151 TORPOR REMAINING

SINGLE STRIKE STYLE

"Don't hold anything back," Adrian said to spur Kubfu's fervor.

Kubfu would also make a show of respect, bowing to the Cinderace after punching a balled fist against the opposing palm. Making sure to gain the proper footing and poise for a striking stance, it lurches forward at the sound of the bell just as the Cinderace races forward equally swiftly.

A sweeping kick is meant to drive Kubfu from its footing, but its diminutive frame makes for springy reflexes. The attack doesn't go unnoticed due to its own inner focus, as it makes a conscious effort to lunge over the hurdle of a leg and land a retaliatory strike upon the Cinderace, if it can connect.

EZXp9KU0

151 TORPOR REMAINING

SINGLE STRIKE STYLE

"Keep 'em comin' Kubfu," Adrian encourages the cub.

But their Cinderace is quick to recover, adjusting its footing and coming in with another graceful strike. Kubfu tries to roll over the strike again, to questionable effect. Whether Kubfu succeeded or not he can't tell as it sustains the blow, sent skidding against the ground after a brief tumble. With a knee braced against the arena and a hand clawing to stop its backward progression, it casts a contentious stare their way before running into a headlong rush. It's deceptively fast given its diminutive stature.

It tries to overwhelm the Cinderace with its sheer power, winding back a fist in its approach before sending it fully towards the enemy combatant, hoping to strike a low blow past the Cinderace's sweeping kicks.

zjtuXZnW

151 TORPOR REMAINING

SINGLE STRIKE STYLE

"Keep your guard up 'til the end!"

Kubfu would need to keep itself fixated on the wide, sweeping range of their kicks, while taking care not to lose itself to tunnel vision. As the world became little more than the frenzied swipes of Cinderace, it began to heavily rely on its inner focus to avoid slipping up. The crowd's uproar was muted to its senses.

It was just them, Cinderace and Kubfu, dancing against the cement.

Toshiaki's encouragement reached them, and once again they leveraged their greatest asset against Kubfu's greatest weakness and source of insecurity; its height. For all its blessings, it was all Kubfu could do to DETECT the incoming attack, lurching backwards to avoid being struck directly. Where the foot whizzed past, the sensation of heat and the smell of rotten eggs could be detected faintly. Kubfu kept its distance for now, considering its next move.

JA7Dfie0

118 TORPOR REMAINING

SINGLE STRIKE STYLE

"Kubfu, don't—"

The fiesty guy tried to stop the brunt of the attack head on, getting a sense of confidence during their match, which was strange seeing as he was almost the size of a soccer ball. A particularly vicious attack made in dire retaliation nearly sent Kubfu careening over the side of the arena, before it braced itself, claws digging against the concrete platform.

Though Kubfu winced at the scorch marks along its fur, it seemed capable otherwise, not letting this moment deter it from going for broke.

Kubfu inches back towards the center of the arena, slowly gauging its opponent, not wanting to receive another nasty kick. But with such a short reach, it would have to risk it to land another blow. After closing it, Kubfu would suddenly lurch forward, hoping to land a decisive punch—or was it?

At the last moment, before Kubfu commits to a blow with its fist, it tries to sweep low at Cinderace with a sweeping strike. A feint.

Z|ZWr0zM