Shang Tsung sat on his throne looking very pleased with himself. "Our first Kombatant will be-"<br/><br/>Ayumi picked up her Naganita and strode out into the arena, shouting "Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu!" Those who had come under Raiden's blessings to fight for Earthrealm heard the words in its native language, but the meaning was not lost to them. 'If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub.' Shang Tsung had a similiar spell in effect for his own Kombatants not used to human tongues. "I do not fear you!!" She said, turning around and facing the other warriors.<br/><br/>Raiden stepped forward to stop her, but it was too late, "Very well!" Shang Tsung exclaimed, interrupting whatever words of wisdom the Thunder God could have provided, "Who will accept her challenge?"<br/><br/>Ayumi maintained a fierce look, holding her spear tightly as she narrowed her dark brown eyes on the sorceror. Her long near-black hair was tied back in a high ponytail, bangs framing her face over a forehead protector.<br/><br/>The woman was adorned in lacquered armor over her shoulders and thighs, pauldrons and bracers, complete with iron boots. Beneath her armor she wore a thick cloth sash with her katana-wakazishi pair sheathed. She was busty, her armor pushing her breasts together beneath the folds of her skimpy short kimono. The Samurai wife's thighs were exposed, revealing the suppleness of her skin, much paler than most of the fighters here. Just behind the folds of her kimono skirt, she wore a simple man's fundoshi; a cloth thong secured high around her waist.<br/><br/>The other warriors moved back, offering some space for the fight to come. Raiden took his place in the crowd amongst Gao Wu, Ajei, and Sucuri.<strong>"Listen to my words."</strong>The Thunder God said, turning his back on Ayumi and whoever may have strolled out to face her,<strong>"These men and women are unlike any foe you have faced before. Their appearances can be deceiving... Do <span class="bbc_u">not</span> underestimate them."</strong>