The Royal Rumble above the Clouds

There it was again: ‘I won’t lose again’, ‘I need to win’. Nashi understood it, he really did, but he understood it because he knew what it felt like. He understood, because he felt those things himself. He understood, because he was thinking the exact same thing at that exact moment.

That was all it was, from Yogu. ‘I can’t lose here’. ‘I’ll break through my limits’. In a rare moment of self-awareness, Nashi noticed how egocentric it was; Nashi didn’t want to lose either, and was prepared to break through his limits to make sure he won. So, where did that bring them? A game of ‘who can break more limits’? ”I ain’t gonna lose, either. I ain’t gonna lose so hard, I’ll win!” Yes, Nashi, that’s how not losing works.

”I haven’t really put all that much effort into this Rumble, have I? I spose I didn’t really need’a.” Nashi solidified his stance. This sorta reminded him of something… ah, that’s it. The Unstoppable Force™ vs the Immovable Object™. Of course, such a paradox already had a solution, but Nashi preferred the novelty of its supposed impossibility. ”I guess that means I need to make up for it now. Come on! Rough me up, or lose trying!”

Nashi didn’t doubt Yogu’s ability to win. He doubled Yogu’s ability to win against him. And although Yogu had, at least for a time, the advantage in power, that was just enough technicality, another limit, for Nashi to break through. Ah, and it looks like it’s returning. Here he comes! This is gonna be a thrilling conclusion!

First was Yogu’s arm, which was covered over with the elven grey. It burst with ki as the power spread throughout. This… this was a lot of power.

There were signs of trouble, but Yogu triumphantly smashed through the Blue Bro Ball! And that wasn’t the end of it, either; he was headed for Nashi next!

[N1] Ki Focus used! 28,400PL attack coming for Nashi!
”Don’t think I’m quite done yet, Yo! There’s a lot more where that came from!” There was a blast of blue aura, not disimilar to Yogu’s. Although not especially forceful, it still took up a sizable chunk of the arena. It was a good thing there were only two combatants left: the sheer power of their kis, to a weaker opponent? Standing would have been a struggle. ”There’s something I’ve been working on, and I think the adrenaline’s pumping fast enough for it!”

Yogu was ever-so-near. He’d have to hurry.

”Blue!”

Blue ki began to form around Nashi’s throwing arm. Then, to its hand.

”Bro!”

But this wasn’t some sort of traumatic event, where the power came from the deep recesses of his very self. He was using this technique as if it were just another attack! The ki formed into a well-shaped, long and sharp spear, opaque in its extreme blue.

”BEHEMOOOOTH!!”

Nashi responds with Blue Bro Behemoth! 133% from 110,072PL makes for 146,396PL!
Nashi did not throw the spear, like he might have done otherwise. When conscious, his technique with it was not so great— and, besides, Yogu was just there!

”Neither am I, Yo. Neither am I.”

Firstly, he caught Yogu’s attack with the ki spear and, on contact, pushed away.

Clash! Blue Bro Behemoth wins, with 117,996PL leftover!
He could only ever do this with what was now the memory of a memory: Mumbo and Virus, and all that he did to survive them. He remembered the little shots, the smaller attacks, the ones that you couldn’t afford to spend energy dodging. He remembered, time after time, Mumbo’s scalding gas attack. He needed, on some subconscious level, a way to punish this. Not just retroactively, but from the deep-rooted idea that he will face the same villains again some day.

Yogu’s attack? Well, to be frank, it wasn’t all that much. It was weak. And, hence, the subconscious desire to punish it was summoned…

The Behemoth grew brighter, bluer, sharper, longer.

Due to the Trample style, Bleedthrough doubles to 235,992PL!
”Do you think you’re the only one who just can’t give up?! Do you think you’re the only one with limits to break?!”

The Behemoth would swing by Yogu’s head, hopefully cutting off just a small measure of hair.

”Out there, if we ever make it back to the waking world, my victory is yours and yours is mine. But here, now? This isn’t the same thing. Here, for one of us to win, the other must lose. And I’m won’t let myself lose.” The battle of the wills.

So, if he wanted to win, that meant Yogu had to lose. But he didn’t want to hurt his friend, of course not, but with such a powerful weapon his task was a difficult one.

”Have a nice sleep, Yogu.”

So he’d whack the back of Yogu’s head with the blunt end of the spear. Mission, with any luck, accomplished.

235,992PL incoming to Yogu! If it hits, it will result in 120% damage. Intent: knock Yogu out of consciousness, and out of the competition.

The Behemoth vanished as soon as the adrenaline dropped. ”Ghhaah, what’s—” There was a strange feeling overcoming Nashi. It wasn’t pain, but a strange sense of something just not being right. It was almost, almost, as if...

Due to Nashi’s (successful) attempts at abusing his traumatic memories to use the Blue Bro Behemoth, the unconscious effects that made it possible have lost effectiveness. This is the consequence.

He can no longer use it with all of his faculties, at least for a while. Its next use (the one from Reignited Fire) will have to be non-consciously used, and will have the power but not the doubling effect behind it.

After that, it will be again much more difficult to use, as its power is hidden deeper in the mind. However, it will be more powerful.

This is the IC explanation for Nashi’s changing SIG, due to the December Update.

But that was of no consequence now. He was tired and there was a strange sense of wrongness that wouldn't go away, but he was pretty sure he'd won. He sighed as he powered down. Nothing a meal won't fix.

Powered down to base, with 55,036PL.
"There. I've done it."

...

...

...

"Can I have my prize now? And maybe a snack?"

[1/3KP]