5495/Tournament: Shang-Chi vs. Sabretooth

Tournament: Shang-Chi vs. Sabretooth
Date of Scene:	04 October 2018
Location:	Kairos
Synopsis:	Tourney: Shang-Chi vs Sabretooth
Cast of Characters:	Shang-Chi, Sabretooth
Tinyplot:	Tourney

---

Shang-Chi has posed:
Ever since learning of his opponent, Shang-Chi has been preparing himself. At first, he had intended only to observe the tournament, changing his mind at the last moment. One does not learn as much from observation as action. And he still has much to learn, Master of Kung-Fu though he is.

Creed will find Shang-Chi in a meditative pose, clad in red drawstring pants cinched with a black belt, bare-chested and barefoot. His eyes are closed at first, the centering of his self total. Slowly, they open and regard the world again.

"At your leisure, Mr. Creed," he says politely, "Would you like to utilize any weapons or would you prefer we compete with our selves alone?"

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor Creed approaches the fighting circle at the appointed time. He is wearing his more traditional garb of the yellow and brown so that his claws gleem in the sun from his fingers and toes. His hair is pulled back out of his face and tied into a loose ponytail behind his head. He rolls his shoulders and rocks his head back and forth as he enters the circle taking in his opponent.

    He speaks with a rough voice as he says, "Always been my own best weapon. I don't need anything else." He stands in the circle opposite Shange Chi as he waits for the man to rise.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi nods simply, "As it should be." he says. He rolls his neck, the vertebrae momentarily popping. He links his fingers and stretches his arms behind him, straining at the tendons in his neck and finally bouncing a little on the balls of his feet.

Shang-Chi regards the claws warily but says nothing. They are, indeed, a part of the man. And he isn't one to complain. The world is unfair. One must deal with it as it is.

Shang-Chi finally stills and lowers himself into a stiff but measured bow, his eyes tilted up to regard his opponent, "Let us begin."

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor Creed nods once, slowly, in response to the bow. His eyes, however, do not lower, but keep on Shang even as he straightens back up. He drops down into a squat, back arched, and one clawed hand pawing at the dirt under his feet. His nostrils flare as he takes in his opponent's scent.

    The island draws quiet for a few counts. The birds stop. There is no buzzing of inscents. It is as if the world is holding its breath for one moment. It is shattered as Victor launches himself towards Shang with his powerful legs and claws swinging at the face of the young man. He roars once and the world seems to rush to catch up with the leaping predator.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi maintains his focus under pressure. He expected an onslaught from the bestial warrior and what he gets is no different. He tries to keep his timing right and, at that first lunge, he leaps, one foot coming down as the other extends, springboarding off of Creed's back to somersault. He tucks and rolls as he lands, coming up in his fighting stance with his hands extended, his own fingers hooked into makeshift claws.

"Tiger Style it is, then."

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor swipes at empty air as Shang Chi leaps over and on him. He is forced downward by the foot on his back and manages to get his hands down in time to avoid a face plant into the ground. He goes into a controlled crash and into a roll. He comes back up to his feet with his own claws in front of him. "Heard you were a bouncer," he says with a deep, feral chuckle. "Lets see what you got then."

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi approaches not tentatively but guardedly, moving himself slowly into range. He's all too aware of how deadly the man he faces can be. While they have never met, Shang-Chi has been in the employ of a variety of covert agencies around the world for many years. No one can walk in such circles without having heard of the man called Sabretooth - or his bloodied legacy.

Shang-Chi flicks a few rapid kicks, three with his right, two with his left, switching back and forth between feet. He doesn't expect them to connect, but they'll let him measure Creed, his speed, his reflexes, his technique.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor Creed moves like a boxer as Shang-Chi steps forward and kicks. He drops down to avoid the first, weaving to his left, and then bringing up his right hand as he attempts to catch the next kick and throw the smaller man across the large circle. "I appreciate the attempt, kid, but you are going to have to do more than kick me like some rabid dog."

Shang-Chi has posed:
His kick caught and flicked away, Shang-Chi moves with the momentum, rotating along and handspringing with the force of the throw, kipping back up to land on his feet again.

"You are neither rabid nor a dog. But the fundamentals of technique do not change. If you wish to set the terms of our conflict, by all means, as the Americans so love to say, 'bring it on'."

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor moves in faster this time, but more controlled. He stays on his feet as he uses his longer reach and more massive body to strike with force towards the middle of the other man. He is quiet as he attacks only making a grunt as he swings. His style is certainly more brawler than artist. He trusts his size to take the punishment as he approaches faster than the opponent can adapt.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi can black the attacks, but not without cost. Victor's greater strength and raw ferocity shake the very bones of Shang-Chi's arms as he maneuvers to redirect and restrain the attacks. Were he wearing his trademark steel bracer, he might've avoided the bruises, but, as it is, he doesn't show signs of the pain he no doubt feels, his face remaining placid even as he experiences the startling force of Creed's onslaught.

Recognizing that the defensive may be doing him more harm than good, Shang-Chi pivots, trying to grasp at Victor's wrists on one of his strikes, taking a slash of claw along his arm in exchange for leverage and the ability to twist one of Sabretooth's limbs under his control.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor cries out as his wrist is gripped and twisted. He is certainly not used to having someone being able to catch hold of his arm. Usually there is more screaming and falling. He snarls as the smaller for that. He suddenly steps backwards, using his strength to try and move Shang himself to releave the pressure of the grip rather than break the hold. He steps back and tries to fling Shang Chi off him as if he was a mosiquto on his arm.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi shifts his center of gravity, trying to hold himself in position against the resistance of Creed's body but the mutant has too much strength for the martial artist to restrain him. He finds himself flung across the fighting arena, tumbling on his shoulder and feeling it almost buckle under the force. Not yet, but he has to watch himself in the future.

Rather than waiting, however, he springs back, leaping into the air to throw a flying thrust kick aimed at the side of Sabretooth's jaw, attempting to take him off-guard and rattle his skull.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor was not expecting as quick a recovery as Shang Chi was able to do. He had begun to stalk toward, what he thought, would be his downed opponent. He was not ready and takes the swift kick to his jaw. There is an audible snap as the bone breaks and Victor is knocked backwards from the impact. His hands are up to his face as he tries to reset the jaw so he can heal. He is walking backwards, trying to stay out of range, as he shifts the bone in his face.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi recognizes his momentary advantage, moving forward and trying to press Creed as the man tries to regain his bearings. Shang-Chi shows off his speed now, unleashing a series of rapid-fire body punches and trying to follow up with leg kicks, more just trying to startle and keep Creed off balance than do serious damage, although if any of the blows catch his jaw it's not going to be fun.

Shang-Chi has begun to sweat just a bit, though, as he knows that blow might've incapacitated a lesser man. Creed is living up to his reputation.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor is struck over and over again. He staggers backwards still trying to regain his bearings and heal the jaw. Another kick hits the jaw again, and he bellows in pain. Amber eyes flash in anger now as he springs forward attempting to tackle Shang Chi much like a linebacker would take down a wide receiver. His jaw is slowly resetting as he springs so there is no sounds from the larger man as that still hurts but the anger in his eyes and flashing claws is unmistakable.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi realizes he may have pushed too far. While he had hoped to work the advantage, Sabretooth's inhuman resilience lets him withstand far more punishment than a normal opponent could take. Shang-Chi realizes his error too late, fully committed to his charging strikes, and so Creed is able to spear him down to the ground.

He feels those claws rake along his ribcage, tearing flesh down the side of his torso, the copper spark of blood in the air. He shifts into guard position, trying to get his knees up to leverage Creed off of him, lifting up his arms and using his Muay Thai to try and rain sharp elbows down across the larger man's head and face.

The pain can be endured. For now.

Sabretooth has posed:
    An elbow strikes the jaw again pushing it before it has fully healed. Victor lifts his head and chest, pausing in his onslaught, again with pain. Knees press against him and he is lifted head over teakettle away from Shang Chi and skidding through dirt and grass. Slowly, the man begins to rise. He moves quickly on his hands and feet, moving away from Shang Chi letting his jaw fully heal now before he presses forward again. The smart thing to do would be to retreat to a place that gives him more advantage, but the man's ire is up now. He growls like a tiger in the back of the cage as he watches Shang Chi. This is no push over. Finding that "killing" blow has turned out to be harder than he thought.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi gives a wary nod of acknowledgement. Creed has given him more than he expected as well. Yes, he expected fury and ferocity, but he's no dumb animal, not by a longshot. Shang-Chi braces himself and shifts position, his arms pivoting into a blunt-fisted style akin to jeet kun do.

Blood runs from his sides, clawmarks scraped down his torso. His already red pants have begun to soak it in. Focusing his chi, he slows the flow of his blood, his heartbeat remaining steady in spite of the flood of adrenaline. The burning pain of it he simply has to experience. That is the nature of discipline. Not to be free from pain but to accept it. To know it as simply a fact of existence and not something to be resisted and avoided. Pain is life.

Still, that hurts like a son of a bitch.

Shang-Chi extends his hand and flicks his fingers in invitation. "Come on."

Sabretooth has posed:
    That could have been a mistake. By waiting and inviting Victor Creed rather than pressing forward, it allowed him time to heal the jaw. It also dillutes the fatigue that would attack other men. He rises to his full height now, spreads his arms out to either side, palms facing Shang Chi, and roars. He smiles broadly, flashing his teeth and fangs, as he regards the smaller man. "Don't ask for something you can't handle, kid." He moves forward quickly, not running in a charge, but with his hands up in a defensive position, claws digging into the dark as they push him forward quickly.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi waits until Creed has committed himself, quick but not too quick. He'd hoped for a charge, but he'll take what he can get. It seems Creed's already learned from his initial attack. Shang-Chi ducks the first few swipes of claws, anticipating thanks to his ability to read body language. No way to dodge them in the moment, only predicting their location saved his hide. He cannot keep his focus for long, though, as the repeated strikes come to rapidly to track and he finally takes a hard slash that breaks through his defenses, ripping at a bicep and tearing into his pectoral. There's an arterial spray of blood over the both of them as he flips sidelong, end over end, and lands in a heap.

Impossibly, though, he starts to slowly push himself back up to his feet. His bare chest is slick with gore as he turns and rotates his arms in a kata, flexing in defiance as he lets out a ragged cry and does his own charging, moving in quickly for one last flurry of rapid-fire offence. He feels the strength leeching from his body, regardless of the control he has of his metabolism. He'll black out in less than a minute. Either he wins here or he falls trying.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor Creed seems to delight in the spray of blood. He runs his hand over his face, smearing it across his visage even as that broad grin returns. "Don't fade on me yet, boy," he snarls as Shang Chi slowly brings himself to fis feet. He stands ready for the attack as his opponent charges. He blocks one...two...but he is overmatched as a pure fighter. As he tries to swing, he is struck again, causing his slashes to go wide. A powerful blow to his midsection staggers him backwards and he turns his head to spit his own blood down into the dirt. Again, the anger builds. He snarls trying to get back into the fight, but plays into Shang Chi's strengths of speed and skill.

Shang-Chi has posed:
It seems foolish to try to match Sabretooth's ferocity, but Shang-Chi uncorks himself a bit. When fighting people, he often holds back. His sense of fair play and his desire to test himself leads him to see what he can get away with, rarely attacking at every weakness, never taking the easiest opening.

Creed, however, is no ordinary man.

Shang-Chi grits his teeth, feeling the black starting to climb up his throat as he shifts his focus and tries to rain blows into the sensitive bundles of nerves at the base of the neck, the hinge of the jaw, every impact sending a sharp lightning bolt of raw pain that may push Creed out of reason itself, the Master of Kung-Fu utterly lost in a Zen hurricane of combat, arms and legs seeking and finding whatever openings he can. If the fight goes on much longer, Shang-Chi may, indeed, gain the full advantage - if his body holds up.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor tries to fight back. With claw and fang. He swings with his clawed hands. He bites at air but the pain is building up. A never cluster is hit and he drops to his knees before he even realizes he is doing it. Again, the jaw. Hit over and over again. He tries to grab at the man. Trying to throw him away. Push him away. Whatever it takes. He growls again as he is trying to push himself back to his feet, but again, to the solar plexis. Blood bubbles out of his mouth and nose. He won't die, but the pain is real for the time being. The race is on between Creed's pain endurance and Shang's physical well being. He falls back to his knees still trying to fight back, but getting slower.

Shang-Chi has posed:
In the end, for all his skill and training, for all his focus and determination, Shang-Chi is only human. With thirty more seconds, he would likely stand victorious, able to rain in enough pain and damage to incapacitate even the mighty Victor Creed. A costly victory, but a victory nonetheless.

But he is just a man, mortal. Chi-breathed into flesh. And while he's imagined the next twenty blows, those that would lead him to sure victory, his spike in adrenaline proves his undoing as the blood loss catches up to him. His arm goes up to strike a savage blow that would have caved in Victor's nose, shattered his front teeth.

And never comes down. His arm goes limp. His eyes roll back in his head. And, blood-stained and tattered and savaged, the Master of Kung-Fu slowly falls to his knees and passes out on the field of battle.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor is beaten. He can't defend himself any longer. He spits towards the man from Hell's heart awaiting that last blow. Instead, Shang Chi falls over in front of him. Victor just stays on his knees, breathing with a ragged sound, as he looks at the fallen man. He tries to climb to his feet, but his legs still don't listen to him. He collaspes onto his back, looking upward, as he closes his eyes. Going to take a while before he can move again. Got to let himself heal. The man put more punishment on him faster than his ability to heal could keep up.

Shang-Chi has posed:
With the match declared in Creed's favor, medics in Elektra's employ come to attend to both combatants. Victor may not need the treatment as much as Shang-Chi, but he'll still receive it. They aren't to show any favoritism.

Shang-Chi was not victorious today. But he has learned. And if ever thees two meet again...the outcome might be something different.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor feels the medics arrive and a moment later opens his eyes. He snarls at the medical staff and pulls himself away with a snap of his teeth. He has no need of help. Almost dragging himself, he limps out of the circle and towards the denser vegatation of the island to keep out of sight while he is weak and repairing himself.