Darknet Cage Match: Krystal Estain vs Li Caihe

[Jerec Asyr]

Deep in Sith Empire territory, the government controls the HoloNet with an iron fist. But outside Imperial monitoring, a patchy, furtive network swaps unregulated data, raw footage, contraband, and things that thrive in the dark. Two of those things are the Darknet Cage Match, and the betting attached thereunto.

No Force. No weapons. No gimmicks, no gear. And no referees.

Tonight’s match: the bounty hunter [member="Krystal Estain"] and the Jedi [member="Li Caihe"]. The winner of this first-round fight will get a purse of twenty thousand credits.

The arena is a square cage ten paces wide. The wire-fence walls have plenty of give but won’t break. The floor is a quarter inch of bloody sand over permacrete, offering both traction and treachery.

A light goes yellow, orange, red -- and stays red.

 

[Li Caihe]

Entering the cage Li looked around at the crowd gathered outside the cheers rising to the ceiling, a lesser man may have been intimidated by the sheer bloodlust that was being radiated by those around. Been cowed by the sight of the blood that coated the sand that Li’s booted feet stood upon, some of which was a bit too fresh for the Jedi’s liking. Many would question why a Jedi would willingly enter such a competition, and one was to test himself. The Atrisian had fought many foes but he’d been using the force as a crutch, here this would pit his pure skill of martial arts against another.

Torso laid bare Li showed off his toned physique, one that came from the harshness of life in the city of Jar’kai, and perfected from his years as a Martial artist. Not overly bulky or lean Li Caihe was a perfect balance, his muscles clearly defined. The lights above causing his temperature to rise and sweat to retreat down his head which bore a red headband to catch some of the sweat and keep his hair pulled neatly back from his face.

Eyes raising to his opponent Li gave a respectful bow his fist pressed against the palm of the opposing hand. “My best wishes to you.” As he came from the bow Li’s body shifted into his fighting stance. Right leg sliding forward his left kept parallel with it both his feet pointed to the left. Standing on the balls of his feet, a slight bend in his knees, Li bounced thrice testing his footing in the sand his feet never leaving the ground too much. Right hand raised up, hand open Li’s left rested near waist level the elbows of each arm near his ribs. Lowering his hand Li curled his fingers in twice, an open invitation for Krystal to come at him with everything she had.

[member="Krystal Estain"]

 

[Krystal]

Krystal's hair bounced across her back as she pulled it up into a tight bun. She took one last breath to steady herself, and strode confidently into the cage.

She was never one to be bothered by tight spaces, but the small bloody cage made her heart beat a little faster than usual. Tuning into her surroundings just before the fight began, she settled into her fighting stance; keeping her hands up to protect her face. She studied her opponent's initial stance, and after a moment she put her right foot forward, toe pointed towards Li. Her left foot set at a 45 degree angle, pointed behind her opponent's back, and her body angled slightly to have her right shoulder closer to her opponent than her left -- the standard southpaw stance. She kept on the balls of her feet, bouncing slightly just like the shirtless man across from her. Funny, a 16 year old Krystal might be feeling faint for other reasons right about now.

She didn't respond to the man, but settled into a clear calm just as the light changed its color. With this invitation she advanced, keeping her stance as she took quick steps forward, always staying stable as she moved. After a final step her eyes flickered, as they do when one attacks -- but instead of throwing a jab or left hook she pivoted rapidly, aiming a roundhouse kick with her left leg at the back of Li's right knee in an attempt to force him to kneel. Whatever the result of the attack she'd just as quickly bring her leg back and settle into her stance -- her arms didn't move an inch, ready to block a counter if her opponent tried.

[member="Li Caihe"]

 

[Li Caihe]

How rude. Li thought his opponent not even considering greeting him or even acknowledging him. Just have to teach her a lesson in humility then. But the confidence that Krystal bared was impressive to the older Jedi. The way she assumed her stance was calm, calculated as though she’d done it before, or was it all a show? The quickest way to lose a fight was to become so absorbed in your own thoughts that you didn’t pay attention to your opponents.

Clearing his mind Li watched Krystal’s movements as she approached the Jedi taking note of the movement of her muscles. Such as when one attempts to kick their hips are what give it away especially as something as common as a roundhouse kick. Li was going to take a knee but not in the way Krystal expected. Taking a knee, his left knee meeting the ground, Argis’ right foot planting against the ground his arms moved. Instead of going for his knee the kick was now aimed at his side. Left-arm snaking around Krystal’s leg trapping it between his bicep, the inside of his elbow and forearm, Li’s right hand came in to press against Krystal’s thigh.

Using the momentum from Krystal’s own kick against her Li’s right arm pushed against the upper portion of her thigh, his body turned into the kick and his left arm yanked at the lower end of her leg. In essence, Li was going to completely break her leg at the knee using his body and the leverage the lock on her leg provided.

[member="Krystal Estain"]