[1st/3rd] Week ---: Semi-Finals: Kyuto Tounyuu vs Tsubaki

[swaswj]

Intense blue dominated the landscape, both in the stunningly beautiful sky overhead, laced with soft white clouds, and the perfect reflection of that halcyon atmosphere. The flat expanses of the Salar de Uyuni were covered in a thin layer of water, not even an inch, but enough to present the illusion that the entire world had fallen away below the surface of the water, leaving only the skies and the limitless horizon.

That glassy image wavered and rippled as a solitary figure walked across the flat expanses. The petite young woman wore a unique interpretation of the shinigami shihakushou, with shorts-length hakama and a sleeveless keikogi, but the white jinbaori draped over her shoulders confirmed that she was a ranking officer of the Gotei Thirteen's premier division. Her white obi was overly long, tied off on her right side with the ends hanging near her knees; on her forehead, she had a white bandana with similarly-long tails. Her eyes were grey-violet, with long brunette hair tied into a braid that reached just past her waist. The girl had on white sneakers with tan laces and soles, which were quickly getting soaked by the shallow water.

Scanning about for her opponent, the girl reached behind her back to unsheathe her long-bladed ryo-shinogi, the multi-colored mokume-gane flashing in the sunlight. She started idly flipping and catching the blade as she waited, the ripples in the water gradually falling still and leaving only the reflection of the girl and the blue sky.

[177/177]

Notes

Yes, I'm self-plagiarizing my description of the Salt Flats from my first fight there. No, I'm not counting it toward my wordcount.

Status: +200 Equalizer
Status: -200 Potion (Restore all Wounds)
Status: +50 Haste - All ability durations or persistent abilities reduced to one round.
Status: +100 Shield Break - Defences halved (barriers block only half the normal damage)

Kyuto Tounyuu - 1st Division, Seventh Seat

Reiatsu: 37,647
~ Nananen Ki ~ 45,176 ~
~ Shonanoka Nananen Ki ~ 52,706 ~
Zanjutsu: 29,870
Hakuda: 4,200
Hohou: 2,800
Kidou: 777


Hitotsu: Mujuuryou, Bakudou #7, 70 Kidou

Kidou - 7 Slots

-Sai - Bakudou #1, 15 Kidou
-Shou - Hadou #1, 8 Kidou
-Mage Eye - Bakudou #5, 35 Kidou
-Shouaku - Bakudou #15, 100 Kidou
-Bansoukou - Bakudou #23, 150 Kidou
-Keeji - Bakudou #27, 100 Kidou
-Big Bang - Hadou #30, 300 Kidou

Items:
- 1st Division Item: Chomei
- Extra Kidou Slots (3)
- Silver Dragonfly Sunglasses: S7 [B-Tier]
- Mokume-gane Ryo-Shinogi [Non-Tier]

Feats:
[ Unique: Bank Shot ]
[ Style: Shinkenjutsu no Mon ]
[ Legacy: Armory ]
[ GM: Zen Kiki ]

 

[Seamus]

Seated atop a moderately sized keg of beer along the perimeter of the match area, Seamus Kelly was quite excited. He'd never even seen either of these two shinigami but, boy, had he heard about them. Espcially that Tsubaki character...the woman who had apparently backed the Soutaichou into such a tight corner that he awarded her the win for their fight. Not to mention the way members of the Eleventh Division spoke her name in hushed tones. Whoever she was, whoever she had been, she was clearly an animal.

He watched as a slender figure appeared at the far end of the match area; this must be the other combatant...the chick from the First Division who was so not into kidou--he'd heard about her from one of his bros and from what he'd been told this Kyuto lady seemed pretty real. Either way, it was bound to be a white knuckled ride and Seamus (already more than a few beers in at this point) was feeling pretty good; though he was sure that this fight would require the other spectators to be 'fortified'. That's why he'd come prepared.

Pulling a large stack of red cups from his backpack he gestured to the shinigami starting to arrive near him to watch the match.

"Liquid fortification, anyone?" He asked cheerily.

[226/---]

 

[Beaks]

"Sword out already? I suppose my reputation precedes me." With an uncommonly light step and a knowing smile the former Captain of the Blood Templar walked across the plain of salt to meet her opponent.

Making no move to copy the girl's state of being readily armed, Tsubaki instead extended an open hand once she closed the distance between them to only a few inches.

"One of Inuzuri's, right? How is he? I know he escaped our match in stable enough condition, but I'd like to know if he's mending all right."

Equalized Stats

Rei: 37,647
- 45,376
-- 52,939
Zan: 32,104
Hak: 634
Hoh: 3,169
Kid: 1,907

 

[swaswj]

"I... don't know? I didn't know Sai-kun got seriously wounded." The girl took the offered hand, giving it an energetic pump. "I'm his one-and-only Lucky Seventh Seat, Kyuto Tounyuu!"

Releasing the grip, she lifted the dagger in her left hand. "Also, this is a knife," Kyu corrected. Reaching back with her right hand, she unsheathed her zanpakuto, a curved wakizashi with no guard, only slightly longer than the flashy ryo-shinogi. "This is my sword." On impulse, she mused, "One is for playing, the other's for war?"

With a shrug, Kyu sheathed both weapons, leaning closer and giving Tsubaki a curious look. "I hear a lot of people say you're strong enough, and crazy enough, to be the next Kenpachi. You think it's true?"

Grinning, the brunette took a few steps backward, lifting one arm to point at Tsubaki. "'Cause if you're really that good, then you're one of my goals!"

[150/327]

 

[Beaks]

Tsu'sRW

Someone says Kenpachi.

And just like that, the smile vanished.

"That title is a useless and fettering thing, if you wish it I'm not going to impede you." She regarded the pointed finger with the same unfeeling neutrality that had been paid to every one before it. Those of accusation, recognition, anger...it didn't matter. Once the finger pointing started it never stopped, made all the easier by repetition.

"If my strength and alleged lunacy are known by those I have never met then attaining such a worthless title has no merit." With a drawn out motion the former Templar Queen drew her blade, holding the sealed sword at her side in preparation. The words that left her lips had lost all amusement or joy, spoken instead with a restless anger that stirred just below the surface of an otherwise inscrutable appearance.

"So Seven, if I am one of your goals and an obstacle to your ends...do you have what it takes to kill me?"

[161/253]

 

[swaswj]

"Moody, eh?" Kyu remarked before shrugging. "I dunno. Do I have any reason to want to?" Shaking her head, the brunette gestured to herself. "I want to be stronger. I want to know -- not hope, know -- that when I lift my sword to protect someone, it's going to stay lifted. I sweat and struggle and push myself to the limit constantly to change myself for the better.

"And," she continued, a grin spreading on her face, "if you're here in the semi-finals, then it seems like you're pretty interested in being stronger, too. I wonder why?" Once more, Kyu unsheathed her zanpakuto, gripping the short blade underhanded and slipping into a comfortable half-crouch. "Anyway, I don't want to kill you and you don't want to die, so why don't we just fight and see how far we can go?"

Kyu dashed forward, the thin layer of glassy water splashing. She hopped and slid, thrusting underhanded with the sword.

[160/487]

 

[Beaks]

Settin' The Mood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMVoDdVxtpE

I don't want to kill you, and you don't want to die...

In an instant the woman's full destructive potential was released, vaporizing the salt-saturated water that had been underfoot and engulfing the former Captain in a plume of rising steam as quickly as one could blink.

Chase your dream until the end foolish girl.

Through the veil of heated steam the silver blade raced like lightning towards its prey, only to find itself stopped prematurely as the sharpened steel tore through the flesh of Tsubaki's left hand. The two combatants once again met gazes inside the plume of dispersing vapor, only to find that two irises of screaming crimson had replaced the calm hazel that the deposed Templar Queen normally wore.

Because if you face him with that faulted idealism then the Kenpachi will kill you without a second thought.

Before Kyuto could even think of pulling her blade free Tsubaki tightened the muscles in her wounded hand, holding the weapon fast within her own skin. Leaning forward, the woman spoke with almost inhuman softness to the sword-toting Arcanist.

"So you believe you can, do you?"

She merely smiled, leaning back and bringing the black blade in her right hand about in a flawless flourish, bringing it down in a merciless chop as a shower of sparks burst forth from the tattoo that adorned the appendage.

[215/468]
[Quote from Kyu not counted]

Kyle

You may move your weapon freely now, just wanted it stationary while I set up the crazy.

Feat Name: Lunatic Lock
Feat Type: Unique
Feat Description:

Through encounters with beings of living madness like Prometheus, harboring the souls and grudges of thousands of individuals with the blood of the Templars, and nearly endless misfortunes both in and outside of her military career, Tsubaki has endured more than her fair share of experiences that could easily lead down the road of insanity.

To put it simply, Lunatic Lock exists to keep that madness at bay.

Lunatic Lock is manifested as a rather long tattoo that starts on the back of the woman’s right hand and trails upwards, ending just beneath her shoulder. An exaggerated depiction of a bomb and two identical fuses stemming from it make up the physical appearance of the technique, and through them the only visible clue that the skill is in use is provided. When Tsubaki is placed in a situation of extreme duress or agitation the ends of the fuses will begin to emit sparks, doing no damage or harm in and of themselves but providing a necessary indication that the countdown has begun. This activation occurs once the criteria of extreme mental stress or anger has been met, and carries a cost of 10% of her Reiatsu.

In situations where the criteria are met but some semblance of hope or control remain at Tsubaki’s disposal the fuses will burn slowly, lasting five rounds before reaching their end. Should the situation be one of a more dire nature (such as a direct mental attack against her person or a feeling of extreme and absolute hopelessness) the fuses burn quickly, reaching activation in three rounds. The time of activation cannot be shortened to any less than three rounds, regardless of the situation at hand.

Once this technique activates, the seal is broken and the whole of Tsubaki’s accumulated and previously restrained dementia is brought to bear, making the woman quite literally (albeit temporarily) lose her mind. From the time of activation until its end, Tsubaki will feel no pain from any inflicted wound. All attacks that land still damage her as they normally would, but any feeling of injury is ignored. Any and all accumulated pain Tsubaki would have suffered while Lunatic Lock is active will be felt in its full effect once the technique ends.

Any attacks or skills that require any semblance of focus or restraint remain unusable while Lunatic Lock is active. This includes any learned styles, Kidou of any kind regardless of how it would be cast, and supplementary techniques such as Lunar Petal. In the same vein, any attacks or techniques that would read or otherwise attempt to predict the woman’s thoughts or actions fail, providing the attacking party with no useable information due to the chaotic and unpredictable nature of Tsubaki’s mind.

The technique lasts just as long as its fuse burned.

Once Lunatic Lock has reached the end of its duration, the seal is renewed and the madness is locked away once again. Tsubaki experiences any ill effects she may have been able to ignore while the technique was active, and the fuses cannot spark again until a number of rounds equal to those granted while in Lunatic Lock have passed.

Turns remaining until activation: 4

 

[swaswj]

In a blink, the ryo-shinogi came back out. Kyu sliced upward with the dagger, catching the base of Tsubaki's weapon. She didn't know if she was strong enough to block the former captain and didn't know if the blade would hold up to a true zanpakuto, so she didn't try.

Kyu twisted her body, ducking her head and shoulders downward while pushing up on the sword. Her zanpakuto ripped out of Tsubaki's hand. Red droplets stained the salty ground below. The girl spun toward Tsubaki's shoulder, under her arm, feet scraping over the dried salt bed and sending up a white cloud. Back to back with Tsubaki, Kyu thrust the blood-stained sword backward, just above her hip, and then dove forward into a roll, hoping to create some distance.

[130/457]

 

[Beaks]

"Runnnning so soon?" The word entangled itself in her throat before emerging, sticking both in disbelief and indignation. The pain that lanced cleanly through her side was fleeting, doing little more than continuing to throw fuel on the building fires of her rage.

"Skip and scamper little pest, it makes no difference to me. Because when you have a stray dog snapping at your heels the best thing to do is turn around and kick it in the chops!"

The singsong taunt was accompanied by a deft pivot as Tsubaki turned to retaliate, hurling the black blade of Duskdrinker after her retreating foe. Behind the Arcanist's quickly dodging form the projectile raced like a bolt of bound lightning, seeking retribution for a wounded master.

[124/592]
[Sorry, been a hell of a week. Also, forum is acting up for me and I can't access any of the formatting shortcuts so I have to do all of it manually atm.]
[Turns remaining until Lunatic: 3]

 

[swaswj]

What began as a simple roll to get to a more comfortable range turned into a full-blown retreat after Duskdrinker slammed against her sword, blasting Kyu with its full force. The girl went careening backwards, hitting the stark white ground and bouncing, skidding past the dry zone and splashing over the thin layer of water.

Kyu quickly rolled and popped dizzily to her feet without using her arms, both hands still clutching her weapons. In a low crouch, the girl glared warily at Tsubaki and slowly rose up. Her eyes flicked to her zanpakuto as a crimson drop fell from the tip of the blade to splash into the water.

The two weapons settled back into their scabbards with simultaneous clicks, and then Kyu pulled the sheathed zanpakuto out of her belt. With a few quick motions, she secured the green ribbon at its pommel around the top of the sheath to hold it in place. "Maybe you do want to die," Kyu muttered, disbelieving, "but that doesn't mean I have to kill you!"

Gripping the sheathed weapon tightly, Kyu jogged back toward Tsubaki, moving to circle around the woman.

[190/647]

 

[Beaks]

"Still don't get it. Still delirious and dreaming. Still speaking no thinking never daring to decide!" A burst of energy slammed into the battleground like the hammer of judgement itself crashing down. As clouds of dust and salt subsided the former Captain stood in the epicenter of the chaos, clad in clothing that rather suited her quickly shifting psyche.

"Still so caught up in believing you simply won't....not considering if you can." Twin plumes of hell fire continued to billow from the corners of her eyes as Tsubaki watched the girl attempt to flank her. She would have to close the gap in order to do any real harm to the former Templar Queen, and when she finally took the risk the kiss of burning steel would be ready and waiting.

Oh but I so hope hope HOPE you don't keep me waiting....

[143/735]
[Turns remaining: 2]

 

[swaswj]

"Do you even realize that I just stabbed you?" Kyu grumbled uncomfortably. "Don't you feel yourself bleeding all your blood all over yourself? I mean, isn't that where your kidneys are?"

Shaking her head, the girl continued circling, slowing down as she neared the end of a full circuit. "You can die just as much as I can, otherwise you wouldn't be bleeding. I don't know if you have that 'threshold' thing or something like it, but whether or not you feel it, if you keep letting me hit you, you're going to die."

Kyu came to a stop directly in front of Tsubaki, holding her sheathed weapon at the ready.

[110/757]

 

[Seamus]

Lame! The thought surprised Seamus. He hadn't really been thinking of anything other than how warm and tingly his hands were feeling just then. Lame...this fight is lame. Nobody's died yet and there's not even like a hole in the ground or nuthin'. I didn't come here for this.

You're drunk. Go home. His sword's wispy voice did nothing to help his mood.

You're drunk. You were quiet enough a few weeks ago, go back to doing that while I make shit happen.

Drunk, and annoyed that he had been forced to drink much of his keg alone ('stupid tea-toddling, good for nothing officers') Seamus decided to, at last for him, kick the fight into high gear. With a bellow like a charging rhinoceros, the young man heaved the mostly empty keg directly at the former captain.

"Why has nobody been blown up or something yet!?" Seamus yelled at the top of his voice. "This talking bullshit is boorrrrrringggggg."

@The General Populace:

I did warn beaks that this might happen. Hopefully I picked an appropriate opening, Beaks. If not let me know and I'll edit the keg chucking out. But like i said earlier...there's a distinct lack of audience participation in these fights.

 

[Beaks]

The steel drum hit the ground near the former Captain with a chorus of heavy bangs and thuds before coming to an idle silence. Any other time the woman may have paid it a comment, be it good or bad.

"You've injured me. What do you want kid, a fuckin' medal?" Her words came slow and deliberate, each one forced into cohesion by the last remaining reserves of sanity she had at her disposal. "Your precious Sai-chou did worse than this the first time we met." Tsubaki touched two fingers to the wound in her side, looking at the blood that covered her hand with a faraway stare. "And you're going to want to draw that blade of yours if you don't want me to do worse to you." The former Templar Queen looked back at the girl with eyes eerily absent of malice or condescension.

Eyes that held only pity.

She knew. She had to know. Tsubaki fought against this very event every second of every minute of every day of her life. She knew better than anyone what was about to happen.

Or rather, what she was about to become.

In the center of an ever twisting and turning aura of black and white clashing against crimson, the woman looked back at her opponent with an air of severity rarely felt. Both the Axis of Anarchy and the churning blackness of Duskdrinker waited in ready hands, both as unsure as their master at the moments to come.

For her efforts, Kyuto Tounyuu would face a simple decision. She would draw or she would die.

[266/1,001]
[Crazy Countdown: Next Turn]

 

[Nargles]

A frown appeared on Lucia Frey’s face as she watched from the edges of the arena. She had managed to find a rather unimpeded view of the battlefield, partly due to her new status as Captain causes people to clear quite the space for her.

While the spectators started to become more and more excited on what was obviously going to escalate to the climactic moments of the fight, a sense of dread began to well up. After all, if Tsubaki was truly going to go all out once more... well... the Cerberus battlefield had revealed the consequences. That, and the few words that she was capable of overhearing over the crowd only served to reinforce her worries.

Her eyes paused for a minute on Kyuto’s movements, curiosity beginning to build up. The green ribbon was easily visible when compared to white wasteland around them. Her gaze then shifted to Tsubaki, who unlike Kyuto seemed ready to blow up at any minute. The frown on her face grew larger, as she wondered if she would have to interfere, like the end of Echo’s fight, once again.

[186]

 

[swaswj]

Kyu would have thrown her knife at the rowdy spectator if he weren't so right. With an aggravated groan, the girl put her palm to her forehead, sword and all. "Gawd, is this how you got so far in this thing? Droning on and on until the other person just hara-kiris?"

Get serious, Kyu.

"I'm here for the tournament, so drop the kill-death-murder wangst. Get your balls out of your purse and fight me already!"

The girl jumped back, startled, as teeth gnashed in front of her accompanied by a deep, menacing growl. Sleek, rippling muscles tensed and coiled beneath crimson fur, a single piercing amber eye glaring at her above the razor-filled muzzle. Nananen Ki stood between Kyu and Tsubaki, flame-tipped tail whipping sharply through the air as the beast padded toward her. "Get serious, Kyuto!" it shouted.

Tsubaki and the crowd around them were silent, frozen. The sparks near the crazed woman's arms were suspended in mid-air. The girl regained her composure and growled back. "I am serious! She's the one who's not even fighting back and accusing me of trying to kill her!"

"Take her lightly and she'll end up killing you!" the zanpakuto snarled back. "Unbind me! Release me!"

Kyu grumbled. "Yeah, and then she just stands there and gets impaled thirty times and goes, 'ha, I was right!'"

That amber eye met her gaze and Kyu shuffled a bit uncomfortably. "You hold the sword," it reminded her pointedly, "and you already know your choice. If that's not enough, remember in this setting, you are not alone." It looked off toward the crowd; Kyu followed its gaze toward the new healer captain.

Kyu frowned and looked down at the sheathed sword in her hands. With a dramatic sigh, Kyu nodded and tightened her grip on the sword. "Yeah, yeah, I got it."

Without so much as a nod of approval, the spirit vanished, sparks began flying again and the roar of the crowd came once again.

Setting her sights on Tsubaki, Kyu managed a grin. "Sorry. Guess your talking bug wore off on me. Let's keep it short and simple!"

The sword in her hands flashed, the saya vanishing as the pressure of Kyu's reiatsu amplified. Before the weapon's form could solidify, Kyu tossed the rod of light into the air. It split into seven shards.

"Bankai!"

Still more reiatsu filled the air, sending tremors through the shallow waters surrounding them. The air filled with flashing light, each flash peeling away in an instant to reveal gleaming steel. Seven times seven swords rained down, sinking into the salty crust, green ribbons flapping in the loose breeze. The same light surrounded Kyu herself, bursting apart to reveal her new form, clad in a bright red sleeveless robe, split at one hip to reveal the bright tan leggings. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, one still purple violet, the other adopting the harsh amber of her spirit.

"Shonanoka Nananen Ki!" Kyu said in introduction. She held seven swords, every one of the broad, curved blades as long as she was tall. Four of the blades were joined at the pommel in an immense fuuma shuriken resting across her shoulder, while the remaining three were clutched between her fingers like monstrous claws.

Without a second's hesitation, the brunette threw all seven swords at Tsubaki: one at each arm, one toward her stomach, and the spinning windmill sweeping toward her ankles.

[600/1357]

 

[Beaks]

Steel struck steel and filled the wordless silence with the clattering chimes and screaming staccato of weapons being denied their intent. As the Axis of Anarchy struck out against the final projectile, the woman began to quickly falter.

Can't...

A weapon that couldn't have been called anything more than four gigantic blades turned into a slapdash shuriken struck against the flat of the former Captain's Ban Kai, peppering the defender with sparks and shunting it unexpectedly upwards into her face. Splitting flesh and a quick fountain of blood once again rendered the battlefield silent save for one long and violent scream.

YoUr tiME is Up.

The howl echoed out in all directions, a bone-chilling sound that could only have been born of a rage few could fathom.

YoU wONt hOld mE in ANYmoRe.

A heavy clang resounded as the gigantic black blade dropped tip-down into the salted earth, providing an off-kilter percussion to the continuing wail. It increased by the second in ferocity and volume, keeping in time with the woman's twisting frame arching nearly in half.

LeT HER sEE HEr DEATH/

Power flooded across the barren plain, alien and cold in its malevolent nature. Second by second the scream faded, replaced by something entirely more unsettling as the overextended combatant slowly began to right her posture.

She was laughing, a callous and cruel cackle that followed no rational tempo or cadence.

Eyes filled with burning crimson looked down at the two weapons that rested within their control, then at the girl who had assaulted her. The glimmer of purpose filled the irises like an ominous twinkle, making the creature smile all the wider despite the large and painful looking gash carved into the left side of her face and painting her in blood nearly from forehead to chin.

In an instant the laughter ended without fading or warning, and the former Captain disappeared into a burst of Shunpo. Half a heartbeat filled the silence before Tsubaki was once again in front of her enemy, uttering a single word as the glowing blade of the Axis of Anarchy raced towards Kyuto in a horizontal slash.

"Destroy."

[356/1,357]

Note

Used Buzei (2,000 Rei)

[Crazy Time: Now. No pain. No reasoning. Much trouble. 5 turns remaining.]

 

[swaswj]

There was no retreat, despite the tingle of fear that rushed through the girl. Something had snapped in Tsubaki, bringing with it that tortured howl, that wild look in her eyes, the raw promise of death and destruction cascading down her black blade... but Kyu's body charged forward, not away.

Get in close.

She rushed inside the arc of that swing, ripping a sword from the ground as she passed. The weapon cut through the air, slapping the flat against Tsubaki's upper forearm in the same instant that Kyu's bare foot kicked at Tsubaki's ankle. She twisted, her free elbow striking a glancing blow across the woman's sternum. The combined strikes put the crazed woman off-balance for a mere second, but it was a second the girl was waiting for. Kyu grabbed the hilt of Tsubaki's zanpakuto -- shuddering with dread -- and with a deft twist of sword and wrist, wrenched it away while planting a foot against Tsubaki's abdomen, kicking out with enough force to throw the woman backward with a white cloud of displaced salt.

Kyu launched the black blade spinning high overhead, in the opposite direction from its master. With a backward blink, the brunette was right in front of Tsubaki again, meeting her eyes over her shoulder, meeting the insanity with calm determination. A sheen of violet steam lifted from her skin, perspiration mingling with her reishi, the heat of battle pushing her further, driving her harder, already testing her limits.

Open the gate.

Right hand on the hilt of another sword, Kyu whirled, ripping it from the ground in another spray of salt, slicing in a climbing arc toward Tsubaki's hip. Seemingly simultaneously, the falchion gripped underhanded in Kyu's left hand came in a descending crescent toward her shoulder.

Do not hesitate.

A smoky blur of violet passed in front of Tsubaki before the first two attacks had even completed their arcs, a blazing horizontal slash toward her thighs. On the woman's right side: a blistering downward chop at her forearm. At her back, a reverse thrust at her uninjured side and a high crosswise lunge. Kyu's rippling form finished the barrage of instantaneous attacks with an upward slice at her left wrist from the rear.

With reishi continuing to billow from her flushed skin, chest heaving, Kyu stumbled a few steps away, grabbing the hilt of another sword for support. With her back toward the former captain, Kyu gripped her sword tight as she retorted, "Pursue... endlessly."

[420/1777]

Notes

The final technique of the Shinkenjutsu no Mon style, Sekka no Atari, used to disarm Tsubaki and knocked her back 15m. Threw it with Kyouken (40m throw, putting it at least 55m away from Tsubaki's current position). Used Dengeki Sakusen to blink in range of Tsubaki and used Kyu's ultimate attack, Dai Arashi for seven simultaneous attacks (not affected by multi-weapon control, limited to once per battle).

Since Tsubaki used Buzei, she can't use it or Senpuu for the next two rounds.

Sekka no Atari - "Spark From a Stone"
"In a situation in which your sword and your opponent's are about to cross, do not think of using your hands. Think of quickly getting your body in close. If you think of reaching out with your hands, your body will inevitably remain distant.

Now that you are in close, to execute this technique, you must strike quickly, with the three combined forces of your legs, your body, and your hands. This blow is difficult to execute, but if successful, the cadence of your opponent's attack or defense is now broken, allowing you to relieve him of his sword. Do not hesitate. With your opponent's sword in your possession, and while they are at a disadvantage, strike immediately. With diligent training you will be able to increase the force of the impact."

While in Mon no Seigyo, the practitioner moves in close, within arm's reach of their opponent. Using the understanding of swordsmanship and the enhanced perception of Mon no Seigyo, the practitioner moves to disarm their opponent, following up with a body blow that knocks the enemy away. This technique costs 4000 reiatsu and is only effective against physical attacks with strength up to 15% the practitioner's Zanjutsu. When the movement is completed, the opponent is knocked back 15m and their weapon, if any, is in the practitioner's possession.

Sekka no Atari may only be used once per battle per 7,000 Zanjutsu the user possesses.

Kabuto Hei - "Armored Warrior"
Kyu has mastery over all of her weapons, able to teleport them back to herself. Up to seven swords can be summoned to her hands per round: the first is free, but after that Kyu must pay 200 reiatsu per individual sword or 1000 reiatsu to call seven at once.

Kyouken - "Strong Throwing Arm"
Burning 2% reiatsu per round, Kyu is able to throw her blades with great force, launching forward in a straight line with the full strength of her zanjutsu up to 40m.

Dengeki Sakusen - "Blitzkrieg Tactics"
By paying 400 reiatsu, Kyu can instantly teleport to any of her blades within 15m, which must be immediately used for an attack or risk having the energy of the movement blow the weapon away. She can do this only once per round, separate from shunpo.

Dai Arashi - "Raging Storm"
Shonanoka Nananen Ki's final attack involves utilizing up to seven blades within 15m of a single target. Kyuto pays 20% of her total reiatsu and enters into a hyper state. In an instant, Kyu attacks the target seven times, from multiple directions.

Due to the strain, Kyu cannot use this attack more than once a battle.

 

[Beaks]

Ribbons of blood flowed freely into the air from the myriad of blows that the upstart Arcanist had inflicted, but for all their wicked grace and effort they were paid absolutely no mind whatsoever by the creature that now wore the woman's skin. Tsubaki performed a haphazard about-face on legs that seemed to have forgotten themselves, smiling at the winded attacker.

A burst of shunpo propelled the lunatic forward in time with her open right hand, gripping a generous handful of Kyuto's hair and throwing her facedown into the soggy earth with a manic grin. Before the last few wisps of hair unknotted themselves from her fingertips a black bolt shot from the open palm, drilling into the back of the girl's skull with no semblance of restraint. As the energies detonated violently against their victim the burning blackness of Duskdrinker appeared in Tsubaki's left hand, ready to come crashing down on the girl in concert with the previous attack. A dark chuckle and a voice that was quickly becoming more monster than human echoed across the battlefield, chilling any that heard it to their very core.

"FALL FOREVER!"

[189/1,546]

Used

ITEMS:

Item Name: Majo No Fuin (Witch's Seal)
Rarity: S
Acquisition of Item: See previous, will shorten once approved.
Description: A tattoo that covers the palm of Tsubaki's right hand, pulsing with an eerie red and black energy.
Ability: Hateshinai Sakebi (Unending Scream) - For 4,000 Reiatsu Tsubaki may fire a blast of compressed dark energy from her right palm, the speed and force of impact of which are governed by her Zanjutsu total. This technique has no limits of usage but only carries a maximum range of 10 meters.

In addition, this item continues to alter the woman's Reiatsu signature to feel akin to a Hollow regardless of the method of detection.

 

[swaswj]

When the Duskdrinker fell, a white cloud erupted from the ground, salt flying up into the air and liberally coating Tsubaki. Kyu wasn't there, however.

Groaning, the brunette clutched at the back of her head, perched atop one of her swords well away from Tsubaki, toes clinging tightly to the pommel. Another sword was still clutched in her other hand. Before the gathering forces from the sudden displacement caught up, Kyu leaped backward, lingering in the forest of swords.

With the woman once again refusing to defend herself, Kyu couldn't conscience dealing another deadly blow, particularly with the broad splatters of red covering her body and the ground. Instead, she watched carefully, prepared to escape faster the next time.

[120/1897]

Notes

Let's talk for a minute about Tsu's injuries:

A stab through the middle of her left hand.
A stab through the back of her left side.
A slice across her face?
A diagonal gash from right hip across her front.
A diagonal gash from right shoulder across her chest.
A slice across the fronts of her thighs.
A slice at her right forearm.
A stab through the back of her right side.
A gash across her upper back.
A slice at her left wrist.

The first three attacks were delivered when Tsubaki could still feel pain, and for the rest, even if she doesn't feel the pain, she's got some serious impairments to her abilities. You wrote her as taking all seven hits, meaning that her right shoulder, right forearm and left wrist were all sliced -- and her left hand already has a hole in it.

I write attacks over the top because people have a tendency to surprise me and pull out defenses or counters where I expect none. However, that means that if you don't defend you will get screwed. On top of being Equalized, Tsubaki made zero effort to defend herself against any of the attacks even before she went loco-mode.