The New Winds

One round before the finals, no one else should back out now. Haruki takes a moment to talk himself into this next match before taking the weapon off the rack. Even if you lose, you can't lose to Matsu-san, at least get to the finals. One more round, get it done. After his self talk, he goes to the ring and bows to his opponent.

D7 LA: Round 4 Initiative vs Matsu Qiang: 5d10o10k4 26

The Matsu approached the dueling sands and bowed to the Phoenix. “Good afternoon,” Qiang said mildly as he made himself ready for the match. Despite the number of duels they had both fought already, and the corresponding high stakes, the Lion seemed unperturbed.

—
Day 7 duel with Haruki, initiative REF/rank: 4d10o10k3 21

Do your thinking before the actual battle, so best to gauge his opponent as best he could.

D7 LA: Round 4 Assessment, 2 raises, TN 25: 9d10o10k4 40 (Pass, 2 called raises, exceptional success, Learning 4 things)

(Could you tell me Void Points, Void Ring, Reflexes, and Earth Ring?)

Matsu Qiang took a confident dueling stance. His form was excellent, his weight well balanced; it was difficult to discern a good opening for an attack.

—
Day 7 duel with Haruki, assessment with no raises AWA/Iaijutsu (Assessment) +kata TN15: 10d10ro1o10k5+5 65 succeeds with 4 exceptional successes.
Asking Haruki for: TN, current void, Void Ring, emphasis, Reflexes.
Qiang has 3 Void Points, Void Ring of 4, Reflexes 3, Earth 3.

( getting info out of way first, then rolling and adding in later.
Armor TN:25, void ring 4, void points after assessment 4, emphasis in focus, reflexes 4)

LUCK IT: D7 LA: Iaijutsu (focus)/void, emphasis, center bonus, rank 5 bonus (free raise), 2 void points, vs matsu Qiang: 10d10ro1o10k8+9 74

Not bothering with first roll for speed, will post fluff later

Qiang saw Haruki begin his movement, and began to counter it - but mid-motion, he realized the Phoenix’s first action was merely a feint. The true strike would come from a different angle entirely. Pivoting to avoid Haruki’s true attack, the Lion counterattacked in the same motion.

—
Day 7 duel with Haruki, focus (luck reroll), contested VOID/Iaijutsu (Focus) +mastery +center +kata +won assessment +void point: 10d10ro1o10k8+14 87
I believe Qiang wins focus by 13. Holding off on strike to make sure Haruki doesn’t have any concerns.

(Yeah, assuming you're going to hit, just don't kill me.)

The Lion’s strike connected solidly with Haruki’s midsection, though Qiang pulled the blow enough to absorb most of the impact. The Matsu stepped past his opponent as part of the follow-through for the attack.

Then, turning to face Haruki again, Qiang lowered his sword and bowed to the Phoenix.

—
Day 7 duel with Haruki, strike with 1 FR to lower TN, REF/Iaijutsu (Strike) +center +kata TN20: 9d10ro1o10k4+9 50 succeeds with 3 exceptional successes
Day 7 duel with Haruki, strike damage 0k1 +Strength +Mastery +3 raises for damage +technique: 9d10o10l1+7 9

Haruki bows back and silently walks away. Truly beaten, there is but one thing stopping matsu Qiang from winning now, and she is up next.

Kaito Haruki is eliminated
Matsu Qiang advances, earns 12 points for a new total of 333