Trying her hardest to avoid and block the incoming blows – only succeeding partially, feeling a few cuts here and there touch her skin – the healer vice-captain suddenly called out, “Atlas!” conjuring a massive, invisible to the eye weight above Ishin’s shoulders, aiming to let it land on his shoulders.
Widening the gap between Ishin and herself, she quickly pulled out Käsi and let her apply the high mend chiyudou on her.
Tsk.
[72/1327]
Kidou
Atlas - Bakudou #25, 270 KidouDescription: In Greek mythology the titan Atlas was punished by the god Zeus to forever bear the Heavens on his shoulders after the war of the titans against the Olympians. This spell will conjure a weight (prior to connecting it is visible as a box of rippling air) that falls from the air above the opponent, with an aim to land on the opponent's shoulders, making their arms incredibly heavy. Thus their capability to strike quickly with their arms is hindered. If it hits, it will visually be invisible.
Incantation: Weight of the World on your shoulders, suffer your punishment. Bear the Heavens or all shall fall. No rest for the weary, no sleep for the wretched. Bakudou #25, Atlas!
Item Used
[ Käsi – “Hand” ]
[ Item Rarity ] Unique [ Item Rank ] B-tier
[ Item Physical Description ] It’s a hand and not just any hand, it’s a hand made out of ballistics gel and it’s alive. Well, not really. It’s alive in the sense that it’s been coated with Kaede’s reiatsu and seemingly has a mind of its own – as far as hands can think.
Käsi seems to prefer being on Kaede’s shoulder or float around her in close proximity.
[ Item Abilities ] Käsi is capable of housing one (1) Chiyudou spell taking three (3) kidou slots or less, this spell can be activated at will by Kaede making her capable of performing two separate Chiyudou spells at the same time without having to incant two spells. (One being the one infused in the hand without incantation, the other being the one performed by her with incantation)
The cost to activate this ability is the same as what the chiyudou infused would normally cost. The spell infused may be changed once per week.
“I suppose I spoke too soon about not being down there,” the healer captain stated with a resigned sigh.
Without another word, the healer blinked out of sight and assumed a new position next to the convict captain at the bottom of the chasm. Almost as soon as his soles came to a stop on the red, rocky soil a bypassed spell reached his ears. Instinctively kidouryoku came to a boil within the nobleman as he lifted a single index finger towards the oncoming wave of electricity.
“Raikouhou,” Matsumara repeated, signaling the eruption of a similar streak of lightning. A grin slowly rose to prominence as the two identical spells clashed and momentarily vied for supremacy before dispersing in a brilliant shower of sparks. Sayis is trying to shake things up around here, he thought. Sounds good to me.
“Save the cheerleader, save the world, huh?” Makoto mused aloud. “I’m game.”
The proud noble turned his sights onto the combatants within the pit without so much as a blink of an eye. What an interesting technique, he thought, surveying the effects of the chiyudou applied by the captain candidate. Of course he could only sense a minor fluctuation in her reiatsu at the time, but he had never observed an ability like that before. Seems she has some type of restoration ability.
With the direction she has taken in this battle, he paused a moment and witnessed the two lightning spells collide, it would appear that she will need all the energy she can muster.
Without turning his gaze away from the battle, Senesati decided to initiate small-talk with the Captain Commander. “I would like to ask you what exactly it is that you are looking for her to accomplish with the task you assigned her with. Though I can be certain that you would withhold your answer until she simply displays the answer to my question, or you will elaborate the moment she's failed the exam.” He then turned his head to face Sayis and concluded in monotone, “But I am sure you will find the humor in my question and statement and perhaps provide a partial explanation or reasoning until that time.
"Or am I mistaken?”
Senesati was not looking for a fully detailed answer at the time. He merely wanted to sample Sayis' mindset as the new Soutaichou.
"I believe this one will figure it out," the white clad figure interjected. It was softly spoken, as not to trample over the intended conversation. Theron found himself surprised at having spoken it. A clever and cruel test, Sayis. Quite appropriate. Aside from the battle, the captain of the third took the time to extend all of his honed senses, attempting to piece together the battle from the unique perspective the power of the only natural hybrid offered. The beating of hearts, the scent of sweat, and the sweet taste of reiatsu poured over him.
Much like the beast that had been reawakened within his body and soul, the captain found the taste of reiatsu intoxicating. It took a measure of effort to not reach out and consume some of the power for himself.
"You think so huh?" he posed and raised an eyebrow at the captain herald. So rare to see any positive feedback or remarks from this man. Perhaps Sayis becoming captain commander has strengthened that trait within him.
The royal captain smirked and concluded, "Lets hope you're right, for her sake as well as our judgement."
Ishin heard her shout out the words. As he did, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
"Sorry, little one, but that won't work on me."
His shoulders slumped momentarily, then he stood up like nothing happened. As he did so, his sword changed to become a giant axe. Focusing on her again, he rushed at her, the axe coming down in an overhead slash that, if it connected full force, would cut her in two from head to waist.
Fortifying her entire being, strengthening her resolve as well, the young captain-hopeful quickly put her trusty item away, before preparing herself for the onslaught that was the convict’s shikai. As she locked in on the man’s eyes she knew that there was no way for her to come out of this unscathed.
Unless...
Not blinking even once, Kaede quickly sunk into the ground, nowhere to be seen.
[67/1394]
Technique Used
.::Genkakuido::. A wise warrior knows their limits in battle and should know the proper time to escape. A clever spy is able to conceal one's being perfectly amongst their surroundings. With these two notions in mind the 9th Division Officer is able to make full use of his options.
To be able to utilize ability, the Shinigami taps into the power of the Void- the mark/seal/tattoo upon their body. This brand eventually alters the physical nature of the scientist, giving the user's body to literally meld into any non-living surface only as large as the practitioner's body - hence the name. Even in Soul Society any non-living surface is treated just the same as those in the Mortal Realm, allowing the 9th Division Officer to phase through their surroundings and hide. An added effect of the Void's ability enables the user to hide their Zanpakutou within their own phantom-like body.
The cost of Genkakuido is 2% of the user's Reiatsu per round, and can be maintained for 3 turns before the researcher has to abort the hiding and find a new place again.
One of Ishin's eyebrows rose in slight surprise when the girl evaded his attack by sinking into the ground, his attack cutting through nothing but air. Looking all around him, a slight sigh escaped his mouth.
"Well, that's a new trick."
After a moment, and still not being able to find his opponent, Ishin launched himself suddenly into the air. About fifty feet up, he stopped and looked down. Holding out his arm, he let Fuyutsuki rotate untiol the head was facing downwards.
Then he let go. The axe dropped like a comet. When it hit, the effect was enormous. The blast threw rocks everywhere, causing the ground inside the crater to shatter and shuffle. The impact was enough to make the edge of the crater where Ishin had been sitting moments before crumble and give way, a small landslide forming.
From atop the gorge, Sayis raised an eyebrow. "Did I not already say what I intended for her to accomplish?" he asked, a bit of an edge to his voice. "The goal is Ishin, and Makoto serves as a barrier to that goal. Ishin himself is a formidable opponent and Makoto is a master of healing and protection. It's an impossible situation."
He turned toward Senesati. "As one may recall, her predecessor was quite well-versed in the 'impossible.' For all his faults, Saika was able to pull solutions out of nothing, doing things that could not be done in order to meet his desired goals." The Soutaichou turned his eyes back to the fight. "It's not a question of strength.
Before the nobleman answered, he listened to the Soutaichou's reply. Sayis should have known that Senesati's question was not meant for him to repeat what the assigned task was. No. He instead was looking for what the real agenda was, which had been answered by the latter part of the Captain Commander's speech.
"A spark?" he recited and looked briefly at the grey captain. He turned his head back toward the battle and then added, "I see."
Not yet, not yet, Kaede thought to herself as she felt the ground close to her cave in. There was no reason for her to rush out of her hiding place without a well thought-out plan. Luckily she still had some time left to come up with something, but she couldn’t remain hidden from sight forever.
Not to mention the fact that she was quite worried about Makoto, why hadn’t he tried to make her life miserable yet? Perhaps she’d do best to try and knock her Captain out first... but the obvious question was, of course, how would she be doing just that?
Moving ever so slowly through her hiding place she awaited her chance.
[116/1510]
So, so, so, so sorry for the long wait everyone. I was partially waiting for Chris at first, but some stuff happened IRL and... well, let's just say I've got a mild case of depression. D:
The nobleman blinked as his vice captain phased smoothly into the chasm’s floor. “A new trick indeed,” Makoto agreed.
With such a development things were sure to pick up in a hurry, and pick up they did. It was the healer’s turn to raise an eyebrow when the convict suddenly rose into the air and cocked back the arm wielding his massive battleaxe.
It might be a good idea to move, the deep baritone of Shinka Kainyuu rang within Makoto’s head.
Agreed. As it was unanimous that he should not hang around to be obliterated by his own teammate’s attack, the nobleman sprang towards the nearest side of the massive slit in the ground and landed on a small ledge.
“I find that funny, coming from someone as flashy as you are, Ishin,” Kaede replied, coming out of hiding – which, in the end, didn’t really serve any purpose after all apparently -, a smile on her face. “I mean, it’s not that often that you get to rampage all over the place, right? So I was just trying to, you know, give you that extra breathing space, to drag out this little cat and mouse game...
“Though, truthfully,” she continued, shaking her head a little, “I was a little surprised at your eagerness at this, your drive in doing this right, especially considering that one time... when was it again? Oh right! During that Shinigami something something thingy, I thought you looked really... err, perverted with those three women.
“Let me ask you, is that really how a captain should act?”
The towering, ivory figure of Theron Ascania took a step forward, held tilting down to look directly at the accused captain down in the pit. Voice thunderous, each word echoing off the ragged chasm walls, he voiced his own opinion on what the candidate had brought to light. "She's utterly correct." The words fell from some vaunted judge, as if the captain of the third believed he was the Spirit King itself.
"As much as I am the legacy of Masaru, you are Faust's scion. And you are a failure. He extended his arms, traded a part of his very soul for you to join the vision that he shared with his predecessor. And you've shown yourself to have been entirely unworthy of that sacrifice." The gloved left hand of the tyrant slashed through the air in a wicked arc, motion battering away nearby rubble that had settled from Ishin's staggering flash of physical prowess.
"You casually declare that you are the last of the elder captains, you claim piousness and virtue, when all you give, all you show, is a foundation of self interest and moral depravity. Where is your guidance to the damned, Captain? What future are you attempting to guide us to? Right now, the answer is none. You've abandoned your duty, and do not deserve that haori." If Kaede was cutting the thick skin of her opponent, the Alabaster Lord moved to plunge a dagger directly into the heart. And why was not given.
Ishin turned a disdainful eye at Theron, a chuckle rolling out. Was the self proclaimed Alabastor Lord trying to bait him? This was more pathetic than anything else. Instead of rising to the insult, He did the one thing that was sure to get Theron even madder.
He ignored him completely.
"Kaede, do you see what you have done with your careless words? Now I have to listen to his most imminent pompousness preach about his views. If you would like, I can tell you about the weakness in your technique. Or we can get back to the fighting. Either works for me. As for the triplets...."
He burst into a flash step, ending right behind her. In a soft voice, low enough for only her to hear, he finished his sentence.
“Huh?” the healer said from his modest perch, looking rapidly between Kaede, Ishin, and Theron. Were they really going to engage in verbal jousting here and now? Perhaps it would have made more sense if the participants were limited to the test taker and proctor, but why in Soul Society was Theron adding his kan to the pot? Weren’t the observers just there to…you know, observe? Well, that and decide if Kaede was fit to join their ranks.
“I could be wrong,” Makoto called out as he left the ledge and reentered the battlefield proper. “But I’m pretty sure the time has long passed for the implementation of Katsuji Ishin’s moral examination. And even if by some chance I am wrong, I am sure this is neither the time nor the place for it.”
At this Shinka Kainyuu gave a deep and rumbling chuckle within the recesses of the healer captain’s mind and Makoto couldn’t help but reciprocate morbidly along with him. If it fell to Makoto of House Matsumara to be the voice of reason then it was highly likely that the Gotei Thirteen was royally screwed.
But dueling egos aside, the nobleman prepared himself to spring back into action when Ishin closed the distance between himself and Kaede.
The captain of the third fell seemingly silent, hand slipping back into the folds of his long ivory cloak as he gazed down still into the chasm below. He kept his reasons and thoughts guarded, save for to only one present. In the faintest of whispers, he gave a message to observing Captain Commander.
Senesati stood silent as words were exchanged between the other captains. Makoto brought up a valid point regarding Ishin's morale examination, and on the other hand Theron too presented a factual statement regarding Faust. His eyelids fell, shielding his sapphire orbs. The nobleman cleared his head of the unnecessary banter for this battle was not Ishin's practical, it was for the female candidate. A solemn glare fell upon one individual in particular... Theron.
With a focused gaze turned upon the herald captain a thought befell the sword-shaman's mind. I wonder if to some degree that something must have transpired between Theron and Faust which may have made that man the bitter individual I thought him to be the moment I laid eyes on him.
I am almost inclined to ask, but it's not my concern at the present moment and would certainly take away my main focus.
Perhaps some other time... he concluded and turned his attention back to the battle below.
A single grey-eyed glare cut first toward Theron before sweeping down toward the combatants below. "We aren't gathered out here in this honored and timeless place to test threats and witticisms. Nor are we gathered here to test Katsuji Ishin," he added pointedly at Theron.
The Soutaichou stepped closer to the edge of the gorge. "Kusajishi Kaede... if you intend to be a captain, you must do more than hide and more than talk. All I am seeing from you thus far is panic. Is this how you would respond to an actual assignment? Is this what would happen if I dared to rely on you during a war?
"If that is so, then we have our answer.
"None of us are perfect, and situations don't always allow for the perfect solution. Ishin is playing nice with you because that's the way he is. Be thankful for your bosom, because without it, you would find him to be far less chivalrous. Bear in mind, though, that in the field, things may not be so convenient."
Sayis stepped back again. He was looking straight at Kaede as he finished, "We will not stand here all day waiting, Kusajishi. We will stay here only for as long as you prove to be worth watching. If you still have no answer, you had better at least show us something worth staying around for."
