Refusal and Fear

In the industrial area, Tadashi steps back rapidly but in control, blocking and countering incoming attacks from the android. It swings its blade arm at him repeatedly before it spins and lashes its snake arm at him. He leans back, barely dodging the whipping arm before jumping back to gain some distance between them. Despite maintaining control, he still is covered in scratches from the assault. He pants a bit through his nose, keeping focus on his hands and the android. 

Tadashi 'I can't keep this up. Even defending the attacks is causing me damage. Its attacks are just that strong.'

He thinks as the android's head twitches a bit and its glowing red eyes spark. Tadashi then places his sword back into his sheath and crouches down a bit. 

Tadashi 'I have no choice but to attack.'

As soon as his sharp thought finishes, the android charges with a thrusting blade attack but he quickly jumps up in the air upside down. He holds the handle of his sword tightly as he focuses on the android. It quickly turns its head and looks at him above it.

Tadashi "Green…"

He says before flashing past the android and down to the ground, drawing his sword. A bright green trail follows his blade's path wrapping around the neck of the android as he crouches behind it.

Tadashi "Ribbon!"

He says as the trail flashes into a slash, cutting into the android's neck but not nearly deep enough to cut through it. It staggers for a moment as Tadashi's eyes widen.

Tadashi "Not enough..!"

He turns but before he can fully prepare himself, the android slams its snake arm against his body. He puts his arms in the way but the force is too much as he goes flying backwards through a couple pipes and into a tall metal wall. The force is enough to dent the wall from the impact as Tadashi hits the ground. He coughs on the ground on his side as he reaches for his sword. He looks up with intense eyes as the android strikes at him on the ground. He quickly leaps out of the way barely avoiding the attack but still taking a slash along his side in the process. He quickly gets to his feet and as he slides across the ground, he sheaths his sword again.

Tadashi "Rising…"

He waits an instant before the android is right above him preparing an attack.

Tadashi "Mist!"

He shouts before slashing his sword up with three soft green strikes going along the android's body. It is stunned by the attack for a moment but quickly gains focus back as the three shallow cuts run along its body. Tadashi's eyes are wide with shock when the android slams him back against the wall with intense force. He is stunned by the attack but manages to stay on his feet. The android then swings down its blade at him. He twists to minimize the damage by a slash still lands across his body. Given only a moment to feel the pain, it then strikes him in the face with the snake arm and up into the roof. It pulls its arm back as Tadashi begins to fall down.

Tadashi 'It's still not good enough…'

He hits the ground with a thud as his blade collapses next to him.

Tadashi 'Even with my sword… I just can't keep up…"

He thinks back to a day years ago. A much younger Tadashi sits on the step of the dojo. He has bandaids and scratches on his face and arms along with an upset look on his face. 

Wolf "Hey! Tadashi, why're you sitting here alone?"

She asks as the young Wolf, also covered in bruises and scrapes, sits next to him with a big smile on her face. He looks at her for a moment before looking away and laying his head in his hand. Wolf looks confused.

Wolf "Are you mad we didn't come help you sooner?"

Tadashi "No."

Wolf looks at him for a moment before pouting a bit.

Wolf "Well then what is it?? Why are you so upset??"

She starts shaking him by his shirt as he gets a slightly irritated look.

Tadashi "It's nothing, okay? I just… I wish I didn't need your help…"

Wolf stops and looks at him confused again.

Wolf "Why"

Tadashi relaxes a bit and looks forward.

Tadashi "You guys always help everyone. You're so strong. I just wish I was strong like you are…"

He says softly as Wolf stares at him for a moment before looking away.

Wolf "Well, you don't need to be strong to help us. You already do."

Tadashi looks at her surprised a bit as Wolf looks at him and smiles a big toothy smile. Tadashi smiles softly before looking away.

Tadashi 'I wish I could believe that…'

He thinks before standing up.

Tadashi "Guess I'll have to ask Teach to train me with a weapon or something. That way I can keep up with you guys."

Wolf looks surprised and excited.

Wolf "What?? You're gonna learn how to use a sword??"

Tadashi "Hm. I didn't say that but sure, why not?"

Wolf gets up excitedly.

Wolf "I wanna learn how to use a sword! That would be so cool!"

Tadashi "Yeah right. You'd probably end up cutting off your own hand or something. Stick to what you're good at."

Wolf "Hey! I'm not that dumb!"

She pouts as Tadashi laughs a bit. 

In the industrial complex, on the ground, Tadashi struggles to get himself back up as the android approaches him.

Tadashi 'The truth is… I was afraid…' 

He reaches over and grabs his sword before the android wraps its long snake arm around him and lifts him up towards it. 

Tadashi 'I was afraid if you picked up a sword, I'd get left behind… even more…'

As it lifts him up, it begins constricting him, crushing him a bit as blood leaks from the corner of his mouth.

Tadashi 'I'm just.. not strong enough… I can't… I…'

As he doubts, the android raises its blade arm back before thrusting it straight through Tadashi's head. The shadowed sight zooms out tighter and tighter as it glows a lime green. It shrinks until the image is only a shine on Tadashi's eyes, now glowing the same green.

Tadashi "I refuse!"

He says with a new boldness to his voice despite his distraught look. The android pulls its arm back the same way it did a moment ago in his vision and prepares to strike. With his hand still holding onto his sword, he tightens his grip as it glows green a bit. He grunts before shouting and swinging the sword up, slashing straight through the android's snake arm and even going up further and slashing the roof. The android stumbles back, a bit stunned from the sudden damage. It looks at him as he sheaths his sword and stances, preparing another attack. The android doesn't take much time before it charges him again, preparing its blade to cut Tadashi down. Focusing intensely, Tadashi quickly draws his sword in an upwards slashing attack as the android dashes past him. They stand there for a moment as Tadashi begins to resheath his sword.

Tadashi "Green Hunt:"

He clasps his sword down with a light clank as the android begins to fall in half at the waist.

Tadashi "Stalk."

He says as the metal android clanks against the ground with a loud thud. He turns around and looks at the now defeated android on the ground. He stares for a moment before taking a step but immediately almost collapses from the damage he took. He quickly uses his sword as a means of keeping himself upright as he coughs up some blood.

Tadashi "I refuse to excuse myself anymore. I will get stronger. I will protect my friends."

He says, resolute.

Eval Tournament: Tadashi Gin - Passed.

By the hill, Saika dashes back and forth while striking the bear android across the face then landing a large side kick causing it to go sliding back before landing on all fours. Saika pants a little but his face is still excited for the fight. It roars before charging at him.

Saika "Dang, this thing can really take a hit."

He says before stepping back and preparing for a frontal attack. As it charges him, he lifts up his left leg and stomps his foot into the android's nose with a front kick, blue lightning bursting from the impact. He pushes back against it for a moment before it grunts and shoves him back. Off balance, Saika falls back for a moment before it grabs his leg with its oddly human-moving hands. It swings him over and throws him with intense strength but he realigns himself mid air and slides across the ground on all fours using his claws to gain more traction and stop himself. 

Saika "I'd expect nothing less from a be-"

Before he can finish, his eyes widen and sharpen as it is now standing above him with its claws outstretched. It swings down and slashes Saika across his side. He winces sharply before jumping back only for it to swiftly follow after him. 

Saika "Ow, okay those claws are kinda crazy." 

He says, a slightly nervous look on his face. He dashes back from the incoming attacks from the android, dodging each slash of its claws before he slams his feet down and grounds himself. In an instant, he swings his leg up and kicks the android on the bottom of its jaw straight upward, blue lightning bursting again. Expecting a moment of stagger, Saika exhales for a moment but his eyes sharpen as he jumps back and up as the android slams its head into the ground in an attempt to crush him. In the air, his eyes widen again as the android lifts its head at him and opens its mouth revealing a large canon. It fires without hesitation, hitting Saika directly. The explosion creates a large cloud in the air as Saika falls out of the air upside down, blood falling from his head. He opens a single eye only to be met with the android swinging its large paw at him, cutting his arms from the claws and sending him flying with great strength. He flies through the air before slamming against the hill, crushing the stone on impact. He falls to the ground with a pained look as the android stomps towards him. 

Saika "Ow… ow… that really hurt… It's like it's… actually trying to kill me…"

He groans as he sits up against the hill. The android continues towards him as he gets a scared look.

Saika "Okay! I give up! I didn't realize it was gonna be like this!"

With no one listening, it only continues, worsening Saika's fear.

Saika "Please! I'll try again later, just stop it!"

He shouts desperately as the android stands above him, pulling its large arm back preparing a strike with its large claws. Saika's eyes widen but not sharp like before. They are wide and round with fear filling them entirely. 

Saika "This thing is… trying to kill me..!"

He says softly before bursting blue lightning from himself in response to the situation. In an instant, he tries to jump away but only split moments slower than the lightning itself, the android opens its mouth and fires another blast at him to keep him still. He yelps in pain as the boom shakes the ground. He falls back down as the android's red eyes shine through the smoke. It swings down and smashes the ground but finds no target. Saika pants and bleeds behind it, dashing across the ground. Fear covers his face as his eyes waver between sharp and scared. 

Saika "It's just a machine, it's just a machine. I can handle that. I can. I won't be afraid of it. It has no Soul, I can beat it!"

He shouts, trying to dig determination from within. He then dashes at it, screaming loudly as it slowly turns around. As he charges it directly, it opens its mouth again and fires but Saika quickly dashes to the side, dodging it. It turns and fires again as Saika dashes through getting closer and closer until he eventually lands right in front of it and drives an uppercut riddled with lightning into the android's head. It lifts off the ground a bit before swiping its claws at him, cutting his shirt again but barely missing his skin due to his jumping back. Saika dashes further back but keeps his focus.

Saika "I'm faster. Faster than it. I'll get it."

He looks down at his hands for a moment before extending claws of his own. 

Saika "Hey android!"

He shouts, a nervous and frightened smile on his face.

Saika "These are what real claws look like!"

He shouts before dashing at it again. It fires again and again but each one is no match for Saika's speed. He dashes right in front of it like before but the android responds accordingly and swings its large arm at him. But Saika uses his cat reflexes and flips up over the large android and once he's above it, he spins and drives his claws directly into the back of the android's head. 

Saika "Felix Flash!"

He shouts as a large bolt of blue lightning bursts out from his arm and into the android's head. The lightning flashes large and loud as the intense attack fries the android from the inside out. After a moment, the lightning stops as Saika rips his arm out of the android and falls to the ground, his arm slightly burnt from the lightning. The android stands for a moment before falling forward and crashing into the ground with a loud thud. Saika sits on his butt, leaning on his hand as he throws his head back with a relieved and tired look, his body changing back to normal.

Saika "Whoopy… I did it… Ow…"

He groans. 

Eval Tournament: Saika Martinez - Passed.