ten_fwd | [ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

Entry tags:

[ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

Minoru was planning on working out in the holodeck, but as soon as they announced the ship was docking on Pacifica, he was on his way out. From the cargo bay if it got him there faster! He needed to be on a planet to absorb natural energy and he badly needed to recharge that seal.

Option A:
Unlike the last place the Enterprise docked, which was filled with mountains and exciting terrain to traverse, this wasn't all that interesting. He didn't like water and he certainly didn't like lounging around. But if anyone's up for exploring, Minoru is always happy to tag along. Perhaps a trip to the Submersible Research Institute would put him face to face with some sea snakes.

Option B.
The beaches are a lot more secluded at night - perfect for an after-dinner run or sparring session in the sand. As long as no one gets hurt, they won't get in trouble, right? Right.

Option C.
Minoru promised a few sparring matches, at least one of which would necessitate the holodeck. With natural energy flowing through his chakra pathways and a steady supply of it available until the ship takes off, he can use all his power without holding back!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Minoru moved even faster than before, leaping over him with another kick of his own. He traded attacks with Raiden at an astinishing pace that the rain couldn't match, and still, he had the control of one never intending to kill.

The exchange speeds up as Raiden and Minoru meet strike-for-strike on the rooftop in the rain. The fight is almost poetic in nature, and reminds Raiden of his many sparring experiences with his own brother. Fast, powerful, but never a threat to each other's life or well-being.

Their exchange is growing more powerful until, quite suddenly, the buzzer ends their exchange. Raiden takes a leap back from Minoru, taking calm but deep breaths to step down from the impressive fight.

When the buzzer rang, Minoru leapt back as well. Since he didn't have to conserve natural energy right now, he simply kept his Sage Mode activated.

"That was incredible!" he grinned.

The excitement of such an amazing fight even made Minoru forget he was still damp. (Most of the water vanished with the illusion, but some of it was mixed with sweat and stayed behind.)

That earns a rare smile from Raiden which even shows some teeth.

"I have never seen a transformation quite like yours." There was curiosity and a small measure of excitement in Raiden's tone. This was something new, and that always caught his interest,

He came closer. With his seal drawing in energy as Minoru spent it, he could hold this form as long as he wanted to.

"You said you had ninja in your world. I guess none of them studied senjutsu?"

From what he'd heard of, the Sage Mode of a Snake Sage was probably the most dramatic. Some Toad Sages grew warts, but that was about it. He hadn't seen students of the other sacred animals, so he really didn't know any more than that.

"I do not believe they even have such a practice. The Masters wield their element with great power, but I have never seen this technique." Raiden studies Minoru's appearance curiously, the brim of his hat dipping and moving as he does.

"You call it senjutsu?"

What Raiden described was exactly what shinobi in his world were like. Jonin were godlike in their command of their elemental specializations. Some even trained in styles that were rooted in yin and yang, or offshoots of those basic elements.

"Senjutsu. The sage art." he explained. "It blends natural energy from the world around us with the chakra within us, enhancing a Sage's senses and abilities. I study under the Great Snake Lord Elders, so when I transform, I gain their traits and techniques."

In his world, a Sage was somewhere between a man and a god. Some, like the Sage of the Six Paths or the Wood Sage, Hashirama, were regarded as gods of the shinobi.

Minoru, though, didn't think himself a god or anything like it. He was content with being a Dragon and a lifelong student of the Snakes.

"Clearly, as you've just demonstrated, a very powerful technique." One that in Raiden's own way, he does naturally when he's in contact with the Jinsei, but is so closely tied to his realm, that it doesn't carry over. In a real fight in this universe, it would give Minoru the advantage.

Minoru is perhaps lucky that this energy source, while tied to being on A world, is not tied with any specific world. Some worlds had more energy than others, and the dead of space had none. But as long as his seal had something, he could still transform, until that, in effect, ran out.

"You're just as fast." he smiled. "You have more up your sleeve you're not taking credit for."

"Thank you." Raiden gives an appreciative nod of his head at the compliment. Having a Wind god for a brother certainly made one learn to move quickly, among other things.

"I haven't had an opportunity to spar in a long time, and I'm grateful." He wasn't dismissing their sparring session, he just wanted to let Minoru know that he appreciates the challenge. Raiden has been so busy in Earthrealm, practice had fallen to the wayside since he was fighting more often than not.

"Well, as long as we're both here, you've got a sparring partner whenever you feel like practicing!" Minoru grinned, still as full of energy as when he started. It wasn't often that he actually worked up a good sweat. He and Raiden really pushed each other this round. "Which can be right now if you're up for more."

Or later. Minoru was perfectly fine with hitting up Ten Forward for a post-workout snack too. And loathe as he would be to admit it, a shower.

With the way Minoru absorbs natural energy, Raiden is going to run out of steam before him, but he's not out yet. The way Raiden saw it, they were finally finished with warm-ups. Another round was welcome, and helped get his mind off of the situation more easily than he'd realized, until they'd finished their most recent round.

"Perhaps tea, after another round." He offers. Raiden doesn't want to spend himself, but they are only just getting to learn about each other's styles of fighting. They can discuss more of what they learn from each other, over a calm drink later.

Minoru nodded, deciding to keep his Sage Mode active. The time had come for some real fun!

The computer counted down, and even Minoru had to gasp at the latest randomly-selected environment. His element may have been fire, but surrounding himself with it - in this case, a bubbling lake of lava - didn't do a thing to increase his power or his affinity. At least it didn't also come with poisonous gases or explosive ash.

Minoru assumed a fighting stance on the precarious rock he found himself on. It bobbed up and down in the swirling lava.

Raiden is not expecting the scene that comes before his eyes, and there's a moment where he visibly freezes. It hits a little too close to home, or at least, memories of the Netherrealm for him, but with a calm breath, and the lack of noxious fumes and decay, he grounds himself.

He's also on a precarious rock, but isn't content to stand there. He lifts off of it, looking around for a better sparring spot that he can move them to as the timer starts counting down to the start of the next round.

Minoru spotted the same thing Raiden did - a more stable looking set of raised platforms in the center of this hellish arena. He can't levitate, though, so getting there required some very skilled hopping.

His Sage Mode was doing a good job withstanding the heat of the rock, but he wasn't about to test it by walking across the lava like it was water.

Three - Two - One...

Raiden looks over to Minoru who is hopping for the platforms, and there's an almost playful look in his eye, before he makes it a race. Let them see who arrives first to claim the ground, and Raiden isn't going to use his transportation to get the edge.

Minoru moved fast. As one rock tipped, he was already onto the next, sometimes landing on as little as a single hand. Whether he would get there faster depended on whether Raiden had the benefit of hovering in a straight line!

He had to avoid a few small lave geysers, gas bubbling up to the surface from the chamber which released the flow of molten rock. His path otherwise is free though, and he sets down on one of the platforms, settling his stance and waiting for Minoru to challenge his newly claimed ground.

Challenge accepted, but not quite the way Raiden was likely expecting.

Minoru didn't have the momentum for a running start. Instead of going for distance, he went for height. His power was directed, not at Raiden, but at the platform - jumping, spinning and slamming down on the rock. In Sage Mode, he could feel the energy transfer from his foot to the rock, and watch it crack right between Raiden's legs.

If that turned into a sufficient enough distraction, his next attack would be aimed at his opponent!

The impact rocks the platform, unsettling Raiden's footing and he is momentarily preoccupied with resetting his feet. Though he doesn't take his eyes off of Minoru, he's still open for attack and brings his guard up to take the brunt of the attack.

Minoru's punch was blocked, but he quickly followed it with another while Raiden was still recovering his footing. He knew that the other would likely counter at the first opportunity, so he tried to keep him on the defensive.

Minoru was used to fighting on uneven ground - even on the back of giant snakes - so his movement was fluid, almost effortless.

Raiden grits his teeth as he keeps his defenses moving, trying to find an opportunity to retaliate. Minoru's movements are smooth, powerful and make it difficult.

Clearly his preferred style of powerful hand strikes is not going to cut it. Taking a page from his brother's practices, Minoru's next strike seems to slip through his guard, but the move is meant to give Raiden a chance to use Minoru's momentum against him, and direct his advance beyond Raiden's position. Like the flow of water around a rock.

The quick change in style caught Minoru by surprise. He felt his opponent move in, and the air move to greet him, but he couldn't actually do anything to prevent it at that point.

So he didn't fight it.

He tucked and flipped, hitting the edge of the platform as it finally broke apart. It was a precarious landing with pillars of fire shooting up around him.

"Is it hot in here, or is it just me?" he joked, nonetheless, as he regained his balance and leapt back toward Raiden. A fire jutsu preceded it, giving him an open place on the rapidly deteriorating platform.

Raiden catches the joke and it takes little guessing to know what comes afterward. He dodges, a foot landing on an edge of the platform and it breaks away. He briefly drops with a surprised grunt, before he disappears in an arc of lightning on a different platform, near Minoru's new claim. He takes a running leap, the momentum sending him for Minoru with his fist coming down like a hammer as he attempts to reclaim the shrinking platform.

What followed was a fast exchange of substitution jutsu, one landing where the other had been, over and over again. It was good strategy, as by now, their platform was nothing but a series of smaller rocks in the molten lake. There was very little wiggle room, and even less margin for error.

Eventually, though, Minoru simply flipped instead of disappeared, meeting Raiden's fist with his feet. It would be a powerful impact should it work, but hopefully not powerful enough to send him face first into the fire.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject