Monkey vs. Crane

The night sky was alight with twinkling stars, hovering above the lingering Saiyan with a far more benevolent purpose. They were shedding light on the Earth below, illuminating the mountainside with a mildly pleasant white color, bathing the world in a beautiful glow. Of course, this natural beauty was lost upon Broly as he stared down at the castle from above, his eyes glancing through fleeting cloud cover, little more than puffs of white and blue obscuring the landscape. His target lay below, hidden away in the mountains from prying eyes. Most people wouldn't so much as glance twice at the range, most people wouldn't know to follow the path up in order to meet an aging master. Shen was certainly that, at least; perhaps he was growing incompetent, perhaps he was no longer the shining example of a warrior he used to be, but that was why Broly was here. He was here to end that which should have ended long ago, to destroy the Crane School once and for all and prove his dominance. He had made a scorch mark on the Earth a few months before, by detonating his energy in a warehouse somewhere in West City; he had made his mark by taking down an alien warrior.

Now he was about to take down a master of martial arts. He was preparing to do away with an era, to usher in an era of Inquisition-based dominance on Planet Earth. Elsewhere in the world, perhaps somewhere that was being flooded by daylight, Cell was initiating his attack on another of Earth's masters, a man named Muten Roshi. According to Cell's data, both had sipped from the fountain of youth, gaining age-based immortality. Unfortunately, this did not seem to bode true in the sense that their bodies could still be ground to dust or burned to ash, certainly one of which Broly was about to accomplish. He wondered how long this engagement would last; would Shen provide him with ample challenge? Would the man die like a dud firework, quickly and without so much as a fizzle? Would he die like a fountain, in a shower of sparks, light and heat? While Broly was not a Fortune Teller, as was a certain old woman who lingered between planes and planet Earth, but he was certainly capable of directing the fates of others. He had extinguished more than his fair share of lives, freed the souls of millions. Shen would prove no different.

Energy erupted around the warrior, in a blaze of emerald light and heat-haze. Eyes burning with an angry fire, the warrior's face maintained it's scowl as he attempted to lock onto Shen's energy signature, his own energy swelling up around him and changing cloud direction from the hurricane-force winds blowing through the sky. His clothes were flapping and his jewelry jangling, banging up against his body and glowing with a pink light. He was reaching his combat strength, as evidenced by the slowly changing aura that circled his body. It swirled and morphed into a spherical shape, rotating around his body without the slightest hesitation or reserve. It was perhaps this level of power he had been in command of as an infant, this level of power he had reached before he could walk. Though it likely seemed impressive to the denizens of Earth, this was a power he had been robbed of before. This was still but a portion of the strength he had hoped to achieve in his lifetime, a tiny appetizer to the strength he so longed for. Though destroying Shen would not give him this power, it would certainly bring him satisfaction. The old man had overstepped his position.

As the energy solidified around him, Broly threw both hands to the side, opening his palms to both ends of the sky. The sphere of energy began to expand with his movement, with the flexing of his muscle and the strain placed upon his body. He was going to obliterate this mountainside in one, open attack. Should Shen be caught in the blast zone, then he deserved to die; should he escape? The battle may have held potential; it was hard to say. As Broly grit his teeth together, crackles of electricity began running around his spherical aura, empowering him with their might. Though this was not quite the level he needed for the next level of his ascension, though this was not a transformation of his power or body by any means, it was signifying that he cared little for the destruction wrought by his assault upon Shen. Old-Man Crane would soon discover the might of his least attendant pupil, the Warrior known as Broly. Though he had identified himself differently, that was what everyone classified him as. Though, a Warrior was one who waged war; Broly did not wage war. He destroyed everything he could get his hand on. It didn't have to fight back.

As his energy reached it's peak, Broly's head was thrown backwards, his neck cracking inaudibly in the wind. His body was shaking, his muscles tensed up from the amount of power being utilized. He was not one to fuck about with this type of thing; this was something he took seriously, something he...For lack of a better word, enjoyed doing. The sound of falling rubble, the collapse of a structure well taken down; these were his versions of petting kittens and traipsing through meadows on a day of dark sky. It was the only thing that made his blood rush with something other than anger, something that gave him a sense of immense satisfaction and some form of sadistic pleasure. Others called it senseless, others called it destructive and mindless; they were unaware of the order of it all. They didn't have the hunger for death and the feeling of eternal anger that lingered in Broly's heart, that had taken the place of his very soul. He wouldn't have been shocked if his soul was black, if he lost his body when he went to hell; which of course, he was going to hell. There was no doubt about that, anymore. He had done too much, seen too many things.

His energy reached it's maximum expansion point, surrounding him in all directions for at least a few hundred feet. The warrior's body rocked backwards now, back flipping and suddenly dive-bombing toward the ground. Clouds were easily evaporated by the heat, as his speed picked up to terminal velocity, then increasing past that. He was not constrained by the Earth's laws, nor was he bothered by them in the slightest. Any warrior with the mindset could surpass such trivial things as the limit of Gravity's hold, for Broly was not only applying Gravity to his descent. Behind his rather large sphere of energy, a trail of glowing green light lay. It was slowly coating the area below in it's glow, converting everything to a blindingly bright green. To those below, watching from their cities, their homes; he was but a shooting star. To the man who lay in his castle, probably asleep or otherwise occupied, the ground outside would be discolored, giving little hint of the actual pain he was about to encounter.

After all, one did not simply take a gigantic press from the Mesosphere. It was almost like a kinetic strike from orbit, backed by the energy of a Legend. Of course, the question remained, would Broly be able to take the strike? Or would he be consumed in the ensuing explosion? Considering the fact that it was his own energy, he was not very concerned for his own safety.

WC: 1,282

Actions:
1.) Power Up (+12 FP)
2.) Gigantic Press + Unbridled Destruction (+40 FP)
3.) Gigantic Press + Unbridled Destruction (23,608)

Stat Boosts effective:
+40% Strength (Combat) + 40% Strength (Gigantic Press) + 30% Strength (Power Up) + 30% Ki (Power Up)

Total Stat Boosts: +110% Strength + 30% Ki
Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

The Crane Hermit rested on his porcelain throne. He held a magazine in his hand as he did his business, flipping through the glossy pages. The words held little interest for the old man, but instead he looked at pictures of wildlife taken at extreme angles. He wasn't a fan of the mountain goats, nor the birds, nor the critters. What he loved were the predators, such as the giant dinosaurs with dripping fangs, the sleek panthers stalking deer, and burly bears wrestling over a fat salmon.

Shen had come far in rebuilding the Crane School. His castle in the remote mountains was bustling with activity, day and night. At that moment, he could hear his students in the courtyard, going through their practice drills, letting out roars with each punch and kick.

Shen could train a thousand men, yet typically, one or two of those had enough potential to wield spiritual energy. So, he had hand picked the very best warriors, the finest, those with the most potential. He would raise himself an army of unstoppable fighters, to destroy Roshi, and conquer the Earth for his own.

That was all in due time, however. For now, he took simple pleasure of enjoying his bathroom visit and the vibrant pictures in his magazine.

There was a window to his left and the pale glow of emerald light captured his attention. Never before had he seen such a eerie colored light. A feeling of dread washed over him as he opened himself up to his spiritual sense. Broly was coming! The power he was displaying and speed behind his movement indicated one thing—Shen's castle was going to be reduced to rubble.

He dropped his magazine and stood up, fumbling as he buttoned up his pants. However, it was too late for him to escape. The living missile that was Broly hit the castle, right outside of Shen's chamber. It was as if the biggest of artillery shells hit the castle. It had been built hundreds of years in the past, with the express purpose to keep invaders out. Never did the architect think that a massive Saiyan, moving at terminal velocity, would ever be a threat.

Wooden beams broke into splinters and giant slabs of stone cracked into thousands of pebbles. The shock wave of the impact tossed Shen like a twig in a wind storm.

The castle had been built into the mountain side. Long ago, the lord who ruled over the castle, had a series of tunnels dug beneath it, leaving into a network of natural caverns for an escape route. This honey comb structure lent to the weakness of the mountainside. Broly's impact sent fissures in all directions and deep into the mountain. The entire structure collapsed, forming an enormous land slide. Smoke, dust and debris rose up into the night sky, quickly blotting out the twinkling stars.

The pain thrashing through Shen's body was excruciating. In his long years, being a martial artist, he had never been hit so hard as that very moment. With a grunt he pushed a giant slab of stone off of his body and wobbled to his feet. Only a single turret of the castle remained, the rest of it had slid into the massive crater below. Shen stumbled over, glancing down. It was a good five hundred foot drop, if not more.

The Crane Hermit was a bloodied mess. His martial arts gi was in tatters, revealing most of his lean muscle. Thick cuts and gashes thatched his flesh. He was pretty sure two or three of his ribs had been shattered, and he could feel lances of pain with each breath. Shards of bone had most likely lodged themselves in some of his vital organs, and he knew that it wouldn't be long before he died—unless he received medical attention.

There was also a throbbing pain on the side of his head. Putting his hand there, he pulled it back. His finger tips were covered in slick blood. Apparently, he had lost his ear and half of his flesh on his left cheek when he had landed.

The wounds were enough to put a normal man down for the count. However, Shen was far from a normal man. Despite the fact that he was way past his prime, he had trained his body for countless years and had in fact suffered worse injuries than those he had now. Determination and anger kept him on his feet.

Closing his eyes, he centered his breathing and calmed his racing heart. Fear was often the first thing to kill a man, way before his injuries. With his breathing at a steady pace and his entire body relaxed, he was ready to make a counter attack against the psychotic juggernaut that that leveled his home.

Shen had been among the first fighters on Earth to master the Bukujutsu, or Sky Dancing Technique. Essentially it enabled the warrior to take flight. That was where he earned his name as the Crane Master. He had often wished for a far more menacing name, such as the Eagle Master, or Dragon Master, but at least he was not the Turtle Master, like his pathetic rival Roshi.

Floating into the air, he moved with a fluid grace through the cloud of ash and smoke. He had gotten a bead on Broly's position using his spiritual sense. Shen felt nothing but hatred for alien scum who had desecrated his budding school of villainy. No, by doing such a maniacal act, Broly had signed his death warrant. Unlike Roshi, Shen had no whims about killing his enemies. In fact, he rather enjoyed watching a man die.

Shen formed his thumbs and forefingers into a triangular shape, with Broly at the center, as if it were the sight on a gun. He let out a loan groan as he released his spiritual energy. From within the core of his being it flowed. Within seconds his body was illuminated in bright yellow energy which quickly shifted, becoming like a blazing flame. Electricity zig-zagged down the length of his arms, weaving its way between his fingers. In the center it formed into a crackling sphere.

“Did you think me easy prey?” Shen called out. “Foolish boy!”

The Crane Master unleashed the massive triangular shaped wave of energy. It tore through the sky, the air around it howling from the heat and sheer pressure. But, Shen did not stop there. Just as the first one got half-way to its target, he fired another, and another.

Droplets of sweat began to mix with the blood smeared on his face. Letting out a roar, he firing a second salvo of the massive waves for good measure. Broly was like a bear. Not one bullet was going to take him down. No, to be sure of his death, Shen would have to unload the entire clip.

Both of his arms sagged as his side when he was finished firing. He remained floating in the sky, watching and waiting to see if his assault had proven successful. Shen reached into a small pouch he had on his belt and produced a small bean. It was shriveled and brown, but the holy magic infused in it had never faded.

Popping it into his mouth, he crunched on it. Sure, it tasted nasty—a combination of rotten cabbage and leather, but he immediately felt its rejuvenating effects on his body. Blood stopped flowing from his wounds. There was a strange tickling sensation as his ribs rebuilt themselves and his chest puffed out a bit, resuming its normal stature. The entire area was still tender, but he was no longer dying.

Actions

1 - 2) Flight + Neo Tri-Beam III (+54 FP)
3) Flight + Senzu Bean + Rest (-59 FP)


Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

The smoke was everywhere, floating about the battlefield as a result of Broly's rather destructive assault. It hovered in the skies, a cloud of darkness obscuring the moon and the stars above, darkening the mountains. Of course, it was not only darkness that had descended upon them; an almost genuine god of destruction had arrived, then he had taken away everything the Crane's students had held dear. He had managed to destroy that fortress, impress his will upon a major obstacle in his path, extinguish the lives of so many young men who had been living inside. Unfortunately for him, he had clearly failed to extinguish the flame that was the almost Legendary Master Shen; the old man was clearly proving more troublesome than he had originally anticipated. That thought alone brought a grim grin to his face, as his body kneeled in the rubble. His fist stood as the epicenter to a rather large crater, which had been created by little more than his energy and a bit of inertia. He had managed to completely eviscerate the majority of his surrounding area, and he would now proceed to eviscerate that which had survived. Not even the great Crane of the Mountains, or whatever the hell he called himself, would be able to contain his rampage.

His body slowly rose, knees unbending and back straightening as his mind's eye scoured the skies for his opponent. As it happened, a rather large concentration of energy was being created in the skies above, though the attack itself felt far too straight forward. Had Shen lost that crafty nature which had garnered him his name? Had he lost all sense of survival? Attacking Broly with anything head on was almost promised death; then again, Shen was likely only trying to stave him off. Trying to stay his hand or keep him from obliterating him entirely. In honesty, Broly was only mildly surprised. Though the old man was likely lucky to remain standing, it was still unique that he had managed to keep that much energy inside of him after such a vicious assault. Unfortunately for the old man, that would not be enough to obliterate an opponent who was feared across the stars. A man who had been feared on the planet Earth alone, perhaps; a man who was revered as a fighting prodigy alone, perhaps. But Broly was not either of those, alone. Broly fit all three categories, all three unique skill sets were a part of his repetoire.

As the glow from Shen's blast rose out through the smoke, Broly's body casually began floating upward. His arms were tensed at his sides, his entire musculature clearly preparing for some type of evasion. There was no way that old man Crane would be allowed to swat down a fly of his size, nothing that would allow him to catch the young devil's growth or power, even his speed. Broly was rather large, and he was rather powerful; unfortunately, he was not the fastest creature alive. It was however, not possible that old man crane had anything capable of bringing him down. The old badger was clearly suffering from his damage already, clearly injured and disgruntled. It was one of the reasons that he might have been preparing such a dangerous attack off of the bat; but it was not the only reason. He could have also realized the threat his opponent posed, the danger in Broly's coming. He could have been retaliating, or he could have simply been biding his time, trying to distract Broly long enough for any kind of defense to be organized. However, as Shen's first blast came ripping through the air, he knew immediately which one it was. He was firing to kill.

Broly's body moved with less grace than Shen's, but it moved faster. Swirling through the air at a rapid pace now, his eyes remained locked on the discerned location of the Crane Hermit. The old man was floating in the sky, his glowing hands trained on his opponent as tightly as possible, firing with fatal goals. Should one of the blasts hit, they would not be enough to kill Broly; despite all of the screamingly raw power held within them, the fact that they split the very air around them with their strength; no. They would do little but piss him off. The fact that Shen was firing so many times was evidence enough of that. He was hoping to eventually snag the warrior with his barrage of bullet-like blasts, each one more than fatal to an opponent he may have known. Broly however, knew that this attack (though perhaps the most powerful), was not the old man's most lethal tactic. This was probably herding him, probably shepherding him toward some kind of demise. Of course, he welcomed the chance. He wanted to see what this old man would do once Broly was up in his face, thwarting whatever goals and plans he had held in such high regard, if any.

The first blast collided with the lip of the crater, forcing heat and dirt into the air after the Saiyan in some kind of reverse-gravity shower. As stone and shards of rock flew past his body, bits of dirt lodging themselves in his pant legs, the warrior continued through the air, his energy rising slowly. The second blast slammed into the plume of debris that had been created as a result, sending material to scatter through the air and disperse over the remains of his compound. Though he said nothing, Broly noted the fact that the old man was now closing in on his position with each blast. That, was not what he wanted. Still grinning maniacally as the third blast shot just beneath his boots, the Saiyan reached peak height, just above that of Shen's. Of course, he had not passed the old man by, he was simply moving above the smoke cloud in order to continue his evasion. Just because the blasts would not kill him, didn't mean he would have enjoyed taking a rather well placed shot to the face. He knew of this old man's accuracy, his intent to kill was as ever present as the blackness in Broly's heart.

Body shooting up through the smoke, the warrior turned sharply as Shen's blast came rip-roaring through the cloud after him. This must have been a second salvo of sorts; was the old man this determined? Scoffing silently, Broly took an angle toward the old man now, curving in a long arc-like path in order to avoid direct hits as his hand cocked at his side. The fifth beam slid through the air on his right as his left hand cocked at his side, both now crackling with energy and sending Broly's body shivering with excitement. The warrior's mouth began to water; or was that the sweat now dripping from his forehead, sliding down to his lips? The salty taste was lost upon him, as he finally corrected his curving course. The sixth and final blast tore through the shroud of smoke and flew just below his body, warming the cold fighter as his curve turned into a bee-line. As Broly neared, he broke out into a cackling laugh, body racking with convulsion-like laughter while the energy in his hand was refined to a rough point. It was now a blade, ready to cut and strike at his opponent. Would Shen see this coming, a technique he possessed himself, turned on him with such readiness?

As the emerald blade began to glow over Broly's palm, the Saiyan somehow doubted it. Shen's body was now in sight, and he appeared to be eating some kind of...Thing. It tentatively healed his wounds, taking only the slightest moment to help the man suffer less from Broly's first attack. The Legendary One had not been wrong; Broly had noticed indeed that the man's energy had been under some form of duress. He had been worried, scared. No, perhaps those words were too frantic for a man of Shen's nature; he had been angry. Displeased. Outraged.

Though those words normally fit Broly, right now he was in his element. His energy was surging through a single output source, hovering over his right hand as he came into the old man's range. Still laughing darkly, the Saiyan plunged his blade forward toward the old man's chest, hoping to pierce through it and keep on trucking through the skies.

"Easy Prey? What else would a Crane be for an Eagle?"

WC: 1,421
TWC: 2,703

Actions:
1.) Flight + Evade @ Neo Tribeams
2.) Flight + Evade @ Neo Tribeams (27 + 1 = 28 FP)
3.) Flight + Ki Blade (11 FP + 1 FP = 12 FP)

Active Boosts: +30% Strength and Ki (Power Up, Action 1)
Total FP Gained: 40 FP

Spoiler:

Shen's eyes widened as Broly materialized out of the thick cloud of smoke, coming straight at him. Had his Tri-Beams done absolutely nothing? The Saiyan warrior didn't even look phased. In fact, he looked like a kid in a candy story, like this was everything he had been wanting and more.

Sadistic bastard, Shen thought. I will end this quick. The longer I drag it out, I fear the stronger he will get.

A crackling flat blade of emerald spiritual energy protruded from Broly's hand. The Crane Hermit snickered at audacity of the warrior. Did he really think that he could surprise Shen, who had been one of the first warriors to coin the technique?

Despite his massive size, Broly's speed was truly terrifying. There had been a time that Shen's speed was unrivaled. He had defeated hundreds of fighters without them even getting a chance to move a muscle. But, age had taken its toll on the Crane Hermit. No longer could he run circles around younger fighters such as Broly. Shen concentrated his spiritual energy and projected an image of himself floating in the sky. Broly's blade passed through the image, causing it to waver and distort like a bad TV picture before fading.

Shen had slipped away at the very last second. It had been close, too close. The Crane Master had felt the heat emanating off of it, more than enough to sear through flesh. Now positioned directly above the Saiyan, Shen was in the perfect position to launch an assault.

"Easy Prey? What else would a Crane be for an Eagle?"

“You have strength, but little imagination,” Shen said “I think you've bit off more than you can chew.”

Closing his eyes, Shen began to draw out his spiritual energy from deep within. The energy began to flow from each of his pores until it was a luminescent white glow. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed his hands together, flexing his muscles. The cords of muscle on his neck bulged, his pectorals popped out, and his wrinkly stomach suddenly popped into washboard of defined abs. His arms and legs followed after, swelling with size and invigorated strength.

The transformation ended with a pulse of spiritual energy that dispersed the cloud of smoke for a few hundred yards. With renewed energy surging through him, Shen snapped his left palm forward, curling the each of his fingertips. Violent bolts of yellow electricity traveled down the length of his arm pooling in his palm.

Letting out a roar, he thrust his hand forward. The energy concentrated there spread out, forming an invisible tunnel. The electricity wove its way down the length of it, crackling and bristling. Heavy thunder resounded across the wilderness. Shen knew that upon hitting its mark, the Destructive Wind would explode violently. The brute had dodged his last attack, but Shen was not playing this time around. He had to take him down, and quickly.

Actions

1) Flight + After Image + Evade Broly Action #3 → +22 FP
2) Flight + Empowerment → +2 FP
3) Flight + Destructive Wind III (KI: 4,751) → +37 FP

Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

Shen's Destructive Wind engulfed Broly. Maybe he was pesimistic, but Shen had expected the brute to evade it, just as he had evaded his Tri-Beam salvo. He squinted in against the blinding light of the explosion.

However, the presence of an immense amount spiritual energy caused the Crane Hermit to shudder in terror. Just where was it? It was headed his way, as if Broly had fired some huge energy wave.

The light had receded, and through the hazy smoke and dust filling the sky, he saw a single green sparkle headed his way. It baffled Shen that Broly could condense such power into such a small space. He didn't even think it was possible to conjure that much energy in a single moment. It was moving slow... too slow.

Before his very eyes, the sparkle expanded into a gargantuan sphere of jade green energy. Lime green electricity crackled around it outer perimeter. Had his life not been so threatened, Shen was sure he might have just stood there in awe of such a powerful attack.

It was no wonder that it had been moving so slow. There was no need of speed when an attack was nearly impossible to outrun. If it had been aimed at the ground, instead of upward into the sky, Shen was sure it would have annihilated the mountain range for miles and miles.

The Crane Master centered himself, letting his anxiety flow out. Speed was his forte. He couldn't allow himself to be intimidated. In a flicker of motion, he was gone, on the move. Shen's goal was to use the pull of gravity to his advantage. If he could go down, he could escape it. The girth of the sphere was too large, and he feared that Broly might be able to cause it to change direction and follow him into open skies. Even if it was not possible, fleeing upward was to be expected. Most people fled to the sky, where there was more room to maneuver.

Despite moving at inhumane speeds, Shen felt like he was getting nowhere. It was like trying to outrun the the sun. It neared him, the heat became evident. Droplets of sweat collected on his brow. Bolts of electricity danced past him, causing the hairs on his arms to rise. The craggy ground swelled into his view; mounds of earth and rock, strewn about with trapped timbers, speckled with the remnants of the castle. It was a hellish sight, but at this moment even hell seemed like a better option than the big green ball of doom.

Shen couldn't slow down. If he did, he was a dead man. Letting out a vicious battle cry, he slammed into ground at full speed. It shattered under the pressure of his spiritual energy, as if a meteor had landed there. The bedrock beneath the layer of soil, already weakened by the first impact, simply dissolved away. From the fissures, red hot lava spewed up, raining down all around.

The Omega Blaster drifted off, flying upwards until it broke free of the Earth's atmosphere. Where would it end? Shen had no idea. It could have wound up crashing into some forlorn gas giant deep within the solar system and causing a catastrophic explosion. It didn't matter to Shen, so long as it didn't run into him.

It wasn't to say, making a beeline straight into the Earth at mach-whatever didn't hurt Shen. In fact, his whole body hurt, immensely. He had landed on one knee, and remained there, gasping for air and shuddering. He cursed his old body, it was making him look weak. He also cursed the lava that was slowly creeping towards him and the sadistic brute lingering in the sky, probably mad as a hornet that his killing blow had missed.

Shen floated up into the sky, coming within a few yards of Broly, face to face.

“A nice trick, but I have trained my whole life to master what you've barely begun to grasp. Do not think me some spring chicken, Broly. I have taught a hundred warriors who now call themselves master. Do not think you have learned the fighting arts enough to defeat me. All that power you have, it is like unrefined oil, just worthless sludge,” Shen said and spat in Broly's direction.

Shen brought both of his palms in front of him pressed them together. A veil of white light surrounded his body and then suddenly as he floated backwards, two clones seemingly peeled away from his body. Like a gambler playing a game of which cup is the marble under, the clones and the real Shen wove in and out, until they were mixed up. They formed up in a defensive triangle, awaiting the next move.

“Now, the real fight shall begin,” all three Crane Hermits said in unison.

Actions

-Activate Grace (+15% Agility)
1 - 2) Flight + Speed Burst + Evade Broly Actions #2-3 → +40 FP
Agility: 4,884 + 113% [65% (Improved Speed Burst) + 18% (Blink) + 15% (Grace) + 15% (Aerial Mastery) = 10,403
3) Flight + Tri Form → +45 FP

Effects: Grace 3/6 actions, Clone #1 0/6 actions, Clone #2 0/6 actions.

Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

Broly's body had been rocked in place by the old man's blast, forcibly shaken and thrown about in ways he had not experienced in what felt like years. How long had it been since his battle on the beach, since his mad-dash of target switches in the skies above it? It felt as though it'd been far too long; it felt as though he'd been sitting idly by. Thankfully, that period was over. Though he was being barraged from all angles by a massive explosive tunnel, it only served to excite him further. The pain may have been bitter and the heat may have been intense, but that was something he had come to enjoy. What was more exciting than putting your life on the line against a foe who possessed such power? Surely, the adrenaline junkies of planet Earth had nothing on his level of excitement-seeking. He was a man who enjoyed danger, no matter how fatal or life threatening the situation. It was his hobby, his past-time, his version of knitting or biking. Undoubtedly, none could blame him for such a thing; his preferred method of going about such a task as thrill-seeking however, that was a different can of worms entirely. Many took objection to his murder, though far less understood it.

He had no doubt that Old Man Crane understood. Old Man Crane had been young once; he had been a skilled warrior, who had flocked to the challenge of his generation. Of course, Broly knew his history; it had been blasted into his ears by some form of educational speaker system in his space pod. The purpose of such babble was usually to give the attacking Saiyan some form of base for his assault; key events and places were mentioned, along with major sources of water and key areas where a pocket of civilization may attempt to survive. It was usually pointless, as Saiyan conquering was brutally efficient. One night beneath the full moon, and any Saiyan was effectively a ruthless killing machine. Of course, Broly did not employ such an advantage; it was a hard transformation to control. It also left you with a nasty hangover, something that was not remedied easily. Besides, he had rather poor tolerance for such things. It was uncomfortable, and fucking annoying to be on the mend all day from it. Much like an alcohol hangover, there was no known cure for preventing this reaction unless you were simply born immune. Broly, unfortunately, was not. He didn't mind the hangover as much as he minded the lack of memory, though.

Coming out of the Oozaru form (unless it was mastered) often meant that you had little to no knowledge of the night's events. Whereas, with the transformation he was about to undergo, your memory was left perfectly intact. Sure, it was a little more difficult to maintain, but that only heightened the already drug-like satisfaction. It was immensely gratification to him, to physically debilitate your opponent. It was equally satisfying to feel it happening, to be the direct cause of such a thing. Some, primarily those who failed to understand the effort involved, called it sadism. Broly called it deconstructive physical debate; this was also known as shoving his foot up somebody's ass. As it happened, he hoped to do that very thing to the old man before him. Preferably with about the same amount of fight he'd gotten out of him so far, as well. It was always more fun when your prey fought back, as opposed to fleeing like a scared child. He honestly would not have put it past the old codger to have run off into the mountains, to have tried to hide himself away.

Floating forward and straightening, the Saiyan floated out of the cloud of smoke ominously, his emerald aura slowly rekindling around his body. A thin layer of black ash (possibly soot) covered his shoulders and arms and literally fell from his hair as a growing wind overtook him. He was only mildly shocked to see that the old man had survived his attack; it was not his most powerful, after all. Like an enraged bull, the Saiyan snorted with almost ground breaking force, sending two separate jets of smoke from his nostrils. He had inhaled a rather large amount of the substance, likely a byproduct of having been covered in it for several moments while Shen worked his way around the Omega Blaster. It was bothersome that this old man was putting up such a fight, but it was far too pleasant for the warrior to wish away. Had he wanted, he probably could have ended this immediately, by transforming before the battle began. Fortunately, he did not have the forethought. Had he taken time to think, he would not have had the pleasure of reigning his prey in, alongside it's hopes and dreams. However, now was the moment that the Eagle would snag the pesky Crane.

"Triplication, Old Man Crane? You should know that Numbers do not matter against a force so overwhelming. I have killed more men than you've so much laid on! All three of you can come at me, if you wish. It matters little how many bugs I have to swat."

Broly's voice rose over the sound of crackling energy and roaring winds, which were now centered primarily around him. The emerald fire that had come to encompass his body was slowly shifting back into a sphere as his body's natural healing process began to kick in. His fists cocked at his hips as his mouth opened up to let loose a guttural roar, which seemed to ripple visibly through the air as it increased in noise level. The sphere around Broly began to visibly contract, ever condensing until it formed to the shape of his skin. Covered in emerald light, the Saiyan's energy suddenly soared, rising considerably higher than it had been before; Shen had taken this course of action earlier with his transformation, but Broly had not taken the opportunity. This was his first transformation in battle since arriving on Earth, and also the first time he had been capable of using it. After the battle with Rex, a mental block had been removed; his inhibition had melted away, allowing him to access the power he had been restricted from for so long. Though this was not his full transformation, it was most certainly powerful enough to let him combat three old men.

His hair began to rise up in thick, neon-blue spikes that seemed to freeze in the air as his muscles expanded suddenly. The pink gems that lay in his jewelry were rattling now, emitting bright pink light that were clearly linked to any fluctuations in the warrior's power. The cloud of smoke behind him was scattered as the layer of energy that took the place of his skin suddenly burst, releasing shards of emerald light in just about every direction. Broly's body was visibly shaking, his muscles straining from the effort it took him to maintain his transformation while his mind entered a state of pure euphoria. For him, this was intoxicating; power was something he never seemed to have enough of, and with this transformation...With this transformation, he would be able to cement his lead over the old men before him; at least, so he assumed. Broly had already seemed enough for the old bastard to handle, but with this shift he would be able to destroy the codger entirely! Grinning fiendishly (as was expected of him), the Saiyan's voice emerged once more as the skies grew quiet, laced with laughter and condescension, alongside the full and frightening force that was his volition.

"You know, this is the first time....Hahah, the first time I've been able to use this, since I got to this shit hole. Heheh, you should feel honored old man; I'm using it to dig your grave!"

WC: 1,325
TWC: 5,209

Actions:
1.) Rest (-15 FP) (Respite)
2.) Heal (-17 FP)
3.) Transform (Giji Super Saiyan)

Spoiler:

"Triplication, Old Man Crane? You should know that Numbers do not matter against a force so overwhelming. I have killed more men than you've so much laid eyes on! All three of you can come at me, if you wish. It matters little how many bugs I have to swat."

The three Crane Hermits harrumphed at the same time. “I have doubts that the men you killed were real warriors. Squashing ants does not make you powerful, even a child can do that.”

However, Shen would soon eat his words when Broly began to make a transformation. His hair spiked up and the spiritual energy that surged through him was astounding. A moment before he had been strong enough to kill Shen, had the Crane Hermit not been so clever and quick to evade his sluggish attacks. With more power at Broly's disposal, he feared even his Tri-Form would be rendered useless.

This power he has, it is not natural. No being should be this strong, and not have spend a lifetime reaching for it.

The Crane Hermits split up. The first clone flew to Broly's right flank and the second to his left. The real Shen floated closer, until the juggernaut was caught in the middle of a deadly triangle. They were positioned in a particular fashion, with each being several feet beneath the other. All three formed their forefingers and thumbs together, creating the signature triangular shape of the Tri-Beam technique.

“Do not fear death Broly.”

Shen's Tri-Beam salvo had failed him before, but this time he would not miss, that was for sure. Surely there was no way Broly could evade three Tri-Beams at such close range, all coming in from different angles. Even if he could escape one, there was no reason he could escape all three. At least, that was Shen's theory, he had never actually needed to utilize such a risky and exhausting manuever.

All three Shens charged their spiritual energy, the centers of their hand triangles pulsating with an eerie yellow light. The first to unleash their blast was the weakest clone. The energy erupted forth, a massive triangular shaped wave headed straight at Broly's left flank. The other clone paused, waiting to see if Broly made an attempt to move, and then fired his own Tri Beam at the brute.

The real Shen would be the last to unleash his attack. Knowing that he as he gathered as much spiritual energy he could muster into it. The power rippled throughout his body, rising up from his form like wicked flames. The muscles in his body quivered from the strain he was putting on it.

For each of the clones he had created gathered from the same pool of spiritual energy That meant Shen was actually unleashing three Tri-Beams at the same time. It was not only a physical and spiritual effort, it caused an unbelievable amount of mental strain. The human brain was a powerful organ, capable of immense intelligence. Shen's mind, at that very moment, was processing the in flow of three separate beings. Veins bulged in his forehead, along his cheeks and in his neck as his heart pumped as much oxygen to the brain as possible, to keep up with the efforts.

To an untrained warrior, this was both deadly and also foolhardy. He had seen warriors crack under the mental strain of the Tri-Form, and had never seen such a volatile combination of attacks unloaded at once. While it seemed simple, it took all the strength Shen had to keep it up. He had been training his whole life, mastering the Tri-Form and testing its limits. A feat that even a being as strong as Broly wouldn't quite understand. For experience, more often than naught, trumped talent.

After pouring everything he could into it, the condensed orb swelled out of the the triangle his fingers made, bristling with white electricity.

“Tri-Beam-ha!”

The final wave was sent towards Broly, much larger in size and in spiritual presence, hopefully with enough power to finish the job that the other two might have failed to complete. It was the fail-safe, the final dime tossed into the hat. If this didn't work, Shen was going to be in big trouble, especially with the transformation his enemy has just undergone.

Actions

Shen Clone #2

1) Flight + Tri Beam III [Ki Score: 2,414 ] → +40 FP
2) Flight + Nothing → +2 FP

Shen Clone #1

1) Flight + Nothing → +2 FP
2) Flight + Tri Beam III [Ki Score: 3,505 ] → +40 FP

Shen

1) Flight + Rest → -8 FP
2) Flight + Charge Up (+25% FP cost on attack) → +2 FP
3) Flight + Tri Beam III w/ Prayer Beads [Ki Score: 5,062] → +27 FP
-Grace fades.
-Shen is Exhausted.

Effects: Transformation: Empowerment, Exhausted (-30% all attributes,) Clone #1 2/6 actions, Clone #2 2/6 actions.

Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

As the three Cranes surrounded him, Broly's face contorted into a scowl. What insolence; what brash behavior! Was the old man growing senile already? Implying that Broly would be the one to fall from the sky? Had he not been transformed, his blood would have boiled until it evaporated. Fortunately for the old man, he was in a good mood; not good enough to spare him for such arrogance, but good nonetheless. He would make sure the old codger died quickly and yet, still painfully. All of the deaths Broly was used to administering happened to be painful, often ending in some form of gigantic bang or flash of light. It was his style, his personal brand of chaos; he considered a firework-like end far more interesting than a candle-like burn. When the old man's energy began to rise, Broly's scowl grew more intense. It was clear that he was preparing some form of simultaneous attack, in an attempt to overwhelm that which could not be stopped. How petty. He thought he had enough firepower to shoot down a star? How intriguing; the human condition granted one a head full of air, as it seemed. It was exactly that type of fuckery he planned to eliminate from the face of the Earth, that type of over-confidence that he sought to destroy.

Paragus had tried to kill him because he feared his power; Paragus had struck above his station. There was no doubt that Shen was doing the same thing now; no doubt to Broly, anyway. it was everywhere in Shen's features, the fear. It was all over his shaking arms, his beady little eyes. The expression on Broly's face continued to contort as Shen's power fluctuated alongside his clones, their intentions very obviously fatal. What did they think they were, some form of execution squad? Were they even aware of the strength he held in his hands, the strength he had used to rend worlds in two?! A sea of red slowly began to fall over the Saiyan's vision, clouding everything and obscuring his sight for all except one man. What was it about this old one that gave him such a smug sense of self-importance? What was it about him that made him think so poorly of a warrior like Broly? Broly wasn't the one who would be dying here today, no matter what that old man seemed to think. His pesky strength would not be enough to overwhelm him. That much was certain to the Saiyan; as was the necessity of destroying this man.

He had been insulted, he had come to realize the amount of disdain and fear that was apparently latent in humanity. He had known it was there before, but for some reason, it had failed to hit him until just now. It hadn't really made much of an impact upon him, until he had come to this point. However, with his transformation and the removal of his mental block, he had become even more explosive than he was before. Before, he would often hold a moment to think on his reaction, he would take his time picking his opponents apart and playing with them. This old man however, had exhausted his patience completely. As the energy on his flank flared up, Broly's body launched forward, going completely horizontal as the first Tri-beam shot through the air behind him. Teeth grinding together with visible rage, the Saiyan failed to notice the heat burning past his boots, painting the tips black. Nor did he notice the second jet of energy, which missed him by mere millimeters. He was using his full speed to plow forward past such attacks, his rage powering his motion and his rationality (what little of it there was) taking the backseat.

Growling furiously as energy began massing together in in his fist, the Saiyan's eyes remained locked on his opponent. Everything seemed to slow down as he saw the real Shen's energy flash, the old man's face obscured by a blindingly bright light. There was no way he could dodge this one; he would have to cut through it with his own power. Anger powering his blast faster than he alone usually could, the Saiyan kept his eyes on the old man's energy. His own emerald aura was now filling in the area around his fist, preparing for him to split the beam in two. If he failed to gather his strength together in time, Shen's attack would overwhelm him. If he slowed down, Shen's blast would overwhelm him from sheer exposure time. Broly, had he been in perfect control, would have felt perfectly confident in all of these things; he'd have taken them in stride as he flew forward. However, with Rage as his pilot, the Saiyan merely plowed onward with even less care than he normally would've. It was as though he didn't even notice that a powerful blast was now racing forward at him, ready to shoot him from the sky.

Eyes widening as he closed in, Broly's energy suddenly expanded around his fist to a sphere large enough to cover his shoulders. This was one of his trademark attacks, something Shen would probably recognize from seeing him use it in the past or at a Tournament Ring; but this was also heavily modified. The signature was stronger, the blast itself far larger than it should have been and the control even less refined. It was surrounded by dancing sparks of electricity, chasing arc after arc of sparking energy around the orb's surface. There was no doubt that this was one of Broly's most powerful techniques, one of his most lethal; however, would it be enough to power through and destroy the old crane? Pushing breath after labored breath through his nostrils, the warrior's muscles prepared for combat. There was no room for doubt, no room for self-concern anymore; he was presently, little more than a killing machine of unrivaled caliber.

His blast made contact with Shen's in a blinding flash of light, which illuminated the skies for miles around. They were easily the brightest thing on Planet Earth with this collision, but the Saiyan cared little. His fist was pressing forward against Shen's blast at a pace only slightly slower than his original pace, his screaming roar rising over the crackle of energy and the sound of ki struggling all around him. Though this required a lot of effort on his part, it was undoubtedly easier on him than it was on the Crane Hermit. To see a warrior so deadly breaking through his most famous technique must not have been easy; it probably didn't help that this was also a life threatening situation as well. Nor was it very nice that Broly had yet to detonate his attack, an attack that had been the final sight for many creatures in existence. Tongue falling from his mouth and waggling about in the air, Broly's body suddenly corkscrewed as he neared the old hermit.

The Tri-Beam was now dissipating into the air around them, and Broly's fist was presently lingering just above his head as he released his bukujutsu. His growl slowly faded to a maniacal laughter as the blast detonated at point blank range, hopefully consuming them both in a fatal explosion. Of course, Broly could not be harmed by his own energy; Shen however, was very open to the danger held in Broly's Blaster Shell. He had only released it this close to someone once before, and they were no longer of the mortal plane; something that did not bode well for the Old Crane.

WC: 1,272
TWC: 6,481

Actions:
1.) Flight + Evade @ Tribeam 1 (+21 FP)
2.) Flight + Evade @ Tribeam 2 (+21 FP)
3.) Flight + Blaster Shell Negation+Overwhelm on Tribeam 3 + Shen (+45 FP + 1 FP) (10,879 Ki)

Boosts Active: +23% Ki (Blaster Shell)

Spoiler:

Shen watched in awe as his fully charged Tri-Beam was displaced by Broly's power. The triangular shaped wave split like a banana and broke form, dissipating into the air like a yellow mist. It was in that moment he knew what sort of doom had been delivered to his doorstep. Despite all the years he had trained, all the things he had prepared for body and mind, it didn't matter against this freak of nature.

His strongest clone was lingering nearby and he summoned it to him. In a blur of motion, the clone appeared in front of the real Shen, only to get hit by the shimmering orb of green ki that Broly had tossed.

The explosion was immense. Shen was still close, but had missed the brunt of it. The shock wave jarred his entire body and sent him hurtling towards the ravished Earth below. On his way down, he smashed through several trees, clipping them in two. He landed in a small meadow next to a mountain stream. Clumps of dirt and grass flew into the air as his feet cut deep grooves into the crust when skidded to a stop.

The Crane Hermit collapsed forward, his forearms being the only thing that kept him from landing face first in the dirt. Droplets of sweat and blood splattered on the ground in front of him. The pain coursing through every bit of his person was almost unbearable, but at least he was still alive.

Much to his chagrin, Broly wasn't done yet—that he knew for a fact. The juggernaut would keep coming at him and if he had any chance of survival, he would need to recover a bit.

Shen still had his weaker clone to play with. That clone had just been out of the range of the explosion and was in a perfect position to assault Broly. Sure, the clone's magic was fading and it was far weaker than the one Shen had just sacrificed, but he figured it might be enough to buy himself some time.

The clone flew at Broly, throwing out a flurry of lightning fast punches aimed at the Brute's face. He followed up with an elbow strike towards the throat, and two tiger claw rakes aimed at the juggernaut's eyes. If Shen could do anything, it would be to disable Broly, before his window of opportunity faded forever. After the attacks were launched against Broly, the clone turned to ash, dispersing the wind—it's magic finally exhausted.

Clamoring to his feet, Shen reached into his robes and produced a small vial filled with luminescent liquid. Pulling the stopper, he downed it in a single shot. The magic wove its way through his tired and battered body, renewing some of his energy and strength.

He lowered into his martial arts stance and awaited Broly's arrival. Both fighters were tired at this point, so he figured it would come down to fisticuffs. If that was the case, he knew he might have a slight advantage. Broly was powerful, but it was raw unrestrained power. Shen doubted he had learned much on how to utilize that strength properly.

“Come now!” Shen shouted. “This dance of death is not quite done yet.”

Actions

Shen Clone #1

1) Flight + Block Broly Action #3 → +35 FP
-Clone fades.

Shen Clone #2

1) Flight + Pummel → +7 FP
2) Flight + Pummel + Debilitating Blow (@ Head) → +15 FP
-Clone fades.

Shen

1) Rest + Magic Elixir → -34 FP
2) Rest → -9 FP
3) Rest + Balanced Stance III → -9 FP

Effects: Transformation: Empowerment, Exhausted (-30% all attributes,) Balanced Stance (+16% agility) 0/4 actions

Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

Broly’s mind slowly cleared as the flashbang-like light subsided, giving way to dark skies and the sound of silence. All of the creatures in the woodland below had been scared away, and the wind had died down; there was little left around the Saiyan except a reminder of his battle, the still living clone of his opponent. Posture straightening as he turned to face it, he couldn’t help snarling in it’s direction. He was honestly displeased that his opponent was still alive in the first place, even forgoing the fact that he was alive enough to keep a clone alive with him. As a familiar dull ache surfaced in the area above his brow, the warrior watched with ill intent as the clone approached.

He was even slower than the original. Observing as the thing closed in on his guard, Broly’s body relaxed. His arms were positioned at his hips, ready to move at a moment’s notice in order to defend him; his eyes were locked on the little old man’s. This would hopefully serve as a warning to the old bastard that he would not be defeated by such petty trickery, especially when the bastard couldn’t even maintain a duplicate of equal power. Clenching his fists tightly, the Saiyan allowed his energy to flare up around his body one more time, knowing somewhere in his head that this battle was coming to a close, and he would need to seal the deal.

Broly was used to such things. He was what was best described as a ‘Clutch Player’’; valued most in a circumstance considered the most dire. No matter how dark the day, how close the call, he would turn the tables for victory. Though he was not in danger of immediate loss, it was becoming clear that Shen was attempting to tire him out with these little duplicates of his, using them to absorb damage and occupy the devil’s mind. It was working, admittedly; Broly’s body was growing tired from the energy he had been shelling out and the energy he’d been taking in. Maintaining his transformation was not the easiest task in the world, nor was flight, despite how simple they were.

As the clone came into his guard, the warrior’s body shifted. He would not allow such a puny creature to harm him, nor would he allow it to touch him. As of yet, Shen had not managed to land a clean hit upon him. He had managed to force the warrior into a block, but little else. It was apparent to Broly that he would once more have to illustrate why this was true; he was generally superior to the little human. He could sense Shen in the back of his mind, trying to rest his body as this duplicate dealt with him. He would have been more surprised if it were anything more than a play for time. He was trying to run down the clock; trying to make the warrior earn his victory.

Broly’s left arm rose while his head wove in and out of the clone’s blows, evading each one with an effort barely apparent. He was already faster than the old man himself, and this clone was easily slower; there was no way he would allow it to cause him injury. It would’ve been insulting. His left forearm was used as a steadying point, allowing him to keep a point of reference for his movement while he evaded each strike. It was the only sign that this thing was providing him with any challenge whatsoever. His feet held firm in the sky as he scowled downward at the little old thing, whose body was now switching positions. He was changing attack patterns?
It would not matter what method of barrage he used; the weakness in his form was still apparent. Though Broly had not studied martial arts, he knew enough about combat to spot fatigue. His already weak form was being undone by his age and his lack of energy; in short, his mortal coil was being unwound. Taking care of the elbow that came up toward his throat, the warrior’s body gracefully slid to the right, dipping hard in order for the attack to go over him. The strike would have easily killed a normal man, despite the lack of oomph behind it, something Broly noted. Thankfully, that was not saying the same for him. He would not be undone by a blow to the windpipe, nor was he going to let the old crane’s claws blind him.

When the first claw-like strike came in toward his face, he pulled backward. Taking an angle as the old bastard came in for a second strike, Broly’s body shifted once more. This time, he ducked underneath of it, allowing the wrinkly-arm to soar over his head and shoulders as he entered the old crane’s guard. His right arm cocked at his waist in preparation for an uppercut, which unfortunately, he would not be able to land. Just as his arm twitched, the clone dissipated from view, producing a soft cloud of ash and wind. Snorting hard as the substance met his face, the warrior slowly shifted back into casual stance.

It was now time to deal with the old bastard himself, the Crane Hermit, the Master of the Mountain, the Man of Martial Arts; Shen. Jaw tightening as he glanced to the mountainside at his right, the Saiyan’s body hesitantly began to shift in Shen’s direction. Above him, storm clouds gathered with the sound of crashing thunder and the bright flashes of light suggesting lightning’s presence. It was clear that the Universe was providing the old codger with a fitting funeral, a death knell from nature itself. Broly did not mind the rain; he had become quite accustomed to the weather on Planet Earth.

Besides, it would likely put out the fires below. After his initial attack, anything flammable had caught fire and spread through the rubble of the old man’s fortress. Like Shen, the flames would die out before the end of the night. With the suppression of the firelight and the moon hidden behind the clouds, Broly descended like an emerald wind toward the old man’s location; it appeared he had come to a screeching halt in a meadow of sorts. Certainly, the old bastard’s body would be at peace in such a place. A place reminiscent of his home planet, picturesque but of little use.

The right hand he had cocked before was now gleaming with energy, while his left remained clenched at his waist. Bringing the right across his chest, he allowed the mass of ki to form a single, easily visible blade of power. Something told him that anything taking place on the ground would require such a technique; though it was one of Shen’s own mastered moves, he doubted the bastard would be ready for it. Atop that, it would add insult to injury if the bastard was killed with his own attack. It would serve him right for being so condescending, so bothersome; as if Broly gave a shit for his imagery or fancy words.

As the embodiment of destruction made contact with the meadow floor, flowers turned to ash and burned around him, a byproduct of the energy he was exuding; the energy that was restoring him was damaging everything else around him.

”Correct, old man. Unfortunately, it appears the dance floor is about to be smeared with the blood of its dancers. You had best hope it be mine.”, words issued with a manner hypocritically condescending and partnered with a grim smirk; the flash of lightning in the sky illuminating the warrior’s face in the darkness perfectly, framing the visage of evil for Master Shen’s eyes. The final dance, as it seemed, would be a macabre one.

WC: 1,332
TWC: 7,813

Actions:
1.) Flight + Evade @ Pummel (+4 FP)
2.) Flight + Evade @ Pummel (+4 FP)
3.) Rest @ Self (-14 FP)
Sub Actions:
3a.) Ignite Ki Blade Rank 2

Spoiler:

Shen was not surprised, at this point in the battle, to see a shimmering sphere of emerald light descending towards him. The clone he had sent at Broly had been canon fodder, and he had known it. He had been hoping for a big longer of a reprieve, but there had been none. It was time to engage the brute once again and the ground was starting to feel more uneven than it had been before.

Broly set down, scorching the turf beneath his feet. There was no restraint, no care to manipulate the power that flowed freely from him like a mountain spring. Shen wondered, what if his power kept growing? Instead of burning patch of grass and flowers, he would cause tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides in his wake.

There was something primal in his eyes, chaotic. Am I facing the God of Chaos? Shen mused before letting out a chuckle. Of course, Shen would have such luck.

He had spent his entire life trying to reach out and grasp the power that he had envisioned. Yet, Broly had surpassed him in a matter of months, with no effort. It wasn't talent, it wasn't some secret training method, he was just a freak of nature, born with to break worlds and devour civilizations.

Shen was not a hero, but he wanted to win for the good of all. No, he was as selfish and manipulative as it came. But, he had to win and defeat Broly. There was no walking away from this battle, no diplomacy or conviction. For, there here were two sorts of villains. Those who wished to rule over life, or those who wished to watch it turn to ashes. There would be no evil to be done, nothing to conquer, if Broly annihilated everything in his path.

”Correct, old man. Unfortunately, it appears the dance floor is about to be smeared with the blood of its dancers. You had best hope it be mine,” Broly said.

Shen said nothing in return. Both of his eyes narrowed and he slid his left foot back. Bending both of his knees, he launched himself at Broly with a mighty Crane Style leap. At the top of his arc he arranged his body so he looked like a human arrow, his heel being the tip. His target was the center of Broly's chest, where it was hardest to miss.

After the kick, he sent a pulse of ki to launch himself away from Broly. Being too close made him nervous. Broly's strength was uncanny and Shen had a bad feeling that if he took one more hit, his old body might give out. He liked to think to himself that it was caution, but deep downside he might have known it to be true fear.

Exhaustion had worked its way into his limbs. They were like heavy rubber and he found it taking all the effort he could just to move them. His sight was blurred and he had blood seeping from random parts of his body, so much so that when he glanced down at his hands they were slick with crimson. With each breath his lungs burned and wheezed. He knew they were probably filling with blood.

Renewing his assault, this time he chose to attack from the side, zig-zagging his way in. He formed up both of his hands into the Snake Style, using them like drills as he came down with a rapid series of blows aimed at Broly's head. Not being punches, Shen knew the strikes had a bit more accuracy and would have more of a piercing effect—and hopefully staggering the juggernaut.

Planting both of his feet, Shen took a much broader stance, perfect for a powerful blow. He drew strength in with a deep breath. Swinging his right hand upwards, he went for a full force palm strike aimed at the bottom of Broly's nose. If the strike landed, and if he had put enough strength behind it, the Crane Hermit could potentially ram shards of bone into his brain and kill him.

Actions

1) Rush Attack → +6 FP
2) Pummel → +6 FP
3) Rush Attack + Debilitating Blow (@ Head) → +15 FP

Effects: Transformation: Empowerment, Exhausted (-60% all attributes,) Balanced Stance (+16% agility) 3/4 actions

Battle Tracker:

Spoiler:

Broly's head cocked to the side as Crane sprang forward, his legs flying toward the warrior's chest. Did he think that a direct attack would be prudent or practical? How low the human mind sank when stressed; then again, Broly was not anywhere near as fatigued as the old man was. It was clear to him that Old Man Crane was nearing his biological limit, the point where he would break from the weakest of blows with little difficulty. Though Broly was feeling a little bit of strain on his muscles, he was not exactly exhausted; he was however, quickly approaching that limit. If he did not end the battle soon, he would feel the fatigue more than he ever had before, save the fight with Rex. Damn that old man to hell! He was actually pushing him, despite their gap in power. Scowling once more at his approaching opponent, Broly realized his mood was rather often subjected to shifts. Was it possible that he was bi-polar? Or was that not the correct mental disease? Could Saiyans acquire human mental disorders? Though he was sure that it would make an interesting study, he did not quite have the time to think about it. Yet still, the thought plagued him; was his insanity advanced by the appearance of disorder?

How fitting; disorder brought into a mind so chaotic already. He had been intrigued by the effects of mental disorders for quite a while now, but he had never assumed they could apply to him. Unbeknownst to many, Broly was actually quite interested in some of the phenomenon he had discovered on the planet Earth. Some people begged him for death, other people begged him for life; the difference was for some reason intriguing. Of course, he had not taken the time to research, read or even investigate these differences. He had merely acquired a curiosity for them. They had provided him with an interesting path of logic, after all. Was he killing the diseased? Was Humanity a condition? If so, wasn't he doing the right thing by purging it from the galaxy? Was Saiyanity a condition? Was he exempt from it, for his severe level of disdain for his race? Whereas most Saiyans were proud and cunning people, Broly was nearly the exact opposite. He had no care for mental planning, nor did he find interest in their petty power games. He knew he was stronger than the vast majority (if not the entirety) of his people; why should he allow himself to be bogged down by their politics?

Those were the types of thoughts he had been lost in when Shen's feet slammed hard into his chest, sending the warrior staggering back a few paces. His feet were forced backwards through the quickly brewing mud, forcing spurts of the substance to cling to his pant legs and spray through the air. Growling, the warrior's arms came in close to his chest, attempting to clutch at his opponent's legs. Had Shen been more fatigued, he may have succeeded; unfortunately, the old bastard still had the presence of mind to quickly jet away, utilizing a burst of ki energy to force the pair apart. As the warrior's hands clawed at the air, his aura slowly faded away; Shen's feet happened to land in the mud at the same time. It was clear to him that he would be preparing himself for a follow up attack. Who wouldn't follow up a successful strike? Taking in steadying breaths through gritted teeth, the Saiyan prepared himself. He would not let this one succeed; he would not allow himself to be made a fool of by some petty human. He would purge the old man of his condition and allow him the freedom of death, and he would do it soon.

Lightning struck in the background, mirroring the old man zig-for-zag as he approached, a blur of motion and speed. Though, now there was a difference. Where before his motion had been clean and concise, now he was sloppy and his bones seemed to sag. He was weighted down by the fatigue he felt in his bones, and that was clear to Broly's eyes. The saiyan, though beginning to feel the onset of fatigue, was wide awake. He could still see every quiver, every urge to flinch present in the old man's motions. He was afraid? Though the thought was almost laugh inducing, Broly knew that he could not afford to think much more in this battle. He would not stand for a second set of strikes, no matter what the old man's intentions were. Ignoring the dull aching sensation in the center of his chest, the Saiyan leaned forward. He wasn't going to bring his aura back out into existence around him; he needed all of the respite he could fit in before this barrage. As much as it pained him to think of, the old bastard was actually beginning to stand a chance in this battle, not that such a chance would last long against Broly. He was what some called a "lottery-killer". Even if you won the million, he still killed your hopes in the end.

The old bastard came in hard from the side, hands coiled in an attempt to destroy the boy. Broly's shoulder lifted quickly, forcing blow after blow against his own bone. Avoiding the urge to wince, the Saiyan held his block up as he was forced sideways through the mud, each snake bite slowly shaking his body. Grinding his teeth together even harder, the Saiyan's eyes peeked over his shoulder into the old man's hurricane of strikes; though he was no trained martial artist, he knew that there would be an opening in the bastard's barrage somewhere. It was as his shoulder began to go numb and the old man's body pulled backward, that Broly glimpsed his chance. He was preparing for a powerful strike? How foolish of him. As the old bastard's fist suddenly shot forward, Broly's body suddenly dipped. Moving purely to the side, the Saiyan's face was refreshed by a gust of wind and rain water as Shen's hand slid by his cheek. Bringing his ki blade down with his sinking body, the warrior now stepped forward toward his opponent, unintentionally slinging mud toward Shen's chest with the leg motion.

As his fist sank toward the old man's chest, Broly's mouth opened to speak once more, giving what may have been his final taunt to the old man as his ki blade de-ignited; he would not need it to finish off this pesky bastard. He knew that the old bastard would be hard pressed to dodge this strike; his body was already in motion, and Broly's force-laden fist was now sliding directly toward his face with head-shattering force. "And here is where your effort gets you, old man!"

WC: 1,189
TWC: 9,002

Actions:
1.) Rest (-14 FP)
2.) Block @ Action 2 (+2 FP)
3.) Counter Attack @ Action 3 (+10 FP)

Spoiler:

Shen's eyes widened as Broly dipped around his palm strike. Anger lanced deep within his body. That strike had been a killing blow, or so he had intended it to be. Now he was over extended and with his immense exhaustion he doubted he could recover in time.

The fist seemed to move slow, as if it was laden by water rather than air. However, Shen's body felt as if it were composed of marble. His limbs were rigid, his legs were deeply grounded. No matter his mental effort, he could not get his body to cooperate with his mind.

That was when he knew it was his end. All his life's work, all the power he had acquired and lost, the students he had trained and killed-- they all flashed before his eyes. The only thought coming from that brief recap was disappointment. Shen had spent an entire lifetime struggling to become the most powerful and cunning of warriors, and had been defeated by nothing more than a brute with a bad temper.

The impact of the first shattered his nose and most of his teeth lodged into the back of his throat like spikes. Blood showered Broly as it escaped through Shen eyes, ears and mouth. Sight vanished into darkness and he felt both of his legs slacken as he collapsed.

Pain released, fatigue spiraled away. and consciousness faded as Shen's neck snapped like a twig in a wind storm. He fell into the mud, which displaced with his landing, splattering everywhere. The Crane Hermit's fingers and toes twitched as the last vestiges of life escaped his mortal coil.

- Broly wins.