Lance

## LanceIron-Willed Champion

### Likes

Sparring with others, physical training, anything coconut flavored, being around Ant and his friends

### Dislikes

Sore losers, pulled muscles, broken limbs, impatient people, Darrus's actions

### Speed

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**Lance** (*ランス | Ransu*) is a character from Sketchia-23, who participated in the Tournament of Spirits.

**Character Art: [Default / Soul Kimono]**

## Starcluster Data

Lance was seemingly just a normal man before he took up an interest in professional fighting. He seemed like something was off about his life, but he couldn't tell what. One day, he managed to not only hear about a big fighting tournament, but ended up proving to himself he had what it took to join it when he managed to beat up a guy who was trying to mug him. Training hard to improve his reflexes, Lance eventually discovered his capability in harnessing chi to bolster his strength. Eventually, he found the tournament's manager, a shady man named Darrus.

Upon entering, he was challenged to fight eight foes of varying element. He would become friends with them, admiring their skill and learning how to channel elemental chi from each one; fire from Skald, water from Droppel, wind from Gale, earth from Roclen, nature from Treesa, lightning from Ionem, ice from Haley, and darkness from Vodha. He reached Darrus as the final opponent, only for the master of the ring to reveal he stole the souls of Lance's new friends. Determined to bring retribution, Lance struck down the mad murderer and walked away from the ring victorious, yet broken.

For years afterwards, he wandered in hiding... for he knew Darrus would not simply accept defeat. It took a heart-to-heart between him and AnthonyM to help him gain the confidence to move past the loss and live his life for their sake and his own. Now he's ready for a rematch against the undead madman, to even the score whether it kills him or not.

## Background

### Early life

Lance was born "Tetsuka" to Ryuji and Makoto Ironwill in the continent of Vodoma, but when things became too hectic to live there, the family moved to Sketchima. There, Tetsuka had his name changed to Lance. While he lived a normal life there, he grew up a bit bored of his life as a day-to-day Sketchian. He would eventually find out when he was about to be surrounded in an alleyway that he had inherited the Ironwill family's ability to harness and weaponize chi.

### *Ironwill*

Lance was one of the ten competitors sought out by the shady tournament master Darrus. As the final chosen fighter, he would face the other eight in combat and brave a fitness gauntlet designed by each one. As he defeated each of the fighters, they taught Lance a new form of chi, allowing him to harness fire, nature, water, earth, electricity, wind, ice, and darkness.

He formed bonds with the resulting fighters... only for Darrus to pull the rug under them all and reveal he was a man cursed with the power to steal souls. Darrus would steal the souls of Lance's friends and fight him head-on, determined to steal his too. Lance would defend his spirit and win the title bout, but the satisfaction of the victory did not ease his now broken heart.

### *AnthonyM and the Multiverse: Crossing Rifts*

Having gone into hiding after the fights that made him famous, Lance is found by AnthonyM as a broken man. He explains that Darrus may be looking for him, and he is not ready to face him just yet. But he has heard tales of a Guardian who not only physically fights monsters, but does so mentally as well. The two would agree that if Ant can best him in battle, he could try and help him. (Lance can only be fought after beating Mufog's final battle once.)

After Ant wins, he and Lance have a heart-to-heart. The two talk about how Lance's fights inspired a whole generation of fighters, about how he was always on Sarah's mind, and how his friends would feel defeated to see this broken man as the one who carried on their legacy. Lance took Ant's words to heart and asked him to join the cause, ready to prove to himself he can still fight with the best.

### *Ironwill 2: Return of Lance*

After Ant gives Lance a peptalk, the two decide to take on a new tournament that started up. With Ant as his new coach, Lance re-enters the Torunament of Spirits he had gone into all those years ago, especially after it had reopened. He notices the departed souls of his eight friends were kept inside their reanimated bodies, and knows their suffering is noticeable. He has a new mission; to free them from their prisons. Darrus, however, steals the elemental chi from Lance and puts it into the reanimated Touranment fighters, forcing Lance to reclaim them too.

Upon their defeat and liberation, Lance and AnthonyM regroup to discuss a gameplan when Lady Elementia greets the two and kisses Lance on the forehead. As his patron diety, he was surprised and overjoyed to see Lady Elementia assisting him. With new confidence, Lance readies to give Darrus what for, and when Darrus tries to absorb Lance's soul after doing so to the other eight, his won't budge; it was the kiss's power. But he also gained a new power; light chi! Now armed with light, he finally vanquishes Darrus, who gets sent to the Underworld for his crimes.

## Personality

Lance is a very down-to-earth fellow, choosing to only fight on fair terms. He will step in to help anyone in danger, and is aware of the fanbase he has. He is introverted and tries to remain hidden when out of his own house. Lance's Inkborne tendencies allow him to read the emotions of others and understand their inner thoughts, allowing him to either predict an enemy's next plan or see his opponent for the person they are on the inside.

Lance always sees children as a blessing on the world and will try to teach them the way of fighting, but reminding them that it isn't a weapon meant for revenge. He remains respectful and has a hermitlike demeanor, never stepping away from his home unless he must do so. Lance tends to also not speak as much as others, only saying what he feels he must say at any given moment.

## Relationships

### AnthonyM

Lance sees AnthonyM as a powerful ally and his new best friend. If it wasn't for him, Lance would still be eternally broken, mourning the friends he made and remaining on the run from Darrus. He has also become somewhat of a rival, keeping Lance in shape and helping him to push himself.

### Sarah

Lance's new love, Sarah, gives him hope that the next day will be a good one. She took a liking to him during the first Spirit Tourney and continued to develop feelings for him, and he did the same as he slowly realized it.

### Lady Elementia

Lance adores Lady Elementia, as she is the goddess he prays to every day to give him strength. As the morning sun, he sees her as a beacon of hope and a renewer of the soul, destined to cast light and draw malice away from the world.

## Powers and Abilities

* Mastery of standard chi and nine types of elemental chi.
* Possesses empath tendencies thanks to his Inkborne heritage.
* Has studied nearly every known martial art, and has merged many into his own.
* Capable of limited precognition.

### Special Traits

* *PASSIVE: Focus Power (Lance can focus his chi into one of eight different elements, changing his type. This is doable through taunts.)*
* *HYPER MODE: Black-Ink Beatdown (Lance charges towards his opponents with malicious intent and delivers several blows which weaponize their sins against them.)*

## Puzzle Actions

*Blue abilities are puzzle-only, red abilities are usable in combat and puzzles, and green abilities are elemental.*

* Wall Jump
* Pole Swing
* Counterattack
* Evasive Stance
* Perfect Block
* Elemental Chi (Multiple Elements)

## Standard Gear

* Jacket: Fighter's Jacket
* Gloves: Vodoman Fingerless Gloves
* Pants: Lance's Sweats
* Shoes: Fighter Shoes

## Physical Appearance

Lance has bright cyan eyes and messy dark brown hair, tied up with a white headband. he wears a dark cerulean jacket over a white undershirt and white fingerless gloves, as well as teal sweatpants and white fighter's shoes.

His Soul Kimono sees him wear a fancy dark cerulean kimono meant for Vodoman rituals alongside a mask resembling a rabbit.

## Trivia

* Lance and AnthonyM's rivalry makes them both the Sketchian equivalents of Ryu and Ken of *Street Fighter* fame.
* The Ironwill family has always been associated with the gyokuto (mochi-pounding moon rabbit). This is why his alternate outfit has a rabbit mask.