KoV IX Round 1: Vocal vs Crimson Eagle

Somewhere...

The sound of chains hitting clanking echoed the dark room as the steel cell door slid upwards. The light from the hallway shone through the door, allowing a large, built figure in the form of a shadow to stretch across the floor. Soft footsteps slowly took place as the dominant sound as the large figure walked toward the center of the room. The large man allowed his black lips to curl at the edges as he slowly revealed his sinister grin.

"It is time my Soldier."

A pair of red eyes glowed in the darkness. "What is my assignment my master?" spoke the voice in the shadows in a rather monotonous tone.

The diamond upon the head of the madman known as Madros began to glow as the words of obedience delighted the villain. "There is a dying star. Get it for me. Defeat your opponents to obtain it." Madros stepped aside, allowing the shadow of his towering presence to merge into the darkness. The road of light led to the door.

From the shadows Madros' soldier emerged. With each step he took, the light slowly crept its way up, revealing his naked upper torso and soon the blank eyes upon his emotionless face.

"Also," Madros said in a chilling tone. The Soldier stopped in his tracks, turned his head toward his creator. "No mercy."

Somewhere in the Caribbean

The skies were clear and the water wasn't rough; a perfect day for a cruise. People walked around the upper deck while some rested upon the deck chairs, absorbing the warm sun in an effort to get a tan; some more successful than others.

The man only known to himself as Eagle walked around the deck with a long sleeved t shirt to hide the metallic modifications upon his body from the view of the public eye. He observed intently of every person he saw in his field of vision in an attempt to pinpoint his first foe.

Children ran across the deck and parents chased after them with sunscreen at hand. The elderly slowly walked as they shook their heads at the chase. "They don't know how to raise them these days," one elderly man muttered under his breath.

Eagle soon felt a bump on his leg and immediately looked down with his eyes glowing red, ready to release his concussive energy. It soon reverted back to the blank eyes upon seeing a little boy. The child stood frozen in fear upon the eyes of the test subject. Eagle simply moved his attention elsewhere, he was not the target.

Impatient, his eyes widened, activating his sensory power. His eyes, like a radar, allowed him to have a nearly 360 degree field of vision for a distance of 500 meters.

The Soldier frantically looked for anyone that seemed out of place for a cruise. "Where are you?"

@crimson_eagle:

A wish was to be presented to the victor of this tournament a chance to change all that was. Something that appealed to Cadence for sure. Sense her quest to explore the world and grow she fell into the team of STRIKE. From that team she found a number of haunting elements to the world at large. Her first mission involved a jailbreak of a prostigious hero, but that hero didn't help to much in the following ordeal a minor role. Made worse that be this hero's rescue good or bad she found a lack of heroic gesture in the rescue itself. Cadence favored wounding over a kill, she may like to go by the title of Acoustic Assassin but she only wanted to assassinate the one mark. Her comrades however relinquished a lot more violence on some people who didn't deserve it. Then on the second mission Vocal flung herself into a figh she almost couldn't win even with the rest of her team. Her attack missed and she was damn near chastised for her bravery to be willing to die for the team.

Then came the latest battles of the final act of the event titled Catacylsm. They found themselves against a legion of alien forces and made worse by it being predominantly in space. She didn't have what it'd take to stop such a force. She wanted to find a resolution that had some trace of peace. The power to bring change however was placed on the shoulders of other team members. An act that saw countless people locked away in a time prison casted by the Siphon. Time Siphon had damned many people for simply following the commands given by their leader. To many people were condemned for their actions that fell upon others command. To many people were being forced to go to extremes. Cadence felt she needed to be better, more capable of being the just hand so lacking in the world.

So here she was on a cruise ship that'd become a warzone soon. She had to win to be more so that she could do more. Heroes of the world at the time had fallen short to Cadence. She'd go to what length she needed to reach those required heights. As for image in the now she was dressed as she usually was. Exception being a black tie as the room she was in required. The rest of her clothes were the natural violet attire with no attempt to hide who she was. Most of the cruise knew of the tournament at hand. Some were nervous some were excited either way Cadence made it clear. She wasn't going to hide it all that would do is endanger others.

As for why she was in this lavish room despite it not being a time of meal or celebration? The acoustics the room was the best at picking up sound making it easy for her to use her control of sound. It's location in the center of the ship only providing further aid. A crackle of energy caught her attention. Steps came with a ever so slight ring of metallic augmentation. Who he was, how potent he may be these V didn't know. She did however know now who and where her target was. A bow was crafted from hardened sound a construct ideal for her, Cadence favored the bow it's weight natural.

She aimed for the right leg, took a moment to insure nobody was in the crossfire and then relinquished the arrow. It wasn't the fastest projectile but it did move at the very speed of sound. It's frequency was low and of a nature that vibrated molecules away from it. Holes were crafted from metal and wood as it raced through the floors until near the deck. A second arrow was notched and released, this time targeting the shoulder. It was set with a second feint sound looking to ignite the air and what it touched in a sudden burst of flame. It's blast radius was limited ignition based on what was around to ignite made worse by her reluctance to hurt anyone but the target. Still it was an opening she had to capitalize on every moment provided.

@vocal:

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Even with the near 360 degree vision, there was no one who seemed out of place on the upper deck, everyone dressed in accord to the weather or cruise regulations. There wasn't a single person who-. Immediately something shot out from the ground behind the Soldier, per reflex Eagle gracefully did a corkscrew flip in mid-air in an attempt to evade the attack.

"Aaaagh!"

No avail. An arrow-like projectile changed course during the attempt and ripped through the right leg of the former test subject. Within impact, the projectile seemed to dissipate into the air; only the open wound remained. Eagle landed on his left foot, trying to avoid in putting pressure on his wounded right leg. Everyone around the former hero looked in awe, trying to figure out what had happened and how to react to the event that just transpired.

Eagle's body faced toward the hole the projectile erupted from, and he quickly peered through it with his visual prowess to see it's trajectory. Suddenly another arrow shot out at a remarkable speed; faster than before. There was an explosion. Some of the people nearby screamed at the sight. From one point of view, the passengers screamed only at the sight and sound of the explosion. From another point of view, they screamed at the sight of the target's actions. Regardless of what the people saw, the boat's crew ran toward the site to see if anyone was alright; naturally coming to aid to the sound of the screams. Their arrival they did what everyone else was doing; like a deer to lights, everyone stood in fear the moment the smoke cleared.

The crowd remained wide-eyed, mothers immediately picked up their children and the crew members began to radio in local security. It was rather strange that no one would run away at the sight of a metallic cocoon; but then again, there was no place to run. The sound of knives sharpening echoed throughout the deck as the people began to step back at the sight. The cocoon-like appearance began to open up, revealing the Soldier and his metal wings.

Eagle's shirt was in tatters from his sharp wing's tearing through fabric. The explosion had left a scorch mark in the shape of a splattered crescent upon the wood of the deck. The Soldier's wings however remained intact as the vibranium absorbed the impact of would have been an effective blow. His opponent was wise, sending an arrow to injure him and another to finish him off, but his opponent just revealed their location.

The Soldier's eyes widened, using the hole where the projectiles had emerged once again, he followed his path to the point of entry. "Found you."

Eagle swiftly ripped his tattered shirt off, revealing the cybernetic left arm of the former test subject. The people around him screamed as he tore through the boat, forcing his way toward the dining room.

The Dining Room. He had been so stubborn, looking only at the upper deck. No matter, now was the time to battle. Eagle did not ease up on his speed, the moment he entered the room was the moment he decided to release the force of his concussive powers in an attempt to blast her through the boat. If she had evaded his blast, he would simply slice his wing through the air, releasing a barrage knife-like feathers to where she would move. Upon his observation of the trajectory of the arrow, his competitor seemed to be careful of the passengers on the cruise; a hero. Eagle cared for no one. His attacks would aim toward her, but if there were any casualties, then that would be a burden upon her conscience.

@crimson_eagle:

She didn't need to see the gasp of pain told her she hit, the sound of blood falling on mahogany told of the dammage inflicted. The amount of the rain she heard told of torn not pierced flesh. The wind had a slight sound of haste movement a clearly graceful airial move. She heard the rip of fabric, of an impact of steel. He'd shielded himself with something sprung from the body. There was a reverberation, somewhat curved, wings. Her opponent was someone with metal wings. All of this was pieced together by just the sounds some clear and some below human spectrum. It was the one sense that could almost never fail her and she took pride in that fact. There was no time however to gloat the fight was a long way from done.

A sound of crackling energy once more soon to be followed with the sound of rupturing floors. Fast motion and faster energy paved away to the room. Thankfully the room was clear it was to early for formal gathering and consumption of cuisine. She still had to save herself however, with a speed to rival sound however and a small window of awareness from the sound of the attack she was able to seek refuge. Her lithe figure slid across the floor as she entered a janitorial closest near the stage. It gave her a bit of an idea for her next attack. She had to get there first however. An action that wasn't as graceful.

She made a dash for the various instruments, some cover provided by the smoke and debris of the explosion. But the bird of prey she confronted was no slouch in the art of war. He entered with a move that peppered the room with feather shaped blades. One slid right between a set of ribs it was low and something she could endure at least it had been. However the impact was fast and low knocking her off her footing. She ended up dropping into a roll, the motion brought her under the piano, but shoved the blade further in. Taking a second to remove the blade which was acompanied by a grunt of anguish she got a feel for the weight. It was much like her sword suggesting a rare metal. Adamantine and Nth metal were usually heavier from what she'd heard and seen meaning Vibranium. She'd need time to try and figure out how to target such material with sonics however. A thought that reminded her of the Siphons armor, this would be a good way to prepare for that if the day came.

Before any of that she needed to buy time. This man didn't apear to care for human life she couldn't afford to be gentle. From beneath the piano she she briefly dropped her foot in a kick that sent two shockwaves of sonic energy. One that went to cover the floor, a sonic cry that was able to shatter the wooden legs of every table and chair, and a good way to if a hit test the bones of her foe. As bones would likely also shatter if not enhanced in some fashion. The other sound to come from it was a higher attack of similar degree but closer to the ceiling this move was a bit more intense however. It was a sound that would also ravage equilibrium and shatter ear drums. Her opponent could fly he'd likely prefer flight as it could lend to better combat capacity so naturally the fiercer attack was higher up. This move though was also however just a cover, she was the acoustic assassin sure. She preffered a soft silent aproach but that didn't mean there couldn't be the ocasional grand ballad.

Rising from beneath the table she found herself seated at a piano. Instantly she began to play, her speed hit notes faster then many could notice. Still music but accelerated to a point what could have been a pretty melancholy tune sounded more like hard rock. Though played on a piano making music all her own. It wasn't head banging classical she was going for, no she'd turned the piano into an instrument of war. Flashes of light from weaponized sound was so extensive it bordered on blinding and as for the notes, it was a battalion in music notes.

Every quick note would spawn bullets projectiles as fast as sound that shot with enough force to pierce the walls and the walls on the other side of the hall. Every held note released a pulverizing wave of sonic energy that could push back a speeding truck. And the high notes launched scything blades that sought to rip whatever came her way. In all honesty it made Cadence consider using a guitar as a main weapon over a katana. That was something to consider at another time however.

@vocal:

He didn't anticipate this. He guessed correctly that this was not going to be easy, but he never expected the speed of his foe to be so great. As the Soldier let out an explosive beam of energy from his eyes, damaging the floors and walls of the dining room. His opponent had masterfully evaded the attack and tried to hide under the piano upon the grand stage but his projectile had pierced her flesh, burying into her abdomen. Although his foe had received one feather, Eagle was not satisfied. Her speed was remarkable, something he didn't have, but her wound signaled her limits.

Eagle landed upon his feet as he fixated his eyes upon his prey; his weight still shifted toward his left. The reddish glow in his eyes indicated that he was ready to send out another beam of energy toward her direction, but suddenly a stomp was heard. A wave of energy was sent out from his foe. The energy dispersed throughout the floor and the wood began to splinter, immediately shattering like glass. A sound wave? From the chairs to the tables, anything touching the floor would splinter and be destroyed. The former test subject immediately elevated from his position, easily evading the attack. Upon mid-air, he realized the ruse too soon.

The Sound Specialist emitted a second wave; it was different but much more powerful. Eagle attempted to shield is body with his right wing, but it was too late.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His right wing absorbed some of the impact, but his left ear was ringing. The Subject's cybernetic left hand grasped at his affected ear, he gritted his teeth as it felt like a knife had ran through his ear drum. The pain spread like roots from his inner ear to the base of his neck. Eagle breathed heavily and his eyes widened. With each breath he could only hear it from his right side; the left eardrum was completely useless.

The Soldier's blank eyes glared at his opponent as she sat in front of the grand piano upon the stage. Was she mocking him? Eagle's fist slowly clenched, muscle fibers around his body began to expand and show through the skin. She began to play a song. With every note played at fortissimo, a sound bullet erupted from the air and toward the Metal Winged Warrior.

The melody was rapid, sending a barrage of bullets to slice through the air to their target. Eagle looked at the bullets' rapid speed as it came his way. Eagle charged head on through the air, wrapping his body with his wings and began to spin through the air. Like a bullet himself he cut through the air, absorbing the impact of the constructs as he headed toward the Sound Specialist.

Eagle knew of her ability to run at high speed and now he learned of her ability to manipulate sound; it was time to limit that. As the human bullet spinned continuously, the vibranium feathers shot out. In every direction the metal projectiles shot out, with the capability of slicing metal in two. The barrage was done with the intent of destroying the piano and hopefully severely limit the mobility of his foe with damage. Her abdomen was injured, perhaps she would be a bit slow. His hopes were that a random feather would shoot right through her heart, but highly unlikely.

Within the spin however, the Soldier would open his wing just enough for a visual opening. His eyes would blast the red concussive energy in the midst of the projectile launch. Dining rooms tend to be located in the middle of the ship, this seemed to be no different judging from the route he took. The idea was aimed more for the cruise rather than his rival; though a hit would be pleasant. The blast was an attempt to break up the cruise. He wanted to sink the boat.

The constant equilibrium change would make it harder for her to fight on the floor, not to mention the rushing water that would come through the cracks and limit the space. Eagle would have the air advantage once the whole ship would fall, if it fell. In the end, he wanted to limit her abilities through water.

Upon landing the man favored his left leg do to the arrow wound. With the stomp and it's accompanied sonic cry she damaged the left ear drum and as such equilibrium on that side should be terrible. If the man were to once more be on his feet he'd have a hard time doing anything his better leg was on the side that'd have a hard time standing straight. However this wasn't going to do much good against his flight mode. Might have made a bit of difference but not enough to sway the tally in her fashion. This fight wasn't over.

She went for a brief final note, it released a sonic blast that halted the feathers hit with a high note that repelled them. This wasn't going to halt however the optic blast and soon it was heading her way. The piano exploded coating the floor in a new cover of splintered wood and adding piano wire and keys to the glass and silverware. The piano took the impact for her but there still was the blast itself which flung Cadence to the side hitting a wall and then the floor. Glass and wood dug into skin turning what would of been a bruised and aching pack into a ghastly mural of torn cloth and flesh and streams of blood. It wasn't as bad as it could have been but that's because it wasn't meant for her. The ship jolted a bit and alarms began to blare. The kinetic beam was more radial then linear ripping a large opening throughout the floor of the ship. Saving lives couldn't be done however with the eagle in play, Cadence would have to fight.

The stage was a mess perfectly good instruments ruined by explosive force and razor like feathers. But the symbols of the drum were still good, and the alarms gave plenty of sound to work with. Grabbing the two disks she flung the two towards the left and right side of the room. Then with a shimmer of violet light what was a sirens repeating wail became a thunderous bang. A sound that could shatter glass and dent metal. And while this could pummel a body she doubted it'd get past the wings. To avoid being hit though odds were the bird would have to be stationary. Meanwhile Vocal maintained solid footing by means of sound constructs which made a floor for her where her feet traversed.

Intending to keep the target pinned down Vocal ran in looking to close the gap. She'd drop to her knees sliding a bit as she brought her katana Nighthunter out it's sheath and in an upward jab. It might hit the inner leg the groin or gut it didn't matter any cut would of done. The intention was simply to bring it under the wings and into flesh, to try and make use of her blades unique quality. It was forged of Tempestrium, Doom had crafted the metal to fight gods. It targeted ATPs and genes of unnatural design it was meant to dampen powers to make gods fightable by mortal men. It's effectiveness varied but she saw an opening so she took it.

Of course it wasn't as simple as just a thrust of a sword or attempt at depowering a foe. She was fast, and so her blade sang it whistled through the air. Usually there was nothing to this but Cadence was the acoustic assassin with that song of the sword there was a weapon all her own. Sound is partly vibration, enough vibration and you have heat. The song of her blade became alien in sound but catastrophic in intention. She sought to flash boil the fluid in the eyes, to blind the man with searing pain. It got better though as she sought to also ignite the air. With her previous move going off as a prison of brutal thunder, she expected her opponent to be playing it safe in the cover of glistening wings. Getting a blade in there though meant lighting the air within those safe confines into a furious inferno. Briefly turning a refuge into an oven. It might not be for long as the metallic wings were quite absorbent but then Cadence didn't need her attack to last long in the first place. It'd be hard to fight or even fly with a scorched body a bad leg and worse balance.