The words were oddly calm, almost gentle in their intonation as they left the lips of the former Captain. Tsubaki didn't bother to look over to Nana while speaking them, instead finding contentment in keeping her eyes fixed on the fight below.
"This isn't the time or the place for either of us to go flying off the handle."
Inuzuri's presence had not escaped her, but with so many unaccounted ears in attendance as well as those of the Onmitsu Kidou...well, if she was dumb enough to do it here the woman may as well have simply screamed out what she had to say. Sayis wouldn't face her on his own time, but if they met in the arena he'd have no choice.
"I know this is fucked up coming from me, but try and stay calm."
“Incoming!” shouted one of the Surveillance Clones that had taken position in the arena.
Her eyes darted to the side, her peripheral vision picking up on the movement. She turned to react, as she prepared to catch the oncoming spirit. Lucia dug in when the being slammed into her, its weight pushing her back. Her feet dug into the ground below her, as she was pushed back drastically from the sheer weight of the construct.
Her muscles continued to spasm. Though the powerful forces of High Mend and Superior Mend had begun to repair the debilitating force of Raikouhou, she could still feel her muscles being pushed to her limit. However, the sheer will of her strength prevailed, the titanic being forced to a stop.
“So I’ve gotta ask! What’s with the spectacle and the surprise?!” Lucia shouted, as she continued to act. Fusei was lowered to the ground once more, the immense chain anchoring it solidly down.
The noblewoman grabbed the luminescent chain as she called into her monumental strength once more. Using the weighted spirit as a pivot, she pulled violently before arching the chain in a wide circle, contorting and swinging the Founder Captain.
[1576]
Fruit of Labor to catch the summon though she's been pushed back a good 5 meters or so from the weight.
Then she's grabbing the chain and kind of whipping him around and around.
Despite his distance, he was still able to overhear the squabbles of his peers. Amaterasu and Yoshinari seemed as lively as ever, not wasting any time to place attention away from the candidate and onto themselves.
Snorting, Kyuketsu rolled his eyes at the sight before setting his gaze once more on the would-be captain facing Haresuno.
“Only the dead can know peace from this rustling,” he joked coldly to himself.
When he realized what Lucia was doing, Haresuno did not feel like being reacquainted with the ground so soon after picking himself up.
Hand-over-hand, the Founder-Captain hurriedly pulled himself up his own chain - the very thing that Lucia sought to use against him, he now attempted to turn against her. The force of the swing was his enemy, however, and if he didn’t climb fast enough to stay with the natural forces ruling him, there would be more pain ahead than he liked.
The weight of his chain, thankfully, wasn’t on him and as he started to pull himself after Lucia, he was surprised to find how much easier it was than he anticipated. Long arm after the other pulled Haresuno and Xiezhi ever closer to the medic, and smirk still full on his face, he called, “Falcon Punch!”
Rather than his hand engulfed in flame, however, the Adept simply lashed out with a swift closed fist at Lucia’s face. He fueled the punch with his unshakable will to survive, and the powerful moving force of Tenonai.
[1741]
X_X
Kashiwa Katayori [Oak Deviation]
Although freed from the curse, a hint of the madness will always be present. Haresuno suffered most egregiously, locked away from his kidou, from his zanpakuto, and even from the thought of aggression. This suffering, however, both empowered his sense of stoicism and festered in him a yearning to act beyond his restraints. As always, Haresuno seems as sturdy and steady as the oak... but beneath the surface there is more. This has developed into an ability to take a direct physical attack, and punish those who think to avoid it easily.
Paying 5% reiatsu, Haresuno can imbue any attack with his own body with Kashiwa Shitai Katayori. The effect is two-fold: first, it amplifies the strength of the attack directly; second, should the attack miss, an invisible follow-up attack is delivered near-simultaneously, deviating from the original attack by up to half of a meter and carrying the full strength.
This ability is unique to Uchiharu Haresuno.
[ 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.
“What the hell?!” Lucia shouted, as she saw the gardener draw himself inward in an instant. Shock and surprise blinded her to the oncoming attack, as the strike itself broke her out of the confused stupor she was in. A sickening crack echoed as Haresuno’s fist impacted Lucia’s jawline. She flew backwards, the sheer force launching her away. With every roll her body was bruised and shaken from the... well... gusto... behind the attack.
Landing on the ground, blood dripped from her mouth creating a trail of crimson blobs that littered the ground. At the same moment, the chain on Haresuno’s chest began to glow brightly, reacting to the man’s reiatsu. The force of reiatsu was fed back in an instant, pain rupturing throughout his body as he screamed out in pain from the feedback.
Lucia unsteadily rose, her head dazed unfocused from the devastating blow. She opened her mouth in an attempt to speak; however, the broken jaw made it near impossible. She raised her hand to her face, the dulling power of Numbing Touch washing away the pain. The chain connecting Fusei to Haresuno shattered, though a new one formed in an instant. The golden chained was constructed in an instant, connecting Lucia to her spirit at once.
The archaic construct ran back towards its master, arriving in a breathtaking pace before kneeling down towards her. Lucia raised her hand towards Fusei’s head, before punching it directly. Another crack echoed through the area, as the construct was dealt a wound similar to its creator. However, the being did not wince in pain. Instead it began to speak.
“Encased in steel, the sundered soul made whole. Reiatsu Cast,” it spoke. In intricate pattern of hexagons appeared in front of its left hand, as it channeled the spell into itself. The chain connecting the two shone lavender as the pattern appeared over both of the jaws at once. The bones were affixed together slowly, temporarily repaired.
Lucia reached up, messaging her jaw before speaking again. The strength of the attack was serious enough to even slow down the speed that she could Reiatsu Cast. Her jaw was still shattered underneath the makeshift fix, the stiffening of the muscles greatly reducing her ability to speak. Every part of her body wanted her to stop as the pain began to overcome the numbing effects of the chiyudou. Her mind was still dazed, as she struggled to focus her vision onto Haresuno.
"First off, you forgot the fire... Secondly, that's not the answer I expected."
[1949]
Real Image backfire happened because of reiatsu usage.
Lucia got launched the hell back and broke her jaw along with pretty much being owned
Getting up Lucia broke her own summon's jaw in a similar location
Because the summon is now tethered to Lucia it passes on all positive effects that hit it. In this case it's reiatsu cast to temporarily allow her to speak and not have a broken jaw.
By now Raikouhou damage has been repaired completely through the mends
High Mend is running for 3 more turns
Reiatsu Cast - Chiyudou #55, 800 Kidou
Description: The caster, upon identifying a serious fracture, may use their reiatsu to pull the bones and fragments back into place. The necessary time depends on how badly the bone is broken. Once the bone is back in place, the caster encases it in a powerful reiatsu barrier of similar strength to the original bone, allowing the patient full use of the limb while it is active.
This reiatsu cast will last only one hour.
Lucia net change: +1,842 Summon net change: -1,902
The Adept laughed, finally free from the weighted bond of Lucia’s bankai. “Then I should apologize for disappointing you!”
Picking himself up off the ground - again - Haresuno shuddered at the thought of the pain he had just felt. He didn’t know why it had happened, but he wasn’t about to let it happen again. If that chain made him feel all the pain Lucia felt, then his first priority would be to keep Fusei from connecting its chain again.
Scratching his chest where the chain once was, where he’d felt the most intense pain, the Founder-Captain eyed Lucia hesitantly. “That chain is impressive. Heavy to an enemy, but light to an ally... Or maybe that’s just you.” The sudden appearance of chiyudou hinted at other abilities, but he didn’t press his ideas further.
Rolling his shoulders, appearing to actually relax amidst the threat of being pounded by the potential captain, Haresuno commanded his rods to lazily rotate about him freely. Giving the Captain the appearance of being ready to spring into action even while at rest.
“The point,” he went on to say, “is that I was tired of waiting on applicants. So, in a change of pace I took the initiative and did a little further research on one of the three ways to become a captain. Among them, requiring two-hundred witnesses, is Trial by Combat.
“It’s not a favorite choice, but I asked the Soutaichou and gathered the witnesses by organizing this event. I then spread rumors that it would be a taishuu. It seemed like the perfect time, and no one was going to expect it.” He shrugged then, and the smile on his face made the look in his eye obvious that he found the whole situation hilarious. “Not even the unpredictable you.
“On top of that, I felt like being showy for once. It’s not everyday I get to see a friend aspire to something like this, and I wanted the chance for you to prove yourself. Who better than the man meant to adapt to weaknesses to show your shortcomings and strengths?”
Once more snapping himself into the Hanmeitai, Haresuno stretched out his hand and beckoned Lucia to attack.
“T-Trial by Combat?!” exclaimed the healer as she stepped back suddenly. “Hold on there, Garden-bot. I don’t want to kill you for this Captaincy position!” Killing someone in front of two-hundred plus people was not promised to her when she applied for the job.
The construct behind her looked down with a sigh. A very particular voice, one that frustrated her almost immediately spoke out to her. “You don’t have to kill someone for Trial by Combat. You just need to defeat them,” a deeper male voice spoke out.
“Oh...” Lucia responded, before stepping forward again, “Really? That's... less dramatic.”
The crowd began to clamor out, clearly wanting the fight to break out of the temporary lull that had settled in. Lucia knelt down, her pose mimicking a runner at a starting line. A smirk appeared on her face as Haresuno issued his challenge. The sheer energy of the crowd pumped her up further. “So, beat you, get Captaincy. Well, those rules seem simple enough...
“Kansei,” she mumbled quietly, as the ground below her was illuminated with a white light.
She launched forward in a blur of shunpo, approaching Haresuno rapidly. She broke the high speed movement, approaching in an instant. Her sheer skill in the art of hakuda was brought to light, in an instant transitioning her stance to levy a brutal kick towards the man’s midsection.
“Adults cry as the children reap what they deem theirs. Crimson blood to tired reflexes, I summon thy infantilism! Kancho!” shouted Kamikakushi Fusei from behind.The earth behind Haresuno warped, a deadly spire erupting outwards without even a sign.
[2193]
K-K-KICK.
Anyway, Lucia activated Kansei and hid an Energy Clone under her.
Summon is still in it's original location, but casted Kancho.
Kancho - Hadou #37, 420 Kidou
Description: The spell's high cost comes from its lack of gesture required to cast. At the end of the chant, a spire of earth shoots diagonally up from behind the opponent. This spire is infused with the kidou energy, and has a maximum extending range of 3m.
Adele made her way through the crowd. She was late, but hopefully she hadn't missed too much. Unable to find a free seat, she found Satoru and perched on the armrest of his chair. Giving him a polite nod, she turned her attention to the fight at hand. From her shoulder, a large black cat swished his tail, smacking the Fourth Seat on the back of the neck with it.
"Hi Slow-toru," he mewed, making a mockery of the older Mystic's name. Not that Satoru would understand.
The nekogami shushed him absently, but was too distracted by Lucia's summon to really scold him for his disrespect. What was that thing? "Well this will be interesting," she murmured aloud.
“That’s not enough, Lucia!” Haresuno chided. Kicking his foot back as the spell lunged for him, the Adept shattered the earthen spear. His right hand snapped backwards half a second behind and caught the weighty stone.
Casually, Haresuno brought around the spear and hefted it at the charging medic. She side-stepped the spear effortlessly as he expected and moved in to swing at his face, but with Hanmeitai burning through him Haresuno’s body flowed like a crystal stream from one form into the next.
Every muscle in his body strained, spurned by training and reiatsu coursing through him as he shifted his feet. His left arm came up, a solid oak trunk sprouting between Lucia’s arm and her target - him.
As his arm came up, he stepped forward, putting himself through her striking zone and keeping his right hand ready for her to counter, while his footstep got in between her steps, his whole body becoming a stone wall for her to run into.
This was the Midasutai - the Disruptive Form. A form to overturn bad luck in combat. A form meant to give Haresuno an advantage.
[2297]
Stuffs
Not bothering with the trap. Hare knows it's there, though.
[ 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
[ Kyopoku-Ryu: Midasutai ] - "Disrupting Form"
While in Hanmeitai, the user may transition in an instant into Midasutai, the Disrupting Form. This form flows in-between the steps or motions of an enemy in order to break their stance. By flowing from the soft form of Hanmeitai into a sudden rigid stance and strike, the user of Midasutai is able to interrupt the opponent’s attack, stunning them for a brief few seconds and preventing melee attacks during the following round.
This technique costs 2% reiatsu; if the enemy’s attack is greater than the combined cost of Hanmeitai and Midasutai, the interruption will fail to stun the target and instead leave the user vulnerable.
“Gardener, is my zanpakutou still afflicting your mind? Trial by Combat would require those two hundred to be your divisionmates, not people off the street!” Also, though she didn’t think it explicitly state, the one defeated was supposed ot grant his division to the champion, wasn’t he? Haresuno was clearly trying to rattle Lucia, and Adelaide was clearly running his fun.
Until that redhead clarified the matter, Echo was remarkably concerned. There were a lot of talented medics that could take this challenge, but none that seemed as passionate as Lucia Frey. And if Lucia died in this fight, before Echo’s very eyes, well she wasn’t sure how she would take it emotionally, especially given all the people important to her she had already lost. That matter settled, she continued to cheer on her would-be Captain, excitement restored.
The force of her momentum continued forward, the close distance thwarting any attempt to change direction. Her blow swung forward with dynamic force; however, the immovable object stood strong. Lucia’s eyes grew wider as the force was dissipated in an instant, blowing around and behind the gardener. The sheer potential was erected a plume of dust on impact before it was reversed back onto the girl.
Her muscles contracted as the force was pushed through, as she furrowed her eyebrows in response. Reiatsu drained from her body, the regenerated energy used in an instant. Her body radiated with a lavender energy, a vanguard that stood strong on her skin. The force was assimilated, as her body righted itself once more.
“The healing hands of time and the soothing balm of self-effort. Release yourself from the stretcher. Triage,” the amalgamated soul spoke from behind. The chain connecting spirit to master was alight with reiatsu once more, as energy began to be recreated to bridge the deficit.
In an instant she transitioned her stance, the hard strikes of jujutsu being shown. Adrenaline pumped through her, as her force of will was drawn forth. A close combat spar of two practitioners of hakuda, the purest form of communication was displayed.
Her will to right her injustices, repent for the deaths her negligence had caused was brought forth. The oath that she had made to force once to save the dying child that was the Fourth Division bubbled to the surface. She reacted, a powerful blow, infused with her drive was dealt, she struck with an open palm towards Haresuno’s chest.
[2460]
CIC to cleanse the stun. One's Intent to counter attack with Fruit of Labor strength.
Summon self cast Triage on itself, the chain transferred the effects to Lucia so her regen is 600 rei per turn.
And I would think after our latest little scuffle you'd be down here trying to learn all you can, Captain. The comment rang out with the clarity and severity of a gunshot in the Duelist's mind, bearing the stern voice of the woman who had paid it to him.
Not bothering to turn her head to lock eyes with the boy, Tsubaki continued to watch the fight below with a new sense of interest. If Haresuno was really going to invoke one of the old rights then this would turn into a new kind of beast altogether.
A challenge like that could quickly turn into a fight to the death if the tea-drinker wasn't careful, and given the way the girl was holding her own with admirable gusto death was still very much on the table. Almost without her even knowing a mumbled quandary escaped the former Captain's lips as the fight continued.
"...and who does a medic turn to when they're bleeding out, I wonder."
A winding tempest spun in the row behind Ishin and Adelaide before the familiar form of Lilth Maikeru appeared amongst the crowds. The lean, dark-haired woman had dressed down, hoping to avoid as much attention as possible. She wore simple black garbs with two straps that tied around the back of her neck like a halter. Her hair, streaked with violet was hung partly up, but thick bangs fell over her cheeks as if to hide the conspicuous tattoo. Her attire, quaint as it was, attempted to mimic her unseated wear as a former unknown of the Gotei Thirteen.
"Hm, so this is the match I had to argue with those vipers about. Traditions aside, I think a taishuu held during the competitive ceremony between Earth and Soul Society is the paramount expression of Seireitei's extended friendship."
She looked down, first to her right as she smiled at the red-haired vixen. "Captain Pierce. It's good to see you again. To be honest, I'm surprised you're not down there. I'm excited for when the new Captain of the Mystics will play the role of unstoppable taishuu proctor." Her orchid eyes softened more as the jet tattoo on her cheek dimly lit aglow. But most importantly, I am incredibly proud of you. Your new position suits you well, Adelaide.
Then, Lilith looked to the left as she leaned down and swathed her arms around the gray-haired giant's neck. With her chin gently pressed against his right shoulder, she whispered in his ear, "I can't tell you if you 'missed' anything since you got here. But you did leave your keys on my dresser."
Gripping at his seat, Kiro's apprehension had blossomed into all-out fear now. Fear for Lucia's safety, for his own abilities. How he missed the Frey matriarch's combat potential, he didn't know. Every blow spoke of captain-level proficiency, if inexperienced.
Had she simply been going easy on him? Using him to test new techniques and strategies? Was he just a testing ground for her?
Haresuno’s own counter was the purest form of his studies; a blending of his amassed knowledge and skills.
Lucia reached out with her open palm, a deceivingly - albeit gentle looking - powerful strike, and the founder’s enhanced perception of time forced his body to react quicker than his brain could think. He stepped forward, sweeping power through him as he turned his body, repositioning his arms so that his right hand snapped into her attack, shoving it far off from its target.
Once more the sheer potential of the healer’s own strike hit the ground, dust billowing before caught by rolling wind and the cries of the attendants.
“Do you know...,” he murmured between strikes.
Haresuno was not done, his right arm still moved through Gyakutai - the Reversing Form - his elbow curling as it lashed out into the second blow of his senka and aimed at the center of Lucia’s chest. Responding to her will with his own: the stalwart and timelessness of stone. The will to live to see the next sunrise, to protect everything he loved. To be a shield that sheltered the innocent. To help. To build. To simply survive.
He responded to her in full as a captain, a noble, and as a friend.
He would push her this day.
“...why?”
[2525]
More X_X
Combo'd Kawasu+Kyopoku-Ryu:Gyakutai+Senka to counter Lucia's follow-up.
In order to really make Lucia feel his punch and get around CIC dropped Oak Kata again.
[ Kyopoku-Ryu: Gyakutai ] - "Reversing Form"
While in Hanmeitai, an adept may follow-up with Gyakutai, the Reversing Form. Gyakutai may be used against a single target within range of Hanmeitai. Paying 4000 of their reiatsu, the user creates a direct parry of any single blow made with a weapon. If the parry is successful, the weapon is immediately rebounded with such force that the wielder is immediately disarmed.
The amount paid into the Gyakutai is used to directly fuel the force the parry is made with, with the movement itself made at the full speed of their Hakuda. Due to the strain on both the user’s reaction time and their muscle control, Gyakutai may only be used once per battle, per 7,500 Hakuda they obtain.
Requirements: Kyopoku-Ryu; 7,500 Hakuda
[ Kawasu ] - "To Turn Aside"
There are some attacks which cannot be stopped, and a master of his weapon recognizes that fact. However, that does not mean that he must submit to those attacks. By hardening his swordsman's spirit, the practitioner of this technique can parry a powerful blast, deflecting it away from himself and his allies.
This technique costs 3,000 reiatsu and only affects attacks up to twice as strong.
Requirements: 7,000 Zanjutsu
[ Senka ] - "Flash Blossom"
With their growing mastery of Shunpo, the user is now able to deliver a blindingly fast attack. In the middle of a flash-step, the practitioner may deliver two consecutive melee attacks to a target in their path.
This ability takes the place of two normal Shunpo uses and costs 500 reiatsu. It does not increase the user's skill in their attacking stat.
Her body felt wrenched away against its will, as the gardener’s elbow slammed into her chest. The sickening crack of ribs breaking was heard, as she was propelled away. She rolled on the ground the force still reeling through her body. Transferring the motion, she got back up to her feet, panting as the pain began to radiate through her chest. Her lavender-hair hung down messily along her forehead.
To Lucia, the phrase jack of all trades, master of none was a false statement. Haresuno was showing mastery over four arts simultaneously, a testament to the Captain’s skill. In comparison, she felt weak. Though she seemed to consciously be launching blow after blow, the man still appeared to be stand strong. It more than simply raw experience.
It frustrated her. It pained her both physically and mentally? How did he manage to stay unwavering all the time? Why was she always the one knocked down and pushed away? What did he have that she lacked? What was it that drove her to feel as if she was fated to fail?
“Entangle and tighten the cords above, devour and preserve in the darkness. Sift through the river and reverse the roots,” Fusei began to chant. The construct had been relegated to a support role and one of an observer. Lucia needed to tackle the Haresuno head on, something drove her to wanting to match blows against him alone.
“Lacuna Release!”
The chain was empowered with reiatsu once more, as a white sheen appeared on Lucia’s chest and jaw. She felt a matrix of reiatsu being laid out the bone being mended together through the chiyudou’s confines.
“Why?” Lucia asked, failing to grasp the motive behind Haresuno’s question, “What do you mean why?” Not deciding to wait around for the answer, she approached forward once more. A flurry of strikes rained down upon Haresuno, a barrage of punches and kicks being delivered with unrelenting force.
Somewhere in the combat she would find her answer. She would pick apart her friend. She would break him down until she figured out the answer.
[2809]
Nothing magical about the attack. No reiatsu, other than Fruit of Labor strength, was used in them, just standard physical strikes.
Lacuna Release - Chiyudou #18, 110 Kidou
Description: This is used on injuries to bones ranging from fractured to shattered.
The healer focuses their reiatsu into the broken bone and increases the rate of removal of dead tissue while encouraging cell growth and the reconstruction of the hard outer calcium-phosphate matrix.
Fractures can be healed in 3 turns, broken bones in 5 and shattered bones in 7.
He had to counter with Xiezhi, knowing full well that the strength of Lucia’s attacks would shatter his own bones.
Blow-for-blow, the bronze scale rods of Sekiryoku Houshiki Xiezhi swarmed around the Adept, an intense display of furious speed as he tried to match Lucia. Her swings came closer and closer, his only safety residing in his own footwork.
Each strike hurled the rods away, near to the end of the Founder-Captain’s domain where he would no longer control them, but as they waged their war they stepped in time as two partners dancing to the sound of steel and runic-fist matching one another.
“Why you are here!” the Captain shouted. Standing at the center of his own whirling zanpakuto, his own arms at rest at his side, his focus on controlling his bankai and his footwork, he looked like an oddity. The eye of the storm as the two forces clashed. “This fight has been going on for a while now, and you haven’t bothered to ask me what it is you’re doing here.”
Lucia got past two of his rods, bobbing and weaving under them with the expertise her training warranted her.
Haresuno hissed in surprised and barely side-stepped the jab she tossed at his ribs. It caught the fringes of his haori and sleeve, shredding them as he brought around a third rod in an upper-cut.
She ducked back, the rod sailing vertically past her nicking her neck slightly in the process. However, she continued her assault, one that seemed to be countered by Haresuno in turn. For every kick she launched, a rod met it in return. For every strike Haresuno launched, she knocked it away in turn. The two forces continued to meet, neither yielding an inch.
Haresuno’s question sparked a sudden clarity in her mind. What was she doing here? Why didn’t she even feel like she needed to question it? “I’m here because you played me Haresuno!” she shouted in a laughing tone, as she launched a powerful right hook. A rod appeared to protect Haresuno, her fist pushed back by the zanpaktou.
“But that’s not the answer you’re looking for, right? I could have simply turned around, left the arena in an instant when you brought me here. But I didn’t, did I?” Lucia asked in turn, “I’m here because there’s something that I need to do. There is a division, the heart of the Gotei that keeps the rest of the military running, which is dying. And for once... for once... I’m not going to turn a blind eye to it, act like it’s someone else’s problem to deal with and leave it to die. “
Lucia swung violently forward once more, left hook being swung towards Haresuno’s face, “As for why you brought me here, it’s because somewhere deep down there’s some part of you that tinks that there’s a chance that I can do it.”
Haresuno’s heart skipped as the clarity and truth of his friend’s words landed on his ears.
Sadly, so too did her fist.
The most he caught was a blur of motion, and his body instinctively fortified itself with reiatsu just before Lucia’s fist slammed home with the full force of her strength.
Haresuno’s world spun in a miserable whirl, and the ground was the only thing that caught him. Lights danced over his eyes and his body screamed at him to get on his feet, to keep his guard up and watch out for the summoned zanpakuto.
Through all the pain and dizzying tumble his brain was taking, the Founder-Captain still managed a smile.
His hands hit the ground and pushed him to his wobbly feet while Xiezhi covered his front and sides from Lucia and her zanpakuto.
Ignoring what he felt, Haresuno shook his head, disagreeing with the medic. “I think you have potential, Lucia. Hope is for you during this fight.” Whether or not he really thought that, he’d reflect on later. Right now Lucia was giving it her all and recognizing her duty as a shinigami to her division.
He pushed forward, flash stepping and unleashing a hellish barrage of attacks all of his own, the five bronze rods of his bankai combined with his fists and feet, churning and ripping through the air.
“What does it take to make a captain?” he asked her. “What is it that you have that makes you a captain? What is it that I saw, Lucia? Can you tell me?”
“In my opinion there’s no simple answer to that. If the answer was simple, what would be the point?” replied Lucia, as she attempted to deftly weave between the oncoming assault. The onslaught began to overwhelm her her body bruised and battered as the attacks began to cascade over her. She hardened her skin in turn attempting to return the force with her own timed assault.
Her body was constantly in motion, as she snapped into the mindset that had been beaten into her through her hakuda training. She smirked, as Haresuno asked the question that she had been waiting to answer all along, the question that she had been dwelling and festering her mind for years.
“It’s not being the strongest or the smartest, the best at kidou, hakuda, whatever. A good leader knows that they’re far from perfect. But, they work at it, become an inspiration to those they lead,” her attacks picked up becoming more ferocious with each passing moment, “Even though their methods are different, in the end it is their duty to draw out the potential of each person they command and cultivate it to its pinnacle. It may sound like a naive statement, idealism at it’s finest, but to me it’s true.”
She began to coil back, “And in the end, when their called to duty they move with the utmost confidence that they’ve created the best division they could. As for whether or not I have what it takes, well ask yourself this question.” Lucia turned her head for the briefest second, looking upwards towards the observers.
“Have I made an impact on you?”
A smile on her face, she reeled forward towards Haresuno before angling upwards with a jaw-breaking uppercut.
[3360]
[ Goraikou ] - "Rising Sun"
This attack is executed using the entire body: from a mid- to close-range, the user coils back and then springs forward, delivering a punishing, rising attack to their opponent's head, launching that opponent 10m into the air.
This technique costs 500 reiatsu and lifts the user 5m into the air as well.
