward in reflex. It was angling from a right direction (where she held after his punch went left) in hopes to either alter the giant’s mind into stopping the attack or shift where he was targeting even more from her body and damage his leg while he had tried to send her flying. If it hit, the impact on a normal human could fracture bone and limit mobility when Gonad applied weight on it the next time.

Though she had went on the offense and managed to avoid the attack, Trixi was still well aware of the guy’s other limbs making her slightly edgy and ready to adapt. Including beating a hasty retreat.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper

Gonad had kicked the intestines out of tens of thousands of things, and had accumulated enough blood on his boots over the years to know when he had missed something before full impact. She wasn't where he had expected her to be. Gonad would not cease his attack, however. He was wide open, but such a thing was of entirely no consequence to a berserker. Perhaps this was where he differed from a demon. There was no self preservation here, only the near-suicidal desire to inflict harm at all costs, ignoring all injuries no matter how grievous. His offence was his defense, and of all people he knew that an opponent was at their most vulnerable when they attacked. For example, if a foe lowered a baton from their body to instinctively strike at a lower extremity. Trixi would probably not be knocked down by the kick, but she would be able to notice, very briefly, the huge frame of the monstrous barbarian rushing towards her. Gonad would have shoved himself backwards with his front leg, stepping far back onto his extended right to encompass the woman. If she stayed there to strike at his leg or body, that would be just fine. In the process though, she would be easily within his reach as he twisted fully around. The optimal place to strike his leg would be at the back of the knee. A very fine spot to attack any enemy. He'd fall backwards for sure if she did that, but... There would be little way of stopping him from dragging her down with him. Electric body or not, this man would be able to savage her as easily as a tiger. Some particularly tough NYPD are able to resist tasers during training, scrunching up with pain yet still maintaining enough of their faculties to stride up to the one shocking them. A mere NYPD is nothing compared to a Green Beret, and yet what was a Green Beret in comparison to the merry Gonad, whom not even the great dragons of old thought of challenging? His hands were his pride, and Gonad's very life flowed from them just as the lives of his enemies flowed out. If he so much as slapped her, regardless of how tight or smooth her skin or garments were, those massive mitts would dig in and then it would be over just as surely as the sun sets. His right arm would wheel around in a flash to smack against her lower back even if she tried to hop over his leg, the left darting right after. If she didn't attack his leg, then he would complete his full turn, but she would have time to escape those hands.

Except his hands would be the least of her worries if she moved away. If Gonad completed his step backwards without hindrance, he would turn much more slowly. No, not turn. It would be winding up. His face would have changed into the expression he bore whenever the inclination to use his full might struck. Hellfire trailing from a single eye narrowed to a gleaming slit, lips pursed in a grimace of raw emotion. Everything silent, the quiet before calamity. Then it would come. A low roundhouse kick delivered with the left leg, nothing held back, cast forth with the momentum gained from his 180. The walls of the arena would reverberate with Gonad's roar. The kick would come like thunder, like a bowling ball scattering pins with a resounding crash. The passion he put into this blow would be palpable in the air, shimmering and hot. His broad shin would be leveled at the side of her right leg just below the knee, Muay Thai style, but it would be both of her legs that felt the impact if she were unable to avoid this one. If this came to pass, the sky would invert itself as her head swapped places with her feet. Trixi would be plowed into a midair cartwheel, her legs contorted in gruesome ways. After two revolutions her head would smash into the ground hard enough to dole out a severe concussion.

BUT NONE OF THAT ROUNDHOUSE KICKING STUFF WOULD REALLY HAPPEN.

Gonad would not kick at Trixi again if he turned around. The ominous feeling would be there, the tension of something terrifying about to happen. It would be written all over the muscular contours of his back, in his every movement. If there was such a thing as being able to sense bloodlust, this would be it. Instead of attacking though, upon completing the turn he'd shout at her.

"BOO!!"

With an impossibly moronic look on his mug, Gonad would do nothing but try to surprise Trixi as if they were at a birthday party. The ridiculous intensity would have been an incredibly skilled and utterly pointless feint.

[Fallenreaper]

Trixi noticed his foot didn’t stop even as her baton was coming down, aimed for the knee section and in an attempt to keep his kick from hitting. She didn’t like the fact he had no self preservation instincts to protect his limbs, making her wonder how he had lived so long.

Already her hip had tilted to avoid the kick, bring her hip to the side, yet his foot was still coming. Through the move seemed to have altered from its original path. At first, Trixi assumed, it appeared to have been heading toward her abdomen but now… it was shifting down. Changing into a step rather than a kick with the leg pulling downward, not upward to meet her baton half way. With his step back, the foot’s location would’ve been just line up with her left foot’s inside nearly stepping on her toe if he had more reach. Each movement he made controlled far more than humanly possible. Like some unseen puppet master was pulling Gonad’s strings and toying with her.

The woman already her baton set in motion when Gonad’s leg came out and started to shift back, unable to stop it since she didn’t have the refine control he did. Stopping them was much harder than simply shifting the focus and power behind it.Her actions shifted to putting distance between him and her now, her muscles adjusting the weight back instead of into her arm. Her right foot shifted to push off and trail back to her left one, skirting the ground in a slight shuffle movement, then repeat like a boxer backing off a punch. If uninterrupted she would pull about two steps back and out of Gonad’s range of his open handed back. With her focus into back off, her arm’s power decreased through the movement wasn’t stopped. If it still hit, an unlikelihood, than it wouldn’t have shattered bone. At worse it would’ve bruised or caused friction damage along the meaty area of his lower calf, something more painful than crippling, at least likely for someone of Gonad’s control.

Gonad’s turn slowed, just like before when he originally wound up, causing Trixi to expect the worse. When his body leaned backwards and stepped, she was already increasing her pedal backwards to another step. While the man’s arms might’ve been out of reach, his legs weren’t yet and would likely edged into a low or roundhouse kick she guessed. Something she wasn’t clearly ready to counter against. Already a ferocious roar screamed in her ears causing her to flinch and react at seeing something move at her right side suggesting her assumption was right.

When her baton cleared Gonad’s leg, she kept it moving as she lowered her arm to sweep the baton around and hopefully catch his leg. While it might’ve not stopped it, it might at least use his own force to damage it for her. Putting them both on even ground in the fight. She was already imagining the results in slow motion in her mind. From the moment he nailed her leg to her crippling fall, knocking her breath out and leaving her to be finished off. One thing was clear… a blow like that she wasn’t going to be able to use her leg afterwards even with the hit softened. Just as she expected his leg to come around and finish this, his leg never slammed into her and instead he bellowed a loud “BOO!”.

Trixi jerked as if Gonad had slapped her. Her heart was jumping into her throat and lungs heaving, pouring more air into her adrenaline fueled system, and even her eyes were closed so not witness the aftermath. It took her a moment or two to realized what had happened. Gently her eyes peered open and looked at the shit eating grin Gonad’s mug had, irritation and relieve twisted in her at his little stunt. Finally settling her heart down enough to speak, Trixi’s body lifted then relaxed into a neutral stance through it was ready in the event he decided to take advantage. There was about a foot or more between the two, considering Trixi had taken about a 2-3 step back retreat unless stopped, around the time Gonad screamed boo. Truthfully, it nearly made her piss her pants.

“Not funny asshole!” She snapped with irritation though her lips had a hint of smirk on them. Inhaling to calm her rattled nerves, she then continued letting her hands rest at her side. “I’ll tell you what. How about we make this match a bit more… spar friendly? Personally, I’m not a fan of broken bones and I’m pretty sure you might not be either.”

Not believing what she was to suggest, Trixi continued-unless interrupted- as the visibility seemed to drop abruptly. “Instead of us both crippling each other, then about a pure melee match? If one of us hits the other’s chest than the loser forfeits and we leave without too much damage. Through there’s two conditions: You’re going to have to aim not to break my bones or send me flying with one hit. In exchange, I won’t use any weapons or extra abilities. Sound fair? ”

The whole time, Trixi thought she was honestly crazy. She wasn’t worried about herself beating the guy up as much as him crushing her to a pulp, a fact that wasn’t pleasant to think about. Giving Sam the excuse to lecture her while he patched her up was the last thing on her list and the only reason she considered suggesting this was because the guy could’ve easily won with a roundhouse or low kick at her calf. Yet he didn’t oddly. There was still a doubt in her mind he would agree or even consider her offer, let alone understand it. Her nerves on edge the whole time, she was prepared to react accordingly to his actions. If he attacked, she would dodge and counter. If he accepted, then she would remove her belt quickly and discard it to the side before beginning the match again with more vigor.

The ball was in Gonad’s court.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper

Gonad could not resist a challenge. It was simply his nature.

"HRAH! Accept mighty task of Fancy Girl does Gonad! Silly anyways it be, to kill for sport. Come, much merriment will we have with spar!"

Gonad straightened up and waited for Trixi to get ready.

[Fallenreaper]

A slight relief washed over Trixi at the acceptance, through she hoped he knew exactly what would be suitable. His loud response made her smile and hint of excitement flashed through her eyes. Her hand shoved her baton quickly into her holster where she latched it on tightly then quickly unstrapped the belt. It dropped to the ground where she kicked it gently to the side, sliding it across to the wall where it was forgotten. Part of her was screaming at how stupid she was being and for trusting a man who might easily adjust his levels, possibly killing her in the same instance should she be winning.

Then again, maybe the adrenaline pulsing through her system was really driving her mad. It wouldn’t have been the first time and if things go wrong and he broke his word, she could fall back on her taser ability. Though she didn’t realize it had a chance of not having as much of an effect as she was hoping for. Inhaling a deep breath and steadying her heart beat, her feet spread out, her voice warning him before hand in the sport of fairness. “Ready or not, here goes nothing.”

Without another word, Trixi’s right foot moved forward. She had raised her hands to her chest earlier before she took off and when she approached within range, her right hand pulled out to punch his left side at an angle like a boxer testing his opponent range. Her left foot pulling her momentum back enough so she wouldn't end up smacking into him.

Originally this was a test.

If he attacked, she was willing to block it this time. Even if Trixi hit, she was pretty sure, even at full strength, her attacks bare handed wouldn’t break his thick muscled limbs. Mainly since the muscle would cushion it and absorb the impact to only make it sting slightly if she was lucky. It was why she relied so heavily on her baton with much larger opponent. The steel was easier on her hand and it increased her offense.

Through her movements didn’t show hesitation, her eyes held a hint of worry over whether trusting him. After all, she had trusted Salem once and it nearly killed her.

As to her agreement, her taser ability wasn’t active or charging in anyway. In addition, her knives and batons were set to the side and there was little chance to get to them in any fashion without making it clear she was going back on her word. Something she wasn’t intending to. Whatever happened… she would fully accept the end result and try to change it into her favor.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper

Gonad's hands had since fallen to his sides. As Trixi moved in for her attack, his left fist rose up before his chin. He'd have expectedly assumed a fighting pose, albiet just a half boxing stance with his legs not even spread to accommodate full punching power. A brief premonition might hit Trixi at that moment, and if it did it could very well save her from a quick loss. It would have a similar feel to the tunnel vision illusions and skilled feints that Gonad could inflict.

*A snapshot of his left fist extended across her defenseless face like a shadow cast from a lurid green twilit sun, having crossed over her right arm which was in mid-strike.*

In boxing, if you are lucky, you may bear witness to a certain kind of punch. One that barely grazes the chin pad, yet seems infused with an electric vibe of pure knockout power. A body slumps in a heap, having never known what hit them. Gonad did not need luck nor circumstance nor even a proper set up to throw one such a strike as would be studied for years by experts as a reference point to the illusive concept of a "perfect punch". Trixi would be allowed a time frame in which to stop and rethink her action. It seemed though that he was as much a teacher as a warrior, for surely the subconscious warning had been on purpose. Gonad was enjoying the courage of this one.

[Fallenreaper]

@Doc Doctor

Some people just bashed away at a problem using the same exact tactic over and over. They would never realized how pointless it was, merely expecting the move to work at some point and become a solution, rather than a crippling weakness. In the past Trixi had been one such individual. Until her life changed and her mentality no longer helped her, instead it often left her broken along some rain soaked ditch. Still, old habits die hard. So her process of learning had been gradual but her continual need to face and smack a problem in her way, usually upside the head, had never really went away. That’s not to say something her mentality didn’t adapt, her bullheadedness sometimes working in her favor.

Trixi was doing what seemed to be a right, straight punch to the giant’s side. When his hand lifted up to his face, her mind imagined the hand whipping out and over her outstretched arm, planting the hit right into her face side. The impact would likely send her straight into the ground with a daze and a headache at least, stopping her from getting upright for a long time. Trixi wasn’t lying when she was willing to block but it didn’t mean she would instantly. It didn't help that doubt lingered there in definitely at the man’s merits. Her trust was a difficult thing to both earn and apply, always had been due to fear of making the same mistake. When her weight applied to her rear foot, she adjusted it closer to her right foot for balance as she extended her arm for the punch. To Gonad, or at least anyone normal, she looked like she was about to take the knockout punch instead of reconsider her options.

This wasn’t the case this time.

Taking an obvious leaf from Gonad’s book, her arm bent at the elbow and turned into a hook shot that fell short of her target on purpose. It seemed she might’ve changed her mind after all as this would happen should his fist had punched and made it past her arm, aimed directly for her face. Immediately her head pulled to the side, tilting backward some, where she would possibly feel his fist graze her skin soon. But didn’t it impact directly. Her hips twisted when she felt his hand about to brush her skin, pulling her head away while she let it skim off. From his point of view it would’ve seen like he hit her dead on and her own stupidity had gotten her KOed. She doubted this would fool Gonad.

Meanwhile, her weight fell to the ball of her left foot while her right leg came up just when Gonad's fist nearly carried out its extension all the way to her face. If successful, and nothing changed or affected this, her kick would be directed at his upper torso side likely around his ribcage. A deep instinct stirred at the possibility he might actually grab on to her foot with either his right or left hand then crush it with a single reflex. If that happened, would prove her trust was ill placed, she thought with a sicken dread.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper

Gonad was a grappler first and a striker second. He rarely pulled back his punches, instead often opting to use the opportunity to manipulate an opponent. Now he had one such an opportunity. He saw through the feint and stepped forwards on his left foot as Trixi kicked. His hand was at her face, she was on one leg. A good shove would be all the was needed to send her down on her back, her kick going high and probably thumping pointlessly against the vast man's bicep or shoulder. A Muay Thai kick to the calf can badly bruise, but that is if the opponent has the proper footing. If she were pushed off balance, the "oomph" would be taken right out of her attack.

[Fallenreaper]

@Doc Doctor

What was Sam thinking putting her into this?

It wasn't the first time this thought had brushed Trixi’s mind briefly throughout her time in this tourney. It was basically screaming when Gonad stepped forward and applied his weight, her eyes widen when she felt the giant advance. She was beginning to think Sam was crazier than she originally gave him credit for pushing her into this. Even worst of all, she was acting like an idiot herself and she tossed out the kick. She had made the biggest rookie mistake of all, miscalculating her options. Something she should never have done. Now she was forced to accept the end result because her own doubt and worry had rattled her ability.

Too late to adapt, she was now forced to roll with the punches. Literally. Being on one leg, she was unable to adjust her weight as her foot carried through with the kick and Gonad pushed her back. When she was first introduced to fighting, there was one thing she was made to memorize: how to fall with the least amount of damage. The moment her body’s delicate balance toppled, she fell hard on her back and smacked against the hard ground, where she rolled about a foot or more away. Edging upright, her body curled to get upright, her distance from the man about three to four of her steps away.

Through she pretty much unharmed, the humiliation was more than enough to slice her inwardly. In Gonad’s counters, she felt like a novice learning to fight again and that was enough to win from her past experiences. Now she was starting to understand why David used a sling instead of his fists. At the sign of her weakness, Salem’s mocking voice serged to the surface. His tone and words wounding her pride even more.

'Humans are so...cute.’His grinning, horned face floated in her head while she tried to catch her breath and came to her feet. The same words he uttered when she demanded he explanation for trying to kill her. 'Ever wondered why I built you up over our years together, only to kill you? Like most humans, the tastiest are those who believe they are stronger than they really are. Those foolish enough never to accept their fate and just give up. That’s why I choose you… it seems it was too easy too.'

Trixi forced herself to ignore the aches littering her surface as they quickly dulled, her eyes fixed on the massive man before with a set jaw. She spoke again. “Don't you realize you still need to touch my chest to win, or wasn’t I clear on that?”

Her body pushed to the balls of her feet as she noted the visibly was getting fainter, the heat faded but the steam blanket grew thicker little by little. She estimated that at some point they wouldn’t be able to see each other. That would make it impossible for either of them to continue the fight. Wondering if he knew this or not, her feet planted firmly on the balls as her hands held up just under her face in wait. She been going on the offensive most the fight, maybe it was time for a different approach.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper

Gonad didn't repeat the same lesson twice. The promonition of the punch had been Trixi's only chance to learn that an aggressive approach was not the right choice. The very moment Gonad was sure that Trixi was going to fall, he rushed forwards. His large hands sought to clamp upon her ankles, sifting and snaking through any kicks to locate their targets. Were she to wind up on her back with Gonad having claimed a leg in each hand, his favorite submission finisher would commence. With this move he had conquered trolls and lich lords alike. It was a technique most commonly known as the "Boston Crab", initiated by swinging one leg over a grounded opponent who was on their back after having their legs grabbed, the torque of this repositioning forcing them onto their belly as the grappler wound up facing the opposite direction, tucking the legs of the enemy securely into the armpits and then leaning backwards to effectively bend an opponent over their own body like a fold over sandwich.


Though a blow to the chest was a condition for victory, so also was forcing the opponent to either give up or be turned into a Klondike Bar.

[Doc Doctor]

@Fallenreaper

Were Trixi not to give up, Gonad would let go of her and step off to the side. He was no murderer.

"Bwah! Much potential has Fancy Girl. Come with Gonad, and reach such potential we will with much training! First, hruh, must top of Big Fight Hill be met."

[Fallenreaper]

Trixi’s ankle was easily snagged as she lashed out, feeling Gonad easily gripping the next in his mitt like hands. Her back smacked onto the ground as she felt herself flipped over, her back bent in nearly half when he pulled backwards. Pain flared into her muscles while she bite own her on lip to prevent a scream from erupting from her voice and her fingers clawed into the ground. Her legs up in the air and pinned under his arms, her mind couldn’t help but shiver at when the last time they were washed with each failed attempt to get out from underneath him. A steady stream of curses escaped her in the process until she finally started to cease her struggles, gritting through it with an expected expression. She was waiting for the bones to snap, feeling like her body was being folded in half, as she muttered for him to get over with already.

When he finally released, Trixi’s legs smacked against the floor when Gonad got off. His voice bellowed praise despite her defeat. The words were nothing but ashes in her heart while she felt the ache spread through her body, her hands pushed off the smooth flooring edging her into an upright position. Her legs folded over one another as her hand rubbed her neck, working out the kinks and glared at the retreating naked man. “First you molest me, then you want to train me. And stop calling me that. The name’s Trixi, T-R-I-X-I. Say it with me, Trix-ie. Now you try.”

She slowly rose to her feet, considering a shower would be in order later, tested her limbs. The pain throbbed in her muscles as she tried to work them out. It had been some time since she bended like that, through the last time was with an incubi which was no easy feat in itself and included maiming a bit. She scoffed at the memory, pushing it aside, while she started to walk toward the big brute. "This is going to be a lot day." She mumbled.