Miss Penance VS The Seeker of Enlightenment (DEBUT) - Start of 2023!

Natsumi wasn't a pushover, as Penance thought. Good. The match would be anti-climatic if she got tapped out by Nashville early.

"That's it. We're not done, yet." Penance was goading Natsumi to get her ass back up, while she stood over the monk. Despite how Natsumi bitch slapped her chest and sent her gasping for breath, Penance wanted to do the art of "selling it", so she was actually waiting for Natsumi to pull something on her.

"I tell you this. If you don't try to make your heart explode, I can happily toss you out of the ring then try to pin you again." That mischievous grin on Penance's face was another taunt to get Natsumi to have her shit together.

Natsumi would admit this bout had taken its toll on her, the monk wasn't done yet however. She had actually been quite enjoying this bout and having the chance to actually push her martial arts further, this so called Miss Penance had been a worthy foe. Less than professional attitude aside, case in point it seemed that Penance was attempting to stir the pot and aggravate Natsumi!

To which Miss Penance would find that............it would be lacking there in her game plan. Natsumi simply kept a composed expression on her face in response to those verbal jabs, she was after all a monk and had endured far worse slings among other things. Natsumi didn't even give Penance a retort that was how little the verbal slings were viewed in the eyes of the monk.

Instead she gave a slight smile before getting into her composed stance once again, it was time to try and break out some more of that kung fu offence. Natsumi would then suddenly give a loud kiai yell as she rushed in there, feinting a right kick before then sliding in close and attempting a swift yet powerful one inch punch with her left arm right into Penance's gut there to get her chakras on fire!

Rule on what not to do when taunting someone who knows how to screw up every pain nerve in your body: Don't taunt them!

Boy, Penance was ready to take a hit, but she got herself a heavy gut punch that spiked up her nerves again. For some strange reason, it felt better than having her heart briefly, but all the air in Juniper's body escaped her.

Penance let out a pained gasp, stumbling back into the ropes. She couldn't speak, leaving herself open to Natsumi to pull another attack on her.

Natsumi might have preached the ways of tranquillity and encourage betterment of oneself, but she could also if need be cave your chest in with a well placed blow and leave you wondering if you were in need of being rid of your accursed desires. Which many did when they had tussled at length with Natsumi~

The monk had practised this move many a time in the past and even here with the length of the bout Natsumi still had that discipline instilled within her proving to the crowd in attendance that she could go in the ring.

Breathing a sigh there to regain her stance it seemed Miss Penance was indeed taken aback by the sudden blow there and was left reeling. The monk would seek to attempt a follow up strike there, moving to the ropes opposite and rebounding off of them the seeker would use the momentum and attempt to then spin in the air and deliver a rising axe heel kick and try to bring it down hard right upon Miss Penance in a manner akin to seeking to deliver some proper judgement!

"You're getting it now..." Penance was stuck at the ropes, but the moment she saw Natsumi using the ropes opposite of her to rebound for momentum.

Penance was going to risk countering Natsumi with a blow from her clenched hand. Was it playing dirty? Perhaps, but Penance wasn't going to let Natsumi walk out of the ring with her head held up in pride. She needed to give Natsumi a taste of her own medicine.

Penance charged forward, not as fast as Natsumi, however. Penance raised her hand, but..

Natsumi was quick to attack. Penance got herself kicked hard, roughly where her upper chest was, sending her onto the mat in pain.

For Penance, judgement was being an absolute bitch, especially since she felt herself being in a vulnerable position for a pin.

Natsumi tried to keep a straight, composed expression on herself during this bout but at this point? Well she was actually enjoying herself, this hadn't been like the many spars she'd had against her fellow monks and the odd martial artist that had graced their temple.

This had been a proper fight and the monk felt herself having a good time here, further proof that she and the monks had a different opinion. Penance had put Natsumi through her paces here and now it seemed the monk's strike connected well there with the crazy named lady crashing and burning.

Natsumi took a step back and breathed heavily as sweat glistened over her body. Perhaps now might be her chance?! The seeker would attempt to dive down to Penance's prone form and try to roll around with her in the hopes of locking in a schoolboy pin.

Penance needed a breather, but Natsumi was going to go for the pin. The monk had her rolled around, where her legs were holstered up in a schoolboy pin.

The referee immediately began to do a countdown.

"ONE!"

Penance wasn't going to give up, yet!

"TWO!"

Penance moved her legs. She let out a kick into the air, thrashing herself out of Natsumi's grip. The countdown stopped. It was the final stretch, but she wasn't going to let Natsumi go so easily.

Natsumi felt as though she had this in the bag, was she being a bit rougher than usual? Perhaps, however Miss Penance had been very much a worthy foe. Further proof that leaving the monastery was the best course of action in the grand scheme of things, however the monk sought to try and pull this one out the bag against her opponent and the ref got to one! Then she got to two!

But Penance kicked out! She kicked out!

The seeker was jolted out of the hold there, a look of actual surprise on her face there. Heck it took her quite a few seconds to mentally compose herself as the sensations of being so close to victory yet so far, Natsumi pursed her lips and balled her hands together in front of her nose. As if to perform some sort of prayer to herself in response to it all. Only to then try to size up Penance there, slowly and carefully.........before attempting to perform a decapitating shining wizard attempt!

Ok.. I need to get the folks hyped up for this last bit..

Juniper was still processing from getting downed hard by that monk, until she glanced to see her.. "praying"? Juniper was helping herself up, being on her hands and knees, noticing Natsumi hovering by.

The hell is she plan- OH SHIT!

Juniper was aiming for her face and head, but the shining wizard attempt ended up slamming into Penance's upper chest. Miss Penance let out a noise from the impact, rolling towards the ropes.

Truth be told Natsumi had watched a bit of wrestling since getting shacked up into town proper now, it had been surprising to witness the sort of strikes that they employed. They weren't inherit to any sort of martial art that Natsumi was familiar with yet she had employed them all the same after seeing their usefulness, plus even a serene monk as her couldn't deny a bit of the cool factor to them as well. Hence why had a little grin on her face as the attack connected and brought a loud amount of cheers to the crowd too!

With Miss Penance flying across the ring there Natsumi sought to get up there, but it seemed that her adrenaline was starting to wear off. The monks might have taught her great skills in a fight sure, but combat never went as far and as intense as this fight had been for the seeker. She felt herself getting a bit winded there as the mounted injuries from the match were seeping in.......

Natsumi still sought to try and put an end to this however and would get on her hands, she'd get crawling towards Miss Penance and attempt to drag her towards the ring centre again and attempt a submission hold. Namely a stretching-ingly lethal sitting abdominal stretch in order to allow for a proper reach of enlightenment for them~