Remember, this collab is closing tonight. So get your last turns in!
Kago watched four forms of the Adelaide and Lucia clones, Zak, and Lucas shrink slightly as they traveled to the far end of the arena. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed another two clones following Udo to another side of the stadium. If anything were to go wrong with either of these experiments, he hoped that the distance between them and the rest of the group would be enough to protect the majority.
Even with his precautions, something wasn’t sitting right with the vice-captain. He severely disliked the manner in which his fourth seat disobeyed his instructions and created clones to observe firsthand. Although the information they report back may be of some use, the probability of the curse spreading as a reaction to interfering with it was medium, if not high in his mind. She was needlessly putting herself in harm’s way to observe the Lucas and Zak interaction, and instructing Udo on how to conduct the kidou spell could’ve been done before he left the bulk of the group.
"We will discuss your actions when we return to the eighth, Miss Pierce,” the nobleman muttered to her under his breath, his tone sharp and to the point.
The sudden flash of reiatsu rushed forth east of them. Examining the technique from this distance proved to be fruitless; Kago was unable to see any reactions outside of the reiatsu bursting outward from Lucas’ shoulder. One more wave of reiatsu pulsated towards them before it seemed the technique was over.
A heavy air settled over the crowd in anticipation to see the result. Even from this distance, the vice-captain could make out the black band of the collar, still wrapped around Zak’s neck. "No change. The collar is still there,” he announced to the crowd.
Turning his attention to Udo and the two female clones, Kago mentally scratched off Shunko and his kai ability from the list of possible theories. If disrupting the reiatsu flow of the body did nothing to the collar, cutting off the connection between a wielderand its zanpakutou would have no effect as well... he noted.
All the vice-captain could do now was hope that Lazarus could take hold and break the connection between the collar and the sixth seat.
After some time elapsed, the clones dispelled. Adelaide was the last of the Adelaides, and was so remarkably disappointed; "I had hoped our litany of clever ideas had been more than sound and fury.” At least she and that annoyance Lucas had attempted their plans, but both had been unsuccessful. At least from her plan no one had needed medical attention. She looked at the crowd, as if challenging them to come up with a new idea, or stand up. There was a volunteer waiting in the wings, and he was the strong, silent type. Literally, his curse seemed to be that he couldn’t speak.
"If anyone had any other ideas...” she let her remarks trail off. Adelaide didn’t want today to be such a total and complete waste. Still, it was looking like it was going to be. There wasn’t much else to say if there were no more plans to explore, or if those with them decided not to explore those plans together, but she hoped they did. Together they could pool resources and they had medical assistance on hand, separate it was everyone for themselves, and try as she might to give her colleagues the benefit of the doubt, Adelaide couldn’t think of that as a well-advised plan.
At the very least, Adelaide had amassed some data. She had been able to witness first-hand the efforts of both guinea pigs, ad she had learned... well, that was the other problem. She had learned almost nothing. No information had been gained, nor new ideas generated from these old ones. If nothing else happened, today was easy to classify as a complete waste of everyone’s time, and Adelaide certainly did not want that. Not that there was anything she could do about it.
Seeing no one step forward and offer any new ideas, Kago decided to call a wrap on today’s experiment. Although many would see their exploits today as a failure, he knew it accomplished two things. The first fact it proved was that even though their pride suffered from this curse, shinigami could still band together to overcome obstacles. The second proven fact was that people were still trying to find a way to remove the curse. Hoping that those two notions would be enough for now, the vice-captain stepped in the middle of the crowd.
"It appears that our ideas have not succeeded; however, this means that we now know three ways not to remove the collars,” he announced, alluding to the now former captain of the ninth. "That having been said, I believe we should call today finished.”
A look of disappointment spread throughout his allies as murmurs erupted.
Clearing his throat to regain their attention, Kago continued. "Although we have reached a stopping point for today, I charge all of you with the task of trying any non-lethal means you can imagine to remove these collars. And if you make any progress, please notify me and I will spread the message to the others.”
Despite the looks of displeasure he was seeing on their faces, the nobleman noticed a general agreement emanating from them. "That is all. Thank you everyone for coming today.”
Upon hearing his words, the crowd began to disperse. Some left the arena alone, probably pondering on the events that unfolded today; others left in smaller group, more than likely discussing the same thing. It only a few minutes before Kago was left alone in the arena, racking his brain for new ideas for removing the collars.
