Let Your Fists Do The Talking! Akyu Quest Continued!

[Hello Purvis]

>"Koishi found her last attack barely achieved anything. Rather than being sent tumbling, Akyu merely fell back a step and shifted her weight. Koishi found her own strength was failing her, she had poured so much into these last assaults, and the overlord had yet to strike a blow! As Koishi springs back, she bumps her against that rock once again, she was getting careless. In her heart, she knew that she could help Okuu remember, that Akyu brought her for this purpose. That Akyu had saved her before."

[Mr_Bob]

>Help Okuu Together.

[Fightest]

>"Koishi found her last attack barely achieved anything. Rather than being sent tumbling, Akyu merely fell back a step and shifted her weight. Koishi found her own strength was failing her, she had poured so much into these last assaults, and the overlord had yet to strike a blow! As Koishi springs back, she bumps her against that rock once again, she was getting careless. In her heart, she knew that she could help Okuu remember, that Akyu brought her for this purpose. That Akyu had saved her before."

> ...

>"Koishi found her last attack achieving more than she had hoped. In addition to being sent tumbling, Akyu fell flat on her back.

> jagged
> bleeding

> Koishi found her own strength flooding to her, she had poured so much into these last assaults, and the overlord had yet to strike a blow! As Koishi springs back, she steps around that rock once again, she shouldn't get careless. In her heart, she knew that she could help Okuu..."

> ...

> help who?

> ...

> Koishi sized up her opponent. Had she overprepared herself? Was this all the great Akyu could muster? This was almost... disappointing. Koishi-

>Help Okuu Together.

> ...

> The attack comes-

> ...

> Koishi, preparing a-

> ...

> She swings savagely-

> ...

> ...

[Hello Purvis]

>Take a measured step back.
>"And Koishi misses. In her savagery,  she leaves herself wide open, a fatal mistake! Yet, Akyu does not exploit this flaw in Koishi's defense! ...But why? Why hasn't she struck once? Most certainly she could. Perhaps what she said about Satori's wish was true? Perhaps Utsuho does truly need her help? Is this why Akyu does not strike, for fear of harming the one that Utsuho needs so badly? Plagued by doubt, Koishi stops."

[Mr_Bob]

>Get back up.

Do you think anything should be changed with this next action? What's our battle tactics?
>Negate savage attack with Heavenly Guardian Defense. Counter with hug. "Enough Koishi. I can't fight you like this. Okuu needs your help. Go to her."

[Fightest]

>"And Koishi misses. In her savagery,  she leaves herself wide open, a fatal mistake! Yet, Akyu does not exploit this flaw in Koishi's defense! ...But why? Why hasn't she struck once? Most certainly she could. Perhaps what she said about Satori's wish was true? Perhaps Utsuho does truly need her help? Is this why Akyu does not strike, for fear of harming the one that Utsuho needs so badly? Plagued by doubt, Koishi stops."

>Get back up.

Do you think anything should be changed with this next action? What's our battle tactics?
>Negate savage attack with Heavenly Guardian Defense. Counter with hug. "Enough Koishi. I can't fight you like this. Okuu needs your help. Go to her."

> ...

>"And Koishi misses in her savagery.  She leaves herself wide open - a calculated mistake! Akyu hasn't struck once, most certainly she could. Was Koishi going to win, she thought? Perhaps Utsuho..."

> ...

"Enough Koishi. I can't fight you like this. Okuu needs your help. Go to her."

> Koishi, finally frustrated by her opponents weakness, steps back to give the overlord time to get herself together. This was not the arch-foe she was expecting. This was a mewling child, unable to even keep her mind in check. And her whining, her blabbering - Koishi crosses her arms and demands to know who this Utsuho is, anyway.

[Hello Purvis]

>"How do you not even..."
>Shake head.
>"No matter. She is one of Satori's pets; her mind was greatly harmed by the events of this tournament and Satori believes that only you could help her. "

[Fightest]

> Akyu shakes her head in misplaced wonder that Koishi is unaware of every single event that goes on in this land.
>"No matter. She is one of Satori's pets; her mind was greatly harmed by the events of this tournament and Satori believes that only you could help her. "
> She says.
> Koishi adjusts

> the brim of her elegant hat, and shrugs.
> She could no doubt help some pet that her sister's picked up yet again, but what would be in it for her, she wonders.
> She presents this very question to Akyu, adding with a wry smile that, should Akyu be unable to find a suitable reason, actually presenting a challenge in combat would be sufficient.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Is it not enough to restore a damaged mind? Is it not enough to ease your sister's anguish? You called yourself a hero, before, did you not? Wouldn't a hero, if she were the only one who could help another, do so without reservation? Wouldn't it be nice to truly be one in deed as well as title?"

[Fightest]

>"Is it not enough to restore a damaged mind? Is it not enough to ease your sister's anguish? You called yourself a hero, before, did you not? Wouldn't a hero, if she were the only one who could help another, do so without reservation? Wouldn't it be nice to truly be one in deed as well as title?"
> Akyu says, emphatically, hoping in vain that words alone

> will sway Koishi.
> Koishi points out to Akyu that she does not need to prove herself to anyone, least of all to a sister whom she hasn't heard from in years, or to her hired lackey.
> If her sister wants her so badly, Koishi thinks, then she should come up here personally.

[Hello Purvis]

Alright Bobert, Imma let you get your say on this before I go ruin things, because I'm pretty much wanting to go down this road.

"So now we see the true colors of the great hero Koishi. Wonderful. And, you really have to ask why Satori wouldn't come up, with things like they are? The tournament's affected the underground as well."

[Mr_Bob]

You're talking using road of persuasive force? Considering our senses can not detect any nearby life forces, I'm wondering if this attack is psychic in nature; like fending off an intrusion on our subconscious.

>"Do you have no desire to see your sister of your own accord? To once again visit the Underground City, your hometown? If you thought it was painful living down there, I, the Overlord Akyu, will teach you the pain of existing up here."

[Hello Purvis]

Not persuasive force, But rather a combo of guilting and disappointment.

[Mr_Bob]

Would the guilting and disappointment be more effective after Let's Fighting Love?

[Fightest]

> Koishi cocks her head impatiently, wondering when Akyu will decide on a course of action.

[Hello Purvis]

I leave it to you, Bobert.

[Mr_Bob]

Thank you for the vote of confidence.
A defeated Koishi may be more receptive towards the pushing to help Satori and Utsuho. Plus this route let's our fists do the talking.

Additionally we should probably finally send help to the parser now that Koishi has taken over.

>Breathe in.
>Breathe out.
>Kiai.

[Fightest]

>Breathe in.
>Breathe out.
>Kiai.

> ...

> Breathless, she...

> ...

> Her breathing...

> ...

>Kiai.

> Koishi is buffeted by the
> shout  that echoes across the mountain
> and takes a guarded stance. She examines her opponent closely - Akyu is already bruised and bloodied from her previous attacks. She will not last long.
> It will end when it ends, thinks Koishi, and concentrates...

[Hello Purvis]

>Are our Ki senses telling us anything about her? Can we actually see Koishi yet?

[Mr_Bob]

>Tiger Rends Prey
>Rush
>Tiger Claw
>Sledgehammer Fist

[Fightest]

Parser's note - we are back in busin-

> Koishi narrows her eyes. She was in charge here.

>Are our Ki senses telling us anything about her? Can we actually see Koishi yet?

> Akyu eyes Koishi warily, no doubt estimating her opponent's abilities. Finally, Koishi thought, her opponent has come to her senses.

>Tiger Rends Prey
>Rush
>Tiger Claw
>Sledgehammer Fist

> ...

> Like a tiger...

> ...

> Rushing...

> ...

> Koishi is thrown back by her opponent's attack
> breaking free
> Akyu takes the offensive. Koishi realises that she must be on her guard
> crushing blows, again and again

> ...

> As Akyu's mounted archers break through Koishi's skirmishers. Yet she will hold the fortress walls, thought Koishi, as she directs her armoured spearmen to head off the archers, whilst her elite shock troops hold the front line.

[Mr_Bob]

>Eagle Hides Talons
>Opportunity
>Parry
>Cross Counter!

Parser's note - we are back in busin-

Yay.

[Fightest]

>Eagle Hides Talons
>Opportunity
>Parry
>Cross Counter!

> Koishi's cruisers make a breach in Admiral Akyu's fighter screen, and her elite squadrons slip through the gap, only to
> break
> themselves on the blazing point-defense fire of the Insurgent light corvettes

> ...

> Her hold
> beginning to weaken, just as you feel yourself on your last feet from the exertion and mental damage
> Koishi gathers herself for a final confrontation. Her deck was perfect, the synergies between the cards meticulously thought-out, the most powerful spells, the most potent creatures stood at her command. She draws her opening hand, and grins victoriously - an undefeatable combination awaited Akyu if she made but a single mistake. Surely, the Fates smile upon her.

[Mr_Bob]

>Akyu Tackle
>Nimble Shift
>Qi Release
>STRIKE

[Fightest]

>Akyu Tackle
>Nimble Shift
>Qi Release
>STRIKE

> ...

> ...

> Koishi reels back from her opponent's objection. She never expected Akyu to follow this line of reasoning, only a madman would try to connect the murder to the tragic zeppelin accident!
> Koishi realises that she can do nothing but watch as Akyu worms her way through the carefully-constructed framework of logic and deduction, her each statement sending it crumbling further down until nothing is left.
> And, as
> You release all your energy, every drop you have
> Koishi throws up a fast blo
> The shock of pure will sends dust and pebbles flying
> Desperat
> With a soft sigh, the whirling, everchanging mass of imagery fades
>...
> Koishi
> disap
> And, as if nothing had ever happened, you are alone on the mountainside, the end of the path visible just up ahead.

[Hello Purvis]

>Check self, then the surroundings.
>Try to piece together what just happened.

[Fightest]

>Check self, then the surroundings.
>Try to piece together what just happened.

> You are unharmed. You have the mother of all headaches, but, otherwise, are in tip-top shape.
> You are exactly where you last remember - going up a narrow mountain path, surrounded by rock and sky. The path is starting to flatten off, so you're probably near your destination.
> It is not entirely easy to say what just happened.
> What is there to explain, wonders Koishi. Akyu thought her. Still is, for that matter.
> Magnificently so, she added, somewhat grudgingly.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It was....interesting. I need some willow bark..."

[Fightest]

>"It was....interesting. I need some willow bark..."

> Willows will be hard to find at this altitude, but you do have a jar of healing goop. Who knows? It might act as a fast-acting painkiller when ingested.

[Hello Purvis]

>Try smearing a bit on the afflicted areas.
>"Please forgive me, this is a rather new experience. Um, are you hurt as well?"