[10th/Captains][Taishuu] Week 288: From Under Shadows

[lilmangoseed]

"Be that as it may," Lilith whispered, "but it was a slight worth casting." She didn't move her arms or legs, limbs remaining stiff and rigid, and her orchid eyes stayed sharp as they glared on the battleground. "But at least now, my best student and friend may actually have a chance at passing."

She remained still against him. Ishin's act of affection was far more bare than anything she had let herself express in weeks. Becoming one of the Forty-Six had hardened the former mystic, chipping away at her openly gentle character and building thick scars of a woman that needed to be sneakier, crueler, more deceptive if she expected to be treated as an equal among the obstinate egos of the other judges.

"Adelaide's pompous theatrics were an act to hide her fears. She has always been one to rise to every circumstance, but acting has never been a forte. She'll do well -- I have more pride and confidence in her than anyone else -- but I won't have her pretending to be a fool in front of the others when her true character is abundantly more impressive."

A tugging implored Lilith to relay a silent message of encouragement to the redheaded candidate or to turn around and embrace Ishin. To be warm again, to show them both how much she missed and adored them. Lilith had been locked away in a cold room with bitter personalities that, though usually civil, resented the men and women she loved, especially her own iron prince. Despite the yearning and begging that her heart beseeched, however, Lilith found it impossible to move while Ishin tightened his embrace around her.

 

[Kago]

Kago had suspected that something like this might occur after Sayis invited him to the taishuu; however, he had presumed it would have been the Soutaichou to propose this course, not one of the newcomers. Regardless of how it developed, his time to earn the haori of the eighth had arrived and he could not allow anyone or anything to distract him.

With a simple nod to the Soushireikan of the Onmitsu Kidou, the acting captain traversed the short distance to Sayis and met the man’s gaze. Normally, this proximity to the Soutaichou would induce anxiety and fear in the hearts of men, but Kago’s eyes reflected only the clarity and certainty of his convictions. He would not fail again.

Reaching up to his shoulders, the former captain removed the sacred white cloth and folded it carefully. In the past he might have added something confident like ‘I will be back for this shortly’, but Kago remained silent as he handed it to his superior. He knew that death was a possible outcome from the pit and, despite his confidence, it would be foolhardy to underestimate a member of the Onmitsu Kidou.

Turning his back to the Soutaichou, the examinee launched his body from the ledge and landed next to the fukutaichou in the cavern. He gently placed his hand on Adelaide’s shoulder.

“It seems that our fates are intertwined once more,” Kago spoke loud enough for only her to hear. Their relationship had always been strained, but he knew that they would have to mend to survive and pass the taishuu. “The only chance we have of succeeding today is if we trust one another with our lives. Can you do that, Adelaide?”



[284/505]

 

[swaswj]

Sayis took the haori without a word, watching the Eiheitai Gundanchou curiously. In the meeting with the Central Forty-Six, Matsurine had described the man as specializing in mobile defensive warfare. Physically, that description certainly seemed to match.

Inori Shahei was fully six and a half feet tall, one of the few people that were taller than Haresuno. Indeed, he was very nearly, if not quite, the match of Ishin in height. Similarly to Haresuno, though, Shahei lacked bulk. The Gundanchou was wearing a sleeveless, dark blue katabira jacket with gold trim. The jacket had a high collar and its hem reached down past the man's thighs. There was a unique texture to the dark blue leather: hexagonal 'scales' from the neck to the hem, each one housing some kind of metal plates underneath the leather. Similar bracers adorned his arms, and even his armored greaves showed the same hexagonal design. Shahei's pants were straight and plain but still formed of sturdy leather.

His hair was a surprisingly bright shade of blue, almost sky blue, shorn in a close soldier's cut to better fit a helmet. That helmet, though, was dropped at the top of the cliff and he leaped down into the pit without it. Meeting Haresuno's eyes -- Shahei's were gold -- the Gundanchou reached behind his back and unhooked the rounded shield hanging there. The gold-colored shield had a diameter as wide as his shoulders and curved outward, with four raised, round bumps surrounding the center. Gripping this shield in his right hand, Shahei unsheathed a straight-bladed zanpakuto with long steel crossguards with his left as he stalked toward the Founder captain with long strides.

Giving Haresuno a nod of respect, whether or not Matsurine shared it, Shahei stood in front of the man before smiling. His voice was gruff, almost gravely. "Greetings, captain. Together let us put these candidates to the test. Weep, Oni no Namida!" The sword in his hand flashed to a bright orb of light, which then splashed back against his arm like liquid. Solidifying, the zanpakuto took a vaguely kite-like shape, or perhaps diamond-like, with a very broad, rounded edge toward his fist -- about half again as big across as his round shield -- extending back to a distant point well past his elbow. It was a blue-white color, but distinctly metallic, swelling outward near the rounded portion, almost like a giant's tear-drop.

[401/1311]

 

[Time Lady Katie]

And together we’ll put you to the test, outsider, the redhead felt some satisfaction at the opportunity to take down on of the people she had so stupidly allowed to usurp haoris. First the Onmitsu stationed their leaders as Captains of the Gotei and then they positioned themselves to personally fight potential new captains. The coup was obvious: the Onmitsu felt the Gotei could not be trusted to do its own business so slowly and steadily they seized power away, taking over the Gotei in some foolish quest to limit the influence of Inuzuri Sayis.

In this game of chess Adelaide and Kago were a Bishop and a Knight, but the Onmitsu had positioned one of its pieces quite well, strategically. Worse still, Adelaide’s request for information on the Onmitsu Kidou’s leadership went unfulfilled. This left the Leftenant unsure of the best strategy to make her move, so it was time to move her attention away from the chess match between the Gotei and the Onmitsu Kidou and focus on the street brawl that was about to take place.

Honeyed words played in the Mystic’s mind; If you want to press your early advantage, Adelaide, you’ll have to pace yourself afterward significantly better than usual, and you’ll have to time things remarkably well, the scythe provided advice Adelaide already knew.

She glanced at Kago, and her taidan flashed. She would need to use her telepathy rather well in this fight to coordinate with the Enchanted Blade, and for no plan more than her opening gambit. Her message sent, she glanced over at her opponents again. It was about to begin. In a few minutes Adelaide would either be the new Captain of the Tenth Division or the most brilliant flame-out she could be, and either way she was determined to make it spectacular.

Then the redhead gave the Thirteenth’s leader an appraising look and then glanced to the Gardener she knew much better. Inori Shahei’s defensive prowess was a wildcard, a series of abilities it was impossible for Adelaide to predict and likely would take some serious focus and attention if she wanted to imitate any of them, but Haresuno was a known quantity. Moreover anything Kago brought to bear would be simple for Adelaide to mimic since she was already more than familiar with the Eighth’s tactics and strengths.

Standing below the former Mystic captain made Adelaide feel small, but that was only going to drive her. She couldn’t be Lilith – Lucas made that much abundantly clear – but she had to be the next best thing in the former captain’s absence. She had to. “Uchiharu, Inori; good luck.” Hopefully, though, Adelaide’s luck would be better.

446 Words
2335 Total​

 

[Apeiron]

“Eiheitai Gundanchou,” the Founder-Captain replied. His own head bowed in an equally deep nod to convey his respect without subordinating himself to the man. “I am in full agreement with you. I look forward to our short work together.” He went on to mumble something else, but whatever the Adept had to say was cut short when his left hand drifted to the zanpakuto at his side.

“It is not we who need the luck, Vice-Captain Pierce,” Haresuno responded, his own bass voice noticeably softer than Shahei’s - despite both men sounding like rocks were being churned. The difference lie in scope. Where Shahei was gruff, like someone taking a rake over gravel, Haresuno’s was smooth like two stones rubbing against one another. “Our task is a simple one,” he continued. “so save your luck. It would be ill spent on our account.

“Now then, shall we begin?” Haresuno tilted his head to one side, and a humorless smile passed his lips. With his right hand, the captain raised the staff out and parallel to the ground. As he did so, thick flakes of wood peeled away from the stick. Floating into the air until the dissipated to nothing. “Normally I would say, ‘Strive, Xiezhi.’ However, something else is a bit more appropriate.”

The ground began to shake violently, and Haresuno reiatsu began to climb to terrifying heights.

Beneath the graying wood, bronze scales gleamed until from end-to-end the staff showed it’s true form: Haresuno’s zanpakuto. “Say ‘hello’ to my Ban Kai.”

The earth stilled, and in the immediate silence the trembling was replace by the sound of chipping glass.

“Seikiryouku Houshiki Xiezhi.”

The ground above the arena, behind the circling captains and gundanchou at the northernmost end, split. A single massive tree born from three simple roots sprouted and grew to an eight-story majesty. But where there normally would have been an army of oaks to accompany Yggdrasil, there were none. Instead the lone giant rested and looked down upon the Proving Grounds. Somehow judging the barren lands with its presence alone.

As if the arena was deemed unacceptable, the ground softened and began to ripple. The earth around the combatants rose like spouts of water, and slowly took shape and form. Guided by some invisible hand until what stood around them was a city made of bricked clay. The four combatants standing at either end of the city square, shadowed by the buildings.

“Your move, Vice-Captains.”

[1135]

 

[Wayne]

From underneath the locks of pale hair, his right eye twitched bitterly at the sight. It was not too long ago that he came face to face with Haresuno’s final release, though failing, in the end, despite admittedly haggard attempt at victory. Xiezhi was a troublesome weapon, equipped with an arsenal befitting the likes of the Adept. It was aggravatingly versatile, allowing its user a variety of options in order to dispatch his foes. That being said, Adelaide’s proficiency with the demon arts was something not to be trifled with—made evident all the more with Kyuketsu’s many encounters with her.

Easing away, he gave another absentminded look at the other captains before drawing his sights back to the combatants.

498​

bumping the thread for teh sake of all that's decent in the world.

 

[Kago]

The combination of Adelaide's words echoing in his mind and Haresuno manipulating the testing grounds further impressed the severity of the test upon the acting captain. Focusing on the image of Sophia before he left this morning, he took a single step forward and unsheathed Hayabusa. The air around his body came to an immediate halt as the reiatsu cloak disappeared and his energy surged forth.

"Ban-Kai!"

A single flash of golden light illuminated the makeshift city. Once it faded, Kago stood at the center of a golden dome that surrounded the combatants and most the city. Resting his massive blade on the ground, he called out to his partner.

"Now!"

 

[Time Lady Katie]

Well, shit, Adelaide watched the release of the Gardener with some measure of despair, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. Either way, Haresuno had forced her hand. She had to release bankai now to keep pace, and in so doing it was worth enacting her plan regardless. Her plot might as well have been limited but still effective than entirely wasted. There was still good it could do.

“Caries Sanctimonia Lashiel,” Adelaide shouted as soon as a syllable left Kago’s mouth. She had watched her plan start to crumble and couldn’t afford to wait another second. She dove behind one of the clay buildings for cover as she pulled a small sheet of onyx from her robes. She wasn’t going to be able to limit Haresuno’s power, but she could place a cap on the damage the unknown quantity was able to do. That would have to be advantage enough.

The symbol Yuurei had shown her was burned into her mind and she quickly etched, replicating it’s simply flourishes on the tablet but not quite finishing it until she said the word that would be sealed for the remainder of this onyx sheet’s power, until it was removed. “Bankai.”

Two shockwaves of power burst out from Adelaide’s position as massive wings of fire burned down into smaller, ornamental wings on the redhead’s back. The first was the rippling energy of Adelaide’s bankai that lashed at the world released from all restraints. Lashiel was release, her majesty received. The second wave of power felt like a momentary weight, pushing down before it was gone, a background concern somehow foreboding and limiting but not altogether a matter of concern. This was the power of the Forbidden Kanji.

287 Words
2622 Total​

 

[swaswj]

Letting out a loud guffaw at the woman's resourcefulness, Inori Shahei strode ahead, moving in front of Haresuno. If the Founder caught a glimpse of the man's face as he passed, he would have spotted the bright grin there, as well as the sinister set to Shahei's brow. For the others, though? Shahei had his arms cleverly crossed in front of himself: the kite shield angled downward to cover nearly his entire body, and the few inches of his legs that weren't covered were still protected by the scaled greaves. The golden round shield crossed in front of and on top of the kite shield, completely covering the Gundanchou's upper body and face.

Viewed from ahead, it looked like a tear falling from the corner of a giant eye.

Without hesitation, Shahei strode forward into Haresuno's city of clay, presenting their opponents with a wall. "I must learn that trick! Nicely done!" Shahei shouted with another laugh, stopping his advance in a narrow spot between two buildings. "You would not have wanted to see my true release!"

[177/1488]

 

[Apeiron]

Confused by Shahei’s reaction to nothing, Haresuno assumed the Gundanchou had figured out something otherwise invisible. For his part, the Founder-Captain was neither impressed nor was he amused. He had given them a chance to attack, to come at him with everything they had. Instead they did nothing. They stood still in the square and hid behind a wall.

Some part of him was glad they didn’t blindly charge in.

Another part was disappointed that they hadn’t taken advantage of anything.

This fight was already his. His and Shahei’s.

The Adept strode forward in the Eiheitai’s wake, a morbid expression now on his face as the bronze staff in his hands twirled lazily between his fingers. No need to rush. They would come to him eventually. Adelaide would cast some sort of fire kidou. Something about her release did something to augment them.

Sulfur.

He remembered sulfur.

Stopping so Shahei was within easy reach of Haresuno’s domain - the only area that was both dangerous for others as well as him
- he huffed.

Once more.

Taking in a deep breath, Haresuno baited, “The kingdom’s army, sworn to crush the enemy. The call to arms begins....” at the captain’s feet, the signs of the kidou began. The first of the rainbow-colored staffs surfaced, and if neither of the two candidates moved, something terrible would be at their door. A realization that only came with the appearance of two more translucent rainbow staffs. “...as each soldier takes up a weapon....”

[1383]

 

[Kago]

As the shielded giant strode forward, Kago recognized the initial words that the founder captain chanted from behind him. Haresuno was already a devastating force and casting such a high level kidou would only put them at a disadvantage. Immediately formulating a plan, he called it out in his mind in the hope that Adelaide was listening to his thoughts.

Lifting his blade, the acting captain of the eighth echoed the words, one phrase behind his friend-turned-opponent. "The kingdom's army, sworn to crush the enemy."

All around the combatants, translucent copies of both men’s weapons were forming.

"The call to arms begins as each solider takes up a weapon to defend their honor," he cried out as he focused all his energy into catching up to the former arcanist in terms of casting speed. Even though he knew that this was nearly impossible, he had to try.


[147/762]

 

[Time Lady Katie]

The compliment from her opponent made her smile as she slid the sheet of onyx back into her robes. Still, all she had really accomplished was limiting the unknown factor presented by Shahei. Of course, Shahei wasn’t the only enemy in this fight, a fact that Haresuno quickly reminded the Mystic of.

Though she hadn’t ever used the spell, the rainbow of swords and staves was hard to misinterpret. It was easy to forget with his weapon’s appearance that Haresuno was quite skilled in wreaking devastation with it, and to empower himself with the force of kidou like only the Eighth Division could do better was a dangerous, even haunting prospect. Adelaide had to stop him.

It was an observation of note that the way Kago’s spell was woven and the way Haresuno’s was woven were different. Adelaide didn’t have time to sit by and see what the difference was, of course, or what it meant for how his spell was augmented. She had to stop it from being cast altogether, especially if it was something akin to her Soulfire that was being woven into his words.

So, the redhead dashed out from behind cover and quickly used her reiatsu noukan to guide her eyes to the gardener. Lifting her off-hand the Mystic behan radiating little flecks of silvery light as she poured as much strength as she could muster through her arm. She had one chance to aim, and she was moving, so she did her best to steady her arm as the word left her lips “Soukatsui!” And when the word left her lips, a torrent of light, blue and silver in color, like a burst of energy from an angry god shot across the city. At best it would strike its target; at worst it would cause a big enough distraction to interrupt the spell. Either way, her goal was accomplished and early dominance was asserted.

She then dove behind another structure. If she could get behind Haresuno and Shahei, she and Kago could flank their enemies. A war on two fronts was harder to fight. Until then, if she stayed behind cover she could provide ranged support for Kago, in whatever plan he had. Maybe she could even get Haresuno to smash his own pretty city. That might be fun.

384 Words
3016 Total​

Go Big or Go Home

Soukatsui [Blue Fire, Crash Down]
Hadou #33, 375 Kidou
The user unleashes a broad, flat plane of blue fire, 2m across. The spell has an effective range of 30m (90m), and will explode on contact with the enemy.

Eishouhaki [Revocation of the Recited Poem]
Allows the user to bypass of the chanting of a Kidou spell and simply state the name. However, this also results in a drop in the efficacy of the bypassed Kidou. A user can only bypass an incantation if their Kidou stat is at least twice the required cost of a spell, and a bypassed spell will only be half as effective as a properly-incanted one, regardless of prowess.
Requirements: 1,000 Kidou

Jumon Kaiki [Spell Totality]
Through devoted study, a shinigami can gain greater control over a spell. This allows them to bypass the incantation with greater success.By equipping a spell twice, it's bypassed effectiveness increases by 25%. Spells may be equipped up to three times, but cannot exceed 100% bypassed.
Requirements: 2,000 Kidou

Jumon Zoukyuu [Spell Augmentation]
Deeper studies into the demon arts have granted insight into the fluctuations of reiatsu and how to adjust them while still achieving a desired result. In this way, the user of Jumon Zoukyuu can increase the effect of a spell by increasing the amount paid in, within the limits of their understanding and the spell itself.
To use Jumon Zoukyuu, the caster spends the total spell cost plus an additional 2% of their kidou stat per tier of kidou.
Ranks 1-30 = Spell Cost + 2% Kidou Stat
Ranks 31-50 = Spell Cost + 4% Kidou Stat
Ranks 51-70 = Spell Cost + 6% Kidou Stat
Ranks 71-90 = Spell Cost + 8% Kidou Stat
Ranks 91+ = Spell Cost + 10% Kidou Stat
This technique uses the natural rank of the spell and is not affected by abilities that lower or increase the effective rank.
Requirements: 8,000 Kidou

Touitsu Sensen [United Front]
In battle, two characters who have spent much time with one another can complement one another's fighting style. They are able to fight better in tandem than alone, receiving a boost to all stats when attacking (except Reiatsu and Connection).When fighting near each other, skilled allies can easily swap positions to better press their advantage. Such a Bait and Switch will allow the users to instantly change places with a partner within ten feet, once per round. Uses are limited by the pairs, not individuals
.... Level 7 with Takimoto Kago: +8% Offensive Combat Stats, Bait and Switch (3/day).

Soulfire
Soulfire is the enhanced form of Hellfire. At the cost of 3% of her reiatsu per turn, Adelaide can augment all her kidou. While using Soulfire, Adelaide cannot use Lashiel's Shadow or Flames of Passion. As Soulfire is active, cosmetic flecks of silver light float around Adelaide and the scythe. Kidou used while Soulfire is active cost twice as much, and become twice as effective in terms of scope and magnitude. Chromatic fire and actual fire-based kidou may instead cost triple the normal and have triple the normal effectiveness.
This is the power of Lashiel as augmented by Lady Reason.

Therefore...
Effective Kidou Stat: 27000
Soukatsui Fully Bypassed: 375
Soukatsui Augment Rate: +1080
Soukatsui Bypassed/Augmented: 1455
Soulfire Soukatsui Bypassed/Augmented: 4365

Tamashii no Chouwa [Harmony of Souls]
As the Mystics have improved their harmony with the Departed Spirits, so have they better learned to react to the energy around them. By studying the way the Departed Spirits interact with one another and with Mystics of the Divine, a valuable lesson can be learned.Operating on the principle that the universe is underpinned by a fundamental connectedness of all things, the Mystic studies the way their own reiatsu interacts with the reiatsu of others.
As a Mystic comes to know another shinigami, they learn the best way to resonate their reiatsu with this colleague and gain a decided advantage in combat. As long as the comrade is within 20m, they are able to replenish their reserves. Each turn, a practitioner gains as passive regeneration based on how familiar they are with the shinigami around them: shinigami with United Front grant 2% base reiatsu regeneration per turn, those with United Resistance grant 3% per turn and Fated Alliance grants 4% per turn.
Because this ability requires harmonizing one's reiatsu with someone else, it can only be done to one individual per chapter/collaboration, and abilities that distort or adversely affect the control of one's reiatsu can disable this ability if the Mystic is no longer able to harmonize their energy with their comrade.

Adelaide's Remaining Rei + 2%

 

[swaswj]

From up top, Sayis frowned curiously at the straightforward attack.

As the silver and blue plane of fire bore down on Haresuno, and thusly, on the shield wall in front of him, Shahei braced for impact. A haze of soft blue light appeared in front of the Gundanchou, right in front of the kite shield. The violent energies of Adelaide's kidou collided with the barrier and with a confident snarl, Shahei was already striding forward.

Soukatsui scorched straight through the barrier.

Surprise, Shahei was knocked back a step when the silvery flame broke upon the shield itself. Oni no Namida held strong, but a rush of heat blasted in from the sides as the flames burst apart.

Left arm stinging from the unexpectedly powerful hit, Shahei laughed heartily. "How many of those do you have in you?" he yelled out from behind the shields.

[144/1632]

 

[Apeiron]

She’s not taking this seriously, thought the Founder-Captain as he watched Adelaide leap out to cast her Soukatsui and dive back behind cover. Before he could wave a hand to so much as deflect her attack back at Kago, however, Shahei put himself in between the kidou and Haresuno.

“Impressive,” he commented, breaking the facade of casting. Whether the words were for his partner or at Adelaide’s spellcasting was ambiguous, but there was a clear ring of truth behind the solitary word.

Striding around the Gundanchou Haresuno twirled his scaled staff again, and as one end came up his left hand snapped to the staff and broke it in two pieces - one the length of a baton and the other a short staff.

“Hold her off.”

Haresuno’s stride turned into a sprint, and that sprint blurred into a shunpo as the captain willed power into his steps and carried him closer. Close enough just to hear the end of Kago’s chanting, “...their many opponents to finish the war.”

“Forgive me,” the Adept whispered under the spellsword’s words.

“Hadou Number-”

Taking his foot, Haresuno stomped against the ground hard enough that the world of the arena actually shuddered. Without incanting or speaking a word, power rushed out of the pommel of his sword. Chunks of earth red earth and brittle clay jumped, wind howled like a banshee awakened, fueled by Haresuno's arcane power, and all around the spellsword the wind and earth gathered into a terrible cyclone that trapped him.

The rest of Kago’s spell was drowned out to the Founder-Captain, but he stepped outside of sword reach and willed Xiezhi into five separate pieces. One single rod stayed in Haresuno’s left hand, while the rest floated towards the captain’s back. A back he kept to Adelaide and Shahei.

His focus was on bringing Kago down.

Keeping his legs spaced apart, Haresuno entered Hanmeitai and flooded his senses. The single rod was raise parallel to the ground, like he was waiting to engage an enemy with a sword, and everything within the Adept’s domain slowed to a crawl.

The boulder had been tipped down the mountainside, and all who watched now awaited the rock slide.

[1748]

 

[Kago]

As the whirlwind of earth and clay engulfed his surroundings, the acting captain immediately recognized the impending danger. The two of them had fought together too many times to count, making him well aware of Haresuno’s offensive capabilities. Unfortunately, now that he was trapped in the founder captain’s domain, he was forced to confront those skills directly.

On cue, the eighty translucent copies of Hayabusa that had formed before the creation the wind barrier flared to life. Springing forth in streams of vibrant color from their hovering positions around his body, the swords converged together at the original zanpakutou in his palm and united as one. In that instant, the once dull air around the blade of his falchion grew more and more distorted as crackles of electrical energy leapt off its surface. The spellblade could feel the immense power radiating in his hands.

She felt the rush of kidou and turned to see Sandstorm kicked up around Kago. She, even at her practiced level, hadn’t memorized every spell, but this one was fairly recognizable. Haresuno had trapped himself in with Kago. Clever, she noted. He hadn’t cast the spell Kago had at all, he cast this instead. It was a feint, and one Kago had been drawn into. She couldn’t allow this to play itself out.

With as much speed as she could muster in a flash-step, Adelaide closed the distance between herself and the sandstorm, but arched her run so that she wasn’t running directly into it, instead tangentially, so hopefully no one would actually get hurt by Haresuno’s spell other than the Gardener himself. She also had to be aware of Shahei’s position, and when she exited the slipstream of Shunpo she tried to turn to face where she assumed the guardian was.

Just as the energy of the kidou condensed around Hayabusa, Kago called upon one of the abilities his ally turned opponent had never witnessed: Jin’ishi. Tapping into his vast kidou knowledge and experience, he manipulated the reiatsu that composed his body and changed its very nature. Strength and power surged through his arms as his mastery over the falchion grew exponentially by the second. In spite of no direct change to his overall reiatsu level, he was more dangerous than ever.

Brace yourself, it’s time to change things up.

Kago prepared mentally as he shoved off the ground and raced toward Haresuno. And then, his image altered, changed, and a feminine voice shouted, over the roar of the storm, “KOKURYUHA!” From the outstretched arm of the manifesting Adelaide shot a powerful dragon of black and silver fire. Haresuno had nowhere to run to, his own spell had locked him in with the massive dragon of black and silver fire and it’s caster. He would either be exceedingly clever or exceedingly burned.

Once his form appeared outside the storm, the adept swordsman pivoted his head and focused his eyes on the towering form of Shahei. Not wishing to give the onmitsu kidou agent time to adjust to his change in opponent, Kago propelled his body forward in a flash step and reappeared merely feet in front of him. The blade of Hayabusa - now coated with an additional blueish white hue of energy - seamlessly carved a path through the air toward Shahei, nearly setting it ablaze from the energy and friction of the blade. This attack would truly test the newly appointed captain of the defensive division.



Kago: [344/1,106]

Katie: [229]

More Information

Kokuryuha - Hadou #70, 1750 Kidou

Description: The user stretches out his hand and his arm is covered in coruscating blackness. With a screeching hiss, the ebon flames are unleashed in the shape of a ravenous black dragon, flying up to 20m. Upon contact, the hungry fires will burn for three rounds, unquenchable by normal means.

It takes an ability of a greater cost than Kokuryuha to extinguish the black flames.

Incantation: The black serpent rises, the winged beast roars. Flames of Heaven and Hell converge, scorching the land in its fury. Corrupt dragon of the East, purge this world of life. Hadou #70, Kokuryuha.

Note from Katie: Enhanced like last attack; burns for 9 turns at 10,110


Gun no Kyousei (Army's Force) - Hadou #93, 8000 Kidou

Description: The user will hold out his zanpakutou and begin the chant, standing firmly. As the incantation begins, 80 translucent copies of the user's blade of varying colors will appear in their general area. Once the user finishes the chant, each copy will be absorbed by the original zanpakutou and transfer its strength. Once the absorption is completed, the blade will crackle with reiatsu and the kidou energy spent will be directly transferred into the striking power of the user's next strike.

Incantation: The kingdom's army, sworn to crush the enemy. The call to arms begins as each soldier takes up a weapon to defend their honor. As they march forward, eighty warriors race outward to drive back their many opponents to finish the war. Hadou #93, Gun no Kyousei!



[Jin'ishi] - "Bladed Will”

Zanjutsu and kidou are both essential to achieve victory in the Eighth Division. As such, one must learn to adapt their minds and take advantage of this new found strength. With Bladed Will, the practitioner has learned to augment their fighting abilities. By paying 10% base reiatsu, the user of this tech imbues their mind, body, and sword with power to understand, and at times, fight on par with a once overwhelming opponent. This change in combat expresses itself as a direct transfer of 50% of one's base kidou stat to their zanjutsu. The user can maintain the energy for only three rounds. This skill is a one time use per battle.

Stat Change from Jin'ishi

Zanjutsu: 26,407 -> 31,407
Kidou: 10,000 -> 5,000

 

[Rob]

Something was... off. Definitely off. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she focused on the man that had introduced himself as one of the Onmitsukidou filler - she had no idea what his name was anymore, though.

Though she could not confirm it, she could feel it. She could feel it surrounding that man. The man that prided himself on ‘mobile’ defensive warfare.

“Well then,” she spoke softly to herself as a faint smile appeared on her fair skin, “aren’t you guys going to be in for a nasty surprise.”

[90]

ERHMAGERD TERN

 

[swaswj]

The giant's cocky grin never wavered. In fact, if anything, Shahei seemed to relish the challenge. Behind his wall of shields, the Gundanchou's expression was hidden from Kago's view, but he fearlessly set his stance, preparing to take the full brunt of Kago's awe-inspiring spellsword assault. Once again, a bluish-white haze flashed in front of the shield, meeting the edge of Kago's zanpakuto. The barrier shattered and then came the real test: the wall.

The honed edge of Hayabusa met the hardened surface of Oni no Namida, demon-enhanced Bankai against raw shikai, world-splitting offense against unyielding defense.

Except this time, it did yield. With a wrenching squeal of twisting metal, the smooth blue surface of the giant's tear cracked and split, caving under the assault. Kago's sword ripped through to strike underneath.

Then, before Kago could savor the moment of success, the towering Gundanchou -- unharmed -- shield-slammed him from behind, crushing him face-first against the sundered shield. It didn't stop there, though: the force of the blow smashed Kago through the other Shahei, the construct shattering like a granite statue.

Laughing heartily, Shahei lowered the wall, holding the shields to either side. "Do Not Pass Go," he called out with another chuckle. "Ohhh yes! Keep this shit coming! Man to man, Takimoto Kago!" Though uninjured, the giant was sweating, breaths coming harder. He clapped his shields together joyously. "What fools were they to try to tether your success to someone else? Ehh? Show me what your Gotei can do!"

[250/1882]

Notes

The only change I'll insist on in your previous turn is that one of you needs to have used Fuubi to deal with the Sandstorm.

So, what just happened here? Well, turns out the guy they labeled a master of Mobile Defensive Warfare is actually pretty fast, and what you just saw was his own variation of Utsusemi. It doesn't increase his actual escape velocity but it leaves a very solid barrier in his place.

Then he followed that up with a Tenonai delivered via shield-bash:

[ Tenonai ] - "One's Intent"
Every fighter enters combat for a reason, whether that reason is to prove themselves, to win, or to defend. Opponents who get too close to those who have turned their body into an arsenal will find out all too clearly what intent guides their fists.

Executed from extremely close range, often following a dodge or a counter, Tenonai is a punishing blow infused with reiatsu and the user's fighting spirit. The slightest contact with this short-range attack delivers all the force of a solid attack and blows the opponent backward.

This technique costs 1,000 reiatsu and must be executed while directly adjacent to the opponent. The target will be thrown 5m backward from the point of contact.

Requirements: 6,000 Hakuda

Everything comes at a cost, though, right?

 

[Apeiron]

Haresuno watched it all happen.

He watched as his sandstorm dissipated. He watched as Kago moved forward, just as the trails of the sandstorm vaporized, threatening to bring all of his terrible swordsmanship down upon the Founder-Captain in a defining swing that would (had Haresuno been hit) have ended the captain.

The Adept had anticipated that, prepared for it. It was why he was leaning on his own Kyopoku-ryu to counter. He was to see it all, he was to move on Kago, hold him with a binding, and lay into the man with his own zanken.

But Adelaide changed that. She flickered at the edges of his vision, her shunpo slow in comparison to other shinigami - to Nana, to Kago, to a handful of other respectable men and women Haresuno knew. She tore apart his spell, and the Founder-Captain watched as the two switched places hardly a heartbeat after.

They moved as if they trusted one another, as if that trust lent them with some sacred power so that Haresuno watched them switch like they moved in real-time instead of the enhanced vision of his Hanmeitai.

And already Haresuno was moving to counter Kago. The five rods of Xiezhi fluidly moving through the air, an extension of his body moving in time with his thoughts.

“KO-” he heard. His right foot hit the ground. Every ounce of power and speed already driving him forward.

“-KU-” The syllable danced through the air, slow and languid. A bell chime in the din of dying wind while his left foot hit next. Power rushed throughout Haresuno’s body. He already knew what spell was coming. Kyuketsu had used it back in Hueco Mundo. There would be fire. Terrible, burning, it would sear the flesh from his bones. Figures. He had figured Adelaide would use fire.

“-RYU-” Adelaide’s voice was burning with every ounce of fury and determination. She meant to burn him. She meant to end him for this fight. It wouldn’t happen. His right foot hit the ground again, and the rods were already closing in around her. She was trapped, in his domain, with no escape.

The air in front of Haresuno shimmered, and the tips of his fingers billowed fire, held close to his fist so that the single rod in his hand looked like it was burning white-hot. The runes across his gauntlets burned with the same colored light under his sleeves as reiatsu flowed in him, through him, and out into the air in a beautiful translucent shield.

“-HA!” The enhanced Kokuryuha burned the very air in front of the mystic. Silver and black, it roared down on the Founder-Captain with every bit of the vice-captain’s arcane power.

It charged down on Svalinn, and though the mythic shield was once used to protect the world from the very sun, it could not stand against Adelaide’s might. Not while Haresuno was already charging down on the woman, his own insane strategy already formulating and blooming to fruition.

Svalinn shattered, and Kokuryuha engulfed Haresuno without any hesitation. But even as the fires burned, the four rods of Xiezhi trapped Adelaide.

Out from the Kokuryuha’s remains stepped Haresuno. The black and silver flames licking against his skin, blackening it, but only eating away at the man’s clothing. His haori fell, the top of his shihakushou fell, leaving the burned and mutilated torso - evidence of his former life - bare to the fires.

“This was meant for Kago,” he stated plainly, no tone of anger or malice. He stepped forward to Adelaide, the single rod still in his hand and now with an unblemished reiatsu-wrought blade.

He drove it into the right side of her chest.

[2364]

Note

Yeah. Addie made a boo-boo here. Hare had already planned to trap Kago with Juusei (12k binding btw). He survived Kokuryu (only at 5k, fyi, and it'll burn for 3 turns at 3k now) by using Svalinn to block 2k, and then tanking the rest with Cast-Iron Constitution. It's worked for him in the past, and... yeah. Anyways, Juusei costs 4k (right now) per rod and he's using 4 rods. Within 5m the rods are under Hare's control and act up to his zanken stat (at 29k). If you want to get technical about Hare using all four rods, then he's using them at a zanken stat of 21,750 (per multi-wep rules). If you think Addie could get away from that, or if you think you want to spend 24k for a fuubi, let me know and I'll edit as needed.

And if you want to call BS on Hare watching them swap, Hanmeitai boosts Hare's perception of his hohou stat from 50% to 35%. Call in a GM if you want to say he doesn't watch, but I didn't stop the swap, nor did I really change Hare's reaction to what they were doing.

This was meant for Kago.

Hanmeitai

[ Kyopoku-Ryu: Hanmeitai ] - "Establishing Form"​

The core principle of Kyopoku-ryu is to attain a primordial balance between your position to your opponent’s. That careful measurement is known as Hanmeitai, the Establishing Form. Paying 3% of their reiatsu per round to enter Hanmeitai, the user gains a distinct boost in their spatial awareness relative to the cost paid, allowing them to react instinctively to the movements of opponents within 5m. Training in Kyopoku-Ryu encourages close-quarters combat but favors anticipation and evasion over weathering direct hits.

In addition, it assists their ability in identifying high-speed motion within this space, allowing them to recognize and track such movement at 35% of the user's movement stat rather than 50%.

Requirements: Kyopoku-Ryu
​

Svalinn

Item Name: Svalinn

Tier: S

Appearance: Stylized bracers that run the length of Haresuno’s forearm. The material that went into making them is unknown, but strange glyphs and runes are etched into its exterior. Its color is simple brown like sun-dried leather, and made of durable material that he can use to block most strikes with.

When its ability is used, the runes and glyphs etched into the bracers glow with a dull light and harmless fire momentarily dances across the wearer’s finger tips. Both the color of the light and the fire are the same color as the wearer’s reiatsu.

Abilities:
[Divine Shield]
Paying 2,000 of his own reiatsu, creating a thin shield that hovers passively in front of him, Haresuno powers the shield with the same energies as Heishuu Ryuuou.

Upon making contact with an energy-based attack, the shield devours and absorbs the attack’s energy, negating the attack utterly and fuelling the shield. This cannot raise the shield above its initial output, nor can it negate energy-based attacks that hold equal to or more than its initial cost. The shield loses this property after absorbing three attacks, and follows all standard barrier rules including decay.

Acquired: This item was brought to Haresuno’s attention only after his family was kidnapped. Chosen because of his power, capabilities as the captain of the Fifth, and low standing as a noble, Haresuno was forced to retrieve the legendary shield in exchange for his family’s safety. He was given five days to find the artifact, retrieve it, and bring it to the fencer.

Successful, irritated, and boiling, Haresuno brought the bracers to the fencer on the fifth day only to find out that the kidnapper wanted more out of the nobleman. Subtlety never being Haresuno’s strong point - especially when loved ones are threatened - he took the relic and Hayato, hunted down the kidnapper, and arrived just in time to aide his family’s escape.

[ Taikaku Chuutetsu ] - "Cast Iron Constitution"
Reiatsu courses through the user's body, burns furiously on the surface of it. Taikaku Chuutetsu is the greatest expression of a hakuda-user's mastery over their body. Some of the most insidious of unnatural effects are burned away from the practitioner once this is activated. While active, the user may ignore almost any blow, their hardened body shunting off most attacks.

This ability costs 10,000 reiatsu. The burning energy coats the user's skin as a persistent barrier worth 10,000 reiatsu, and immediately removes all positive and negative effects to the user's body (directly cutting into the barrier by the cost of the effects in place), strongest effects first. This lasts for five rounds or until the barrier is whittled down.

Requirements: 10,000 Hakuda

 

[Time Lady Katie]

Honestly, it wasn’t too surprising that Haresuno was unfazed by the black flames. No one ever seemed to be. Ishin shrugged them off without much trouble, after all. The fact that she was trussed up, though, like a rag doll was rather unpleasant. And surprising. Maybe Lucas was right.

He had said she was no Captain. Maybe being strung up like a trophy proved it. She pulled at her bindings. It wasn’t kidou, that much she knew, so overcoming such a firm entrapment would be a painful and costly affair when already the glass cannon that was Adelaide was beginning to crack. She wasn’t Lilith. Lilith would’ve already had Haresuno on the ground, and would’ve effortlessly handled Shahei. She could’ve turned the rivals against one another and sat idly watching while her problems resolved themselves. Lilith was the true Mystic Captain.

Adelaide was a sham.

The pause made her lift her lowered head. The certainty of her failure was palpable. She had let the Mystics down by not being the next Lilith Maikeru. She was so foolish, so reckless to have thought she had that ability. And Kago was equally diluted to think he could wear Senesati’s haori.

The faintest of smiles crossed her lips.

If she was going to burn out, it would be as a firework, spectacular and explosive, and not as a doused candle. She was going to fail brilliantly. She was letting the chips fall where they were and damn the consequences. She wasn’t Lilith. She wasn’t a Captain. But she was a glass cannon. And glass cannons blew up with spectacle.

This was meant for Kago.

This, however, was meant for Haresuno.

Adelaide wasn’t a master of grace or majesty as her predecessor was, but she was damn good ad appealing to other desires of her adversaries. She couldn’t stop what was about to happen, even if she knew it was coming, with pure force or even with her remarkable magic. The Mystic arts could help her weather it, but they couldn’t stop it. She needed Haresuno to decide not to stab her in the chest.

She could do that. Maybe.

351 Words
3596 Total

​

Stuff

Lashiel's Shadow
This enhanced form of Fallen Allure is much more intense than its Shikai counterpart. At the initial cost of 5% base Reiatsu one target within five meters can be afflicted with Lashiel’s Shadow. Only one person can be afflicted with the Shadow at a time. While afflicted with Lashiel’s Shadow, Lash can overcome the afflicted with a morally purer passion than she does otherwise; love. Whenever the afflicted sees Adelaide they experience the purest sensation of love ever felt in their life, replacing the object of that affection with Adelaide. This is not a memory, but a replication of the emotion once experienced. While troublesome to most opponents, it can be particularly devastating to Hollows, as it harkens back to their humanity. By expending Reiatsu greater than Adelaide’s investment, the afflicted may lift Lashiel’s Shadow and cannot be affected by it again for five rounds.

Chouwa is still active.

 

[Kago]

Dust flew into the air as Kago’s body collided with the ground. The onmitsu kidou captain’s strike was more of a shove than anything, forcing not his body sting with pain but his pride. He had underestimated the speed of the acting ‘mobile defense captain’ and lost all the energy built up for that attack. Furious with himself, he pressed his Togitate coated zanpakutou against the stones below and quickly found his way back to his feet.

Out of the corner of his eye, the acting captain of the eighth spotted his former subordinate strung up like a marionette – and Haresuno was her puppeteer, poised to strike his own ‘creation’. Even though he had the speed to possibly make it there in time to stop the trickster captain, Kago knew that Shahei would not allow him to pass; he would have to confront the Gundanchou first.

“The Gotei is not here for your amusement,” the nobleman replied simply as he noticed the giant's slightly labored breathing. Instead of allowing his anger and frustration to get the better of him, he calmed his mind and focused all that energy into the edge of his blade, doubling it over several times before hardening it with his mind. “If that’s how you see us, then you do not deserve to be counted among our number.”

Taking two steps forward to enter the range of his falchion, Kago carved Hayabusa through the air and aimed for the core of Shahei. Although he was using this attack to study and test the limits of his opponent’s speed and defense, the adept swordsman did not hold back. The honed edge of his blade was prepared to cleave the Gundanchou in two halves if he was ill prepared.



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