In a complete contrast to Argo's sedate entry and patient waiting, Chibodee surfed into the ring only ten seconds before the fight was scheduled to begin with fists pumping, shouting encouragement to the shrieking crowd.
"Ready?" the announcer asked; Bolt Gundam stood quietly while Gundam Maxter fidgeted impatiently. "Ready?" he repeated, "… GO!"
Chibodee immediately responded by lunging at Argo fists- first; the Neo- Russian sidestepped, put out a foot, and bent his arm to elbow Maxter in the back. Chibodee barely managed to step over the other Gundam's foot ahead of its elbow; there was a horrible, jarring screech of metal on metal as Bolt Gundam's elbow slid off Maxter's back.
Chibodee recovered with a speedy kick at Argo's head; the sturdy construction of Bolt Gundam ensured that his foot only bounced off. Argo came back at him with a flurry of forceful punches.
Chibodee raised his arms and kicked again, this time appearing to aim at Argo's side but changing direction at the last moment and instead going for the back of his knee.
Argo smiled grimly as the Bolt Gundam shuddered- he has improved, indeed- and landed an uppercut on Chibodee's chin, knocking him back two staggered steps. Argo pressed his advantage, driving at Maxter's ribs and midsection but scrupulously avoiding the cockpit. (A/N: I'm working on the premise that after what happened with the Gaia Crusher, the Neo- Russians would've strengthened the knees- not that a simple kick would've won the match, since it took the stress of that Crusher attack to weaken them… shutting up now.)
Chibodee wasn't to be bested so easily; he blocked the majority of Argo's attack and landed kicks to Argo's ribs and stomach. Seizing the opportunity that the Bolt Gundam's split- second hesitance gave him, Chibodee ducked around behind the other man, laced his fingers, and swung his doubled fist at Argo's back, knocking the other man forward.
Argo managed to get his hands beneath him and, displaying more flexibility than any of the others had before seen him use, flipped back onto his feet. Chibodee appeared on the Bolt Gundam's screen, grinning. "Nice moves, Neo- Russia!"
Argo bestowed a smile of his own. "And you."
"What say we kick this up a notch?"
"What do you want to do?"
Chibodee smiled; behind him, the crowd was starting to murmur in bemusement as to why the Gundams were suddenly having a conversation. In answer, Gundam Maxter suddenly started glowing gold. Bolt Gundam started changing color as well.
"Gaia Crusher!" Argo declared, sending one at the Neo- American.
Chibodee leapt above it and perched on a mountain point upon his descent. He launched himself at Argo again. In this state, his speed was even more remarkable, and it was impossible for the Neo- Russian to dodge. Instead, he brought up a shield of earth; Chibodee punched through it with a literal fist of fire and kept on going. Argo blocked with his arm and brought his other fist up; huge chunks of the ring floor tore up to surround it, and the spectators' vision was obscured for a minute as earth and fire collided with a huge BOOM and cloud of dust.
Asherah was watching with a tense nonexpression on her face. Her eyebrow quirked involuntarily as she could see again; the sight that greeted her was Argo throwing open his arms, with the result that large spikes of earth were flying at her protégé. Chibodee sent multiple Burning Punches at them (A/N: You know, that attack that he used on Domon where Domon had to split himself into, like, 10 images? I can't remember what it's called, sorry); using the fire as a distraction, he leapt into the air. The Punches and glare of the sun on the Gundam Maxter dazzled Argo's eyes, but he knew the Neo- American was above him. As Chibodee bombed down elbow- first, looking ridiculously at ease as he lounged on his side in the air (A/N: Anyone seen Yu Yu Hakusho? It's like what Yusuke does to- uh- Rando?- the demon that stole the attacks of the 99 psychics), Bolt Gundam abruptly disappeared into a custom- made hole in the ground that not only closed up over it, but then surged up to meet Gundam Maxter.
There was a sudden moment of silence in the stadium. Bolt Gundam remained mysteriously out of sight, and Chibodee was struggling against the vise- like grip of the dirt that had enveloped his Gundam.
Knowing that it would take Chibodee a minute longer to escape, Asherah risked a glance at the other members of the Shuffle Alliance. Sai, minus his usual energy, was frowning and leaning a dangerous distance over the railing. The older men were too absorbed in their own thoughts to pull him back; George in particular was uncharacteristically chewing on his bottom lip, and worry lines were making themselves apparent over violet eyes narrowed in concern. Domon had a tense expression and his dark eyes were darting in every direction, looking for a sign of the Russian; periodically his constantly moving gaze would rest for a moment on Maxter's struggling form.
Bolt Gundam popped up out of the ground again and started whirling its spike- studded ball. (A/N: What's that thing called?) There was a thunderous, muffled thud as it made contact with the cloaked form of Gundam Maxter.
Sensors were going wild around Chibodee; the girls were on his screen, begging him to give up before he got hurt, and it might have been his imagination, but was the air beginning to thin…?
Asherah slapped his arm and scowled over at him. "Concentrate."
Chibodee scowled right back. "I am."
"Are not." she retorted, and Chibodee suddenly had the urge to hit something. Hard. Many, many times. "C'mon, shit- for- brains. Concentrate. Close your eyes."
He narrowed them dangerously instead.
"Close. Your. Eyes." she ordered coldly.
Chibodee held her gaze a minute longer before complying.
"Now, look for the peace within."
He snorted.
"Just do it!" she commanded testily, although he thought he could hear a faint thread of embarrassment lurking under her harsh tone.
They sat in silence for a moment, and gradually, Chibodee relaxed and let his mind drift. And eventually he came to realize what she was talking about; a sort of serenity that lent a graceful calm to his movements when Asherah sparred with him later.
The smile that Asherah had given him when they were done faded out of his mind. Chibodee seized that calm again.
"Look!" a child near Asherah breathed, flinging out an arm.
The earth trapping Chibodee swelled and burst in a gigantic ball of flame from which Gundam Maxter emerged implausibly unburned; interestingly, though, the formerly shiny metal was now dulled with dirt, dimming the gold somewhat, and there was the biggest dent Asherah had ever seen running (in various depths) down the whole of Maxter's right side.
Maxter's shoulder pads flew down to attach to its fists; flame surrounded them. Chibodee threw a punch at Argo.
The Neo- Russian threw up another wall of earth and darted to the side, throwing his spike- studded ball at Chibodee's back.
Chibodee whirled and engulfed the weapon in a firestorm that extended all the way to and up Bolt Gundam's arm. With Argo distracted by the sensation of having his arm seared off, Chibodee took advantage and pulled his gun. (A/N: It doesn't have a special name, does it?) Two giant bullets ripped into Bolt Gundam's shoulders. The large machine tottered and fell in what appeared to be slow motion.
There was a silent minute where time itself seemed suspended. No one was moving; their eyes and attention were concentrated on the scene before them. Bolt Gundam lay fallen in front of Gundam Maxter, which was still leveling the smoking gun.
As those in the stands realized what had happened, a great roar built up until the Neo- Americans burst into excited screams, crying and hugging each other and jumping in excitement. Chibodee leapt out of his cockpit and immediately made his way over to Argo's, followed by the other Shuffles.
A/N: Cookies to: Ryan and LivEvil. Thanks to Ryan for giving me a heads- up on the rules for the fights! Are you all getting tired of the hypermodes and nothing but fights?