[1st/2nd] Week 307: Grand Finals: Nenshou Mouko vs Kyuto Tounyuu

[K3]

Mouko landed hard as she sent Kyuto hurtling away, biting down a grimace of pain as her injured leg was jostled. This was it..!

The Seventh Seat's Bankai was flashy, the specks of light dying away to reveal a battlefield painted in steel. It was only fair she respond in kind.

A flash of heat burst from beneath her, vermilion energy swelling into a roaring bonfire. Ryou and Ishi were at her side without question, her hands slipping away from her weapons for only an instant to trace lightly along their raised hackles.

The flames engulfed both tigers, the energy contained in their core spreading like molten sludge. Then, as the white-hot sheen encompassed them entirely, it fell away. Shattered and flaking off like a skin to be shed. Both tigers stood with life in their eyes, their fur lustrous and gleaming orange in the sun.

Ishi stepped forward as Kyuto wound back her arm. Ryou stepped back. Mouko shouted out her own introduction. "Shuryouki!"

A flash of fire and heat, encompassing the beast in front of Mouko. Ishi's form was set alight, licks of flame swirling about its form before trailing away into nothingness. With a harsh screech, the blade dragged roughly across the back of the beast's hide. The shuriken halted briefly, before the flames petered away!

"What..!?" Mouko's surprised cry came before Ishi skidded back, mewling in pain. A fresh wound on it wept neon orange, and its returned growl came less fiercely. The shuriken dug itself into the ground a short distance away, its trajectory curved slightly away by the resistance.

Snapping up her firearm again, the Major hardly waited before squeezing down on the Draugr's trigger. Steam hissed, the Lawbringer screeched, and Mouko felt the familiar tremor up her arms as the round of pure energy stared down the fully released shinigami.

[ 307 / 1803 ]

Notes

Resonance: 15,796/19,263 (82%)

Activated TA, stats below. Shared techs are Empathy (Ishi) and Air Hike (Ryou). Ishi tried to Kyoka and failed to block the throw, but redirected it enough to avoid getting completely cut open. Draugr has 250 in its capacitor, shot proc's SKT for missing Mouko. Effective strength 1635.

Ryou - Hunter Twin
Reiatsu: 4,816 (4334)
Combat: 8,765
Agility: 1,252
Fortitude: 2,504

Ishi - Hunter Twin
Reiatsu: 4,816
Combat: 1,252
Agility: 8,765
Fortitude: 2,504

 

[swaswj]

"Hah!" Kyu shouted out as she swung outward with the sword in her left hand. Mouko's laser met the flat of the blade, coursing with Kyu's reiryoku, emitting a loud whine before getting slapped aside.

In spite of the seeming ease of the move, Kyu hissed and pulled her arm back in close, gritting her teeth against the screams of her injured muscles. Better not to drag this out too long, she decided.

She couldn't exactly finish things from a distance, though... not quickly.

With a deft twist of her fingers, the three blades in her right hand turned and interlocked like a giant folding fan. The falchion in her left hand flipped to an underhanded grip. Grinning, Kyu rushed forward in a burst of shunpo, blazing through the maze of swords and trying to close some of the distance between her and Mouko.

In spite of the grin, Kyu's face paled with pain she refused to voice.

[170/2177]

Note

Kawasu against the lawbringer and a shunpo in Mouko's direction.

 

[K3]

Breathing heavily, Mouko gave a low, "Tch!" and reached into her vest. Kyuto couldn't close distance just yet, and she'd made the mistake of not giving herself any cover..! Energy coursed to the wound in her leg, the wound beginning to seal over as Ishi kept close. The tiger and its master fed their wounds, each beginning to heal more rapidly.

With a snarl, Ryou leapt forward to intercept the Seventh Seat.

Then, with gritted teeth, Mouko's uninjured leg smashed directly into the icy caldera. Chunks of hewn permafrost leapt upwards in an impromptu smokescreen, and she withdrew a small cylinder from a bandolier about her chest.

A high-explosive grenade, primed and ready the instant Mouko relinquished her grasp. Waiting for a sign, she kept a vice grip around the depressed lever.

[ 132 / 1935 ]

Notes

Resonance: 16,996/19,263 (88%)

Ishi is using Empathy on Mouko's injured leg. Mouko's using Salve on her injured leg, and Empathy on Ishi's injured back. The leg wound will be considered healed as of next round, Ishi's injury will take another 3 rounds of sustained healing. Internalize to smash the ground.

H-E Grenade is primed but not activated.

 

[Inks]

There too many damn cats in the arena. Even though Nananen Ki had only been there for a moment (was Nananen Ki a cat?), that still left two, which was about two too many.

Kyuto’s reiatsu was strong and bright, but even from his seat high up in the stands, Mitsu could tell the girl was in pain. The short, messy-haired boy leaned forward, hands fisted on his knees, worried and nervous and impressed and restless.

He shot Arano a glance out of the corner of his eye and winced. Of all the places the guy could fucking sit...

You should calm down.

You should calm down. Mitsu scowled to himself, not quite daring enough to say anything out loud. Damn hypocrite.

“Wow!”

Mitsu started, twisting in his seat. He’d been so focused on Kyu and Mouko (and Arano) that he hadn’t even realized someone was approaching.

“Did you see that lion-thing?! And look at all the swords!” said a tall, dark-eyed boy who seemed to tower over Mitsu until he dropped into the seat at Mitsu’s side (then he just loomed). “I mean, the other girl is really cool and all – I mean, when aren’t tigers cool? – but Tounyuu-san is the best!”

The boy’s shihakusho revealed him as a shinigami, but his short-cropped black hair and boyishly round face weren’t familiar. His kosode and shitagi sleeves were tucked into a pair of intricate blue and black gloves at the elbow, and they weren’t familiar either. It wasn’t anyone Mitsu knew, but the boy was definitely talking to him – he was the only person in the immediate vicinity, and the boy’s weirdly-cheerful smile was aimed right at him.

“Uh...yeah...” Mitsu said. His eyes jumped back to the arena for a moment, checking on the two combatants.

When he glanced back, the boy’s expression had brightened even more (Mitsu wouldn’t have thought that possible had he not just witnessed it).

“I’m Allen Walsh,” the boy introduced himself, apropos nothing at all. “I’m a shinigami in the Fifth Division. ...Oh, is this seat already taken?”

Mitsu tried not to look entirely overwhelmed. “I don’t...uh...I don’t think so. I’m Mineto Mitsuyo,” he added as an afterthought, “...of the, uh, First Division.”

“Cool! Nice ta meet ya, Mine-waaaiiit,” Allen’s eyebrows shot towards his hairline. “...You’re a shinigami?!”

“Um.” Mitsu’s gaze shifted down to the fight again. Back up. “...Yes?”

“Wow! I couldn’t tell – you know, without the uniform. And First Division, too! That’s the same as Tounyuu-san!”

Mitsu nodded in silent agreement and willed the other shinigami to stop talking.

For a moment, it seemed to work. The two sat in silence, watching the fight play out.

“...So have you ever talked to her in person before?"

[457 / 706]



I WARNED YOU ABOUT MY POSTS BRO!!!
I TOLD YOU DOG!
​

 

[swaswj]

Two swords clattered to the ground as Kyu faced down the roaring tiger with one sword in each hand, one overhand and the other under. Her grey-violet eyes were sparkling with excitement and a tingle of fear, but the danger was all part of the thrill.

Ryou leapt, claws outstretched and fangs bared, the rippling muscles launching the tiger like a coiled spring. Snapping into action, Kyu cut one sword up as she lunged forward, shoving the tiger's paws high and stepping in under the deadly scythes.

The shinigami spun sharply, the first sword breaking free of the tiger's forelegs while her second blade cut upward from her hip.

The grin faltered... and her eyes turned over toward the debris cloud.

[120/2297]

 

[K3]

A sharp growl of pain sounded out, and was cut short. Ryou stumbled forward, and collapsed. A clean cut from its stomach to the nape of its neck oozed neon orange, the life energy of the construct leaving fading consciousness to gaze blankly back at the opponent.

Then, lucidity. However brief.

Energy swirled with a brief tremble, and the tiger's form burst into a number of others. Replicas, four of them, each dashing in a different direction. The first lunged directly for Kyuto, a pale imitation of the first but determined nonetheless. The remaining three lunged for the still-settling cloud of mist and frost that churned in the air.

From the din, another crack of energy. Mouko, with rifle slung over her shoulder and revolver in one hand, fired twice more. The trio of Cryo Rounds sped towards Kyuto, aimed for a tight grouping at her stomach.

A loose grimace pulled at her features, and briefly she mourned the agony she'd put her companion through. Steeling herself, she gave a reassuring rub to Ishi's back - her closed fist around the grenade likely less comforting than she intended - as her energy continued to assuage its own injury.

[ 198 / 2133 ]

Notes

Resonance: 18,296/19,263 (94%)

Ryou is down for the count, but let off four uses of Taiso first. The stats on the clone attacking Mouko are pretty laughable. Three shots from Mouko's Epitaphe, 800 reiatsu split between them.

Mouko's leg is considered healed, and Ishi's injured back has roughly a round and a half(?) left on it. Resonance from the clones will kick in once they dissipate next round.

 

[swaswj]

Kyu's look of brief confusion turned into a smirk again. She burst into action, each arm working independently as Kyu's bare feet slid across the stones. A sword thrust through the clones ribs, easily outpacing its sluggish attack while her left hand blurred in a dizzying display of figure eights and zig-zags. Blue frost filled the air as the three shots were obliterated and the cloned tiger dissipated.

The tiger's death was less of a shock now that she realized it wasn't really dead. She had been really worried for that one instant after the neon blood spilled across her sword.

"What's wrong, Mo-tigers?" Kyu called out playfully, still holding her blue-tinged sword between her and the taller woman. "Those attacks were way weaker than before! Come on! I know you're stronger than Massey-kun, you can't be tired already!"

Then Kyu spun in a low circle and sent her frosty blade flying with an underhanded toss. She waited only a second before dashing after it, the broad, curved point of her other falchion leading the way.

[180/2477]

Note

I can rewrite this if I misinterpreted, but since you said 800 rei 'split between them' and they're all fired tightly together at the same target, I figured Ijou Ittouryoudan could deal with them as basically one bigger attack at 800.

Combination of Shinkenjutsu (honed awareness of incoming physical attacks from the tiger) and Zen Kiki (omnidexterity) to respond to both simultaneously.

The thrown sword is not empowered with Kyouken, but it does have Bank Shot on it.

 

[K3]

Mouko snorted, and retorted. "Talk a little louder, Kyuto. I couldn't hear you over all the bleeding you're doing."

A flash of vermilion encompassed Ishi briefly, and two of the three remaining clones closed in on the more powerful counterpart. What was left of Ryou collided against its partner, disappearing in a flash as the remaining beast was replenished.

Springing away as Kyuto began her assault, Mouko leaned away from the blade - eyes narrowing briefly at the reduction in speed - and kept her revolver raised. It spun past her, hitting the ground a distance away before rebounding up into the air.

Another crack resonated up the Major's arm, the recoil bouncing her away as the petite shinigami approached. Then, underfoot in the now-loose ice, the grenade exploded.

Mouko could only hope the gambit paid off.

[ 137 / 2270 ]

Resonance: 19,263/19,263 (100%)

First clone's Resonance generated, other three refunded and the reiatsu allocated to Ishi (bringing it back to its full capacity). Ishi's injury has 1 round left to heal, and its technique has been changed to Salve. Another Cryo Shot with Senkoutaihou Kata, effective strength 1185. Mobile Marksman to dodge back.

 

[swaswj]

"Bwah!" The brunette covered her face as the ground exploded again right in front of her. A wave of white and black engulfed the girl's form, permafrost and stone debris rocketing through the air.

"Ugh... too close..!" Kyu blurted out from up above. "Hitotsu!" Halting in mid-air where the thrown sword had rebounded, the girl hadn't escaped completely unscathed. She was sporting a few new injuries, most notably a rough gash across the side of her forehead. Without another word, Kyu launched the sword yet again, sending it into a vicious horizontal spin toward Mouko and Ishi.

"It's about time you start speaking my language!"

Just before the floating spell ended, Kyu threw herself into a whirl. As she fell, sword after sword hurtled outward, each of them spinning like a massive saw blade.

Kyu touched down, calling one final sword to her hand before running dizzily in Mouko's direction, bare feet stumbling across the hard stones.

[160/2637]

Note

Dengeki Sakusen to teleport to the thrown sword before getting the brunt of the attack, Kabuto Hei to summon the max of 7 swords to her hand. Including the one she was already holding and the one she teleported to, that's 9 swords, 8 of which were thrown in Mouko and Ishi's direction using Kyouken

This does bring multi-weapon rules into play, so they're thrown at an effective skill of 15,375 Zan.

 

[K3]

Mouko's eyes snapped wide. How..!

The blades came faster than before, but not as fast as the shuriken. With a skidding turn, Mouko's revolver came up. Blast after blast came from the sidearms report as she shot down the oncoming blades.

One, the recoil sent a shiver up her jaw.

Two, her wrist began to ache.

Three, she felt a jarring in her arm as her muscles protested.

Four, a light of victory in her eyes.

Click.​

A shudder of horror went up Mouko’s spine, only able to see the blade come down hard against the right side of her chest, her revolver ripped from her hand. Crimson sprayed outwards, arterial. The force of the blow spun the young human, energy compacting against her body in time for the second to gash her across the hip. She skidded back less this time, the barrier crumbling against the attack. The third sliced across the front of her original injury - reopening the wound.

Mouko's mind was already beyond the pain. Energy flooded her form - time unwinding to glimpse the excruciating motion of the last oncoming blade - and her now-empty hand came up to grasp its handle. The force spun her once more, whipping the blade back at Kyuto.

Ducking one shoulder, Kyu raised her sword, gripping the back of the blade with her free hand. Steel chimed as the swords collided and Kyu's eyes widened as the arena spun around her. The stunning force behind Mouko's throw blasted the brunette to a halt, spinning her halfway around and knocking her to one knee.

Undaunted, Kyu caught her footing again, scrambling upright again before the deflected sword clattered to the ground.

Draugr spun upwards into her waiting hand, and her energy roused once more. She disappeared. Hecatonchires began.

She slapped both hands on the hilt of her sword. This was it, one last time: Dai Arashi.

The arena exploded into a cacophony of sight and sound. Both combatants disappeared from their original spots, but seemingly split into several versions of themselves! Hazy and with the majority of their features blurred with movement, it all happened in a flash. Scattered about the arena, the pair remained locked in a dangerous dance between two high-level techniques.

One Mouko held the Draugr horizontally - angled down at Kyuto's right leg. The blast of the Lawbringer illuminated both faces painted in wild grins. With her eyes locked on Mouko's, Kyu's falchion sliced in toward the Major's left thigh.

The next Kyu was low to the ground, blood staining her leggings, a sword in her left hand thrusting toward her opponent's shoulder. Mouko's leg bore a fresh gash, rifle not in position to block but trained on Kyuto's right hip.

Another pair was locked in a clash, the beech-wood Draugr held across to block as the wide falchion of Shonanoka Nananen Ki came down across it. Mouko's shoulder wept blood.

Golden sparks flashed between the next, Kyu's sword striking the barrel of the Draugr as the Lawbringer seared the air scant inches from the brunette's face.

Mouko's left hand was bloodied, the Draugr sweeping as it fired in a trailing sheen of red-hot energy towards Kyuto's left arm. Crimson seeped down both sides of Kyu's leggings, the blade in her left hand thrusting toward Mouko's lower abdomen.

In one clash, the Seventh Seat was completely upside-down, one arm held tightly to her chest. A sword was clutched between her toes, a cleaving kick at Mouko's collarbone. A patch of crimson spread from Mouko's jacket. She was leaning away, bringing her rifle around one-handed to fire at Kyuto's stomach.

The final clash bore the two facing head-on. Mouko's rifle was levelled with the right of Kyuto's chest, with the two almost perfectly mirrored, Kyu's blade arcing in toward Mouko's chest.

Then, it was over. The pair reappeared in their original spots, skidding away from each other.

Sucking in greedy gasps of air, Mouko's eyes were beginning to dim with injury and exhaustion. Her rifle bore wear, and she bled from numerous wounds. Her posture was slumped, hands only barely clinging to her rifle.

Arm bloodied, both legs quivering, Kyu's breaths came slow and labored. The point of her sword was stabbed into the caldera, the girl leaning on it for support. One eye was closed, blood from the gash in her forehead blinding it.

Meeting Mouko's gaze with her good eye, the girl panted silently, pulling in greedy lungfuls of air.

Her teeth grit, her smile more of a grimace. It had to end. Somehow, someway. Mouko's energy pulled together, coalescing slowly. The pain began to wash away all over again, only the jerky movements of her body reminding her of her injuries.

The grin that split Kyu's visage came more naturally, though the pain scoured her nerves no less sharply. After all, it was that biting agony which let her know she was alive. Her fingers tightened around the sword's grip, its tip scraping against the stone.

Her toes curled, pressure radiating up her leg. First, a stumble. Then a walk, that became a jog. A jog that became a run, which turned into a dead sprint. Her rifle tumbled from her grasp, left behind.

Flames peeled from her form, a shroud of vermilion fire that swept up her arms and down her legs. Kyoka, the Ignitor.

Steeling her muscles, Kyu shifted back a step, her feet sliding across the stone. The zanpakuto chimed as it lifted from the ground, ready to meet Mouko's charge.

The two met in a flash, Mouko's form blurring into a final, devastating attack. Four blows lashed for each of Kyuto's limbs, aiming to shut the shinigami down entirely.

The girl whirled into motion, her exhausted body blurring as she struck like lightning, cutting down every attack. Her eye locked on Mouko, stumbling forward one more step.

The blade flipped around in her hand and she struck one final time, the back of the blade slamming against Mouko's ribs with all the skill that Kyu had in her possession.

The world tumbled sideways, Mouko blasted backwards but unharmed by the attack. A stalemate!

Ishi was at her side in a moment, and she leaned bodily against the tiger. She couldn't muster the energy for words, and instead settled for a thumbs up to Kyuto. Panting, she managed to scratch out a single hoarse word. "Truce?"

Stumbling one more step, Kyu laughed, slamming her sword to the ground again to lean against. She turned and gave her own thumbs up with her injured hand. "Truce."

Raph Final [ 699 / 2969 ]
Will Final [ 470 / 3107 ]

 

[lilmangoseed]

And truce it is.

Well done to both Will and Raph! You both ended the tournament on a positive note and exemplified all that the World Tournament is meant to exude -- a friendly competition between Earth and Soul Society. Both Kyuto and Mouko fought their hardest but maintained a constant level of respect toward one another. You both showed harmony and finesse as writers and partners, which really turned this fight into a solid piece of work. Because of that successful rapport, both Soul Society and Earth may claim victory!



A few individual comments...

Will - I swear, you're the king of fights. From a completely objective point of view, Sev and I both agreed that you were the better writer here. The fluidity, the flow, the clarity of imagery, and the dynamic mix of techniques were top notch. No complaints, and I think we should all strive to deliver that same quality to all that we write.

Raph - You did a very good job, and I can see how, over the years (whether intentional or not), you drew inspiration from Will to hone your writing. Considering that Mouko is also a spunky young woman, it's quite fitting. But there were a couple blips along the way. The main issue is that Taihou Kata only activates on direct dodges, not any missed attacks. Nonetheless, like I said, this was a really good piece, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it.​

Final Notes: Will will be holding an Awards Ceremony to finish up the tournament. You can all expect to see a thread posted soon.