SF: A Warrior's Path Ch. 12
By Gouki

Slow, raspy breaths made their way from Chun Li痴 nostrils and bruised mouth as she strengthened her stance as much as she could, hoping to absorb the much needed stamina and fighting spirit. Charlie now looked to finish this fight, clearly intended by the drawing of his right arm back as small yellow waves of energy collected into the enclosed palm. Responding to the Sonic Boom motion, Li immediately summoned forth a Kikoken, her concentration and focus locked completely into the technique. So much so, that she failed to notice the immense amount of chi that was collecting into Charlie痴 fist.

Waiting for the bubble of energy to reach him, with a swing of his arm, Charlie unleashed the spiralling energy blade upon the oncoming fireball. Both energy blasts collided and in a small explosion of clashing energies, the chi from each discharge cancelled out the other. However, Li was committed to her first attack and so wasn稚 aware in time for the next blades Charlie sent.

With a backfist, leaping roundhouse and uppercut motions, three more energy blasts were consecutively released at Li. Her eyes widened in surprise and fear as they cut through the surrounding air, each one locked directly on its target. She couldn稚 risk absorbing the surge of energies, in fear of losing this battle. She had to evade it somehow.

Using her legs to leap backward, the soles of her trainers managed to touch something. Something, that when her eyes searched for the source, was a sleek ebony coloured lampost. Using the solid surface of the object, the Wushu Mistress vaulted herself high, sailing over the triple blasts of energy, which soon dissipated into the dry atmosphere. Gyrating her athletic build in a forward somersault, Li gazed down at the crouching form of Charlie and manipulated the forces of gravity, allowing herself to fall swiftly towards him and set up her body in preparation for her assault. Charlie observed the falling Chun Li, his target fall into range of his attack and within a blur of speed, power and motion threw his inner spirit upon Li.

"SOMERSAULT!!" Charlie shouted as his body leapt upward at an amazing velocity and altitude in a backward somersault. Charlie痴 legs kicked out in an arc as a blazing trail of energy immediately followed, burning through the air and rushing to meet Chun Li and perhaps end the fight. Which might have done if not for the miscalculation of Charlie痴 attack. Charlie had leapt up at the right time, but his opponent had sensed some sort of anti-aerial attack and had positioned herself so that the chi trail missed her by mere inches, during the first frames of Charlie痴 Flash Kick. While Charlie had reached the apex of the move, Chun Li was already on the ground, with her eyes closed, and her hands shaped in front of her so they appeared to be holding a spherical object. A small orb of blue energy collected between the small space and was slowly beginning to increase in magnitude. Spinning in a blur of blue lycra and streaming energy, Li thrust out her hands, releasing the sphere of energy she had just manifested.

"KIKOSHOU!!"

Centred around her open palms, a small globe of azure energy appeared and struck with the vulnerable body of Charlie, ribbons of blue chi flowing and swirling around the sphere痴 surface. A small vortex surrounded Li and her pulsating orb, trapping Charlie痴 body and dragging him further into the attack. Chun Li suddenly opened her eyes and a barrier-like shape emerged from the swirling globe, to which the vortex ended and Charlie痴 body was able to soar across and embrace the cold hard asphalt. The ribbons of cerulean energy dissipated, leaving Li痴 outstretched palms still facing forward. The Wushu Mistress gave a heavy sigh of relief, as Charlie痴 body lay still. A low groan however, rumbled its way from Charlie痴 body, clearly stating that the fight wasn稚 over. Li痴 eyes again assumed their widened poise, for the last time she released her Kikoshou technique, the results had without a doubt, ensured her another victory.