Fury left Untempered[Training,R, Shizuka/Santa]

[Santa Ajora]

Training for CTP

Santa was dripping. As always of course, but this was not the massacre scene that she was usually responsible for. Rather, she had taken refuge in the world of the living, that deer's skull, horns and all, slowly rising as she took a moment to figure out where she was. She'd choked. She'd had those damn shinigami in her claws and she had CHOKED! Even as she was waking up, that slow, shaky rage boiled up from her insides, rising up onto her hooves as those glowing yellow eyes darted around in the sockets, rapidly sweeping, as if searching for something to vent her frustrations upon. To let out this fury!

Her attention fell upon a hapless human. The man was simply making his way home, a bundle of chocolates under arm when Santa suddenly was upon him. The massive cervaur rasped angrily, those eyes narrowed into vicious slits as she reached outy and grabbed him by the throat, the man letting out a bubbling gasp, clutching at his own neck as he was lifted bodily into the air as her savage strength slowly began to crush his windpipe, even snapping some of the bones in his neck as his own red blood began to patter onto the already-disgusting ground, filthed up by the refuse and slime that sloughed from her body at every waking moment.

Above all else, even despite the feeble kicking, the swatting, the attempt at this little human to defy her. What she hated..HATED....HAHTEHD the most, was the look of revulsion on his face. She felt her form tremble for only an instant before she screamed. "GhhrrrrrraaahaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" With a vicious SLAM she scraped the man's face down the side of the nearest brick wall, the loud scraping slither of his face, flesh, muscle, and eventually bit of his skull being shorn off from the mad strength with which she scraped his body until it slammed into the ground with a sickening crunch. She heaved, her body continuing to shake angrily as her tail snaked out and a big, toothy mouth opened up at it's end, chomping into the corpse as she stared at the bloody smear on the wall.

She stared so very hatefully, and once the man's soul was gone, consumed, she STOMPED one of her hooves onto the physical corpse itself, shaking still as she turned and began to walk away, down the street and off toward what she hoped were some metaphorically greener pastures, her shoulders hunched forward as if to shield herself from her surroundings. She had failed. Failed...FailedfailedfailedFAILED! She hadn't even been injured too badly! She CURSED the shinigami she had fought. ESPECIALLY that damned Captain. She hadn't even felt much threat from the woman, but she had somehow LOST! What had even happened? She didn't know, one moment she was getting rid of that silly flame, and the next she was burning.

That didn't matter now... no not at all. She was far more interested in getting her revenge. A slow, twisted grin cracked across her lips behind her mask as a soft, tainted giggle bubbled out along with that froth of black blood and flesh from the opening her mask had. That giggle slowly built into a full, loud laugh, cackling to herself as she reveled in a realization. She was still ALIVE! Her memory was fuzzy, she didn't quite recall how she had ever gotten out of that wreched place. But that wasn't important. Right now, she needed to start feeding again. And as if to answer her prayers, she saw a fluff of smoke not far from her, a single human appearing before her.

Her eyes swept, locking onto them as they raised up what looked like....a sphere? It was red and white, and somehow it seemed sortof...cartoonish? There was a crackle and a sudden BURST of light as so very suggenly, she found herself faced with a rather large lizard. The spiritual pressure that came off of them immediately made her tense, temporarily forgetting her worries. Survival.....that ever-present instinct, that which drove her to hunt, to consume, to FEED. Even as that lizard suddenly opened it's mouth, electricity crackling in it's maw, she was spurned into action. From the viscera at her feet, a hand suddenly snapped up. A skeletal arm with only bare trappings of muscle attatched to it, holding a weapon. A Gun made of flesh, bone, and ligaments.

There was a loud KRAK as the weapon discharged, and in that fraction of a moment, that beast gurgled, suddenly veering it's head back as she fired two more rounds, those slivers of bone fired into the beast's throat. All at once that bount suddenly flashed past it's doll, roaring as it drew a blade out into the open. That weapon slashed in and she raised her arm, catching the blade easily and then flexing, SHOVING down. The human was caught off ground, the knees buckling for a moment before one of her hooves rose into the air and STOMPED. There was a crackling noise as the bount's shoulder was promptly broken, not only from the pressure she placed on the sword, but the hoof that went crashing through it and sinking into it's chest cavity.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted the lizard charging in from the side. And she buckled, skidding along the ground, throwing the bount away from her as she turned her full attention to the beast before her. Her eyes narrowed, hissing out as her tail LASHED out, whipping that beast across it's legs, slashign into the bare flesh as another set of arms emerged from her belly, the sloughing flesh practically having hidden them as they pushed out, pushing the muzzles of two more fleshy guns into it's belly before she began firing. The beast let out several gurgles, it's body suddenly letting out a loud KRACHAK! as electricity burst from it's body, surging thrugh her form and causing her to stagger! She was stunned, momentarily paralyzed by that sudden discharge before she collapsed back from it, allowing the doll to collapse to the ground, bleeding out and gurgling as a frosh of air bubbles and blood spilled ontot he ground below.

Santa panted and slowly rose up, getting up from the ground as she narrowed her eyes at the pair. That had been...unpleasant. She thought that that would be a bit more prepared. But strangely, there seemed to be something oddly strong here. It was then that she took just a moment, sensing her surroundings and drinking in a slow, deep breath as she sensed.....a familiar reiatsu. This Bount hadn't been just out randomly....she smelled......Shinigami. Those eyes snapped back open. she trembled for just a moment. She was anxious for half a second.....her body twitching before she could feel them moving closer...

Kill.

The shinigami attempted a preemptive strike. Six bars of reiatsu slamming into her waist, locking her main body in place, cast from the darkness where she sensed those shinigami from afar. Those eyes narrowed for half a moment, her head slowly tilting to the side, resisting the spell as suddenly another shinigami appeared from nowhere. Suddenly shunpoing before her with it's sword raised. She sneered up at him, hatred seething from her as those six bars suddenly cracked, and she saw a look of absolute shock on the shinigami's face. She shoved her head to the side as that blade sank into her shoulder, wincing as that blade cleaved through several of her bones, but mostly mitigated by the flesh growing from her body, bone plates shoving that blade out of her fleshy form before those six bars finally shattered.

In those few instants, time slowing down, she saw the look of shock on the shinigami even as she lunged, her right arm sliding up, lunging for his throat as a needle of bone emerged from the center of her palm. The man's eyes widened, panick in his eyes, a panic she loved so very much. That hand CLAMPED onto his throat, even as he screamed soemthing out and flailed, arms and legs trying desperately to free themselves. She couldn't even properly hear it, but that blade suddenly grew into a long, spear, flames licking along it's length weakly. But of course it was too little too late.

The shinigami was flailling, even as flames tumbled from that blade onto her sloughing shoulder, catching nothing but the flesh that was already rolling off of her bones as the wielder slowly went limp. she TWISTED and snapped the shinigami's head clean off, a loud RKRKRKRKRKRKRKK sounding as the ribs snapped, the spine being torn out of the torso. The force had somewhat crushed the head, but she was still so very satisfied. She almost completely forgot the other shinigami that had been present, instead opening her mouth and slowly sliding that head and spine down her throat, chewing with a slow, messy crunch~

Before she knew it, a blade blossomed from her navel. Her brows lifted. That blade having narrowly missed her spine, adn thus the only bone in it's path. This shinigami was just so very unlucky. She reached down and gripped the blade as it suddenly widened, a massive greatsword suddenly in her gut, pressing to some of her spine, but not actually biting into it. TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT! She immediately let another arm burst from her shoulderblade, a set of eyes along the deltoid, locking onto the shinigami behind her as she grabbed their shocked face and clenched. There was a muffled stammer as he struggled, as flesh gushed into his mouth as it sloughed off from her hand. Little clawed fingers slithering down his neck and began ripping into the inside of his throat.

But of course, she was not here to enjoy herself.A blade burst from one of her normal arms, and she slashed horizontally, and the shinigami's legs and waist dropped to the ground, soon followed by his upper body as she relased him, still vonculsing on the ground as her eyes came to slowly narrow. That tailmaw opening up once again as it slithered down to begin swallowing up her prey as she slowly looked down at herself. She was hurt. Not horribly, but she was not in the best of shapes. She let out a low, gurgling grunt and spat out several thick gouts of flesh from her mask, a few lumps of the shinigami, namely their uniforms and bits of their broken zanpaku'to. Ugh.

"Dusgusting..." she murmured to herself, rolling her shoulders for a moment as she took another moment to look around. She wasn't used to this, having to not be able to rely on her garden. But she did sense soemthing else nearby. A human? Strange. With the most recent meals, she paused, her anger having simmered with the gruesome murders of both shinigami. She was calmer, more rational. And so she called out, rather than hunting down and killing. She was.....clear. "You can come out now. I've calmed down." That voice echoed out, numerous fleshy mouths on the ground around her speaking up in chorus with her own raspy voice, adding volume and distance to her words.

She was curious now. Clearly the shinigami had been hunting this bount, what other reason would there be for such proximity? They were all dead, but where did that leave this third party? Had they been stalking the shinigami while they had been hunting the bount? She was, perhaps, latching onto this little mystery. The memory of her recent foiling perhaps a bit too sore. As much as she wanted to march right back into sereitei, she couldn't. Arantima, Val? Both of them were out. Potentially dead. Her way into soul society again was barred, and she was robbed of the chance to begin her revenge anew. She needed to rebuild. And for that, perhaps, other hollows were not the answer.

She would never go to the arrancar. FUCK that. She was not going to go groveling to the pets of shinigami. But perhaps there might be other more sympathetic races to her cause. She smiled slowly behind her mask, and felt a renewed resolve within her. This could work out quite to her advantage. But she would need to be careful, swo very very careful. Restraint would be the name of the game. To say the very least. But if she managed to pull it off? Then she may very well get her revenge and then some. All she needed was time. It had served her well once before. It could serve her just as well once again~

1 class 2 Bount consumed
2 class 5 Shinigami consumed

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

The site was certainly grotesque, to say the least. Shizuka had never seen an attack so gruesome and bloody in her life. She assumed the souls were gone, judging by the beast that stood before her, but the bodies remained. Explaining this to other humans was going to be a challenge for sure. She assumed it would just be easier to burn the bodies or something along those lines, and she had the perfect means to do so. But the issue wasn't just broken human bones. Other races had ventured off to this area and lost their lives. They were innocent. Well, most of them. She remembered how a Shinigami made its way to this creature and lost that battle. That was fine.

The Fullbringer allowed herself to emerge from the shadows since she hadn't made an effort to subdue her Reiatsu signature. It was obvious the Hollow sensed she was around because of the comment that was made, but it took her long enough to calm down from her rage-filled rampage. It wasn't something Shizuka didn't understand, especially since she, too, had a tantrum every now and then. What shocked her was the fact that she was not actively trying to attack this Hollow. No, in fact, she was intrigued. Shizuka's talent for dehumanizing creatures as an assassin came in handy at that moment, especially. After all, she was standing face to face with something that slaughtered individuals right in front of her eyes.

The question came to her mind of whether or not to dispose of the Hollow. It may or may not be a challenge, though she was fairly convinced she'd be alright in the end, even if she chose to flee. She could weaken her, at the very least. But no. Shizuka didn't want to harm this creature. She wanted to see more. There was a part of her that she desperately tried to hide away, a part that exposed her inner demon more so than she'd ever want anyone to see. It was the reason she was okay with her line of work, why she enjoyed it, and why she kept going on with it every day. It was the reason her own killings never bothered her. This was her own bloodlust.

"You seem to be having a bad day," Shizuka said, slowly approaching the Hollow with a soft step.

The last thing she wanted to do was startle her. The problem with this situation was also Shizuka's lack of understanding of Hollows. She'd encountered a few, but not nearly enough to make her knowledge of them at all extensive. She also didn't care to read the book about them that they had in Xcution's library up by Satsujun's old office. Her organization was very good at gathering information on other races, but Shizuka was terrible about studying up on them. It was just something she found to be boring and time-consuming. Nothing about that seemed very fun, even if it did benefit her in the end. Perhaps she'd have to change that habit.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shizuka's Stats}

Strength - 100 Points

Speed - 300 Points

Spiritual Pressure - [200] = 500 Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] = 1000 Points

Light Aura - 60 Points

Dark Aura - 40 Points

Instinct - [200] = 100 Points

Senses - [200] = 100 Points

Energy sensory - 0 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Total SP: 1400 Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shizuka's Skills}

[Weapon: Firearms] {3}

[Stealth] {3}

[Strength of Will] {3}

[Battle Analysis] {3}

[Charisma/Leadership] {2}

[Analyzing] {2}

[Martial Arts: MMA] {2}

[Honeypotting - The art of manipulation to obtain information. Basically, a girl gathers enough information about her target - male or female, doesn't matter - and dresses accordingly or changes how she acts to be able to get them to do whatever she wants or tell her what she needs to hear.] {1}

[Santa Ajora]

When Shizuka stepped out and into the open, sevral eyeballs that had sloughed off of the hollow's body suddenly swiveled and locked onto her, though Santa's back remained turned to them. The instant she saw shizuka....she cringed...her shoulders hunching as a revulsion twisted up and into her stomach. Not for the human. But to herself. They were beautiful. Everything that Santa herself wanted to be. Hair, skin, eyes, she lowered her head and immediately her back BULGED, twisting, wrenching, the sound of snapping, refrming bones sounded as bones literally grew from her own and then burst from her back.

Two massive, fleshy wings erupted from her back and then tented around her, the hollow...huddling to the ground as a whimper suddenly rose up. "No....nononononono....." That insanity in her skull clawed around the inside of her fleshy brain. Her eyes unfocusing as she suddenly felt so....self-conscious. So....disgusting. "I'm sorry...so sorry...sosorrysorry...I'm sorry. I must... look...." Her head twisted around. She didn't have an actual larynx, or nerves, or blood vessels. She was a skeleton, so that head turned around completely, 180 degrees to stare at Shizuka through the gap in her own wings.

"Hideous...." She croaked out.

That tail coiled up on itself, and the mouth on it that she'd used to eat the shinigami simply fell off, dropping into the pile of flesh beneath her as she hid herself. A bad day? She shook her head slowly, spinning it around so that it was turning the right way, that big, cervitaur body turning around, tail lashing behind her as she stayed low, that humanoid upper half drooped almost to the ground, wings still shading her, keeping most of her from Shizuka's sight. "I was....so very close....so close you see. I was there. I was IN!" she shook her head and growled, blades of bone suddenly sprouting from her tail, drrrrrrragging along the ground, cuttng it open as the flesh spilling from her tail filled in the new cracks.

"I was INSIDE the sereitei. I had...no...not me. Adrastos. He had busted open the wall. I was FINALLY in! But ....those damn shinigami....they surprised me....I wonder if Adrastos is okay..." She thought aloud. This was rare. Normally she was so much more internal with her thoughts. But this beautiful creature.... she trusted them instantly. It was as if she were meeting a hero of her childhood after all. Those wings parted only a little, so that those big glowing yellow eyes could watch the human as she slowly began crawling towards them, but stopped a few meters away. From this distance, Shizuka would be able to see and HEAR the sound of black blood and flesh and bones dripping to the floor constantly.

"But I choked....One minute I was there....fighting a Captain. And the next...I was unconscious....And now... I'm here.....defeated....foiled..." she SLUMPED to the ground and hit it with a wet, sucking SPLAT as she shook her head and a groan escaped her. Nobody had ever actually ever just...talked ot her. And well, sana was probably getting much more than she bargained for. "I have to start all over.....find new allies. New hollows strong enough to break that damn wall...." She groaned slowly, eyes narrowing a little as she stared down at the floor, then those yellow beads darted up to look at Shizuka, and suddenly she rose, drawing up to her full height, all nine feet of her.

"....why aren't you running? Or attacking me?" She sounded....quizzical. "You're not afraid of me.... no....you are.....unusual..." She mused slowly, and took several steps back. "Ugh...I am...dis...grosss...ugh....keep away dear. Your clothes....your hair...I would not ...I would not want you to...." She paused, and suddenly she raised her wings, and then let them fall off of her body, dropping them onto the ground as bony arms suddenly began to reach out of her chest, along her navel, below where her ribcage was. There was a big enough space between her bones there as a ....thing.....crawled out of her, dripping with black blood, a humanoid form.

And then those wings dropped, and she began ro work. Her wail curling around them, dropping a curtain of muscle to hide her work from Shizuka. A bit of skin here, some hair. Yes... yes yes this would be fine. And then she strung it with ligaments, bony needles slithering into it's spine, connecting it to her as that tail moved to the side, and something that looked....almost human stepped out. Clothed in rags of the shinigami uniforms, soaked in black blood from having been pulled out of her own stomach, the little doll made of flesh made it's way to shizuka, as Santa herself turned and once again shrouded herself with her tail.

The Doll smiled softly. Santa's knowledge of biology gave her a pretty good craftsmanship for this sort of thing, at least. And the doll looked very human indeed, a sheepish smile on their face. "There, now we can speak without worry for your attire." She spoke, puppeted by the hollow, an accomodation for the human. A human face to talk to. Though honestly, it was more for Santa's comfort. She could not bear to speak to Shizuka in her own form. The comfort it provided immediately evident by how much calmer the doll spoke. "You're curious...yes?" The doll/Santa ventured, head canting amiably to the side. "OF course you are....why else would you choose to speak rather than draw a weapon? Well......speak freely then. How might I help you?"

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka really wasn't sure what to expect when she stepped out into the open. She didn't attack. She didn't proceed with much caution for her own being. Instead, she was trying to be mindful of the Hollow that was obviously in distress. Evidently, the Hollow noticed that the Fullbringer wasn't out to hunt her down or anything of the sort. Shizuka could tell not just because of the talkative nature of the creature that was standing before her, but because of the sheer willingness to talk. That, and every eyeball that was attached to this Hollow was looking directly at her. They also seemed to melt away with the rest of its... body?

Apparently Shizuka had struck a nerve, though. She wasn't sure of what she'd said, but something bothered the Hollow. She covered herself up in her giant fleshy wings as if she were trying to hide and acted genuinely upset that Shizuka was there. Was it actually because of Shizuka, though? She wasn't sure. Part of it probably was, but she soon came to find out that it was mostly because of what seemed to be an insecurity. Maybe she just didn't feel comfortable around the human. Maybe it was because her body parts were constantly melting off. Shizuka had never truly seen a Hollow quite as unique as this one, and she was certainly a sight.

"Hideous?"

Shizuka practically whispered the word. Yes, this creature was relatively disgusting to look at. Perhaps that word was a strong one, but it was appropriate. As she went on with her rant on why she was upset and disappointed, Shizuka couldn't help but be mesmerized by the liquid fleshy bits sliding off her person and landing themselves on the ground with appropriately humorous squishy sounds. Shizuka would never use the same word this Hollow used to describe herself. In fact, this was particularly interesting. Deep down, this kind of gore was fascinating. And, in truth, Shizuka had seen worse. She'd done worse.

But the story wasn't the only thing that the human found amazing about the creature. No, it was her ability to sculpt such a beautiful human-like face to take the place of her own as she hid. For a moment, the awe Shizuka felt towards the craftsmanship this Hollow seem to have melted away, not dissimilar to the way the pieces of flesh dropped like slime. In almost no time at all, the structure was finished. A functional human body. Though it was still a puppet, it did its job. Shizuka smiled. This Hollow was insecure about the way she looked. The Fullbringer remembered a time when she, too, felt insecure for the same reasons.

"I can see now that this figure you've built provides you with a sense of comfort. Feel free to use her," she began, using her mature womanly tone. "But it isn't the real you. That is the real you. So while this body gives you a sense of belonging, the being that you're actively trying to hide from me is who I want to get to know. By all means, though, continue to use this form. She is also beautiful."

As for helping her, it was mainly a selfish request. Shizuka saw potential. She had a strong sense about this Hollow. There was something in her that needed to wake up and Shizuka believed she could be the one to do it. If she could only be convincing enough to get another member to join her, to possibly aid her in her journey towards control over her own organization, maybe it would be beneficial to both of them. Shizuka wasn't the type to leave others out of the bounty. A favor for a favor, of course. But in this case, she needed to learn more. She was fascinated by how easily the creature destroyed the bodies of those other individuals, but that wasn't the only thing that drew her in.

"Well, I can start with an introduction. My name is Shizuka Sanamizu. I work with Xcution. While I don't normally spit that out to everyone I meet, there's a reason I'm telling you. But I won't say it just yet. Let's talk for now. You have a goal in mind, yes? What if I told you I could help you achieve it? Would you listen?"

[Santa Ajora]

The instant that the woman started talking about the real her, she spoke up. " In a way, it is. I have torn my mask off many times. In frustration, anger, sadness. The usual reasons. And once or twice, I pushed my face into some clay, to make a mold and to try and see what I look like beneath the mask. This body was reconstructed with my real face as a baseline." She noted calmly. however.....when Shizu went so far as to call her beautiful, those pupils dilated. Under normal circumstances, she hated compliments. People who complimented her usual form. That monstrosity. She detested. she hated the lies that were those assurances. she was disgusting. And people saying that she wasn't, she knew were lying.

But. Inadvertently. Shizuka had unintentionally complimented what was beneath the mask. The doll froze for a moment, and listened in silence. As the woman continued. Going on to introduce themselves. Even identifying as a member of that organization. She had heard a few mixed things about it. But then they spoke of her goal. And they spoke of helping her. HELPING her.... HELPING HER! Santa turned and stalked her way over to santa, stopping just a foot or so behind that doll, as mouths and skulls began to spill from her body, eyes locking onto Sana from so many angles, as teeth and tongues of all different makes and sizes spilled into view, as dozens of mouths voiced her reply, including the doll's.

"Anything." That single word was almost menacing. As if a thousand atrocities like the ones Shizuka had just witnessed were implied in that single collection of syllables. The doll's eyes glowed with reiatsu as her lips were pulled into a wide, toothy grin. Her pupils slitting vertically, and then splitting into four, tilting slightly, to form what almost might pass for hearts, constantly dilating to seem as if that 'heart' were beating in her sockets. "Tell me. And I'll do it." Those dry, rasping voices sounded alongside that normal sultry one the doll possessed. As clawed fingers crawled out of that growing puddle to dig into the ground in anticipation, tapping away on any available surface.

Shizuka's looks had garnered her interest. But now the woman had won herself Santa's attention. By pure accident, and an alarming tolerance for Santa's particular brand of grotesqueness, Shizuka had (As her own honeypotting skill so oft did), landed her right where she wanted to be: In Santa Ajora's good graces. "I'm sick of being ugly. I'm sick of being considered weak. You've seen them. Strong. Weak. New. Old. Shinigami slay my kind every single day. For their work. for practice. for SPORT. We, the SUFFERING who pay agonies for the ineptitude of the shinigami themselves. We were abandoned, and they blame US for that." her voice GRATED over those last few words. The pavement cracking slightly around her.

The doll stepped forward, and that smirk deepened, gently kneeling down as she took a hold of Shizuka's hand, and smiled up at them. those pupils glowing a fierce maroon, along with so many other eyes that were locked onto the woman. "Help me prove them wrong. Help me make them PAY. And you may consider myself at your disposal, Shizuka Sanamizu. My name is Santaja Ajora." she hissed, as suddenly a two arms BURST from Santa's left flank, two skeletal arms holding what looked like a sniper rifle made from her own viscera and entrails. It took only an instant to adjust before there was a loud KLAK as a round was fired from the weapon into the distance.

There was a wet splatter as a body hit the floor, along with the remains of a skull. The clatter of a Zanpaku'to then dropping to the ground beside them, and the senkaimon gate they had been opening faded back into nothingness. The little thing had been hiding, attempting to wait until it was safe to leave. But of course, those many eyes weren't JUST fixated on Shizuka. There were many left back in the alley, and on the street where she had murdered the other shinigami. Eyes. Ears. Mouths. All of which constantly swept the area. Under normal circumstances she would have missed the shinigami if they had not been so idiotic as to try to open a senkaimon gate on a rooftop.

The doll's eyes would seem to bore into the woman, despite the almost casual dispatch of the shinigami, whom she did not even bother trying to go and devour. She was purely focused on what this woman had to offer.
"You have my Word."

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka was actually surprised to hear Hollows could take their masks off. She learned something new every day. But what made it crazy was that she didn't remember what she looked like. Hollows came from those who had died, just as Shinigami did, but they took a different, more painful path. Still, Shizuka thought being a Hollow was better than a Shinigami. They had more freedom, they could do what they wanted, whatever it was. They could do it. But a small bit of sadness welled up in the Fullbringer's heart. This Hollow seemed fine for the most part, but something about her was off. She was saddened, maybe? It was hard to tell.

What came next was a bit startling, though. The beast practically lurked forward as she met just behind the doll of her own creation. Her attitude had shifted a bit this time around and Shizuka was able to see in full view the kind of image she was presented with. The Hollow had body parts of various types oozing from her own being. Fluid was spilling everywhere as it all but flooded the ground. All of these seemed to be a part of her, yet they weren't. It was odd. But for some reason, the Fullbringer kind of enjoyed it. She never disliked gruesome things and it helped with her job. Zombies were another story. But even then, it depended on how stereotypical they looked.

The answer was all Shizuka needed to hear. So she would truly do anything that was asked of her, huh? That was good. Shizuka was unable to stop her lips from moving as they slowly crept up to either sides of her face. Her teeth were showing, not necessarily as a smile, but more of an animal-like gesture. She was showing her teeth. She'd learned this tactic from the one and only Wilhelmina Slater, but this Fullbringer's face showed nothing less than a devious smirk. It was an expression she dared not make often, but it did rarely show itself to the outside world. The blonde knew she had this Hollow hooked.

"You see, I'm not a big fan of Shinigami. Very few have gained my trust, and even then I'd never call it true trust. They're a mess. A disgrace. They stomp all over the 'weaker' races simply because they believe we can't defend ourselves. I'm not asking for a war, but I want them to learn their place. There are quite a few people in this world who should do the same." She trailed off a bit in her thoughts. A name or two came to mind.

And with the kind gesture from the doll, Shizuka learned the Hollow's name was Santa Ajora. It seemed she was serious, as well. Good. That's what Shizuka needed. She had to get her organizations numbers up for the inevitable day that she became the true leader of Xcution. This could be a good place to continue that mission. Plus, it could be mutually beneficial. Shizuka could have help taking down whoever she needed to, and Shizuka would help those who asked her for it. Santa obviously wanted something in return, and Shizuka was more than willing to oblige. In fact, she absolutely reveled in the submission she was witnessing. She'd have to do this Hollow a favor.

It only made things better when Santa suddenly reacted to something in the distance. She had taken down a Shinigami who was likely either trying to escape or was waiting for an appropriate time to pounce. If they could sense anything at all then they'd know they would have never been a match for the Fullbringer, though Santa proved that she could be very effective in combat. Shizuka wanted to see more of it. None of the leaking body parts really mattered to her and she decided to think nothing of it. So long as it didn't stain her clothes, it was fine. Hollows could hardly choose what they looked like in death. She wasn't going to judge.

"You have more potential than I had thought to begin with, but that was my mistake for not realizing." Shizuka knelt down on one knee and bowed her head out of respect. "Join me. Join Xcution. We can help you reach your goals. I can do everything in my power to make sure that happens. I can do all of this for you, though I expect your cooperation in return. What do you say?"

Shizuka looked up with pleading, yet somewhat suggestive, eyes. They were silently telling Santa that every word Shizuka said was not only the absolute truth, but was also something she genuinely wanted to do. Santa had no idea yet just how much hatred this small girl had stored up inside her heart for this race. She'd learned once before that it's more of an occupation, but she has not meant a Shinigami-like creature yet who she genuinely trusted. Some may have gained her favor, but the appropriate amount of time was not given. This was different. And if Santa ever chose to become an Arrancar, gaining that beautiful vision she had always dreamed of, Shizuka would get her there. It all depended on her answer.

[Santa Ajora]

Shizuka said all the right things. Not only that, but it was like....looking into a beautiful mirror. Seeing such a wonderful looking woman spell out what was....essentially the reason for her whole existence. She shivered with excitement, and hands began grrowing, massive bony spikes began falling from her body, mized in with the black blood and flesh, crackling and clicking as it tapped and curled in on itself. The doll even was slightly pink in the face from the look Shizuka was giving her. But not because it was any sort of turn on. She was simply locked onto this woman. This being who had her very same goal. And who above all, wanted to JOIN her! A hollow!

"You.... want me to join Xcution?" They were a myth so far as she knew. Hollows knew the name, of human world dwellers of frightening capability. Assassins and warriors. The very notion was....fascinating. She had no idea that it had such an antithesis to the soul reapers. But then again, so very few DIDN'T distaste at the scent of shinigami these days. And as Shizuka went so far as to bow before her, the doll....stepped forward. A slow, calm, pleased smile on her lips as she closed in and gently reached down to lift shizuka's chin, to try and pull them back up and onto her feet. Those hands, while dainty, were incredibly strong. Strong enough to rip through steel, and lesser hollows to Santa herself. But even so, she wouldn't force it if the woman resisted.

"I just need time. Time....and freedom to grow. I was so close last time. But I was simply impatient...that....that has always been my problem. These things take time. The first time I attacked Soul Society's walls, I deeply wounded a Lieutenant. The second.... I breached their walls and was overrun." Those glowing, fierce orange-red eyes would then shift and focus on Shizuka herself. Cooperation.... assuming that they held up their end of the bargain. Admittedly she had never really thought about what to do AFTER she concluded her ideals and plans. The thought that she should consider what to do after simply wasn't a reality.

She supposed....that repaying her dept to such an organization....would be rather fitting. That smile widened slowly as disembodied mouths, teeth, tongues, and lips began to slough from her body, each and every one of them grinning as they fell from her body. "I accept. I have heard a bit here and there about this organization of yours. I didn't think it actually existed. But so long as you keep up your end of the bargain? Then I will kill anyone, or anything you need killed. If you need someone interrogated..tortured..ripped apart....crippled... whatever is within my power. I will do it. But." She reached out. ACTUAL Ajora reached out and she gently rested a massive hand next to shizuka, and she would see the half-digested corpse of one of the shinigami.

It was just a shell. A body without a soul at this point, almost completely withered. She STABBED a finger into the corpse's navel, and Shizuka would see a considerable ammount of thaty slime and slough begin being channeled into the body, bloating up it's navel before that mawss began to writhe, and then suddenly long, serrated, claw-like blades BURST from it's flesh, those crawling fingerbones like razorbladed centipedes crawling beneath it's skin, slicing it up as it went, until they crawled out of it's eye sockets. And the Doll's eyes narrowed, that smile never vanishing.

"I may be a hollow. But you could also consider me a biologist, or a doctor even. When one's ability is to constantly shed viscera, you learn a lot about physiology. Wether that's mixing the right ammount of natural sulfur in the body with other carbons to make a biological equivalent to gunpowder. Or making sure that you survive as long as humanely possible. Or fabricating a fake doll to look human in. I don't care that you use me. But if I find out that you have lied to me? Then I'll kill you, while perfectly preserving your skin. Which I will rip off of your dead body, and wear when I kill everyone you ever held dear." Her voice grated.

Shizuka had indeed won Santa's loyalty. But the life of a hollow was...nothing but betrayal. From the moment a shinigami failed to save them. To the hollows that turn on one another once they grow past a certain point. She......she didn't know if Shizuka was telling the truth. She could have just been being fed a bunch of lies. So she felt it necessary to...assert herself. "But enough about all that. I admit I am....excited. I never thought that I would find someone so like-minded. Or find myself in an organization!" She suddenly bounced, hopping up in the air and asquealing excitedly, the doll that is. The real Ajora did not bounce, but she did squeal and shake excitedly.

"So....what now?"

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

The look that Shizuka was met with admittedly surprised her, though she was happy to hear the relatively positive response. The blonde truly had no issues with Hollows or the Arrancar some of them chose to become. Santa was certainly no exception, and Shizuka could see talent from a mile away. Plus, Xcution needed restructuring. They needed to get bigger than they were. The positions needed to be filled somehow and it wasn't going to happen by being lazy. If Shizuka actually went out and recruited the way she needed to, then this would be a piece of cake. She could already tell this creature was on her side. That was good.

"You.... want me to join Xcution?"

"Yes! Why? Is there a problem with that?" She asked, now back on her feet.

"I just need time. Time....and freedom to grow. I was so close last time. But I was simply impatient...that....that has always been my problem. These things take time. The first time I attacked Soul Society's walls, I deeply wounded a Lieutenant. The second.... I breached their walls and was overrun."

Shizuka understood that. She understood how it was to desire more and more out of herself but feel like she wasn't enough. Too many times she had been faced with dangers she only barely escaped from. She wasn't weak and she knew that, but she wanted to be even stronger than she was now. She wanted to learn and grow on her own, too. She and Santa shared that. So it was only natural for Santa to join Xcution since it meant there would be one more person who shared the same goals as the Fullbringer did. Having like-minded people work within the same organization was also beneficial. They would be able to get things done.

But when Santa rested her extremely large Hollow hand next to Shizuka's being, the girl couldn't help but widen her eyes a bit uneasily. She glanced at it as she realized all too well how threatening this was. This gesture meant business, for sure. All she could do was watch in horror as the next step was Santa destroying the Shinigami's lifeless corpsel. It was terribly gruesome and almost made Shizuka feel sick, but she reminded herself fairly quickly that she had seen worse in her time. She had done worse, even. But this was a bit much. This was something that was a threat to her own life. This was potentially her death.

"Oh my gosh, you know what? You should absolutely know I'm not lying so we can put those scary finger spikes away, 'mmkay? But if we have a deal, then you need to pass a test. It's how we handle all of our potential new recruits."

She had to admit that she didn't think she'd get this far with Santa. She assumed they'd have to fight or something so she didn't think much of a test. After a few glances around at the area, she figured it out. Using her soul gauge, Shizuka learned that their speeds were even. Good! So then it was entirely up to agility. Shizuka had her mixed martial arts to rely on and other training as an assassin, so it was simply up to how Santa could keep up with her. Getting a head start, Shizuka used Movement to step up on to a nearby tree branch. It was probably about a quarter of a mile away from Santa and she would very much be seen. This wasn't about hiding at all.

"Tag me. If you can keep up, you're in."

This test was extremely easy, yes. But Shizuka saw what Santa did to those other beings earlier. She wasn't concerned about her combat abilities at all. What she wanted to see was how well she could keep up with the Fullbringer. Plus, tagging Shizuka was no simple task. Even if her number wasn't the absolute highest in the whole universe, she was known for her speed and agility. She was known for her blitz tactics. She was there and gone in no time, which was typical for an assassin. If Santa was able to keep up, all was well. Of course, Shizuka would be using techniques when she needed them. It was up to Santa to showcase what she could do.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Movement (Mastered: - 80 TTP)}

Technique Name: Movement

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
This is a movement technique. It's to keep up with things like Shunpo or Sonido. While all races using this have their own variant of a step technique already, this one is pretty much an in-general type of move. It attunes the physical body to the reiatsu in the air, rather than spiritual to spiritual. It is now physical to spiritual. This allows the user to step at 3x speed for the cost of only 25 Reiatsu. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique: Focus the body’s energy and release during a step. This technique can be broken off in the middle of its use. Unlike other step techniques, this one can be repeated while in the middle of the previous one, allowing someone to change their movement course in mid movement.

Drawback: None

Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 4975 (-25 for Movement)

[Santa Ajora]

Santa and her doll smiled calmly as they watched Shizuka's reaction to her display. Very happy that their point was brought across. That hurried response set her at ease, and though she still had her guard up, she was pleased with the way the woman was moving onto business. And she had to admit she was intrigued, her head tilting a little as the woman explained that there needed to be a test. And the sudden motion of that fine form moving through the air, Santa admittedly staring just a little, before her head tilted to the side at the motion of the woman into another area. A slow smile crossing her lips behind her mask as a soft chuckle escaped her Doll before the dainty thing sat off to the side, to remain uninjured.

"Oh? How interesting. It's been quite a while since I actually had to chase anything down. But no matter. I think that I could use the excercise. Me and my little ones." She noted calmly, as promptly two masses of flesh RIPPED themselves from her sides, tumbling to the ground and suddenly rolling onto all fours as two massive hounds of flesh suddenly shook themselves awake, those big, skinless, furless hounds panted, eyes blood-red and wild as they locked their eyes onto Shizuka, and let out twin HOWWWWWWWWLs! After that they BOLTED afer Shizu, those hounds FAR outsp[eeding Ajora as they began racing toward her, Santa galloping after them, a grin on her face as she left a trail of viscera in her wake.

OF course they only ran for a few dozen meters, before suddenly the air ripped open before all three of them. Each and every one of them vanishing into an ulcera as they dissappeared from sight. No doubt Shizuka would feel a sense of foreboding before the air tore around her, suddenly bothdogs LUNGING at her from either side, aiming to grab her with toothless mouths, emerging a mere meter from her on both sides as they sought to lunge and latch onto the girl's shoulders, those mouths not filled with teeth, but tongues, writhing and dripping black blood. After all, Santa was just intent on catching her, not harming her.

An instant later Santa would emerge as well, up in the air, and aiming to land with that massive body onto shizuka from above, regardless of wether or not her dogs had managed to restrain the woman, intent on planting one of her hooves squarely on the woman's chest to pin them down. Was she perhaps cheating? she had no idea. All Shizuka had said was to catch her. She had been unspecific as to what the necessary manner for doing this was. So she presumed that this was perfectly acceptable as a means of capture!

-625 reiatsu for Wendigo Hunt (One use, generates two Wendigo Hounds)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Wendigo Hound Stats}
Strength:650
Speed:650
Sppr:650
RS:650
LA/DA:50/50
Instinct:124
Senses:97
ES:0
HE: 650

Santa and both Wendigo hounds: -75 reiatsu for Ulcera (600 speed for Santa, 1950 speed for Wendigo Hounds)
Santa: 2300/3000 reiatsu
Wendigo Hound 1: 6425/6500 reiatsu
Wendigo Hound 2: 6425/6500 reiatsu

SPOILER: Click to show

{Wendigo Hunt}
Wendigo Planae
(Wendigo Hunt)
Class 7-1

Effect
This technique brings order to the chaos of Ajora's overall ability. By activating this technique, she can mold some of the flesh and bodyparts that have been growing around her into actual bodies. These constructs are limited to a size of 3'(+2' per class above 7 (15' at class 1) in height and Have limited intelligence based on the class they are generated at. At class 7, they are completely mindless and cannot act unless directly controlled by Ajora, requiring her concentration whenever they are moved. At class 6, they become mildly sentient, able to act more or less like social insects in their ability to follow simple commands (attack, defend, stay). At class 5, they are similar to more solitary rodents, able to think for themselves and solve probl3ems, but hardly able to understand abstract concepts. At class 4, these entities are like dogs or cats, they can recognize more complex commands and even act on their own to a higher degree, but still don't have much aside from that. At class 3, they finally have intelligence, similar to dolphins or pigs, they are considered to have barely sub-human intellect and are considered to have a 1 in Battle Analysis. This increases to a 2 at class 2, and a 3 at class 1.

The stats of these constructs vary depending on class. They start at a base of 50 in every stat, increasing by 100 every class up until a cap of 650 at class 1. This only applies to non-sensory stats, which they share with Ajora. While sentient, the constructs are still considered a part of Ajora's Cannibal's Delight, and as such can be manipulated as though they are a part of her body, and thus mimic physical Skills up to the class threshold they are summoned at. (Skills such as Pain Resist, Bleeding Resist, ect.)
UNLIKE the rest of Cannibal's Delight, these constructs are incapable of using offensive techniques (Cero, Bala, ect), but instead are able to use basic movement techniques as well as support and other utility techniques. Though their Primary function is to be used as escorts and supporting units. If at any point a nearby ally starts to use an offensive technique, nearby constructs can immediately begin funneling spirit energy into them, and will assist in the execution of the technique. In this manner, any construct assisting in the use of an ally's technique supplies 50% of it's offensive stat to the power of the technique.

Drawback/Cost
Each use costs 175 reiatsu to produce, increasing by 75 per class (625 at class 1), and produces up to two constructs. Unlike her normal ability, Ajora can feel pain through the bones of these constructs (but not the flesh), and can only ever have up to 2 ( 4 at class 3, 6 at class 1) active at any point.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ulcera}
Technique Name:Ulcera (Ulcer)

Class: 7

Technique Type: Stepping

Usable By: Hollows (Not Arrancar)


Technique Description and Effects: This technique is a basic stale for a Hollow's ability to slide in and out of the valley of screams at will when it is hunting or stalking prey. By gliding in and out of the space used by techniques like garganta or descorrer, a hollow can get around quickly. This technique operates similarly to a stepping technique, but only moves at 5x the user's speed. However, the user weaves through rips in the fabric of whatever world they are in, and as such the hollows exits, and then re-enters at the destination, Hollows do not lose awareness of the world as they move through an Ulcera, and can return to the material world mid-step in response to a threat or opportunity. This technique does not take up a Technique slot.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): See Above

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc) Costs 75 reiatsu per step.

Made By: Ajora

Reserved?: No

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka was excited to have a little bit of fun. She admitted to herself that she felt bad for making something so easy for the Hollow, but she'd do her best to make it entertaining at the same time. At some point, any tricks she had would be out of luck and Santa would likely catch up either way. For now, she was focusing on being difficult to get to. When she saw the dogs form from the Hollow's body, she lunged a bit. She already knew Santa was going to send these creatures after her based on what the task was that she challenged her opponent with. If she had to take a guess, these dogs were going to be a lot faster, as well.

Her guess ended up being right. The two dogs did their level best to get a hold of Shizuka with their toothless mouths. A sense of relief briefly washed over the Fullbringer as she realized Santa truly didn't want to hurt her, but she was at least taking this seriously. That was good. Shizuka was highly intent on simply allowing Santa entry into Xcution without a problem, but again, she wanted to see a little more. As the Fullbringer kept track of the choices that the Hollow made, she defended herself against the sudden attack from the hounds by unleashing Ken. This wasn't a constant aura, but rather a quick blast in order to essentially throw the dogs off of her.

Along with the blast came the sense of intimidation that Santa would likely feel for a brief moment. Though fleeting as it may be, she would surely feel it. Shizuka took the open moment before Santa had the opportunity to pin her down as a means of escape. Bringer Light would save her in this situation while leaving behind a light flicker in her place. Shizuka fled the scene and stopped on a different tree just half a mile away. This was a bit of a game of cat and mouse, but Shizuka was exposing Santa to the various techniques people like her could use. Not only was this a good way for Shizuka to see how she could handle a Fullbringer, but it would prepare her for future encounters.

Santa was smart, though. It wouldn't take even two times to fool her. This one failure would likely result in her attempting a different route, which was good. Shizuka didn't expect this to go on forever, of course. She thought about giving it two, possibly three more chances. If Santa didn't have her by then, which was highly unlikely since she has made some great choices thus far, Shizuka would have to figure something else out. That was no problem, though. If she was really being honest, this was also so that Santa felt comfortable in Shizuka's ability to protect her if the time came for it. Xcution's hopeful future leader needed to put forth a good example.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bringer Light (Mastered: - 80 TTP)}

Technique Name: Bringer Light

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
This is the stepping technique for humans. It increases their speed for a single step by 10 times for 50 Reiatsu. It leaves a column of flickering light in the place where the user previously occupied. Unlike other steps, this one can be used to build speed. If used in succession, the speed and cost go up with each additional step. The second step is a 13x increase, and costs 100 Reiatsu. The third step is a 15x increase, and costs 200 Reiatsu. From there, the cost doubles with each additional step, and the speed increase goes up by 1 time. Meaning the fourth step is 16x and 400 Reiatsu, the fifth is 17x and 800 Reiatsu, etc. Though at first the column of light is visible where the user was, once the third step is reached, the column of light is no longer there. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique: To work, this technique manipulates the soul in whatever the user is standing on, allowing for feats such as high jumping, or the step which increases speed.

Drawback: None

SPOILER: Click to show

{Martial Discipline: Ken (Mastered: - 750 TTP)}

Technique Name: Martial Discipline: Ken

Class: 1

Technique Type: Human World Dweller Technique

Usable By: Bount, Fullbringers, Mod Souls

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
Think about it this way. Most any human with spiritual powers should know the four basic techniques of the human world: Willpower, Output, Movement, Energy Generate. Any who fails to know these is simply a low class combatant. To be a true contender, these techniques are necessary.

Well, likewise, knowing Ken is what puts a human world dweller in the upper echelon of the human world's spiritual abilities scale. Let's explain. Martial Discipline refers to a mental or physical discipline, or both. In this case, it means disciplining one's soul. It is tempering the soul to achieve a certain effect. This is where Ken comes in. That's what this technique is. Confused? What this technique does can be located below.

Ken is the next step from Willpower, Output, Movement, and Energy Generate. Ken focuses the user's soul into an aura around their body. What this technique does is utilize the spiritual aura of its master to create a glowing field of energy around the user. The field extends a quarter inch off the skin for every 100 reiatsu strength the user possesses. What this field does is repel incoming attacks by utilizing the current physical strength of the user combined with the current reiatsu strength of the user. That's the strength of the aura. It repels them, but doesn't destroy them. It simply deflects them or blasts them away. Simultaneously, the user produces an intense feeling of intimidation which would cause even the most tempered of warriors to feel extreme fear. Wild animals will flee instantly from this aura. The aura can, if the range of the user is wide enough, actually be directed at and focused straight onto a certain target or group of targets.

How to use technique: Simply activate it at will. The reiatsu cost to activate it is 200 reiatsu per post active. The user must know all four HWD main techniques to learn this one. This is considered an extension of all four.

Drawback: The aura of intimidation can be resisted completely by the use of an opponent's Ken, regardless of user stats or class. Otherwise, if the opponent does not know Ken, then it can be resisted by those of superior class. This technique can be broken by techniques of superior class, or by opponents of superior class. It is also extremely fatiguing to use, especially in consecutive posts. The user must remain immobile when activating this technique, and cannot use any attacks, other defenses, or other spiritual abilities while Ken is active. Luckily, to those who have mastered the technique, it can be switched on and off in a split second as long as previous conditions are met. The user burns up more stamina in a single post of Ken than if they were going all out with movement the post before. Therefore, knowing and using this technique both require built up stamina.

Made By: Kento

Reserved?: No

Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 4725 (-200 for Ken, -50 for Bringer Light)

[Santa Ajora]

Santa was surprised when she saw those mouths latch onto the woman. An immediate sensation of apprehension sweeping through her. She shouldn't have been so easy to snare. And that sudden BURST of energy did...fascinate her. There was even an odd aura in the air, one that hit Santa solidly. What was MOST interesting....was that it seemed to be Reiatsu based. And a slow, gentle chuckle spilled from her lips. The instant that the technique ended, Shizuka would FEEL flesh suddenly begin growing from under her feet, a surge of flesh as it began to swell and grasp for her, bony hands and mouths seeking purchase.

The moment she used Bringer light, it only intensified, feeding off of the reiatsu the woman used. Of course, when Shizuka landed, she would be quite a ways away. But of course, the Reiatsu that Shizuka had used left a trail, she would even SEE the flesh growing along the ground leading toward where she had gone, up until she was about 70 meters from where Santa was. It was like a Shizuka compass. Santa couldn't help but smile to herself. But she actually could only barely see where the woman had wound up. It was annoying how quick the girl was. Santa herself did have a versatile step, but one far slower.

The limitations of being a hollow.

She let out a hissing retch of disgust. Both of her hounds glanced at her, and then vanished into their ulcera, followed soon after by Santa. It would be a few moments, but Shizuka would not see the hounds as they slithered back tino existence, silently creeping, using the stealth skills they inherited from Santa to hide their reiatsu, positioning themselves on either side of the woman, creeping slowly through whatever natural obstructions there were around, as it was quite rare for any tree to be by itself.

and Santa? She appeared about 50 meters from Shizuka herself, hunched slightly, and looking...tired. Hunched over, she shook herself and let out a LOUD frustrated hiss! A ruse, naturally. An instant later, when Shizuka would no doubt either shout some encouragement, or be caught up in observing santa, she would feel the spiritual pressure of those hounds SKYROCKET as they flexed their reiatsu, causing BURSTS of light to erupt around them. Of course Shizuka would easily be able to withstand them, and of course, she was a seasoned fighter and assasin. It would be a very obvious distraction, and would reasonably believe that Santa was about to make a move.

But it wasn't. The reiatsu flare caused a VERY dramatic change in the landscape. The flares of reiatsu were directed outward, getting their spiritual energy on everything within a considerable distance. And Ajora's garden was happy for the meal, as instantly, every single physical surface vegan growing that flesh. Including Shizuka's body. Santa was using a different technique, one she rarely used. It allowed her to generate flesh on living thing s as opposed to just nonliving things. It couldn't be directed or controled like normal, but it would still no doubt startle the woman.

And of course, she abnticipated a Ken. which is why both to the north and south of Shizuka would suddenly cease to exist. The flesh on the ground, which she COULD still control, was used to channel two techniques. Cero Voraz. For just a split second, two MASSIVE spheres of cero, each 5 meters wide would swallow up the view around Shizuka before suddenly they CRUSHED into single points no less than three feet from either side of her from where they had originally been produced. The sudden compression caused a sudden SPIKE as gravity forced itself on everything around them, suddenly TUGGING the woman in two different directions, effectively attempting to lock her in place.

If she attempted to use Ken, then the reiatsu of the technique would simply be....swallowed up. Shredded the moment it left her body, and consumed into those black holes, adding to the strength of their pull. Of course, the flesh that Santa produced, being considered a part of her body, were uneffected, only making it harder for Shizuka to come up with some sort of counter against the assault. OF course, she had no idea what other tricks Shizuka had. She hoped that they were only reiatsu-based. But even so, she was not too concerned.

Her goal, after all, was to catch her, was it not? Even if they broke free, she felt confident that this would hopefully count toward that endeavor~ At a cost of course. She had used up a LOT of energy. She had plenty to spare, but even so she was cutting things down to the wire on this one. She was going to get tired rather quickly. BUT, hopefully it would be rather worth it. She had also...held back. She knew that the woman was just a human, and probably wasn't very strong or durable. She had toned the ceros down to about half their potential strength. It would certainly be...unpleasant. But not enough to tear the woman apart.

Her clothing and personal effects? Perhaps. But then again, she was a hollow. She did not have much in the way of nonlethal trappings to begin with.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Cannibal Jucundum}
Cannibal Jucundum
(Cannibal's Delight)

Class: 8-1

Santaja Ajora's primary power is the particles that exude from her "body" as a result of her incessant bleeding. Ajora's body constantly oozes blood from special pores in her corpse-like body, and as a result of coming into contact with the air, this blood breaks up into special spirit particle radiation which fill her surroundings and land on any surface with an adequate spiritual makeup. In the world of Hueco Mundo or Soul Society, these particles will adhere to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, though in the world of the living, it will only adhere to spots where spirit energy traces have been left behind (the wake of a cero or if the air has been filled with reiatsu by a spiritual being flexing their spiritual pressure). Unlike pollen or smoke, this effect is more like radiation in that it is not fully obstucted by line of sight. Any suitable surface within 10 meters (+10 per class above 8, capping at 80 meters at class 1) becomes seeded the very post it comes into contact with this radiation, resulting in the growth immediately beginning on that post.

Once the particles find a spiritually-rich surface to adhere to, it immediately transforms, converting the ambient spirit energy into the production of Ajora's body, like a sort of infectious regeneration. This ability causes flesh, bone, and even organs and limbs to grow and slough off of contacted surfaces. With a single post, about 12 inches(increased by another 12 inches per class above 8, at a cap of 96 inches per post at class 1) of flesh are produced from every surface that has been seeded by these particles. Just like Ajora's body, the flesh and blood is black rather than red. And while Ajora cannot fully sense pain or be poisoned/damaged through the flesh that is being grown, she is capable of manipulating and even seeing/hearing/tasting/touching through the flesh generated, similar to her own flesh in her "body" as her true form is actually exclusively held within her bones, the flesh, muscle, and other aspects of her body are simply grown as a result of this power and can be considered similar to hair in the regard that they are technically a part of her, but really have no effect on her if it is damaged. As a result of this, her actual flesh and body cannot benefit from the benefits of strength (flexing and the like) but her bones do. This inability to benefit from flexing or shockwaves as a result of strength extends to ALL flesh and viscera created around her and in the environment, making it vulnerable even if she has incredibly high amounts of strength, and unless her flesh has been ripped from her bones, she will be unable to produce shockwaves as the flesh would absorb the force.

While generally the flesh produced by this ability follows general, if somewhat jumbled, anatomy, Ajora can be creative and modify the arrangement as she wishes, mitigated only by her crafting ability and other relevant skills, and as all of the flesh grown this qay is considered (in a selective sense) as part of her body, she is capable of executing techniques from the grown flesh, though the reiatsu will always be deducted from her own reiatsu pool, and while it is treated as part of her body for the purpose of control and manipulation, it is not actually a part of her, and is considered simply part of the overall ability. By spending 10 reiatsu she can will a square meter (increased by 2 meters per class above 8 (15 square meters at class 1))of seeded area to grow double the normal rate, and instantly rather than over the course of the post.

This ability can Never be turned off. While this means that technically she has a non-finite supply of blood, it also means that if an enemy finds some way to use the ability against her, she cannot turn it off.

Lastly, Ajora's own body counts as a suitable surface for seeding, however rather than growing flesh and the like, the growth of viscera simply sloughs off of her body, dripping in a slow dribble of black blood, body-less limbs and various other bits and bobbles of whatever it is she decides to slough from her "body". This however occurs at the level of her ACTUAL body, meaning that the growth occurs at the level of her bone instead of her 'flesh' which as preciously stated is not an actual part of her body. This gives the illusion that she is constantly shedding her flesh and may even be misperceived as regeneration, though this does not in any way repair or recover damage done to her skeletal structure. This passive ability cannot seed living things or the personal effects of a character without the help of a technique.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Manu Mortis}
Manu Mortis
(Death Grasp)
class 5-1

Effect
This technique is probably one of Ajora's most directly offensive abilities available to her. By shunting a large amount of her reiatsu into the particles she naturally exudes from her body, Ajora can unlock the ability to seed living flesh into her particles. Any living thing with spiritual energy in the area can play host to her seed, causing flesh and such to grow from the target's body at half the base rate. As such, the base for this technique starts at 18 inches at class 5, and caps at 42 inches (increasing by intervals of 6 inches instead of 12). This rate is increased by 100% for every 100 points in Healing Expertise that the culture (person it is growing off of) has as it feeds off one's ability to regenerate. It also drains 100 reiatsu per post from the culture (also increased by 100% per 100 points in healing expertise). As the material is grown FROM the target's flesh and spirit energy, it is immune to gravitational pressure and reiatsu flexing. It must be manually removed, or removed via a technique/overall ability. Any target with high speed regeneration will grow flesh and viscera with the ability, making it harder to remove. Any ally's(Not Ajora's) reiatsu debuffs or poisons can infect the target through this growth on the enemy's body, any attempts to do so make the effect 'piercing' in that it ignores offensive strength or healing expertise as the growths are considered a part of the enemy's body, but lack the target's offensive strength, acting like a trojan horse for negative effects. Once the growth is removed, any effects they were transmitting to the victim end immediately.

Drawback/Cost This technique costs a whopping 500 reiatsu at class 5, increasing by 50 reiatsu for every class above it (700 at class 1) and lasts for Eight posts before it needs refreshing. Any target whose class is superior to the class of the technique being used is able to ignore it (This does not apply to targets with at least 200 Healing Expertise, which results in the class superiority requirement to increase to 2 class superiority. With 400 healing expertise this increases to a necessary 3 class superiority).
Additionally UNLIKE her normal growth using her overall, Ajora does NOT have control over the growth on another unit's body (she cannot lock them in place, manipulate them, or effect it in any way), the growth can slow and hamper the target with it's presence alone, but it's primary function is to serve as a conduit for Ally negative effects.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Cero Voraz}
Technique Name: Cero Voraz (Voracious Zero)

Class: 2

Technique Type: Cero

Usable By: Hollows, Arrancar

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects : This technique follows the typical recipe for a normal cero, however rather than relying on pure finesse and strength, this technique is an attack using mass. Rather than using the normal conversion to turn one's reiatsu into explosive power, this technique is based around the spherical concentrated energy that Cero typically generate before firing; by focusing on this sphere, the user gathers reiryoku for a cero, generating an abnormally large sphere of reiatsu as a very large sum of energy is expended. Additionally, unlike a normal cero, this energy is not converted into explosive power, but pure mass. The sphere is physical and dense as it expands. At base, this sphere will be created with a diameter of five meters across, increasing by 100% for every 100 extra reiatsu pumped into the technique (at max 3 times, 400% mass (20 meters wide) for 500 reiatsu).

This sphere is then condensed, shrinking down to the size of a marble (a centimeter in diameter). This sudden displacement of mass causes a very sudden and powerful vacuum that drags in surrounding material to occupy the emptied space, with a pull strength equal to half of the reiatsu used in the technique, an individual can resist this pull by speed or strength superior to this value. The entire process generates a Cero Voraz marble, which persists for three posts. When a spiritual body comes within 3 meters of this marble, other than the user, they are subject to a pulling strength equal to double the amount of reiatsu used in this technique. Again, this can be resisted by Strength or Speed.

When a target attempts to use their reiatsu strength to resist, the expended spiritual energy is pulled into the marble, increasing the Stored Reiatsu by 10% of their Reiatsu Strength (Actual reiatsu is not drained, but this effects the pull strength of the technique as though it has). Likewise, reiatsu techniques aimed at the marble are drawn in and half of the technique's cost is added to the total of the marble. Both of these instances can bring the reiatsu amount above the usual 500 reiatsu limit. Reiatsu techniques are considered a class lower than their actual class when clashing with Cero Voraz (A class 3 technique is treated as class 4), and quincy arrows are considered two classes below normal (a class 5 arrow is considered class 7).

Technique Drawbacks High Cost for a cero. A base of 200 reiatsu, up to 500 reiatsu. Additionally, this technique cannot drag in or endure an opposing technique with class superiority. Additionally, Physical techniques are considered 2 classes stronger than normal when attempting to destroy a Cero Voraz. Additionally, when used by an arrancar in Ressureccion, this technique is considered a release technique, and it's reiatsu cost is deducted normally rather than being suspended until the end of release.
Made By: Santaja Ajora

Reserved? : Yes

-75 Reiatsu for Ulcera
-700 Reiatsu for Manu Mortis Class 1
-400 Reiatsu for Cero Vorazx2

Amount of flesh growing off of Shizuka's body per post: 42 inches (From "the ground up", not total, think like inches of rain)
Cero Voraz Gravitational strength: 400 (2x the reiatsu used per cero, also increased when eating reiatsu techniques)

Both Wendigo hounds: -75 reiatsu for Ulcera (600 speed for Santa, 1950 speed for Wendigo Hounds)
Santa: 1975/3750 reiatsu (I'm a dumbass and thought she had 300 sprp instead of the actual 375 she has. I also apparently have not posted her stats)
Wendigo Hound 1: 6350/6500 reiatsu
Wendigo Hound 2: 6350/6500 reiatsu

SPOILER: Click to show

{Santa Stats, cuz I'm a derp}
SP: 1500 (800 from Class, 700 from Training)

Strength:200 points
Speed: 300 points
Sppr: 250 points x1.5 (375 points)
Rei strength: 400 points x1.5 (600 points)

La: 7
Da:93

Instinct: 200 points x 0.65 (130 Points)
Senses: 150 points x.65 (97 points)
ES: 0 points x0.33 (0 points)
Healing Efficiency: 0 points

Weapon:Firearms 3
Crafting- Firearms and Munitions: 2
Crafting-Traps: 2
Biochemistry: 2
Battle Analysis: 1
Anti-Stealth: 2
Stealth: 2
Disguise: 2

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka smiled. It seemed she was managing to make Santa a little bit sleepy! Well, perhaps not sleepy. But she was tired. This was good. Shizuka had more stamina overall than this Hollow did, so she was going to have to use that to her advantage. The biggest issues she saw were these hounds, but she'd have to find another way to deal with them. They were going to be a nuisance. Of course, even as she thought that, it never occurred to her to be more observant of her surroundings. These two hounds appeared near her and flexed their Reiatsu with such intensity that Shizuka felt herself get distracted for a moment.

She flinched. She wasn't sure if she was going to get attacked by Santa or by the dogs, so she flinched. When she didn't feel any pain coming from an attack done by those two creations, her next logical thought was that this was all a set up and Santa was going to attack her head-on. Everything was happening all at once, though. Shizuka was keeping track of it all fairly easily, but she didn't know what to defend against. And she cursed herself for not noticing the bits of flesh that had appeared. And then disappeared? Ugh, of course. Santa had seen Shizuka use Ken. She was avoiding a reoccurrence.

What was really startling, though, was the two massive spheres that formed so close to Shizuka. She gasped and considered running away, but she couldn't. She was being pulled in either direction as they condensed into nothing more than small marbles. Interesting. The pull was a bit painful, so Shizuka shut her eyes rather quickly and held them shut for a moment before reaching with her hands. She was being pulled but not necessarily held down, so she reached with her hands outwards from either side of her body and grabbed the marbles right after she activated her highest Class version of Redirection.

All she needed to do was grab these marbles. She was able to take in their Reiatsu and cycled it through her body as she made it her own before throwing them back out at Santa. They still carried their effects, but they were now Shizuka's to control. The exact same power that Santa had just created was now being used against her. Shizuka's freedom allowed for her to use her Class 2 version of Electrocution against not only the two hounds, but also the flesh that was attached to her via Santa. Her right hand shot upwards and delivered these three streaks of electricity. Since that's truly what they were and they weren't made out of Reiatsu, she hoped she'd have some luck.

Assuming she was able to hit her targets, that was all she needed for now. Since the electricity produced was unleashed because of her, she was able to channel it away from her body if it struck Santa's flesh. Either way, that was the use of two high-Class techniques in succession. Shizuka was panting and dropped to her knees, supporting herself with nothing more than her arms and the determination to not fall over and get her clothes dirty. She paused and looked at herself, as well. She had several burns across her right hand and arm from both attacks and the rest of her body felt hot. It was stinging her quite a bit.

"Both of us could keep this up, but all I'm doing at this point is injuring myself.' She took a deep breath and looked up in Santa's direction. "Because I have to rest, I already know you have the perfect opportunity here. Go ahead and take it."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Redirection (Mastered: - 750 TTP)}

Technique Name: Redirection

Class: 3-1

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
This is a vicious technique used by strong Reiatsu beings. This allows the user to grab a hold of Reiatsu, cycle the energy through their body, consume it (therefore making it theirs), and then hurl it back. In other words, one can redirect the enemy's Reiatsu-based attack by catching it and throwing it back either by spin or just catch and throw.

How this works has been stated above. Now, the important thing to recognize is that there are three Classes to this technique. The Class 3 version can catch Reiatsu of any Class except Class 1+ and redirect it for half cost of the technique. The Class 2 version can do the very same, except it layers the user's Reiatsu Strength on top of the enemy's Reiatsu Strength for the returned attack. It also uses the full cost. The Class 1 version can return any technique regardless of reiatsu strength, and does so with the user's reiatsu strength layered on top of the enemy's. However, it does so for double cost, and does not work on class 0 techniques.

How to use technique: Stated above.

Drawback: This will burn the user. It will burn their arms. It will burn their insides a bit. They will cook a little. This will strain their body and reiatsu. It can only be used once per post. It shuts off release if used 3+ times in a released state.

Made By: Admin

Reserved?: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Energy Generation: Electrocution (Mastered: - 360 TTP)}

Technique Name: Electrocution

Class: 4-2

Technique Type: Energy Generate

Usable By: Human World Dwellers

Technique Element: Lightning

Technique Description and Effects:
An ancient and powerful Energy Generate technique uncovered, Electrocution is a natural force using technique. This EG uses the raw power of electricity as its weapon, ravaging an enemies body as it is released from the hands or fingertips of its user. As the caster is only the conduit for the lightning, the EG does not rely on any of his physical or spiritual capabilities to perform. He simply needs the necessary Reiatsu to use it. Electrocution is a devastating Energy Generate as no force living or dead can withstand the effects of an electric shock. When the lightning strikes the target they will, typically, clench up and become immobilized as the pain of Electrocution courses through their bodies. Those struck by the electric shock are subject to the pain of high powered electricity. As mastery of the technique rises so does the power behind the electricity. Reiatsu Strength is the used Offensive Stat for this technique, but because this technique has definite damage the OS is simply used for clashes.

Class 4: The user cannot fully utilize the power of this technique at this Class. At Class 4 all the user can do is create a quick blast of electricity, a single and quick bolt that does nothing more than quickly immobilize and hurt the enemy. The bolt is quick, moving within the seven meter range of effectiveness in the blink of an eye. The immobilization caused by the bolt is quick fleeting, doing nothing more than stopping the target from performing an action (someone running would fall over). It is essentially the equivalent of someone being shot with a taser.

Class 3: Class 3 users of Electrocution are a force to be feared on the battlefield. As they practice and hone their talents with the technique they soon reach the level where they are no longer limited to a quick spark. Class 3 can release a steady stream of arcing bolts of electricity from their palms or fingertips for approximately seven seconds. While only one target can be struck at this level, the power at this level is much higher than its Class 4 state. Immense pain is inflicted upon the target, causing either intense tension in the body as it freezes up or simply collapsing. While not as lethal as the Class 2 version, this level of power is very useable in the battlefield. Unlike the former level, this one will even leave smoldering , second degree, burns upon the victim's body where the electricity struck. Machinery relying on electric parts are easily and effortlessly disabled by Electrocution at this level. At Class 3 it is entirely capable of killing people if you’re not careful.

Class 2: The most powerful level of this technique and only few have ever achieved. Upon becoming Class 2 users of Electrocution the user can easily gain the advantage on multiple opponents at once. The user can choose to release his technique from one or two hands or if Mastered from their entire bodies, releasing multiple forked arcing bolts of electricity to attack up to three foes at once. As the beams are forked they can jump between enemies, meaning one man can hit three people at once if they are close together. When the Class 2 version is fired, it doesn’t stop until the user either dies or wills it to stop. Multiple, hindering, third degree burns will cover the victim's body, often leaving them a steaming mess. The electrical power this technique is comparable to a lightning bolt, making it absolutely devastating against people. Continued and multiple exposure to this attack can cause someone to have cardiac arrest or completely disintegrate them.

How to use technique: Using the technique is rather simple. One simply focuses their Reiatsu into their hands and imagines lightning. It’s a technique that gives hardly any sign of its preparation, making it an extremely useful surprise attack.

Technique Drawbacks: A technique this powerful requires equally powerful drawbacks, and this technique has its own hindering drawbacks that makes someone think twice before using it. As the user is using his own arm(s) as the conduits for the technique, constant exposure to such high amounts of electricity is damaging. While the Class 4 version of this technique is far more lenient than its other versions, it can still cause numbing in the hand using it if used four times within seven posts. The Class 3 version is not so forgiving, however. The technique can be used safely twice before any of the limb damaging effects happen. Burning of the hands and arms is commonly seen after being used twice, as well as numbing of the arm that hinders its ability to be adequately used in combat. The numbness will recover after four posts. The Class 2 version of this technique though is the most damaging. It can only safely be used once, and anymore runs the risk of permanently damaging the user. Continued use of the Class 2 Electrocution would result in sever, third degree, burns across the length of the arm(s) that conduct this technique. While the Class 2 version can safely be used once, it will still result in the casters arm going completely numb and becoming partially paralyzed for four posts.

It has other limitations as well. Electrocution only has an effect range of ten meters, meaning an enemy has to be relatively close for it to even be effective. As this power is using pure electricity, it can be grounded by things that would normally ground electricity. Spiritual steel is able to partially block most of the power behind this attack, effectively halving most of the power but only if the target can block it in time. Both Hierro and Blut provide a natural defense against this technique, but follow Offensive Stat and Class Clash rules.

Made By: Ray

Reserved: No

Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 3325 (-800 for Redirection, -600 for Electrocution)

[Santa Ajora]

Santa narrowed her eyes as she watched the girl struggle.... aven MORE when they suddenly...reached for her orbs? She should have just shot the woman. Shot her in the hand. But after all, this was a spar, she wasn't supposed to hurt this woman. What was even worse was when she grabbed those cero voraz and she winced. She culdn't imagine how painful it would be to act ually grab those, the crushing force trying to break one's bones. And then suddenly they were...racing against her?! FUCK! What the FUCK had she done?! Suddenly those things weren't sucking up Shizuka, they were shredding her flesh! Of course, Shizuka would find that there WAS no flesh to electrocute.

The instant those Cero Voraz were no longer under Santa's control, they sucked all of that up, shredding it along with them as they raced toward the woman. The hollow hesitated. And then quickly slipped into an ulcera before they could reach her. VERY thankful that she had maintained a very far distance when springing her trap. She was gone far before those things slammed into the ground, and began chewing up the area, eventually they would peter out, especially with no caster nearby to sustain them, they would soon vanish. Santa herself spilled into the air beside Shizuka after that sudden upsurge of electricity, though her hounds were on the ground, twitching and smelling somewhat burnt from the attack, Santa narrowed her eyes at the woman. Thankfully, that cero was not meant to be a projectile.

Of course....with the caros then fired away, the garden wold go right back to growing. The area had been seeded by that reiatsu, even moreso thanks to the techniques Shizuka had used. And already, more than seven feet of flesh was already growing it's way up Shizuka's body. "You'll have to come with me. This won't stop growing because of the reiatsu in the air now. And I'd rather you not drown in my garden, as I don't have a way of turning it off." she reached out, and assuming Shizuka took her hand, she would use ulcera, pulling the woman into the valley of screams as she put them onto her deer half and let them ride all the way away from the spot.

It would be a very odd experience for Shizuka no doubt. The valley of screams, through ulcera, was very unusual. She would be able to see the real world, it was ...distorted. Like a sort of shadowy version of the world. But it simply wasn't tangible, she would even notice that Santa was walking on reiatsu platforms rather than that shadowy ground. It would certainly give her a lot of perspective on how hollows hunted. Of course there were other side effects. The feeling of growth wright where she was sitting, as that flesh continued to slough off of her 'mount'. Sadly, there wasn't much one could do about that.

Soon enough, they managed to get away, and once again, the air opened up, from shadow into reality as Santa stepped out, a good quarter mile from where they had been before, helping Shizuka down onto the grass. Santa herself was staring down at the woman, looking at them carefully. That doll made it's way over, looking just as...intrigued as Shizuka. "You're very strong for a human. Stronger than I thought." The doll murmured, and smiled nervously. Oh she was quite taken with Shizuka at this point. "I made a mistake....sortof. Hm...I didn't want to make them so strong that they would rip the flesh from your body. If I ever fight a human for real at your level, I will have to remember not to take that chance. =" She mused softly, and then folded her hands as Santa herself gave herself a shake, loosening herself up before looking back down to Shizuka.

"So then. I presume that I have passed your test. I do hope that I've earned a position beyond mere entry level. If possible, I would like to work with um....you. If you don't mind." That hint of nervousness as she spoke. She was not used to dealing with humans. Being civil. That sort of thing. But most importantly, she actually felt....she could actually trust the woman. She had had allies before. Adrastos. Val. But she had never ACTUALLY trusted either of them. They were hollows. She knew that given enough weakness, either of them would have eaten her in a heartbeat. But this was.......unusual. She actually didn't think that this human would out her, let alone destroy her without cause. And...as a result. Ajora felt a sort of....loyalty budding inside herself. She hated it, for being such a foreign feeling. But it wasn't....an awful feeling.

-150 reiatsu for Ulcera x2
1825/3750 Reiatsu remaining

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka winced a little bit at each movement she was forced to make from the time she was rescued from being drowned by flesh to the moment she was finally safe and away from harm. The entire journey was one big slap to the face as she realized she wasn't quite ready to use two large techniques like that in succession. She thought she had grown a bit, especially since she could use other high-Class attacks, but she overestimated herself in this case. She wasn't prepared to deal with the pain that accompanied using something like Redirection, and especially not on Santa's gravitational orb things.

She was just thankful she had accepted Santa's hand when it was offered. All she could do was nod and smile weakly at the time because it was just too painful to move much on her own. Perhaps if she didn't use them so soon after each other? Well, maybe. Maybe not. All it takes is practice. Practice and understanding what it was that her powers could actually do. Evidently, she still had plenty of room to grow. That was good. So as Santa allowed Shizuka to freeload off of her ability to travel, she somewhat passed out. She was tired. She wouldn't have been able to keep defending herself at her best if that test had gone on longer.

Though her eyes were semi-open, she didn't know what to make of the Valley of Screams that she witnessed. She didn't even know what it was. Perhaps having a Hollow around would give her the opportunity to learn more than she ever did about the rest of this world. She recalled briefly visiting Soul Society even in her living state, but she needed help to get there. She guessed that was simply how it worked. Creatures that could teleport between all worlds so easily were truly amazing and she was very jealous of that fact. But for now, all she could do was enjoy it. At least until it was over.

Before she knew it, Shizuka was on the grass. She was able to stand at this point so she did, but she noted how painful everything still was. She felt like she was burnt from the inside out and her right arm was especially terrible. She grumbled a bit to herself our of frustration, but there wasn't much she could do about that. She'd just have to keep this in mind for the future. For now, she took a deep breath and enjoyed the scent of earth all around her. It was nice to be back on the ground. Like, fully on it. Shizuka laid herself down so that she was looking up at the sky and enjoying the relaxed view.

"You're very strong for a human. Stronger than I thought. I made a mistake....sort of. Hm...I didn't want to make them so strong that they would rip the flesh from your body. If I ever fight a human for real at your level, I will have to remember not to take that chance."

Shizuka's ears twitched at the sudden sound of a voice. "That's smart. They could be stronger than me and they won't be as forgiving."

"So then. I presume that I have passed your test. I do hope that I've earned a position beyond mere entry level. If possible, I would like to work with um....you. If you don't mind."

Her? She wanted to work with her? That had been the first time anyone ever requested it. Shizuka didn't think she was particularly exciting to work with. Her team was focused around interrogation and all that which wasn't always super fun. Well, the Fullbringer had fun with it, but would a Hollow? She wasn't certain. But Santa was right about one thing. She passed. And she definitely deserved a spot that wasn't entry level, though what she was asking meant bumping her up quite a bit from a mere Sword. But, then again, Shizuka had to pull out some big guns just to avoid getting caught and had to surrender because she used so much energy at once. That was a pretty big deal.

"If I give you the position I'm thinking about, it would mean your focus would be interrogation. That is what my Shadows and I handle. Then again, you'd also be my first Shadow."

Shizuka tilted her head to the side slightly and looked up at Santa. The Hollow looked even more gigantic now than she did before. She wasn't huge by any means, but anyone taller than Shizuka made her feel small. She was an average height, after all. Not like being taller than her was hard. But anyway, when Santa saw the look in her eyes, she'd see nothing but motivation, determination, and the utmost trust. Her expression wasn't happy or sad or anything like that, but rather as if someone knew they won at a game of poker. She picked up her left arm and extended her hand as much as she could and made her offer.

"Santa Ajora, I give you a seat at my right hand. You will act as my Shadow and follow my lead. I may train you and help you grow strong until the inevitable day that you join even higher Ranks than this. But if you falter, I will also not hesitate to kill you. If we have a deal, then join me. I welcome you to Xcution."

[Santa Ajora]

Truth be told Santa was a little surprised the girl was so tired. Perhaps she had worn them out far more than she had thought herself capable. At the start of this little interview, she had thought about it. And if she had found this woman in such a weakened atate, she would have eaten her. But this....human, had an effect on her. She wild not call it true attachment. No. If Shizuka crossed her then the woman would find out just how much the hollow had been dialing back. But as it were... to not only help her, to take her into xcution. But the offer of a spot as her Right hand? She was a little shocked. She paused... and then reached down. With her REAL hand. Dripping as it were.and she shook the one offered. As her doll gave a soft girlish squeal of excitement in the background.

”I accept, Shizuka Sanamizu. I think I am.... well equipped to making people talk. And I look forward to working beneath you. Ma’am.” she replied. And it was strange. It wasn’t complete. It wasn’t absolute. But on some small level, as she held the hand of this... human. This FOOD. She felt a sense of assurance. Of knowledge. Of resolve. She felt confident, that no matter how things managed to turn out: she would do it. That her goals were not so lofty. It was no longer a matter of if. A matter of maybe. Now? So far as her dreams, for the first time.

It was only a matter of time.

Fin