[Bakiri Retsu]

Thread Trigger Warnings: Gore, Graphic Violence

Burn it all down

The clang of another container being dropped onto the stopped train’s floor resounded behind Retsu as she sat on a pile of discarded material. The next one was already floating towards its destination, carried through the air by several translucent hands. Retsu had managed to get her hands on a particularly large shipment of weapons this time and the usual methods of distribution would be far too slow and make it that much more likely that someone found out about them.

No, for this operation they’d elected to pay off a cargo train driver to come to a stop partway through once its load had passed all possible checks, smuggle in the goods and then have it drive faster so the delay wouldn’t be noticed. Nearly half of the legitimate goods in the train belonged to a dummy corporation her second-in-command had found dirt on, once the shipment made it to their warehouses redistributing it would be easy as pie. It was a foolproof plan. That was likely why it was already going wrong.

"Hans, load faster."

"Vell I’ve got certainly got more zhan you but you could lend a hand instead of- Oh…" Her second-in-command trailed off once he spotted what -or more specifically who- Retsu had been looking at. "On it."

With a groan like a dying car engine Retsu pushed herself upright, dusted off her pants and walked in Anya’s direction, making sure to stop at least ten meters away.

“Turn around and wolk the fook away.”

The costume her potential opponent was wearing made it unlikely she’d listen to reason but hey, always expect the unexpected, right?

tagged: Anya Nigiri  || word count: 294 || notes: x

xxx

[Anya Nigiri]

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The intel Anya had received from Recall was finally paying off. She had spent most of her time outside of patrols attempting to track down the criminal Bakuretsu to make her pay for her crimes. Of course, her secondary goal was leveraging the connection she had with The Mummy and, therefore, Gyrfalcon. Bakuretsu was infamous at this point and Anya intended to bring her to justice or Retsu would die. [break][break]

Her sidekick, John, had confirmed that Retsu and her "friend" were currently at the trainyard, no doubt doing something illegal. "John, stay back for now, but when this idiot doesn't surrender, go after her buddy." He would nod and move off to the side as Anya drew her blade and approached Retsu, stopping at the same distance she would. "Not a chance." Her energy would flare up, surrounding her in a light purple aura as she prepared for the inevitable fight. Bakuretsu was hellbent on an early death, and Anya would oblige if she had to. "Surrender yourself or else. Last chance." [break][break]

taggingBakiri Retsu,

[attr="class","vol-credits"]breezescodes.

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[Bakiri Retsu]

Burn it all down

Retsu didn't bother checking on whether Hans had John and the cargo handled. If things got bothersome the train driver would leave with the majority of the merchandise and Hans's safety was his own problem. That weasel always managed to wriggle his way out of trouble somehow. The only thing she'd be on the lookout for is John coming after her instead. She trusted Hans about as far as she could throw him when it came to combat.

"Else what?" Retsu spat back with a snort. The woman in front of her wasn't the first person that thought they could tell her what to do just because they had some fancy outfit and a license. She wouldn't be the last either. Retsu wasn't gonna back down just because of a threatening light show.

"Ah take it negotiations ‘re over?"

Retsu would only partially wait for a response. The moment Anya was midway through whatever reply she intended to give, whether verbal or otherwise, she'd find a frag grenade flying right at her face.

tagged: Anya Nigiri  || word count: 184 || notes: x

xxx

[Anya Nigiri]

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Her brow furled in anger as Retsu's lackadaisical approach to this situation bothered her more than anything. She was just like the other Matsui, just like Sho. A facade to mask her true intentions: "Negotiations? More like giving you a lifeline. I'm not like-" The frag grenade wasn't something she would miss as the arc it flew made its target pretty clear. Manifesting a large arm, she would reach forward and snatch the grenade out of the air.[break][break]

As it detonated, she would open the palm and let the fragments fall to the ground, the smoke emanating from her own hand as the damage was partially reflected on her own. "I'm not like other heroes." She finished her statement before winding up and using her manifested arm to throw a punch in Retsu's direction. [break][break]

taggingBakiri Retsu

[attr="class","vol-credits"]breezescodes.

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[Bakiri Retsu]

Burn it all down

"Well, if ya foite as well as ya quote teen angst ah moite actually break a sweat," Retsu fired back. Keeping her expression even didn't show the effect catching that grenade like it was nothing had on her. What flavor of bullshit was this one? The smoke coming from Anya's palm only vaguely registered before she was forced to dodge. Which of course meant closing the distance. Leverage and all that.

Besides, defense wasn't her thing. The sense of caution she'd grown didn't change the fact that any defense fell before a sufficiently strong offense. There were a thousand things that could go wrong either way. A thousand ways for her opponent to capitalize on the choice she made. A smart combatant wouldn't charge in without rhyme or reason. Retsu though, she thrived on chaos. When everyone's plans are ruined the one that's used to going in without a plan has the advantage. Give flesh to break bone. A crude and risky strategy perhaps, but a potent one.

Her right hand flung one grenade at the giant arm -an EMP, just to check whether it'd do anything- while her left sent a flashbang flying straight at Anya's face.

Retsu's full reaction to the punch would depend on whether it adjusted to follow her path and how. If it was far enough off the ground while it came at her she'd drop into a slide and a roll to slip to the side of it -or try at the very least- whereas if it stuck low she'd try to leap over it, perhaps even using it as a foothold if necessary. 

tagged: Anya Nigiri  || word count: 282 || notes: x

xxx

[Anya Nigiri]

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Anya was definitely chatty just not to people who she considered villains. Retsu was no exception as Anya's expression hardened but otherwise didn't have anything left. Negotiations were over; that was clear.[break][break]

While not being fast on her feet, Anya was fairly good at reacting in close combat, and Retsu, who seemed to have a death wish, was making her job easier. Planting her right foot, she would lean into her strike with the left hand, and as it got closer to Retsu, she would open the palm to strike out at her with more surface area. Assuming she wasn't quick to dodge that it would send her flying back, Anya wasn't the type to hold back.[break][break]

Given Retsu's grenade penchant, she didn't seem like the type either. Well, of course, she wasn't. She was a terrorist. Subtly wasn't exactly big with those types. Manifesting her second arm, she couldn't do anything about the E.M.P., which she didn't realize was an E.M.P., but she didn't have much to worry about there. As for the other, she would attempt to catch it once more, not aware that it was about to detonate, and assuming she did, it wasn't exactly blinding, but her translucent giant purple arms didn't exactly filter light too well. She'd have to be more careful.[break][break]

taggingBakiri Retsu

[attr="class","vol-credits"]breezescodes.

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[Bakiri Retsu]

Burn it all down

Even the most well-made plans rarely survived first contact and Retsu's hadn't exactly spent a lot of time in the war room. In the second before contact when the fist turned into a palm Retsu realized there was no way she'd be able to dodge. Her grin turned manic. She was no stranger to rolling with the punches. What was a palm strike compared to that? Kicking off the ground so her feet would make contact with the palm first she prepared to leap away should Anya decide to close the giant hand around her. At the same time she palmed a thermite sticky grenade, one she'd throw at the center of the massive hand at the exact same time she was sent flying. 

Retsu was no stranger to pain. She'd take stock of her injuries later. As she crashed into a utility pole with enough force to bend the steel and crack her ribs her gaze went to her opponent.

The EMP did nothing. That if nothing else gave her more info to work with. A consolation prize for the pity party that her opening move had been. The flashbang didn't do much more either but if nothing else it'd make Anya more cautious, a caution her final grenade would hammer home. 

Thermite grenades lasted a while and this one in question could put its payload out for more than half a minute. The entire time it'd spit out a pyrotechnic composition hot enough to melt steel and while Retsu didn't expect the adhesive to hold up through the heat for nearly half as long it would still wreak havoc until Anya managed to deal with it. 

One possible method in particular Retsu prepared for. Should Anya dematerialize the avatar she'd immediately draw her pistol and fire three rounds at the Pro Hero.

tagged: Anya Nigiri || word count: 314 || notes: x

xxx

[Anya Nigiri]

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Once Anya had connected with Retsu she leaned into the palm strike further swatting her away as she used her other hand to rub her eyes. The light was disorienting but once she took a moment she could see clearly again. Unfortunately for her this meant the thermite grenade made it's mark and Anya would slam her open palm down in an attempt to smother it, only to have to not go out.[break][break]

With her effectively trapped, she opted to release the arm from her thrall, letting the burning thermite fall to the ground, and with the shots that rang out, she was able to dodge two, with the third lodging itself in her leg. In retaliation, Anya would summon her full avatar behind her, and with a blade in hand, she would swing down at Retsu, aiming to squash her like a bug. Sure, Anya was hurt but in her eyes someone like Retsu was probably hurting even more. That dent she made clearly wasn't for show.[break][break]

taggingBakiri Retsu,

[attr="class","vol-credits"]breezescodes.

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[Bakiri Retsu]

Burn it all down

A stream of light sent a spike of pain through Retsu when it hit her left eye. Reaching a hand up she found the reason. Her eyepatch had slid down. Tearing it off fully with a growl Retsu only partially registered that it squelched when squeezed in her palm and left a red wetness all over her hand when she tossed it to the side.

A harsh, barking laugh escaped her when she saw the full Soul Incarnate manifest. Of course the arm wasn't even half the bullshit this quirker had access to. Opening her eyes as wide as she could Retsu relished in the pain of the broken and let herself fall. Halfway down she slammed her foot into the ground and pushed forward, her gaze not having left her target for even a second. As the sword drew closer and closer Retsu took a second step, her heart pounding as loudly in her chest as her feet on the gravel. This was it. Just her, her enemy and something to prove. The one moment Retsu felt truly alive.

She stumbled. Gravel clattered as her vision swam and pain wracked her battered form. Something in her back shifted and her leg twitched just as she tried to correct herself. Too slow. The blade was almost upon her.

'Ah, is this it?'

Like hell it was! 

There was no way she was dying here. Not now and not like this. If she went out then she'd be going out her way and on her terms, not theirs. With a snarl she looked up at the construct, the pain in her eye almost seeming to fade as time slowed. Retsu could see it now. The massive sword's trajectory. It would hit her dead on, middle of her forehead even. She'd be split in half without being able to react. Her teeth began to grit, the motion feeling slow, oh so slow amidst the changing scene. Instinct had her right hand moving towards one of her pouches, determined to lash back even if it was the last thing she did.

Straining as hard as she could she tilted her neck to the right, putting her entire body behind the motion to avoid as much as she could. She didn't even make it partway before the sword struck. The side scraped past her ear as the edge struck her shoulder, cutting deeper and deeper while Retsu pulled to the side as hard as she could. Her clavicle shattered under the impact and her topmost ribs were sliced through.

Then the blade was past, her left arm falling to the ground as time sped up once more and her right threw a thermobaric grenade right at Stronghold. 

tagged: Anya Nigiri || word count: 463 || notes: x

xxx

[Anya Nigiri]

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[attr="id","voice-of-life"]

[attr="class","p15-bar"]

voice of life

After swinging down her sword with all her might, Anya shook out her left hand as that thermite grenade did a lot more damage to her than she thought. She took a moment to look over the palm, with it still smoldering from the grenade. If one of those landed on her directly, she wasn't even sure what she could do to deal with it. [break][break]

Luckily, it didn't seem like this would come to fruition as the familiar tactile response from her blade that radiated up the avatar gave her the familiar sense she felt a dozen times before - blade carving through flesh. She breathed a sigh as she let down her guard. Even if Retsu could survive something like that, she wouldn't be a threat to anyone else with a shattered body like that.[break][break]

The fatal mistake Anya would make was assuming Retsu would go down and stay down.[break][break]

The world around her slowed to a crawl as the thermobaric grenade ripped into her, the searing of her flesh causing her to scream out in pain. When the fuel had dispersed what was left was Anya with visible bones and blood pooling on the ground in front of her. In one final act of defiance, the avatar, whose form warped to represent a large skeleton, was condensed into a single large hand. 'If there's a hell, I'll see you there.' She couldn't speak, but before she crumbled, she slammed the hand down as hard as she could. If she was going to die, she'd at least take Retsu with her. [break][break]

taggingBakiri Retsu

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[Bakiri Retsu]

Burn it all down

The second the grenade had left her palm Retsu crashed down on her hand and knees. Her injury took a moment to register. Instinct and gravity had compensated where thought was delayed. The difference in weight between her left and right side had caused her to topple in a tilted manner narrowly allowing her to catch herself entirely without even realizing she hadn't put any of her weight on her left arm. Had she tried she'd have found her efforts failing and her face hitting the dirt.

It'd have saved her some pain. The heat of the explosion reached her even here, at the very least letting her know her opponent was dealing with far worse. Her lips formed into an open mouthed half smile at that. A jagged thing made of spite and the kind of cruelty that could only come from the self-righteous belief that someone had received their dues. Her paling face made the expression even more ghastly, like a reddened gash torn through an empty canvas, the metaphorical representation of violence made manifest on Retsu's features.

'Burn.'

It wasn't personal yet in a way it was. The woman in front of her represented all those that tried to stop her and as she went up in flames a sordid ecstasy flooded through her veins. What Retsu saw here was the future. Hers and that of her enemies alike. A funeral pyre the likes of which the world had never seen before, lit by the fires of vengeance until it devoured all that she hated. Then and only then would she let the blaze consume her.

When she looked Anya in the face Retsu knew. They may be different in every possible way but that bit of spite in them? That was the same. With her lifeblood spilling out of the gash where her shoulder once was Retsu knew she wouldn't be able to dodge Stronghold's final strike. The last of her strength she could muster went into a downwards push, her legs remaining limp but her body being pushed upright as a result. In the moment before gravity could cause her to fall on her face fully Retsu palmed a thin disk shaped grenade, pressed the button in the center once and dropped it to her left. Just before the palm would impact it detonated flinging her to the right.

It didn't get her out of the strike range but it was just enough to stop it from being immediately lethal. Retsu knew pain. It was no stranger to her. Time and time again she'd been battered and broken to the point where death should have taken her. When the palm strike landed a scream made of pure agony left her, every bit of air in her lungs being used to wail. A crescendo to Anya's swan song.

The skeletal hand finished what the sword had started, crushing the side of her rib cage that had been cut and smashing her leg into an unrecognizable shape. Her left hip shattered into more pieces than a jigsaw puzzle and Retsu could feel bone fragments tearing into her organs. Such was the impact that the moment after the strike landed the right side of her body left the ground, her head coming up and neck rearing back from the force of the crash.

It let her once more look straight at Anya. The sight reflected in her purple eyes was one Retsu would carry with her for ages and for a moment something close to understanding flickered within them.

The crash resounded like a thunderclap and sent gravel flying in all directions, dust pluming up in an almost mushroom cloud as a result. Retsu's sight lost focus, unable to discern whether the obstructions she saw were debris in the dust or black spots in her vision. Blood leaked into her eyes from the wound on her head coloring her world red. Her teeth grit together so hard one cracked. She wasn't done yet. Not like this. Spitting out blood she sucked in a breath with the one lung that was still functional, ignoring how the other was filling with blood and partially collapsed. Her nails dug into the dirt as she struggled to get her hand under herself and push herself into a seated position.

It was almost like peeling off a sticker, the frayed ends sticking to the ground even as the rest was torn free. Her every motion came with a sickening squelch. Retsu couldn't hear it over the ringing in her ears. She was losing blood fast. With how many injuries she'd taken over the years Retsu could tell. She had minutes, no, a minute left at most. Retsu refused. Rationality didn't matter. Common sense didn't matter. Pain, injuries, limits? She'd laughed in the face of all of them. Igniting Temper once she was partially upright, held up by her intact right leg as much as the fact that her left leg was practically merged into the ground, Retsu brought the fiery blade up to her shoulder. Rather, the absence of it.

One would assume that with the adrenaline coursing through her and the injuries she'd already taken the pain of searing her arteries shut would barely register. Reality wasn't nearly so kind. Precious air was wasted on a pained hiss, mixing with blood and saliva on the way out. Bringing the flamethrower knife lower she repeated the process with her leg. This time she ran an entire line across the edge of her hip. Retsu had no delusions about it being able to be saved.

"Fraulein? Are you still alive?" An annoying voice echoed through the dust. "Ah, zhere you are. Don't die just yet. Salvation draws near." Hans's reassurances were more soliloquy than monologue, for Retsu heard not a word of them. Black crept nearer and nearer to the center of her red tinted vision. Naught but spite kept her conscious. It had been enough thus far. It would have to do now.

tagged: Anya Nigiri || word count: 1010 || notes: x

xxx

[Fanthes]

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✨MISSION SUCCESS!✨

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✓ What an intense fight!! I'm still in shock from reading it. Your name will go down in history, Stronghold. 💝 [break][break]
Retsu - 8.500 // 16.000(capped for August)[break]
Anya - 10.625 // 18.125(capped for August)

+ 7.500 EXP!

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Tag: Bakiri Retsu, Anya Nigiri

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