Of course I will be doing Kuai Liang/Mileena moments- why else are we here? :3
Sorry I've been 'neglecting' them, in a sense. Haha, I just wanna get this tournament wrapped up. Last chapter of it, a new Grandmaster will rise, five will fall, and- find out who'll steal Mileena's Queendom right from under her.
Kuai Liang's actually pretty crafty, I won't spoil it, but there is a *surprise* challenge he 'conveniently' left out to the students.
Despite it all, I had a clear victor in mind, but, I like this ending alot.
-Rachel
It had been two days of relaxation and battles, Kuai Liang had spaced out the fights, so that it would last that long. Hope had temporarily been exempted from fighting, due to his bodily condition, and the final four remained. Lexi. Shion. Jason. Hope. None of the younger Lin Kuei thought one of them could actually make it that far, and, regardless of their standpoint on him- they all rooted for Jason to be the victor. It would prove that you could be a runt of the brood and achieve anything the elder Lin Kuei could. Considering today was the last day, they were all immensely leaning on the fact that he'd win.
Kuai Liang stood before all of them, Mileena at his side, the ex-Empress no longer adorning the Lin Kuei garb, instead, she wore her pink-clad clothing of choice. However, it wasn't her original outfit she'd arrived in the temple with, as that was long gone. Regardless, she looked every bit intimidating, for she was the 'royal guard' and she took it very seriously. Aristocracy wasn't something people just simply fell into, except for the case of the Lin Kuei, where the head of household was chosen by kombat.
Everyone remained silent, waiting for the Grandmaster to speak. Clearing his throat, he exhaled a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, "Today is the very last day of the tournament, look amongst yourselves, now, final kontestants, and know that though three of you will be taking a step back, you all share glory in my eyes. I am proud of every single one of you, regardless of outcome. Your prowess shows me that I have taught all of you well, and, when one of you defeat me, I will have the greatest pride a teacher could ever have. To surpass me was always the ultimate goal, even if all of you didn't realize it. Today, I stand before you, undefeated by any fellow Lin Kuei, and that fact- shall change. Such as the sands of time must fall, I too, must bend with the will of time. There is a cautionary tale, I have for you, the last of your brethren." he paused, waiting for each one to look at him, once satisfied that he had all of their attention, he spoke once more.
"There shall be no holding back in the final challenges." Kuai Liang said, earning gasps from a few select Lin Kuei, others somewhat cheered, and it was mixed reviews of both 'good' and 'bad'. "Anything short of killing your opponent, is allowed. Even if it resorts in dislocated body parts, shattered bones, there is no shame in defect." everyone stared, some at his scar, wondering if that was what roused this part of his speech. "First kombat shall be awarded to Lexi and Shion." everyone immediately turned to look at the old ones in question, wondering what kind of harsh battle would await them. It would surely be something for all to see. The Lin Kuei parted ways, allowing both to step in the battleground before them.
"Alright, ya better not disappoint me." Lexi tutted, smiling as she placed her hands on her hips.
Shion took it as a form of 'taunt'. She was clearly being friendly and sportsmanlike, but he didn't have time for formalities. Now was the time for him to ascend among ranks, "You really wanna fight this badly?" he asked, rolling his shoulders.
"You know I do." Lexi agreed, both looked to Kuai Liang.
"Begin!" Kuai Liang nodded, his booming voice the only sound beyond the snow fall, until the definitive crunch beneath the feet of both Lexi and Shion was heard, you could literally hear how fast they were running.
"Defect." Mileena stared at Kuai Liang, musing over what he had said, the Empress had not a care for who won the challenge, she had been denied kombat for a multitude of days, and it was frustrating not being aloud to let out her thirst for battle. But, Kuai Liang had been gracious enough to..distract her, for a little while. "I see no defect upon you." she led him a small distance from his warring children, tracing the scar with her own hand. "If anything, it makes you more attractive." she said smooth and seductively.
"Even if I resemble Kano?" Kuai Liang asked, his piercing icy blue eyes staring into hers.
"Kano!?" Mileena recoiled at the name, withdrawing her hand as she hissed. "You think I would dare allow that vermin to touch me!?" she was outraged at that thought. Almost as much as when people said she had indulged in..activities with Baraka.
"It was only mild humor, Mileena." Kuai Liang smiled, shaking his head, "I never really meant you and he were ever a thing."
"He's so...repulsive!" Mileena admitted, the thought of him getting anywhere near her made her skin crawl. He was only a decent, half-assed minion that would betray you at the flip of a gold koin, what use did she have for him? None. Kano would only have served her so long as she paid him, which, if she was still in Outworld, would seem very appealing. But, she wasn't, and he was a waste of her time.
Kuai Liang couldn't help but to laugh slightly at her outburst, shaking his head. "You don't like..Kano?" he asked, whispering his name in her ear.
Mileena's body reflexively jerked at the mention of him, and, from the fact that he had whispered it to her. "If you aren't careful, Emperor, your adviser may just end up usurping you." it was a play on Shao Kahn and his lore with Onaga. The 'true' king of Outworld, who was fool enough to perish at her father's hands.
"Good thing I am merely a Grandmaster, and not an Emperor, then." Kuai Liang continued to smile.
"Who do you believe to be the victor?" Mileena asked, deciding to change the conversation for the time being.
"Of this battle? It is still too early to determine such a thing." Kuai Liang shook his head, he didn't want to pick sides, he would wait out the match to see who it was. If they heard him speak ill of either one, he knew their feelings would be hurt.
"Of the tournament." Mileena corrected him.
"It is still anyone's game." Kuai dodged her question expertly.
"Yes, it is, and you already have an idea who is to be the winner." Mileena wondered just who it was, he placed his faith in so well.
"Any one of them." Kuai Liang shook his head, "We should be returning, now."
"Excuses." Mileena wasn't dense, like he likely thought her to be. "Fine. Let's see who loses."
Jason watched the fearsome battle with delight, not a single Lin Kuei had noticed Kuai Liang nor Mileena leave. Every single time it seemed Lexi or Shion had the advantage, the other showed that it was still, very much anyone's fight. The blast radius of their cryromancy was so great that everyone needed to stand back, as neither really paid attention for the safety of the onlookers. It wasn't that they didn't care, so much as they were both completely enveloped in their battle.
"Pathetic!" Shion stomped on Lexi's calf, grinding the heel of his boot, kicking her afterward to force her up, seeing her struggle to stand up, due to lack of stamina and damage, he wanted to take his victory, right now. Grabbing her, he prepared to use his combo starting grab, surprised when she broke out of it, he stood, stunned for a moment.
"I won't lose!" Lexi cried out, she grabbed his forearm and pulled him forward, spinning around she made him fall to the ground, bellyside down and shoved his arm down as hard as she could, forcing it to dislocate. "How's this!?" she seethed.
Shion couldn't help but to cry out at that, dislocating an injury was absolutely no laughing matter. He'd rather have broken it, as this meant he'd have to pop it back into its socket afterward. Struggling to get up, she came to finish him. This was it; the defining moment of who struck first to defeat the other. Lexi was going for a high, he only had one chance to get it. Both shut their eyes as they landed their final blows, she, a leaping spinning back kick, and Shion a straight punch with every last ounce of strength he had left.
Jason and the others watched in surprise, no one had expected that outcome. They hadn't seen a loss quite like this one, everyone stared at the fallen elder Lin Kuei, and the one still standing, and panting.
"Victory." Kuai Liang announced, breaking the silence, "Shion, well done." his attention turned to Lexi, who was no doubt in shock. "Alexia, you've done well."
Lexi stood up, and walked over to Shion, seeing Kai and his smug glance, she did what she said she would were she to lose; smiling, she offered her hand to him. "Well done."
"Tell that to my arm." Shion winced, "I think I'll get...Hope to push it back in." he honestly didn't know if he had the ability to do so on his own.
"I can do it." Lexi offered.
"No, I think I'll get Hope to do it." Shion protested, seeing her come closer, "I said no." the white haired male warned, quick to turn on his heels and bolt from her, holding his injured arm.
"I'll tackle ya and shove it in there!" Lexi warned, laughing as she chased him.
"Seriously? Nobody's going to touch that?" Kai asked, "Alright, I'll say it: That's what she said!"
Kuai Liang ignored Kai's outburst, though a few Lin Kuei snickered at it. "Jason." he summoned the young pi gua practioner.
Jason stepped forward, waiting for his opponent. His heart was pounding, and he would be lying if he said that he was nervous about winning or losing. He needed to progress onward, and he only had one opponent; Hope.
"I apologize for being late, I was...otherwise occupied." Hope said, rubbing his shoulder, and, in the crowd, Shion was doing the same thing. "I'm ready to fight!" he smiled and bowed to Jason, his opponent.
"Me too!" Jason choked out his answer, swallowing nervously. This was it; the match he'd been waiting for.
"Begin!"
Hope didn't dare to try attack him, instead, he began to think out strategy. Relatively, a 'flawless victory' would be his best chance, if he were to survive this round, and move onward in the tournament, that is. But, Jason's fighting style 'pi gua' was quite the thing to behold. He had researched it, just in case this eventuality was to come along, he didn't know every single move set, only a few basic things, but he knew the principal of pi gua was the windmill like motions, set only to distract and confuse the opponent. Seeing Jason run at him, he reflexively countered low, his hand connecting with Jason's foot at just the right time, and he tossed his younger brother into the air, causing him to flip. Ordinarily, he would have let Jason fall, but, now was not the time for such a thing. Using an ice clone, he froze him in place, somersaulting backwards, he made sure to keep Jason at a good distance in the air, he was going to do a combo that required a lot of finesse, being as, he'd only just thought of it, and some mechanics were bound to not work. Only rarely did one think up a combo that worked on the first try.
He somersaulted Jason again, catching him with a running high knee, an ice ball and two chops, a running punch followed by two flying kicks, another ice clone, and once his feet planted firmly on the ground, he prepared himself to perform the rest. Three high punches caught Jason, along with a flying punch/kick combo, a left and right hook. Hope used one last ice clone, this time, he fired off two ice balls, using his enhanced ability. Everyone looked at him like he was mad, wasting his meter on something quite so superficial instead of using it as an x-ray to do decent damage. Landing his spinning back kick, Jason flew into the first ice ball, and Hope leapt into the air, tossing him with his make-shift 'skull crusher' into the last one. Using his icy slide, he elbowed Jason forward on his way by, and turned around just in time to elbow him away, half way across the battlefield. 27 hits, it had done a decent amount of damage.
Jason stood up before Hope could hit him like that, again. It was true when everyone said he was quite the prodigy when it came to combos. It wasn't a surprise, as everyone usually turned to him if they were stuck on something. Rushing forward, Jason slid into Hope's ankle, and knocked him onto the ground, quickly in a crouching position, he hit him with two low punches and a kick, launching Hope up with a similar knee to the one Hope had used. He kicked Hope from behind, in the air twice, his hand swept backward and connected with his target, using an ice clone, he kept Hope in place and 'reset' the combo. Using his high kick to both turn his back, and hit Hope higher, he used the same back punch so long as it was appropriate, switching to his back kicks only when Hope was low enough, and finished it off with his windmills into his bokaho stance. 23 hits. As Hope used his wake up kick, Jason ducked low to the ground in his stance, and grabbed Hope, tossing him into the air and repeating the same combo he'd done previously. It built up his meter quite well, and he was almost ready to perform his x-ray. This time, however, he could only land 15 hits, as he had used a throw to combo, rather than building him up to a stagger.
Hearing Hope cry out in pain wasn't at all a thrilling thing to hear, but, Jason had to press on. Trying to tune it out was the best that he could manage, to try and be 'heartless' on the battlefield, just for the moment. When it was all over, he could apologize as profusely as he liked. Hope was most definitely half way to losing, perhaps a bit more.
Now was the time for strategy.
Hope ran at Jason, and began to attack him, despite Jason blocking, Hope recycled 'safe' attacks that wouldn't leave him open for punishment, as he was using swift punches that could be near-infinitely repeated. Once Jason countered high, Hope leapt into the air and tossed him up with his 'skull crusher' grab, using the same punch/kick combo three times in a row, he froze Jason with an ice clone and lifted him higher, using his somersault once more. He repeated the same punches and kicks until Jason was just a little too high, using the frozen shoulder slam technique, he spun around, and placed his hand on the shoulder of his Lin Kuei clan garb, freezing it in a thick sheet of ice, the blow connected and smashed ice bits everywhere, sending Jason a good distance away. They were both on the verge of winning, and losing. It was quite the situation, like Lexi and Shion minutes before, these two were providing a 'show' for all Lin Kuei to be in awe of.
Nobody gave an 'edge' to the other, but, like all things, it must come to an end. Jason and Hope didn't want to knock out the other, but it had to be done.
Hope was staggered by Jason, who was about to land the last blow, but, just as he threw the punch to finish him, Hope had fallen to the ground. Missed. Guessing the kick to come, he countered a mid, only to be hit with a low, followed by a spinning back kick. Though Jason had countered a mid, the kick was, indeed, a high.
He lost.
"I must...get stronger..." Jason huffed, not bothering to get up from the ground where he had lost his battle. His body refused to obey him, after such a battle, he was lucky to be conscious.
"You are already strong." Hope said, trying to assure Jason, Kuai Liang in the background declared Hope the victor, but neither paid attention to that fact. "Had you been a little faster, it would have been your match."
"Thank you." Jason laughed, as Hope helped him up.
"Don't mention it." Hope said, seeing spots. He didn't know if he could honestly continue in the tournament, he was already pretty banged up.
"If I may have your attention-" Kuai Liang once more addressed all of them, "I know you all expected for Shion and Hope to fight, but, I have deceived you about the current events." he said, seeing their surprised faces, he continued, "Mileena and one of her choosing shall fight Hope and Shion in kombat. Then it will be between them, and then, the victor and I."
"But he is hurt." Hope said, not meaning to speak out of turn, "I don't think..even I can go on." he admitted.
"There is ways around this, my son." Kuai Liang quelled away all doubts, he produced a vial of a most certainly otherworldly concoction from within. "This will soothe your wounds, it was given to myself, but lord Raiden."
"What is it?" Hope asked, surprised at the potion he was staring at.
"It will heal you." Kuai Liang said, almost cryptically, handing it over to him.
Hope resolved to give it to Shion, he'd just grin and bare with the pain. Walking over to Shion, he gave him the dose.
"Thanks." Shion smiled, only sipping the tiny amount, before handing it back to Hope. "Wow.." he commented, honestly feeling as if he'd never been hurt in the first place.
Hope decided to try what little was left, and found himself surprised when his bruises faded away.
"Who do you choose to be champion alongside yourself?" Kuai Liang asked Mileena.
"Lexi." Mileena said matter-of-factly, earning more surprises from the crowd, what were the chances that she would lose, and with that girl on her team? It would be nothing but a quick match.
Surprised, Lexi stepped forward beside Mileena, 2 on 2. This would make quite the match.
"Ready?" Kuai Liang asked, looking from both sides, waiting for the affirmative.
"I am ready, Grandmaster." Hope nodded, the pair of them doing an intro.
Shion didn't say a word, but he grunted to make it known he had heard what Hope said. He only belittled the statement in the moment so he could concentrate, and, because he didn't have anything else to say. Nodding to Kuai Liang, the match began, as Lexi and Mileena apparently didn't have an into of their own. He started the match, along with Mileena.
Mileena twirled her sai, making it clear that she was going to use them with a form of lethality.
She teleported toward him, and Shion used his 'twirl' to evade it and punch her into the air, grabbing and tossing her to the ground, her froze her with an ice ball. Hope tagged in and performed the shoulder charge, followed by two flying kicks, and Shion tagged himself back in. Using his double swinging punches, Hope immediately tagged back in and did the same three moves. He used his double mid punches and kick, it boosted her a decent amount, and he grabbed her, elbowing her just enough to keep her in the air. Hope used double kicks to keep her in the air, this time, as he'd performed the same attacks to juggle Mileena far too often, and it would likely drop if he didn't change it up. Shion noticed her falling, so he finished it with a mid punch, mid kick and slammed her into the ground, using his pathetic stomp to make her get up. He used a high kick overhead smash to confuse her, and, once she tried to counter, he grabbed her. Tossing her into the air, they performed another devastating juggle, it was a 'blender' as Hope called it.
The juggle could be performed near infinitely with the same or a different set up depending on how 'smart' your opponent was.
However, when he tried to force Mileena up, she did a low sweep kick, her rolling thunder ability and Lexi tagged herself in, freezing him with an ice clone. She roundhoused him higher, using three high punches, following the air punch/kick combo, and Mileena stepped in. Using her backhands, leaping kick to force him to bounce, she almost ended the combo, but Lexi stepped back in. Two running punches, and the flying kicks had him a good distance off the ground. Mileena used her rolling thunder and leaping kick, following her leaping neck bite, booting him away. 19 hits. It was a decent amount, for a combo made up on the spot, and the amount of hits didn't matter- so long as a combo did heavy damage.
Jason and the younger Lin Kuei, who had all been knocked out watched the battle, Mileena had even managed to cut Shion, and Hope. She had obviously meant to impale them, but cutting had done the job, well enough. Hope had received a laceration on his knee, and Shion only a tiny cut on his face. Their crimson blood stained the once pure, white snow.
"This is getting...brutal." Yuki said, he almost didn't want to watch, but there was some form of compulsion at work, his eyes could never turn away.
"It's because..this is near the final match." Jason both could and couldn't understand the situation.
"Still." Yuki couldn't help but to grimace everytime he saw someone get cut, or hurt. Lexi had attempted to once more dislocated Shion's arm, but he managed to break out of her grab and punish her.
"Four people enter, and only two can leave.." Jason wondered how well his tag up with Shion or Hope would have gone against these two, he thought that they'd make a great team. But, Hope and Shion were so in sync with everything that they did, it was obvious that they had performed their routines together to the point of blending seamlessly.
Yuki was about to reply, but they saw something curious, Shion used his x-ray on Lexi, but just before he could land the finishing blow to knock her away, Hope had ran past him, slid into her and leapt into the air, hitting her with an overhead smash "Over here!" he said, hitting her with a ghost butterfly, defeating her.
Mileena wasted no time in recuperating, she twirled her sai and prepared for combat.
"You think you can win?" Shion asked the fallen Empress.
"You think I will lose?" Mileena cooed, "I'll defeat you, and then, he'll be all alone. Or, maybe I'll take him down and leave you without strategy." she mused aloud.
Shion kept his cool, not bothering to deal with her idle threats, smiling and slowly shaking his head, he stared at her, "Very funny." he mused, darting forward and hitting her in the stomach with a backward mid kick, somersaulting forward from his back turned position, forcing one of her sai into his hand, the weapon landing perfectly in his waiting grip. Turning to attack her, he was surprised when her remaining sai clashed with his, his surprise only served to amuse the hybrid. When he tried to move it, she grabbed onto the weapon with no care whatsoever for any 'damage' he could do with it in his hands. She bent his arm, and stole retrieved the sai, but Shion was adamant he not lose; if he did, then Hope would have a hard time dealing with Mileena. She had also learned much in the tutelage of Kuai Liang; a dangerous thing along with her already near-unmatched fighting prowess.
Attempting to slice him once more, he leaned his head back, the sai narrowly missing his neck, his blocked a few more strikes, grabbing her by the arms and twirling himself around, if only to give himself more breathing room. Aiming a roundhouse just as his spin finished, Mileena ducked out of it, a confident smile as she did so. Shion attempted to punch her, she side stepped both and evaded either hit, instead using his own force to flip him. Expecting him to hit the ground was her own mistake.
Shion cartwheeled to recover from the fall, just as Mileena aimed her sai right in his face. He barely had time to roundhouse it from her grasp just as he landed. Attempting an overhead strike, Mileena caught it in the fold of her arm, spinning them around and releasing him, aiming for his throat with a swipe of her hand. He barely had time to flip away from her, seeing the sai embedded in the structure of the temple, he glanced at it for a moment, before turning all of his attention back to Mileena. He kicked it at her, and leapt into the air, going for a flying punch he was sure would land.
Mileena didn't bother to move out of the way of her sai, it instead dissolved right before it could hit her, and she caught Shion's punch just as it would have landed. Smirking coolly at him, she switched their position into a sleeper hold, attempting to end his fight with her right then and there. He struggled, but it appeared this was the end of his fight.
Shion saw her other sai, and kicked her arms off of him, once more flipping away in front of it. "So, it looks like the Grandmaster has taught you a thing or two."
"You'd be surprised." Mileena said cryptically, she could already tell what he was going for. Instead of dissolving it, she allowed for things to happen as they were. Were her father disarmed, he would likely have allowed the enemy to believe they could intimidate with his wrath hammer, before he showed them just what it could do under its own master's hands.
Shion grabbed the sai, slashed the air with it a few times, and held it in a defensive manner, slowly stepping forward. Mileena looked completely unsurprised, and didn't bother to switch her stance. In fact, she didn't bother to move at all. Shion slashed it downward in an impaling motion, and Mileena stepped just out of reach, he aimed for the torso, but she lurched back, and ducked his attempt at her throat. He went for the knee, but she pulled it back just before he could damage her at all. He went for her arm, but she punched it away, and kicked him to the point of forcing him to spin around. He changed the sai between hands behind his back, and went for a last ditch effort against her; another throat slash that missed, torso, anything he could aim for. She caught his last slash and reversed it on him, everyone could hear the distinct sound of metal on fabric.
Mileena stood confidently, not a slash was on her- but, Shion's clothing had been cut. His flesh wasn't harmed, but his chest area had been severed. A quick glance over confirmed he was tired, and just about to tag out. Mileena wouldn't let him, he was finished; and it was obvious. Right as he was about to back out, she tossed both sai and teleported at him, they hit his torso and prevented him from leaving, her kick defeating him.
"I'm..sorry." Shion said to Hope, taking his place amongst the defeated.
"Don't worry.." Hope said, wondering if he could hear it. Preparing himself, he knew he had more stamina left than she, but she was fighting fearsome.
"One down..one to go." Mileena mused, but she was on the verge of losing, as well. Who would win? She wouldn't lose.
"Two down, one to go." Hope corrected her, waiting for what she was going to do.
"You're right." Mileena relented, tossing a sai at his legs, noticing his leg wound from earlier. Once he grunted from the pain, she teleported and kicked him in the chest, leaping into the air with a sai impale.
Hope barely had time to roll out of the way of her attack, he stood and attacked her with a few mids, and once she tried to counter, he used his most damaging grab on the fallen Empress. It began with him locking both arms around hers, swinging around her body, looping around it, and gripped her head between his thighs, and swinging around in the same manner, locking her head between his thighs again, and tossing her while saying "Here we go!" it took a large chunk of Mileena's damage, and, finished her.
"We have our champion." Kuai Liang declared, once more surprising the crowd.
"Father?" Hope asked, blinking in surprise, "But, Shion is-"
"He was defeated." Kuai Liang explained, smiling at the equally confused white haired male, before turning his attention back to Hope. "Whomever Alexia was able to defeat in kombat would not have been disqualified, as she was already out of the tournament. However, whomever Mileena defeated would be knocked out."
"I see." Hope looked at his leg injury, and, he felt another on his chest, "Are we to fight now?"
"Do you think you are ready?" Kuai Liang asked, seeing the state he was in, "It would not be a fair thing to happen."
"But we need to finish this." Hope said, even more determined.
Kuai Liang handed over another small vial, he had been prepared, just in case.
"You thought I would be the last one?" Hope asked, a little surprised.
"It was anyone's opportunity." Kuai Liang said, giving him an assuring smile.
Hope stared at it, and reluctantly nodded, drinking the contents and feeling that odd sensation of being soothed and healed at the same time, it had an non-definitive taste that he couldn't narrow down. One that he didn't like nor dislike. "I am ready." he said, trying to be confident in that fact.
"If you believe so, then, let us begin." Kuai Liang moved a few paces back, and Mileena stood where he would have been, both looked to her and she looked back.
"Begin!" Mileena announced the fight.
Hope was the first to attack, using a launching high punch, following another high to keep Kuai a decent height in the air, and a shoulder charge with three flying high kicks that sent Kuai Liang a distance away.
Kuai Liang stood, and moved toward Hope, never giving away what he was going to do. Hope was being very cautious upon fighting him, and that was good- one could never predict what the enemy was to do, if they didn't observe. However, observation also had its limits when dealing with an opponent. He tossed in ice ball, and when Hope was busy side stepping it, he ran forward and used an uppercut to launch him. Hope went high into the air, and used his double kicks, the first one missed and surprised everyone else, the fact that their Grandmaster had missed an attack at all was an oddity. He used the same ones, using an ice clone just to keep him a tad bit higher. Two leaping mid kicks, followed by an uppercut, Kuai Liang hit him with a series of mid punches, launching him away.
Hope felt the sting of every hit, but it didn't discourage him. Perhaps it was adrenaline finally kicking in, he leapt up and decided to be on the offensive. Kuai Liang likely wouldn't expect the fact that Shion had taught him one of his brawler-esque combos, so he went for it. Using three back hands, he stopped short of the fourth, once Kuai Liang attempted to counter the mid that he was sure to come, Hope delayed his staggering hit, and went for the high launcher he was going to use. A swinging motion with both fists hurled Kuai Liang into the air, and Hope ran past the Grandmaster, turning to face him quickly, using his swinging low to high punch to hit him, elbowing Kuai Liang, grabbing and tossing him into the ground, he finished the combo off with a mid punch, mid kick and slammed him into the ground.
Kuai Liang hit Hope with a low sweep kick, using a spin around kick as a 'sit down' move, and followed up with a mid kick, a chop, and a flying mid kick/punch. A high punch, shoulder charge and three flying kicks. It wasn't all about glamour when fighting, both of them were using small and sweet combos, just to see what the other had to offer. It appeared they both had very different ways of fighting, despite knowing the same art, and the Grandmaster was proud of that fact.
Hope rolled his shoulders, and bared himself for what was to come. He used two straight punches, a high elbow, leaping high kick, two mid punches and three straight punches. Kuai Liang went for a mid, and Hope caught it, tossing him into the air, barely having time to 'punish', he used an ice clone, two rapid mid punches, a high kick to the face, two more rapid punches, a high kick, double kicks, and five chest punches.
Kuai Liang staggered Hope, hitting him with a barrage of kicks and punches, following through with his x-ray, doing an outstanding amount of damage on the Lin Kuei.
Hope barely felt like he could stand, after that, but he needed to. Getting up, he needed to perform his x-ray to even the playing field, and end the match. A lot was riding on this, and he needed to win. One last 'ace' in the hole, was that Jason taught him some pi gua combos. Using a cobra strike, he used a back turned low punch, another punch facing him, swinging both arms, only one hit Kuai Liang to stagger him. He performed the beginning of his x-ray, a punch to his head, the windmill punches he'd 'borrowed' from Jason; a high knee to knock him up, and a shoulder charge with three flying kicks.
"You've been improving." Kuai Liang commented, once he stood up.
"I had help." Hope said, glancing at Jason and Shion, respectively.
"So I see. I'm glad that you were all able to work together." Kuai Liang mused, preparing once more for combat. They were both on edge, who would win, and who would lose? After a series of blows and counters, all that was left was the final hit, Kuai Liang performed a devastating 15 combo on Hope, bringing him to the brink of losing; he only had a sliver of stamina left. All he could hope for, was some form of a miracle. Kuai Liang either blocked, or counter nearly every single hit that came his way, and Hope couldn't afford for that to happen, everyone was watching, and everyone was worried that he may lose, that it would all have to happen all over again. Some were intrigued by that fact, others discouraged.
Hope showed off a series of blows, high, mid, low, all of them to keep Kuai Liang guessing on what he was to do. When they finally came face to face, he performed one of the double kicks, a series of punches afterward, but due to Kuai Liang blocking, it did miniscule damage. Kuai Liang went low, and Hope desperately countered, hoping it would work; and, to his surprise, he had won. Collapsing, his knees had buckled and he could honestly barely stand at all.
"We have a winner!" Kuai Liang announced, offering his hand to Hope, who he could see was having difficulties on standing.
Hope accepted the help, but still couldn't stand on his own, which was fine- as every Lin Kuei had come to 'help' him as they lifted him up, cheering him on. "Hang on a second- hold on..." he tried to make sure he wouldn't fall, he felt dizzy, and, eventually they all heard his outcries and put him down, but everyone was still fixated on congratulating him. "Grandmaster- there is something I feel the need to say."
"You may do so." Kuai Liang nodded, waiting to hear what Hope had to say.
"I wish to give up my title." Hope said, surprising his brothers and sisters, each of them rendered speechless, looking to Kuai Liang.
"And why do you think you need to do that?"
"Well, I don't think that I'm...really cut out for Grandmaster." Hope said honestly, "And, there's someone who I know would do a better job, than I." he wondered if Kuai Liang would honestly allow him to give up the 'job' he'd barely had for a few moments.
"Who do you think would be your superior?"
"Well, this goes without saying that it may be an unpopular decision on my end, but- I don't have the fighting prowess of this person, and, they've taught me a lot when it came to martial arts." Hope paused, "Not like you, Grandmaster, but, they helped me to see them for what they were, and how many different possibilities could arise from the same type of set-ups, blenders and juggles. Their strength...made me want to get stronger, too." he smiled, "I'm sorry, if this makes many of you feel 'passed up', but, I feel like this is the right decision, and you can hate me for it, and for that, I'm sorry." Hope honestly felt like he couldn't apologize enough to his fellow Lin Kuei, "Shion."
Shion was at a loss, everyone was now looking at him, he couldn't help but to go over by Hope, "Give it all up, just for me?" he asked, surprised by Hope's decision.
Hope nodded, "Though I participated; I never wanted to be the Grandmaster. I just...wanted to show that I could be strong, too, that I could handle this kind of thing. To put to the test everything that I have learned, and show that I could be more than just a strategist who helped improve combos. And now that I have, I'm okay with stepping down. Winning isn't everything, it does feel great in the moment, but I know that feeling will fade, in time, just like if I had lost; it's something you get over. I'm not belittling it, either-" he looked around the crowd of people, "you all fought so well, that it feels almost...arrogantly callous for me to say this. Like I'm..well, brushing you all off. Sorry."
"I'm very proud of you, my son." Kuai Liang pat him on the shoulder, "But, I must decline your reasoning."
"Why is that?" Hope asked, surprised that he'd been turned down.
"You are the victor of the tournament, and, despite your pure intentions to reject the offer of being Grandmaster; it only makes you far more suitable for the position. Hope, you went into this tournament, not believing in yourself, and despite all odds, you came out as champion, I see no reason for you not to be Grandmaster. If you feel that you are inadequate, I'll show you just how wrong you are, with experience only can a skill be mastered. I went into this position only doing my best and making up things along the way. You all taught me how to act as Grandmaster, something that I myself wasn't sure I could be fully capable of." Kuai Liang looked around, making sure every Lin Kuei understood his reasoning, especially Shion and Hope.
"Grandmaster..." Hope wanted to say more, but he respected Kuai Liang's decision, and bowed formally to him.
"You are not my student, anymore, Hope. You do not need to bow." Kuai Liang said, lifting his son's head up, "We are on equal terms."
"Even if you say that..." Hope said, feeling semi-embarrassed that Kuai Liang could say such a thing, he rubbed the back of his head. "You're still my superior, and I don't think..that I'll ever be able to say that I've reached your level."
"You defeated me in kombat, you already have surpassed me." Kuai Liang smiled.
"I think it was a fluke." Hope said, he honestly thought of it as blind luck that he'd been able to take on Kuai Liang.
"C'mon, at least feel some pride!" Lexi said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, stop bloody puttin' yourself down. If you keep doing that, then where will I get to have my fun?" Kai asked, grinning at his elder brother.
"You won the tournament, there's nothing left for you to prove." Shion himself joined in on congratulating Hope, "Thank you, for considering me." he added in semi-sheepishly.
"I believe it is time for celebration. Doesn't everyone agree?" Kuai Liang asked, hearing the cheers of the Lin Kuei, he smiled and let them go ahead to the dining hall. "Are you disappointed in your loss?"
"Not so much." Mileena admitted, shaking her head, "If anyone was to win, I'm glad it to be that boy." in fact, she would never live down being beaten by anyone else, especially if it had been that smug Australian brat, Kai. Or, Elder Gods forbid- Akira.
"Is that so?" Kuai Liang raised a brow, surprised at her answer.
Mileena nodded, "He seems to be the best one for the position. Out of curiosity, why did you turn down his question?"
"Because I believe him to be right for the job." Kuai Liang admitted, "And, just because he doesn't feel up to the task in the present, does not mean he won't warm up to it in the future. Things can change, in time, stagnation never helped anyone. If you wish to move forward in life, you need to take risks and do things that make you uncomfortable from time to time."
"I see." Mileena could see the logic in what he had to say. "The heir to your kingdom." she mused.
"If you wish to see it that way, yes."
"I do." Mileena shrugged, "Shouldn't we be joining them?" she asked, they were being left out of the 'celebration'.
"I suppose you are correct." Kuai Liang nodded, "Come on." he offered his hand, that she readily took and followed him inside. Seeing all of his children getting along well, was quite the delight. Hope was sitting beside Shion, the pair both laughing and smiling about something of interest. Alex was staring hesitantly at a bottle of sake, that Kai was getting punched in the arm for by Lexi; Rin and Trevor had joined the table, having their own bottles of sake and laughing at what had unfolded before their very eyes. Jason, Xiao-lang and Akira had joined in the laughter, and, Kuai Liang didn't feel the need to join the festivities. This night, he'd let his children have their fun.
"Are we not going in?" Mileena asked.
"No." Kuai Liang shook his head, "I changed my mind. Let's go."
"Very well." Mileena followed him to their bed chambers, not caring for the fact that they were missing out on the celebration.