wizardmanor | Floor 2 Room 5

[Kiryu looks the same as usual. Seems he doesn't need to change into other kinds of clothing to be ready! He already seems raring to go. Doesn't crack his knuckles because hey, not a serious fight, but he's very obviously limber already]

As well as one can.

[That's such a noncomittal answer. Kurapika gets a nod, and a gesture to approach]

Kurusu must have told you already what's going on. The main focus is agility. [Kiryu seems to prepare himself, in his head already preparing for his speediest moves]

Both of you. Try to land a punch on me. Strength doesn't matter.

[First he wants to see what he has to work with. He even asked both to come at him at the same time. Kiryu is ready to dodge a whole lot, meaning to see what these two can do with their agility]

This sounds like a trick.

[That's all he has to do? Land a punch on a big, muscular target? Easy peasy. Sure, Akira doesn't look like he could punch his way out of a wet paper bag, but he's surprisingly strong!

...In theory. Punches aren't really Akira's style, and it shows when he throws a punch that would make a grown man cry not because it was that strong of a hit, but because it's just that fucking bad (4). You have your work cut out for you here, Kiryu.]

[ Unfortunately, Kurapika doesn't do much better. In fact, he does exactly the same as Akira, with a very lackluster punch to show for it when he actually makes contact with Kiryu (4).

For Kurapika, this is even worse. He has actual hand-to-hand combat experience.

Which is why he shoots a comment at Akira: ]

You're throwing me off.

[Kiryu usually is capable of tanking hits, when he braces himself. Even if it's to the head.

The way these punches made contact with him...yeah, he didn't even need to brace himself. He had been about to dodge, make a show of avoiding anything they could throw at him, but his honed skills told him as soon as they moved that yeah, no, this was ineffective. That's why he didn't even move, Akira and Kurapika just making contact first try.

Anyone from the peanut gallery with a smidgen of fighting skill would notice that yeah, Kiryu just didn't see it worthwhile to try to dodge after all

It's a good thing that he's not meanspirited. A lot of people would tell them that yeah, no, they're hopeless. Instead, he sighs a little under his breath]

I see. You're both on the same level of skill.

[For better or for worse]

Got it. First, being able to attack properly without weapons. Next, countering an attack. Finally, dodging. Those are the priorities. The force behind the attacks will have to be dealt with later.

[Kiryu wastes no time in getting them to stand one to a side, the other to the other side, and Kiryu in middle]

Stances. The legs are your only tool here. Subtly flex your calves...

[Well at least Kiryu is being instructive! He explains a good stance, and demonstrates it with himself, positioning the way he wants Akira and Kurapika to do so -- if done correctly it's meant to make them feel like they can spring to action immediately]

Edited 2024-05-22 22:29 (UTC)

[Looking over at Kurapika:]

You hear that? We're on the same level.

[Akira knows that very much isn't the case as Kurapika has a lot of practical, real-world combat experience, but he can't help ribbing him a little. Kurapika just flubbed up. But Akira? He truly is just that bad, unable to recall the last time he threw a punch, much less a decent one.

Thankfully Kiryu is a gracious teacher. Akira can ignore the peanut gallery and focus on Kiryu's instructions, watching Kiryu's demonstration and managing with ease to sink into the same position. At least he can do this much right.]

Like this? I think I get the idea.

Say that again, Akira, and I'll have you in a headlock before you can finish your sentence.

[ He certainly flubbed, and it's all because Akira does something terrible to him. God. He hates this.

But he'll very easily drop into the stance Kiryu instructs them to, almost as if it's second nature to him. His gaze flicks to Kiryu, ever studious, as he waits for further instruction. ]

Good. You both get it right. Getting into this position at a moment's notice is matter of practice.

[A whooooole lot of practice.

After giving them both some pointers that are meant to make them able to be agile without tearing something in their legs by accident, Kiryu decides what he heard is a decent idea to get them moving]

Kurapika, get Kurusu into a headlock. Both of you focus on speed over everything else.

[With one attacking, the other one dodging, both using what Kiryu instructs...yeah, that should be helpful! Best of luck!]

Seriously...?

[He's not complaining. He's not! But now he's regretting throwing that little jab at Kurapika. Why does Kurapika get to hold him in a headlock? No fair.]

You heard the man. Come at me, Kurapika.

[If Akira is good at anything, it's dodging attacks. Kurapika's got an uphill climb ahead of him, because the moment he makes a grab at Akira, he'll slip right out of his grasp (16).]

[ Fine. He'll spring towards Akira, quickly making a grab for his clothing, something that will allow him to jerk Akira down and bring him into a headlock... except Akira's too quick, and he misses (3).

But he admitted to Akira before that he doesn't play clean, and he doesn't intend on doing so either, because the moment Akira tries to dodge that first move, he aims for a swift kick to the back of his legs to knock him off balance (14). ]

Edited 2024-05-27 02:22 (UTC)

[Akira's dodging is pretty great and gets Kiryu's approval immediately. Look at you go! And truthfully, Kurapika not holding back and trying to knock Akira off balance is good, too. In a real fight nobody will be...'honorable', so to say. Pragmatism in combat is a must.

Supposing Akira falls, Kiryu's advice is immediate]

Roll.

[Keep moving! You need to be always in movement]

[Ah, old man approval... Akira needs it like he needs air to breathe. The fact remains that Kurapika is the more skilled fighter between them, however, so he takes Kiryu's advice to heart. He'll need it along with every trick in the book.

Akira springs off his palm into a back walkover, narrowly avoiding Kurapika's kick (11). Kurapika's set the tone by playing dirty, so Akira returns the favor, magic unfurling from his palm to wrap and snare around Kurapika's ankles in a bid to knock him prone (18).]

[ It's a good try. Akira nearly gets him with that, managing to hook one of his ankles and knock him a bit off balance, but he recovers well enough (16). A quick recovery is crucial, and is what he relies on, since he knows he lacks raw strength. ]

Neat trick.

[ There's still magic wrapped around one ankle, so he uses his other foot to rotate into a roundhouse kick at Akira's shoulder (8) almost immediately, wasting no time in trying to grab an opening. He's in this to win this (and gain Kiryu's approval first). ]

Chain moves together. Don't give your opponent a break until they're on the floor.

[Advice that goes for both of them! But given Kurapika attacked Akira there to try to get an opening to grab him, it's pretty clear that line is more usable for one than for the other!

But still, that was advice to keep in mind too. The sooner a fight ends, the better! Otherwise you get tired!]

[It certainly took long enough, but Kurapika will finally have his opportunity to make a grab for Akira when his roundhouse kick successfully knocks him off his feet (4). He makes an attempt to roll and lodge a foot in Kurapika's gut, but it's a kick lacking in weight (10) and one a skilled fighter could easily overcome. Oh well, he tried!]

[ It's one that Kurapika blocks with his forearm, using the contact to push Akira's leg aside. Then, he uses the momentum to pin him to the ground with his knee to Akira's stomach with the intent to keep him in place (10).

That is, unfortunately, a big mistake because he fumbles actually putting Akira into a headlock (2), all due to his own nervousness.

This is humiliating, and he really wishes Kiryu didn't see him like this. ]

Floor 2 Room 5

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