Unwillingly here for your entertainment JT Alastor/Astrid

[Astrid Vess]

Another "day" another reconstitution. Astrid despite her continuing to eat the "fruits" of the trees present in the Suicide Forest had yet to grow in any substantial way. If anything she'd actually stayed the same. Thus she was just as poorly suited to doing anything but running around and occasionally teleporting when she needed to get out of dodge. Today's bright and shining reconsitution however brought her somewhere VERY far away from the forest she'd come to enjoy, in her own way. Instead she'd spawned from within the 5th circle this time and spawned from no less than the boiling river styx where other sinners were constantly duking it out and trying to drown one another. To say being boiled alive hurt, was an understatement. She was very much NOT alright with this. And Astrid had reconstitued in the stomach acid of a predatory plant.



She was by no means NOT used to spawning in places that hurt her. But this was a whole new level. In addition to being lashed out at by the various spirits bound to the river. When she finally found the means to crawl out of the river she took a deep breath only to cough out the stench of smoke and whatever else the boiling river of blood gave off in fume form. "Hate. . . this place. . . far more. . Must return. . to forest. But how?" A good look around and she was definitely in a forest area. But it was like a rainforest nearing on the side of a swamp. And to make it worse, asthetically, it was just various shades of black. Thus Astrid being a dark green-brown with hints of red stood out like a sore fucking thumb. Which then brings us to the latest set of problems.



This being the centaurs that existed on this level. Fun fact they had bows, arrows, swords, and spears. And they were WAY stronger than anything Astrid could hope to compare to. And they saw her crawl out the river. Their cruel smiles were wide as a couple jumped over the river and other simply raced from each side of Astrid. Astrid had about 15 seconds at the most before she was surrounded. And likely sliced to death. So as with all wild animals Astrid ran the fuck away and into the forest. Well tried to. She was infinitely slower than them but unlike her pursuers she had teleportation. She just needed to get within 40 feet of the trees and spawn up a sigil there. A near impossible feat considering she was 80 feet away and only slowly getting closer. Still she hastily created her sigils in her vain attempt to run away before she was impaled to death. Little did she know that these centaurs would be the very least of her concerns as yet another akki would be strolling around. One comparable to Orobas, the last truly concerning monster she'd met.

[Alastor Caedes]

Another day, or hour, or week, or minute, or year. Another amount of time has passed and Alastor did not care for the attempt to keep track of such things. Nay for once he was able to sort of relax. He wasn't truly much of a relaxation type of being, constantly working towards the Sanctus's goals. Constantly keeping vigilant eye on the gates records of opening and closure. Viscously keeping track of the souls who pass in and out of Hell's skeletal gates, he even knew of the ones who forced their way out. So many sinners he had to keep track of day in and day out, he thankfully was able to keep most of the spying to his agents. His Stalkers and Creepers and Infiltrators. 

For once. He could actually relax and not focus on work. One may ask, what about his deal with Luca and his meeting with the Tercera Espada, Arcadus? Both of them shared a reason. Business. Neither one was a visit or meeting of pleasure. Nay, both of them were to further both his own goals and the Sanctus's overall mission. For the majority of sinners, they were free from their suffering and yet did not know the extent that the Legatus members were scheming for. Well, everyone except Holika. That brain fried moron couldn't sit still long enough to think of a coherent plan of action to save her own semi-immortal soul. Always rushing into the next appointment or torture session. 

What a Disappointment. 

But that was enough about the smoldering teenage problem child called Holika. As Alastor was strolling through the fifth layer of Hell with a cigar nestled into his razor sharp grin. Using the river styx to light his cigar, he grinned watching Centaurs torture the souls that come near it. Until he noticed a new sinner be born near the river. A plant like Hason, no bigger than a small child. From her strength, she shouldn't have spawned here at least not yet. Unless. With that thought, Alastor grinned. Making his way over towards the reiatsu of the Hason. He could see it running away from some Centaurs. A moment he simply watched this little game of cat and mouse. 

And then he actually recognized some of the Centaur. They didn't really have names to call themselves with, but they were servants of this layer. Servants that Alastor can and would easily be able to control. A Fun fact about the centaurs was that they only spoke Latin and ancient greek. So in such language Alastor spoke. " That is enough Keepers. This one is mine." These words spoken moments after he himself teleported in front of Astrid. The Centaurs in a moment of shock that someone dared to tell them enough, looked at Alastor after he teleported. The group all turned and noticed Alastor first hand. Stopping dead in their tracks and ran off in a different direction. 

Another benefit to being a Legatus member. Was simply being able to tell the Hell beasts to stop, well all of them that were weaker than him. Which in reality, was not many. Hell Hounds, These Centaurs, the Harpies, several forms of monsters called Hell Beasts were under the Sanctus's command. Though, they were mostly under Orobas's rulership. Alastor turned his attention to Astrid and his grin widened, taking a puff of his cigar he chuckled. " Well, well, well. What is a Sinner from the Forest of Suicide doing here? And one so low on the totem pole? " His eyes scanned the little Hason and if she were to run, he would simply laugh. 

The deranged laugh that would send shivers down the spine of even the pope. 

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid had made it a grand total of 10 feet given her burnt / overcooked appendages doing thier best to move her. And yet the centaurs were within 5 feet of her already. More than close enough to actually start landing any amount of mortal, or more likely, painful but not death worthy blows on her. That is until she teleported. A sigil appeared 40 feet away and the one she'd placed on her chest immediately allowed her to drastically get closer to the trees. Thankfully now only 30 feet away she just needed another few moments and she'd escape. Or at least be able to hide among the trees. She then promptly saw darkness for a moment. And that's when she knew she'd met yet another one of THEM. Akki. Orobas had made certain to show off his lovely step tech that blinded those who he appeared before he actually allowed those nearby to see his presence.



Sadly though Astrid understood actually nothing of Alastor's first commentary. If she could describe it, he sounded like he was making sounds up and calling it a language. Not unlike that of a baby still trying to learn it's first language. However when the impending death via hooves suddenly stopped moving and ultimately got quieter she knew whatever he'd said had to have been more than gibberish. Not that she'd ever understand it. At least not in her current state. Looking up at the akki she immediately took a couple steps back, not wanting to be anywhere near this thing. And without even realizing it she started to growl at him. The vines of her body pulsing and wriggling around. Obviously she couldn't do anything to him. He knew that. She knew that. But Astrid was not one for containing her anger or intense dislike of the scumbags of hell called akki.



This didn't stop when Astrid actually heard him speak again, and in a language that she could understand this time. Still her pairs of eyes narrowed immensely as he called her out for being weak. Which she was. Without a doubt. But that didn't mean she was fond of having that fact thrown in her face. Still she wasn't about to throw hands with the akki, no she needed to escape. And escape into the forest or into the boiling blood pool. And honestly? The latter seemed more appropriate given the last time she tried to run into a forest she was immediately followed. The blood pool was less likely. Again. . . death. . . ARGH! . . to blood. . . must be quick. If there was one thing this akki did right though, it was not go on a fucking speech. Orobas did and Astrid about lost it, wait, DID lose it against Orobas. To her detriment. Granted staining his pants wasn't really "harmful" but blood was such a hard stain to get rid of. Even in Hell.



Astrid though she had half a bestial mind to say something to him decided against it. In fact she'd long since decided she'd just kill herself again and take her chances respawning somewhere else. Centaurs were one thing. Constantly meeting high end akki were another. Thus Astrid quickly created another sigil and had it appear 40 feet away undoing all the effort and work she'd previously done to get away from the boiling blood as well as the centaurs. With a last loud growl Astrid immediately teleported away and started running towards the River Styx all the while generating another Sigil and shattering the one that was before Alastor. She'd hear the laugh he'd give off but honestly she didn't care. She just wanted to stop dealing with fucking akki of all things and go back to simply being in her forest and dealing with the shit that roved around there.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-150 for 3 sigils created
-50 reiatsu for 2 teleportations

[Alastor Caedes]

Alastor smiled softly when he saw Astrid turn and seemingly react like a angry cat. Her vines showing her disdain, something he was used to seeing in Hason that didn't join the Sanctus. The fact that she was here, so far away from her own hell home of the forest. Alastor could only imagine why she respawned here of all places. Being the administrator of Hell itself, he had it set in ways to allow growth in power for the weaker sinners. Yet Astrid... Astrid appeared somewhere she wasn't anywhere ready to even begin to deal with. It made the Akki gain a bit of a interest in her, not including the lingering sensation of Orobas's reiatsu. It was faint, but existent. Did Orobas already claim this little Hason? No, she didn't have the mark on her body. She wasn't a sinner that was under the Sanctus control. 


In his thoughts, the other side of him decided to speak up. ' Hey. King. She's running away. ' The Psychopath of Alastor's personality spoke up in Alastor's mind. This caused him to actually notice Astrid run and seemingly Teleport a short distance away. Alastor laughed as he watched her teleport away using these marks. " Very interesting.... Lets see what your potential unfolds into. A Beautiful maiden of sin? Or a ugly wench of desire? " With a new found interest in Astrids capabilities Alastor held out a hand towards her. " As the Administrator of Hell, system open. Gate's Open. " In front of Astrid three gates would rapidly rise and open. 

Alastor's grin gave away his intent. He was interested in this Hason and wanted to see what she would do without any predators. Each of the gates led to a different place in the World of the Living. The left gate led to the city of Paris, France. The Middle gate led to the city of Kyoto, Japan. Where as the right gate would lead to the city of Venice, Italy. Alastor knew how Hason worked, as his Legion was mostly built from them. Knowing how to manipulate their beastial minds into doing what he wants. If Astrid chose the gates Alastor would only laugh and grin as he would prepare himself to travel to the same place as her. If she however chose to kill herself, well then she would just be delaying the inevitable. 

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid was smiling as much as her contorted vine like face would allow. She wanted nothing more than to see the look on Alastor's face when she flung off into the lava and killed herself for yet another mastermind escape plan. The thing about Akki that Astrid had yet to understand, let alone realize, was that Akki had access to bullshit. And the upper echeleon of akki? They were something that made every other akki of hell look like a fucking joke. Alastor was one such akki because he was the manager of the abominable gates that locked everyone inside hell. Thus when Astrid threw her sigil and decided to taunt Alastor just a bit she never realized that she threw the sigil onto the outside wall of the vatican.

Astrid went so far as to stop running and simply walk backwards as she laughed at Alastor. Well if you can call her grating and crunching sound that came from her vines as laughter. It felt like laughter to Astrid but honestly to anyone else it likely sounded like a series of branches being stepped on and broken. It never occured to Astrid that she should likely look to where her sigil had landed at. But once she "felt" it settle she simply activated the sigil and immediately teleported herself. . . directly into the human world. Venice Italy directly into the Vatican next to several buildings far larger than her and what looked akin to bunking areas.

Astrid's three sets of eyes went as wide as they could. Suddenly she was somewhere quiet. That smelled clean and fresh. There was no fresh scent of blood or brimstone or charcoal or just "burnt". Hell there was even a bit of sweet floral scents in the air given she was near the gardens. As much as she was amazed she was mostly stunned and had to wonder just what in the fuck had happened. Her sigils didn't take her here. They were always within range. Within sight. She could go far but not like this. Not to another domain. In truth for a moment she considered that maybe she was being tricked somehow but when she walked up to the wall before her and felt the cool smooth stone she realized this was no trick. This was real. The scent, the feel, the distinct lack of sound was all real.

And that's when she heard a door creaking shut. Wihtin seconds her entire body turned to the sound and realized that she was on the other side of a door. And not just any door but THE gate of hell. The one that threw sinners into hell like they were playthings and chew toys. Which they were if she were honest. And only once had she been as close to them as she was now. That ONE instance was when she was initially brought to hell and she'd never forget how the closed upon her as she fell from the sky into the suicide forest. Yet here they were again and she was stunned but that moment passed quickly. She had to return! Bubbles and the various internal organs falling from the hanging tortured sinners were her food and place of residence. It was where she knew and considered her home even if it did kill her regularly.

She couldn't leave it, she didn't want to leave it even and so she ran as fast as her vines would let her. But she was slow. And without her sigils couldn't go practically anywhere. Thus the doors slammed shut in her face and stayed there taunting her as she tried in vain to open them. Eventually however she realized she could no long hold onto them and that they were fading. Astrid watched in awe as it left her behind as it had once before. But now in a strange realm. A realm she knew not of and was uncertain of what it was. She tried in vain for a couple more moments to search for the door but ultimately found nothing and sat for a moment trying to wrap what little of her mind could be collected to consider what was going on.

Sad to say though her stomach and the deep seated hunger quickly made itself known. Clawing up from the depths of her soul it started to consume her thoughts and direct her to the very primal and very currently important goal. Food. She needed to find something to eat. Something preferably warm and flesh based. Something that she could just tear into with wanton glee and feast on the sweet delights within them. Especially the liver or whatever was the closest thing to a liver she could find in whatever existed here. And to Astrid's good fortune such a meal was walking right up to her. A couple of elderly men in robes of white with the christian cross hanging around their necks. One had a bible in hand and the other hand a cane to aid them in walking. She looked at them confused. What could these creatures be? So withered and defenseless. And somehow she sensed, vaguely, of some spiritual prowess to them.

She tilted her head and slowly strolled over to one. Unaware that she couldn't be seen by simple humans she was able to get a close up look at them with ease. They couldn't know what was before them was the beginnings of a predator directly from their worst nightmares. They couldn't know that the only reason her hunger wasn't overwhelming and controlling her compulsions to consume them was due to her trying to vaguely understand just what they were and if they could be food. Afterall there was no need to waste time if they weren't food or anything that could be such. But finally as she walked next to them for a moment and got a serious look over of them did she recognize exactly what they were. Humans! The very same things she fed on in the forest but now with their lower portions included! She hadn't recognized them from how withered they were in addition to their lack of maiming and brutalized wounds. It was strange and frankly she couldn't understand just how such things existed. . . especially how such weak things existed. In hell they'd never survive. She should know. She struggled for that reason alone.

Her stomach growled again except this time it growled so loudly that even the priests heard it and confused it for one anothers stomach. Ultimately laughing it off as they continued to hobble towards their rooms. This was it, Astrid's eyes narrowed as hunger yet again consumed her being. Her thoughts, her goals, her life, her everything was now devoted to feeding this inner hole she had. And unending hole that was never satisfied. It craved food. DEMANDED sustenance. And these weaklings would be the start. Eyes narrowed and posture rigid she stalked them for a moment just to make sure they couldn't see or hear her. Once certain she immediately tackled the one without the cane first pushing him onto the ground. From there she went for his legs specifically the back of his knees and ripped chunks of flesh out of them.

She was a beast but she was cunning when she needed to be. Why let the one without a limp walk away? It would alert others. Interlopers. If she tore out his kneecaps he couldn't move and she'd be able to consume at her leisure. Especially the one who needed a cane to even move. Astrid laughed again as she continue to rip each leg to shreds before slowly climbing up his back and clawing through his right side. She knew what she wanted and it was his kideny. She needed it. She DESIRED the juicy organ. And knew she'd get easy pickings from now deceased man. But she was interrupted as the other now nearly screaming and shaking elderly priest was trying to hit her with a cane. She growled at him, not that he could hear her. And with the cane phasing through her due to it's immensely lacking spiritual nature she decided to pounce on the man and get the kill over with. No point in waiting. Especially if he started screaming.

He was pushed down easy by her and with a bloodying "hand", collection of vines, over his mouth she tore out his neck from the front all the way to the back where the cold stone lay. She then jumped on his ribcage and heard a lovely sickening cracking sound. She hoped deep within that she didn't have to salvage the organs within. Bruising was fine. Impaled organs however were just tricky. Especially when you conisder how hard bone is to get out from the vines between her "teeth". Thus she quickly got off his chest and began her work of opening his chest up and removing the pesky broken bones before immediately diving straight into the now open cavity and consuming all the organs in sight. One after the other in quick slippery succession. Without her realizing it she'd already painted her entire front and lower portion a deep crimson. But that didn't matter if anything it meant she could smell herself now and she smelled GREAT. Fresh viscera and blood. It was damn near a raptuous experience given she'd never had something THIS fresh. It made the organs in the suicide forest seems stale by comparison. And maybe they were, who knew? But for now she was going to feast on these two. And once she was done? She would go after more. Because her hunger was anything but sated. And if she were honest? This was just a light snack before she got to the main course. The barracks.

[Alastor Caedes]

Alastor simply stood there. Watching Astrid become so cocky and arrogant in her escape attempt that she even had the gull to walk backwards and make sounds that Alastor could only assume was laughter. To be frankly honest, it was kinda adorable watching her. A slight grin as he watched the poor girl teleport herself through the Vatican gate. This made him burst into laughter as he flicked his wrist ordering the gate that she just passed through to close. As the sounds of the location quieted down now that Astrid had been yeeted out into the World of the Living. He simply stood there for a brief bit of time smiling to himself as he finally decided to even speak. 

"Oh. That one is such a treat."

Knowing that the shinigami that make their base in the Vatican will most certainly be on to Astrid soon enough. Well, to be honest they were the most frustrating Shinigami. The ever so vigilant district squad that Vatican group of Shini's were. Alastor simply shrugged and snapped his fingers. "Brayla!" The moment the name was called out, a quick gate formed showing a green haired female Saika who immediately kneeled. "Yes, your highness?" Alastor simple smirked. Brayla was his best scout. "Go keep an eye on that Hason i just sent to the Vatican. I will be there shortly." Brayla bowed her head. "Right Away." The female Saika immediately disappeared. Alastor himself however, quickly pulled out two small crystals out from a small gate way. 

"This should last the entire scene. Roman Wine... aah. So intense in flavor and spice. Aaah... And a set of cigars. Smoking in the Vatican, what a blissful sin in the city of virtue." 

Opening his own gateway, he manifested by a small wine shop not too far away from Astrid's location. Taking a seat, Brayla appeared before him. "Sire. The Hason you released has already begun feasting upon the local life. What would you like me to do?" Alastor waved his hand at her and grinned. " Go on and head on back to your other duties. I have this one properly." Brayla simply bowed and vanished, returning to Hell. All while Alastor simply sipped his wine as he watched Astrid via her reiatsu signature. Occasionally laughing at Astrids antics in a pure unadulterated sadistic joy. "This one has the right motivation...This will be interesting to see her grow."

Meanwhile elsewhere in the city. A small squad of shinigami of four members took notice to Astrids unrepressed reiatsu. "What is happening? There is a strange reiatsu signature near the Vatican Plaza." Another Shinigami sighed, dressed a bit more officially than the other three. " Alright. Shirabuzo, Kusawato, Wanatsumi. You three head to investigate. I will stay and see if there are any reports of Hollow activity." The three shinigami, one female and two males, both nodded and started moving on their way. To say that Alastor didn't immediately pick up on their reiatsu would be a lie, but they were about as weak as Astrid. So, he planned to not interfere until things got rough for Astrid. 

After all Alastor was trying to figure out where Astrid was strong and where her weak points were. He wanted to know what Hell has done to train this Hason and to see if she was capable on her own. Or if she needed a more nurturing training than a typical Hason that required less actual training and more letting her do whatever. Yet for now, for now he was smoking a one-hundred-year-old cigar and sipping an even older bottle of roman spiced wine back from Caeser's time. "Aaaah.... How i enjoy such fine drinking and smoking in the city of perfect virtue... With the scent of blood filling the air~ How enjoyable." Alastor was quite pleased so far.

SPOILER: Click to show

3 Rank 1, Class 8 Shinigami on their way. 280SP/ 
Strength:50
Speed: 50
Reitasu Strength: 40
Spiritual Pressure: 40
Instinct: 20
Senses: 40
Energy Sensory: 40

[Astrid Vess]

It took around 10 minutes for Astrid to damn near consume the entire body. The old men were thin and aged so flesh wasn't exactly the most prevelant on them however the reason it took so long for Astrid to finish them off? The internal organs, including that simple delicacy the brain. Astrid shuddered to herself as she made certain to go over the recent memories and place them somewhere she could recall at a later date. Once done and with her hunger sated enough to be able to use some thought she finally attempted to think about that current situation at hand. Stuck here. . . Food is. . . good. And many. . . Too easy . . . small fear for it. Her stomach just seconds ago pleasantly satisfied for the first time in gods only know when had started to growl lightly. Whatever this force was that continued to compel her to eat was already at it. And she wouldn't have much time to be seriously cognitive if she didn't continue to eat.

Eat I will. . . Feels. . better. . More. MORE FOOD. MUST EAT MORE!! Just simply thinking of the delicacies again made Astrid shudder in a way that would have made even those more stoic shudder in concern. She immediately crawled around towards the building next to her. She needed to be certain of how to handle this. Needed to inspect it. She'd learned how to be somewhat "stealthier" than the average hason so she took it slow and licked clean her hands and feet. The remainder of her body while coated in blood and viscera was drying quite well and would only leave the occasional flake. Thus she deemed it fine. Besides a part of her was happy to be coated in anothers blood anyway so she wanted to keep her trophy on her for as long as possible.

The building was fairly plain. 4 stories tall but pure white and simple. It had a couple chimney's and windows scattered around on each level. The front and back of the roof top had Jesus on the cross. And the biggest contrasting feature of this ordinary barracks room was that it's roof was stark black to the pure white stone used in it's construction. As she scouted the place out she found 4 doors. The front and back being double doors and likely to be main entrances. However the doors on the side were much smaller and had a small staircase that lead down to a pathway into the gardens for one and the other to the front of the Vatican. Astrid could tell that the best way to enter would be a front door of course. Obviously people used it all the time so why wouldn't now be a good time for it?

She obviously wasn't accounting for the fact that it was near midnight and though the doors were open there would likely be a guard or watch of some sort stationed nearby. Even the Vatican wasn't dumb enough to just let every person that walked in do what they wanted. But Astrid cared not about how humans thought. In her mind it was simple. Why have an entrance if you didn't intend to use it? Thus with a couple more oneovers of the barracks she simply walked up, quietly as her vines would allow, and opened the door. Once inside she let the door shut itself which to her unfamiliar understanding, if you could call it that, of the human world's doors caught her completely off guard. Jumping back into the center of the entrance to the barracks she hissed and started wriggling around aggressively at the door. A few moments of silence followed before she realized nothing was going to happen.

Or so she thought. As mentioned earlier very seldomly did even the Vatican allow buildings to be on their own without some kind of surveillance. Thus a priest, middle aged, clean shaven, and with a surprisingly long set of black hair and hispanic descent walked to into the main entrance area. A quick calling to whoever walked in. Astrid immediately ran back to the door and started growling loudly at him. Still not 100% catching on that no humans, normal ones anyway, would be able to see or hear her. Eventually the priest after looking around and shining the candle in his right hand about came to terms with the sound of someone entering. Given they couldn't see Astrid they had no reason to believe that anything had entered and that he was simply hearing things given how late it was in the evening. As if to exemplify this he yawned as he made his way up the main stairway of the room and began his trip to the second floor.

Her stomach began growling again with a bit more oomph to back it up. Especially given there was some hunger pangs backing it up. Must follow. . . best. . . food around. . . Thus she quickly followed up the creaky stairs. Jumping occasionally onto the next stair as the old wood continued to creak and groan. Astrid did not like this for numerous reasons. The most prominent being that it was almost like her laugh but worse. Weaker. Nearly breaking like individuals with weak wills. Someone Astrid did NOT want to be. She was better than this. At least she thought so. Thought she could be. Thus despite her numerous jumps and growls she eventually reached the top of the stairs and found that the priest was noticeably more concerned now but was still nearby, just about 10 feet ahead. She smiled as her maw began to drool sweetly scented saliva sap.

Witout her realizing it the priest almost immediately took note of her saliva's scent and stood around trying to figure out where the surprisingly sweet smell was coming from. Meanwhile Astrid allowed her posture to be rigid and her movements slow and quiet again. Fortune at her side she didn't actually step on any further creaking steps and was at the mans feet in no time flat. The hunger was so strong now, it was ravaging her mind. Consuming it and giving her visions of just how much she could be if she just consumed this man in his entirety. But there was a single thought that screamed and it had her instincts back it up. He'd scream if she wasn't careful. And since it was night the others that were sleeping would find themselves waking almost immediately and find the body. She didn't have time for hiding the body and she'd inevitably need to clean herself up after again so she had to think about how to make herself as quiet as possible. And then a sick twisted idea hit her.

She smiled evilly as her instincts and her mind laughed as loudly as was possible. While the man was coming to terms with the ungodly strong sweet scent she tripped him as he stumbled around. From there she let the upper torso of the man fall on her body and before he could scream or make any real sound she thrust her right vine fist into his mouth and grabbed his tongue. She then laughed to herself and allowed said tongue to lick his temple as she breathed heavy. Meanwhile the remainder of her lower body wrapped around the mans arms and his torso, locking both in place. Sadly she wasn't big enough to ensure his legs couldn't move and she quickly noticed that he was kicking all over the place. With a roll of her several sets of eyes she immediately raked her claws on the inside of his throat and once the claws were imbedded deep into the flesh of his throat inside started pulling the upper portion of his skull.

She intended to rip off half his head. And she didn't need to be nearly as strong as you might think to achieve it however one hand alone wasn't going to do the job. . . without a few well placed cuts to ensure the tears pulled themselves away. Thus she used her claw on either side of her hand currently in this mans mouth and made lovely cuts through his cheeks. Once she had them cut open to the bone the just started pulling. And pulling. And pulling. It took a good 2 minutes but ultimately the skull was ripped off and out of it's socket and the man still alive was in agony. And the fear of god was put into him as he had no idea what could have been causing this aside from a demon. . . which was sort of right but mostly wrong. Still he hadn't died yet and Astrid from tired of waiting to consume this priest thus brought back her left arm shoved it into his now expanded mouth and shoved her claws through either side of his neck.

With a bit of wiggling and a whole lot of struggling she eventually cut all the flesh in two aside from the bits connected by the spinal chord. She had no luck in that one. And at this point didn't even bother. The man who'd been screaming in agony even with the immense muffling that was Astrid's hands and by extension arms died shortly after solely due to blood loss. Once he stopped moving she finally got started on the brand new snack before her. She made it her lifes goal to crack open the skull before her and get that thick, juicy, heavy set brain away from it's pesky container. And it took another minute with how fucking thick this gents skull was but ultimately it caved and she got the brain relatively intact. From there she stuffed her face into it and just ate and ate and ate without abandon. She wasn't going to waste ANY time on ANYTHING else that wasn't this mans cranium. And once she'd finished eating, licking her tendrils clean, and licking out the skull, she started opening up the body at the torso and going straight for the intestines. After of course draining the stomach acid out of the stomach. She may not have been afraid of spicy but no one needed chemical burns.

Thus Astrid continued her feast in near silence and without interruption as fortunately for her the priest had been the only watch that was walking around in this building. And she was "relatively" quiet enough about the kill that unless someone had also been up and about already they weren't going to be alerted to really anything being out the norm. Let alone woke up. Thus Astrid had a large amount of time to savor and enjoy the organs of this man far more than she did with the elderly priests. Blissfully unaware that she would not be alone forever and might finally be seen and heard by those who were the so called "guardians" of the vatican. But even with all the time Astrid spent in getting her kill done and partaking of it they were still taking too long to get to her. If anything they'd likely find her or the remains of the former elderly priests when she was nearly done consuming this priest. But again, not Astrid's problem. Shinigami didn't exist to her. Thus she didn't think there was anyone around that wasn't human. Until proven otherwise she'd remain blissfully aware.

[Alastor Caedes]

What a beautiful night it was. As Alastor sat outside the small shop, sipping away at his drink ever so casually it slowly started to rain. The scent of blood was slowly fading in the new dew of rainfall. But none the less, Alastor was at peace. Enjoying himself for the first real time in probably hundreds of years. These brief moments of reprive during Hason training were the most enjoyable thing to him. Well, besides mercilessly slaughtering his enemies of course. Yet that was niether here or there. The moon coming out from the clouds bringing in the silver moonlight. Alastor simply stared at it and couldn't help, but to be pulled back into memories of old. 

-4980+ years ago-

Amelgar sat in this throne, newly appointed King of his nation. The advisors trying to help find a bride for their new lord to continue the dwindling royal bloodline. What a pain it all was. The Moon light shown through and Amelgar couldn't help but to walk out onto the balcony. He remembered his fathers and brethren's words when they spoke in secret. " Son..." Static forming between that word. " Younger Brother. Being a king is something you must devote yourself too fully. If you do not, your own kingdom will swallow you whole like a serpent that swallows bird eggs. " At first he didn't quite know why those words would carry so much weight with them. As if the King was the leader and yet also a prisoner. 

-Present Time-

" Aah... Yes... I know the meaning of those words now. How ironic to only know them after being condemned. Hehaha.. Ha.." Alastor looked at the wine and sighed. He knew the Shinigami were getting close. " Well. Let us see if this Hason is capable of defending herself against her first Shinigami..." Turning to face the building Astrid was in he smiled awaiting the bloodshed. Meanwhile back at the Shinigami base. The leader frowned. " No Hollow reiatsu? I fear the worst.... I should go and warn them. " Hoping to make it in time the Shinigami officer ran to catch up to the three who were already far ahead. The three shinigami sent prior arrived and immediately began to investigate. 

" We got a pair of corpses." The female of the group said checking out the corpses and was immediately disturbed with how brutal it was. The other two look at each other and look around for the pluses of the corpses, only to find none. "No Plus's. Whatever did this... didn't just take the physical body. " The last of the three spotted a slowly fading blood trail towards the building Astrid was in. "Whatever it is, it moved. Let's go put whatever did this down."  The three made their way to the building and opened the door, surely even alerting Astrid of the noise of movement. The rain by this time had washed away all the fresh blood meaning that even if the Shinigami leader showed up, he would have a rough time following their tracks. 

Unsheathing their blades, the three shinigami made their way into the building. Looking for any sign of anything that could of murdered those two people outside of the building. Yet, in Astrid's favor. These Shinigami smelled like wet cloth, a stark contrast from the overflowing scent of bloodshed and exposed meat that she was currently dining in. The three shinigami's split up, going down separate hallways and in separate rooms. Clearly, while experienced in investigation their lack of proper teamwork ethic would most certainly make it easier for Astrid to deal with them, well hopefully. All while Alastor was amused and had already moved to a spot to get two things. 

One, to better enjoy the oncoming combat that will most certainly commence. As well as two, to now stand in the way of the Shinigami Leader as he knew he was too strong for even her to kill. 

SPOILER: Click to show

3 Rank 1, Class 8 Shinigami on their way. 
Strength:50

Speed: 50

Reitasu Strength: 40

Spiritual Pressure: 40

Instinct: 20

Senses: 40

Energy Sensory: 40

1 Rank 1, Class 5 Brave Shinigami on their way. 
Strength:70 [105]
Speed: 60 [75]
Reitasu Strength: 50 {25}
Spiritual Pressure: 50 {25}
Instinct: 30

Senses: 50

Energy Sensory: 40

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid was having herself a fine time dining on the last bits of the priests internal organs. Which truly were something divine, at least as far as Astrid was concerned. If she thought the older priests were something special then this priest was akin to a no shit delicacy. Fresh and firm yet plump and with a soft tenderness that the older folk didn't have. Astrid knew that actually nothing in hell would ever compare to this right here. Fresh off the human organs that were ripe for the picking and still warm. Astrid had a full body shudder as she damn near worshipped the remains she was consuming. But that's when she heard it. That godforsaken door closed again. And it made her jump a bit as she still wasn't used to it's loud slamming sound.

She growled lightly to herself once she got over the sound. Do not. . . like that. . . but. . what caused it? Walking over quietly to the edge of the staircase Astrid quickly took note of the shinigami, all of which were carrying weapons now. Astrid had never seen a shinigami prior to this point and yet they seemed. . . familiar. And something within her burned in immense anger and hatred. It didn't make sense. Shouldn't have made sense. And yet somehow it only made sense that she would despise them. Look at them as filth. But even filth had it's place, and their place was inside her stomach which for the time being was thankfully silent. Some part of Astrid had to wonder if it genuinely had a mind of it's own given how it decided to remind her at it's leisure when to eat and when it was important decided to just stay quiet. It was. . . odd to say the least but it was a quandry for a later date. For now she had guests to deal with.

So the real question was how to deal with them. And as Astrid watched she quickly came to realize that she needed to get them split up. If they all came after her she'd be done for. She was weaker, far more so, than the average hason. Sure she had some reiatsu to her name but she didn't know how to do anything with it. Only that she could create sigils more frequently than others could. Which was something to keep in mind. She could definitely teleport down there and play a game of tag with them but even still she didn't know what a shinigami could do. In truth if it wasn't for her instincts screaming at her that she was in a bad spot she would have considered them only differently color priests but the look on their face and their body language spoke of an upbringing that was very different than those of the church.

As if the world was only further trying to give her an easy pitch the three almost immediately split up. Granted there were all downstairs however so Astrid would be forced to jump down from the second floor or she'd have to go down those blasted stairs again. One glance at the stairs and a quiet hiss was all she needed to be reminded why that simply wasn't an option. She wasn't going to dealing wtih those fucking things if she could help it. Still needed to get down there somehow. And it hit her dead in the face. Her fancy circles could take her down there. It was incredibly simple honestly but that didn't mean now was the time to go down. Even if they'd split up she guessed they were still somewhat close by and thus decided to wait. In the meantime however she made 3 sigils and placed one of them on herself, specifically inside her chest cavity to ensure that she would be able to teleport at will. The other two were placed on the back of her hands for the time being. Simple place holders.

A minute or two passed and Astrid finally had her patience wear thin. She was a predator and knew when to wait but she wasn't nearly full enough to keep waiting. Thus she immediately threw down the sigil at the base of the stairs and subsequently teleported down. From here she looked around to get an idea of the layout. Turns out there were 3 pathways. One that immediately connected to the other side of the building and subsequently the double doors there about a good 80 feet in front of her. The shinigami in question was only 20 feet in and was looking into a couple rooms inside it, namely the cleaning gear locker. To the left and right were the other two, one female and one male. The female was looking into the chapel that was built into the barracks and the male was looking at personal rooms. Both were about 15 feet away and seemed to be pretty on edge for her. This would be. . . tough. Especially for Astrid.

Against her instincts she couldn't just eat them, and definitely not completely. At best she'd have only a moment or two to get a bite in. After that she'd have to teleport elsewhere. So the question was. . . who to go after? The chapel and the female going down it WAS tempting especially given she looked more fearful of the two. But Astrid figured she was a screamer for certain. She'd seen some of the fresh into hell sinners look like that. Most of them were screamers. The male on her right looked actually sort of imposing, he definitely had some muscularture being shown off. And while Astrid was confident eventually she could kill him she needed some time and not extra's to interrupt her. Thus she was left with the relatively average male in the center hallway. Thankfully he was actually the best choice for a couple of reasons.

1. The barracks had very seldom spots and lights based off electricity. 2. He was in a naturally darker spot with only candles on either end helping him see where he was going. That and the windows on and next to the double doors at either end of the building. 3. His back was to her. All of them were truthfully but his was damn near completely to her and she could capitalize on it the most easily. Thus he was now her specific target. She stalked quietly against the stone floor, a much simpler task given it had no potential to creak like the wood on the stairs. While the shinigami continued to walk forward slowly she was already gaining on him. And when he finally got halfway through this hallway she was right behind him. That's when he heard her and that's when he made his last mistake. He turned around.

Astrid hadn't been completely quiet nor had she been completely stealthy. While her stomach did not growl this time she began to drool a lot. Something about this shinigami just smelled even better somehow than the priest she'd just consumed. She couldn't begin to tell you why. She just knew it. Smelled it even. And it caused her glands to produce far more sap than she should have normally and that ensured the sickeningly sweet smell was prevalent to the poor singled out shinigami. Originally he didn't turn around as he stopped and just lifted his head in the air to try and see if he was imagining it. But as Astrid got closer he quickly realized this wasn't a coincidence. But when he turned around it was already too late. She was next to him and she immediately pounced onto him. Causing him to subsequently fall onto the ground in short order however the sound was muffled by Astrid wrapping herself around him, not unlike how she did to the priest.

The difference was she let her arms take the brunt of the fall and while she did grunt some she got over it. However this breath she grunted out went directly into the Shinigami's mouth. The reason being she'd unhinged her jaw as much as possible and had bitten down on his own jaw and kept it shut as she let her teeth sink through his cheeks and connect directly with his bones. Once she had him pinned she immediately took her legs threw them in the air and then stabbed them into his intestines and stomach. The squelch would have been sickening to anyone else honestly. But to Astrid? It was beautiful especially when after it came the soft warmth of his blood flowing over her spiked toes, between each individual tendril. She wiggled them causing yet more pain to her prey and letting a bit more blood flow. Oh how she wished she had time to savor it and yet she couldn't even eat him as she was taking too long. He needed to die. And sooner than later since it was possibly and likely even that the others heard her stab him.

From here she simply uncoiled her arms some, to give her "hands" a bit of breathing room, and then stabbed them through each jugular through his neck. The light left his eyes in actual seconds and when Astrid saw this she let go of his face and smiled wide with glee before licking at his face as he bled some from the holes her teeth had made. A small groan came from her as she realized he had a lovely sweetness to him. That wasn't to say he wasn't iron based like all blood but something was special about him. That sweetness wasn't in the others and she was determined to figure out what it was later on. For now she simply grabbed his tongue with her tendril fingers and cut it off with her other claws. From there she took a LARGE bite out of his neck and cut off a few fingers before running off.

Sadly though she had the right idea in running to the stairs on the opposite side of the building she did leave footprints due to using her feet and hands as the means of killing the former shinigami. It didn't help her "collection" of tasters was still leaking out blood as well. So while she ran up the back staircase the others would easily be able to find her had they heard her killing their companion. Still once Astrid was up on the stairs she took a second to hide behind the right wall preventing her from falling back down to the first floor. All this running was not making her thrilled. And her hunger was starting to rear it's ugly head at her again. If she wasn't careful with these hit and run tactics she'd find herself lost yet again to the hunger within. Something she wasn't keen on letting happen. Thus without further delay she consumed whole the fingers and tongue she'd stolen from the corpse. They satisfied her for the moment and quieted her stomach for the time being. But she wouldn't have long. And worse yet she needed a new plan. Something that would let have the two split up again. A lot to ask for but hopefully she could manage it. If not . . . well the chase would be on. And Astrid was going to be in for a rough time.

SPOILER: Click to show

{reiatsu}
-150 reiatsu for 3 sigils
-25 for teleportation

2,200 - 175 = 2,025 reiatsu remaining

[Alastor Caedes]

The night was truly becoming more and more entertaining. The slight bursts of reiatsu were enough for Alastor to keep an eye on Astrids little movements. Watching her as she crept around the entire building. Alastor grinned as he stood around in the open rain, intercepting the shinigami leader. " What in the name of the-" The leader was horrified to see Alastor's true form. " My my. The noisy little reapers always getting in the way of my fun." Alastor's shit eating grin giving away his utter amusement of the scenario. The Shinigami pulling out their zanpakuto and readying for combat as Alastor just moving his finger side to side. "Now, now little Shinigami. Fighting me is not your best option. So why don't we just wait as your little friends become mulch for my newest interest." Alastor puffed out a little puff of smoke from his cigar as he spoke.

Clearly however, the shinigami was not having it. The mere phrasing about his friends being turned into mulch was utterly distasteful. Immediately charging at Alastor yet every time he swung, Alastor didn't even bother blocking or parrying. As his blade just bounced off his skinless flesh much to the shinigami's personal confusment. "How is this.... Tear! -" Alastor grinned as a slight pulse of reiatsu flowed through his chains. The chains within a flash moved and pulled the zanpakuto away from the man. "What!?" Alastor only smirked softly as he snapped the zanpakuto in half with just his chains. " No no. No releasing your little sword." 

Tossing away the now broken zanpakuto. Alastor quickly decided that enough was enough and forced his reiatsu down upon the poor man. Not killing him but pushing him against the ground. Many with power would know it as gravitational pressure. Now that Alastor had put the shinigami in a less annoying state of being. The akki took a seat back where he was, picking up his wine glass once more. "You... Monster.... release.... Me!" The sound of the struggling Shinigami only made Alastor laugh. "Nah i don't think i will. You will serve as a excellent example and maybe as a excellent meal to my little interest. " With this Alastor turned his attention mostly back to Astrid. 


-Meanwhile-



The two remaining Shinigami's reunited after finding no true sign of anything else. "You didn't find anything? Shirabuzo-san?" The female Shinigami asked and soon enough, they came to the conclusion. Yet their third friend was no show. In their confusement, they found a blood trail that slowly got less and less visible. Becoming spots on the ground before fading entirely. "What happened to Wanatsumi?" The other shinigami shrugged their shoulders. "No idea, but id wager whatever is here got to him first. Stick close. We can't afford to be cautious after this." The two shinigami were close on Astrids trail, yet now that their friend was dead. Now they weren't gonna be separated any further. 

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid had been sitting up at the second floor next to the stairs leaning against the railing. She didn't see the shinigami but she'd heard them. Their steps were getting a bit closer and then they stopped. Seems like she was found out given she had to leave the other shinigami's body. Astrid was still not terribly pleased at that prospect truthfully. She wanted to consume him while he was still warm and leaking blood but that would be an unlikely scenario at this point. At least that was what she thought.

Unbenownst to Astrid she'd finally managed to grow just a bit. And just enough that her previously latent powers were about to begin manifesting. Unfortunately for her this would be a bit more of a painful process and something she wasn't going to be able to hide away during. Without any warning Astrid's entire being started to swell and then ache followed by ever growing pains. She tried to start walking away despite the confusion as to what was going on with her but she very quickly found that this had to by far be one of the most painful experiences she'd ever come to deal with.

Especially the tendrils that made up her back. Good lord did they ache and swell a great deal. It didn't help that she was quickly growing especially sensitive to all manner of touch that dealt with her backside. This was pain and sensitivity was only further provoke when something in her back finally decided it was time to start trying to poke through her. And by poke through I meant spear through her because it was ultimately just that painful. Astrid despite her ability to handle some pain groaned and cried out some. The sound raspy and crunchy like autumn leaves being stepped upon. This ragged sound no doubt alerted her presence to the two shinigami below.

Astrid couldn't be asked to care right now though as she was trying to slowly, very slowly crawl away since her body was betraying her currently. She almost started to make progress when the hieght of this entire event became very quickly her only thought and feeling. The object poking through her back grew and grew in strength. Continued to grow with more and more pressure building up. Astrid was about ready to cry out again when it finally punctured through her back. If the shinigami had made it they'd get the first view of Astrid's primus before Astrid could calm down enough to actually notice it herself. Behind we was something akin to a banzai tree in form, except a couple feel larger than the typical less than a foot version and to make things more confusing the tree itself was pitch black. Meanwhile it's leaves were pure white and the flowers it sported were pink sakura blossoms with a few hanging vines of deep purple wisteria blossoms.

The tree had a few specks of blood and goop on it but that quickly evaporated into the tree. Astrid in the meantime was ragged and exhausted from the experience. Her backside was sore to hell and back but it no longer screamed out in agony to her. It was however noticeably heavier like she had a decently weighted backpack on her now. A quick over her shoulder answered her silent question about what had happened to her. Then something even wierder happened before both her eyes and the shinigami's before her. The tree moved like a breeze was blowing past it allowing a few flower petals to fly off. These petals however rapidly changed and before Astrid stood 5 creatures. Four of which were wispy shades of humanoids she'd consumed but long since forgotten their form. However despite the lack of facial features she could tell they were distraught and in some amount of agony.

Still their body languange was relaxed and they glanced at Astrid with their heads tilted as though they were waiting on a command from her. There was only one thing Astrid could think of in that moment as she stared at her humanoid wisps. K-Kill them. . . bring me. . . bodies. . The wisps didn't even nod in acknowledgement. They simply turned around and took a glance at the two shinigami at the bottom of the stairs. The stare down felt like an eternity as both parties just continued to look at one another. But when the wisps moved again it was over. All of the wisps ran down at their full speed and because of it they only took 2 or 3 seconds at most to get directly down to them.

Once in front of the two shinigami the front two wisps immediately grabbed each's neck and held on with a tight grip. From there the shinigami were lifted off the ground and pulled closer to the wisp. It tilted its head again at them silently asking what it should do with them. In truth it was playing with them. Taunting them even. Because contrary to what would make sense neither of the front most wisps actually would do more than hold the shinigami in place. Instead the other two wisps would walk around them to each's backside. From there they'd punch each kidney, effectively rupturing them with just a single hit given how much stronger each wisp was compared to the shinigami.

But it didn't stop there. Then they punched them in the other kidney. Then the base of the spine. Then the center of the spine. Then the base of the neck. And from there the front wisp dropped them to the ground with neither shinigami physically capable of picking themselves up due to not only the immense amounts of pain they were in but also due to their backs being broken in 3 places. From there each summon would bring up the shinigami to Astrid. They would look her dead in the eye as she continued to breathe deeply while letting her back and her fatigue take a breather. The mutual staring contest didn't last for long however as the wisps finally completed their task. They simply took their free hand and thrust it through their necks completely.

The shinigami's last moments were spent watching Astrid go from tired and worn, to curious and uncertain about the wisps, to shock, and then sheer delight as her stomach growled louder than ever before. By the time Astrid finally got close and started consuming the male shinigami each had already died. A shame really given she wanted to see them suffer more but the wisps did answer her command to the letter. Thus she decided that despite their sudden appearance they were alright. Especially given how they helped her consume the bodies by angling them to easier for her get her jaw around. In addition to keeping an eye out for anything else going on around her.

By the time Astrid finished consuming the female she had grown to realize something. They were hers. She didn't have a complete understanding of how or why but she knew instinctively that these were her minions. Whatever she asked they would do. And these were not the only minions she had. She was slowly starting to feel more and more "blips" within her that she could call on. But for now she figured she'd stick to these ever shifting helpers. They weren't going anywhere anyway. And that's when she felt it, Alastor flex his reiatsu. In truth it was rough and rudimentary. And had he not been as close as he was Astrid would have never caught on. But she wasn't going to mistake the akki for someone else. To make things even more curious it was the same akki that she'd seen at the river with his noticeably darker and heavier energy.

Astrid considered for a moment if she should go towards him. She could run away admittedly. Still. . . he'd sent her here. And for some reason she felt a good bit . . . clearer. Mentally. The hunger having had it's edge removed some. He'd done something to her and she wanted to know what. And why she was a living breathing plant bed now. She didn't know how she'd say it or even express it at all bubt she was going to go to him outside the barracks and get an answer. Thus she walked towards the double doors at the back of the building, slowly walked around and found him standing tall while crushing another shinigami. Astrid only spared it a glance before glaring directly at Alastor.

He was smug. Confident. Prideful even. He looked the same as before but happier in a way. Giddy perhaps. It didn't sit well with her and so she growled out to him. Still uncertain what to say she simply wanted to get his attention, especially now that she had 4 spirits next to her, ready and willing to support her if for some reason Alastor decided he wanted to do something to her. Until he did however Astrid would try to think about what to say before eventually growing frustrated and yelling at him with that raspy, gravelly voice of hers. "H-ow? What. . .Did YOU. . . to me? Tree. . . appeared. Tell! "

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spirit stats}
Strength: 200
Speed: 150
RS: 0
SPPR: 0 (immune to cutback)
Instinct: 100
Senses: 100
ES: 50
HE:0

Durability: 300

SPOILER: Click to show

{# of Spirits summoned}
4/5 free spirits summoned. All look like wispy humanoids

[Alastor Caedes]

The entire time as Astrid laid waste to the unknowing Shinigami. Alastor gave a simple play by play of what occurred, much to his own amusement and amazement. Watching as Astrid... Changed. Her shift in her reiatsu as something finally felt weighted down. As if the thing keeping her together became stronger. A slight change none the less, but it was noticeable to Akki. Her reiatsu even felt different to him, before it was like a rotted vineyard. Worthless by itself and in that very moment. Worthwhile. Worthless and worthwhile all at the same time. It reminded him of a time during his time monitoring France. Of a Gypsie woman and the tarot cards. Something about some jester being the start of it all and yet worthless by itself. 

All it needed was just a little... Push. Astrid was something else, maybe this was the true beginning of her little journey as the Gypsie woman would say. Slaughtering Vatican priests and shinigami, well its one hell of a start. This shift affected Alastor so much that even the Shinigami, pressed into the ground by his reiatsu, could see it. Alastor was at first careless of Astrids movements. He wanted to see something to prove his initial confusion and interest and yet. Yet now his attention is undividedly focused onto her. He still wasn't free from the Akki's reiatsu pouring down on him, but it was enough to not have to hear Alastor berate him again. 

And when the young Hason came out to view? Ah, it was stunning. Like staring at a freshly painted portrait made by the finest of artists in all the land. Well, at least to Alastor it was. The Shinigami was creeped the fuck out with how Astrid looked, especially with those spirits next to her. It was then that the two heard Astrid speak. "H-ow? What. . .Did YOU. . . to me? Tree. . . appeared. Tell! " Alastor only smiled as he had long forgotten this feeling. When he initially helped Taros become the Hason that he was today, it was like watching his own son grow up. A feeling a pride overtook Alastor in the way that only a few thousands of years-old demon would know. 

" You. My dear. Are becoming the truest version of yourself. Bit by bit. And all you needed, was just a simple... Push." Alastor stated slowly taking steps towards the little Hason. Each step slow and calculated. Each step would have Astrid feel as if she was in the grace of a God. If not a God, then a being who has now gained insane levels of interest. Yet, she wasn't quite able to view past the surface of the King's thoughts. If she did, the Psycho would be felt staring at her inner core. Piercing into her like a veil ripped apart violently, searching for anything to use against her. ".... So beautiful indeed.... Ah. Well. I doubt you can fully understand right now. Feel free and eat that one." Alastor stepped aside, moving his arms and hands to gesture to the shinigami forcibly on the ground. 

" Let your dark desires fester and grow. Only then will you be strong enough to make the Suicide Forest, yours and yours's alone." The Shinigami, no longer sensing the reiatsu of his allies. Simply sighed and accepted his fate, unable to warn the Seireitei. Unable to save his own comrades. Yet then again, the deck of cards that he was playing against, was stacked against him anyway. Poor sod never had the chance to even survive or win this life-sized game of blackjack. As the Akki waited for the Shinigami's demise as plant food. He simply stared at Astrid, wondering on what type of beautiful sin would blossom from this seed of cannibalism.  

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid tried her best to listen to Alastor. Her bestial mind wasn't willing to give much thought to him but the small amount of clarity she'd gained allowed her to understand a portion of what he was saying. He saw something in her. Knew something was there and helped bring it out. Astrid glanced at the tree on her backside and it's wisteria blossoms that hung gently against her sensitive backside. Much as Astrid despised akki and their overly prideful selves he was correct. Astrid was not like this before and yet not she'd become this. Had allies. Ones that weren't going to betray her. Likely couldn't even if they wanted to. That still did not mean that she trusted him however, she'd been killed by many other hellions in the past. And a handful of them had offered her power in one form or another for whatever reason they had scheming in their minds. Alastor was likely no different.



Still the man had a level of charisma that even with Astrid's defiant attitude and general distaste for his breed of hellion, she was curious. He acted like a king, a higher being, an apex predator and truth be told Astrid was certain he was to some degree. Akki normally had some level of power to back up their claims. And what he'd helped pull out of her only reinforced this. Still despite his flexing charisma as well as his influence was not about to get Astrid to worship him or grovel at his feet. Truthfully she couldn't even consider that at her level of intelligence but she could realize getting on his bad side was infinitely a worse reality than what she wanted. Even with her new "pack members".



Worse yet though, regardless of what Astrid was willing to think Alastor had garnered something of a respect from Astrid. Not that she'd know what that was for awhile yet but she was willing to attempt to listen to some of what he said compared to others. A lot of this however was due to his short and concise answers, unlike many other hellions he was to the point. And didn't confuse her mind nearly as much as many others, especially akki like Orobas who used far too complex and flowery language. And that's when she heard it, she heard him say that she legitmately had a chance to take over the Suicide Forest. All six of her eyes would widen as the thought hadn't ever truly occured to her. That with her new ability she could seriously consider this given she had allies on her side. Allies that were willing to help her get stronger much more quickly. Is. . . Can I? . . No. . .Silly but. . them. . She'd glance over at the wispy summons. Not right now but maybe he was correct about down the line. Maybe she genuinely could do something later on.



She then side eyed Alastor. He was still smiling, still incredibly arrogant and cocky but he wasn't wrong so far it seemed. Astrid wanted to attempt to think on this more but the truth was that she was already straining her current minds capability to ponder these topics as it was. And that was quickly coming to a pause when the hunger spiked again and her hunger veered it's ugly head right back at her. She started producing that sickly sweet nectar again from her jaw and it very quickly started to overflow and drip down her neck and chin before finally landing onto the ground. This shinigami was just waiting to be consumed. Utterly and in his entirety. And yet Astrid had an idea spawn from her mind. A devious one. She had a single spirit that had made it's way out and wasn't being used currently. One she was absolutely going to allow to have it's way as far as the killing blow was concerned.



From behind Astrid and the wisps came a beast, quite obviously a hollow in its previous life but currently more a wispy spirit than flesh and blood being. It stood taller than any other creature she'd summoned currently at 7 feet tall and easily towered over even the wisps. Gaunt thin limbs with humanoid hands for front paws and canine appendages for it's hind legs. It looked something like a wendigo but with clear canine influence and more body weight than the standard folklore would allow. But the past that was on it's face gave away it's true nature. Pure white, untarnished and akin to a disfigured deer skull with to large antlers and several holes that showed off sevearl beady red eyes. It's jaw and teeth made up half it's skull and the neck was hidden behind an incredibly fluffy maine that trailed down it's chest and onto the backs of it's front legs.



It appeared to be on the same wavelength as Astrid given it was also slavering immensely. It genuinely was strange to see something so distinctly not physically present be capable of producing physical matter such as thick viscious saliva. And yet it did. And despite the thin frame it looked lithe and capable of being far more agile than it currently showed. With a glance back at Astrid it silently asked for permission by tilting it's head towards the trapped shinigami. Astrid almost didn't even have to answer given there was a nearly instinctual understanding between these two. Without any other indication of what was to occur the beast immediately pounced on the shinigami's skull smashing it against the ground in an instant. And then it kept jumping on it again. And again. And again. And again until it was nothing more than incredibly moist paste. From there it simply clawed at the body and opened up the chest cavity for Astrid, even going so far as to break the ribcage and sternum with relative ease by using it's maw.



The internal organs, brain aside, were untouched and ripe for the picking. Astrid didn't even hesitate and simply nodded at the beast once she was on the corpse. The beast began to consume to brain and the remainder of the skull before moving to the hands and feet. Meanwhile Astrid gorged herself entirely on the organs of the previously living shinigami. It was grisly if anyone was watching. Blood pooled under the body and over it, the organs steamed once removed and the constant squelching from each bite was enough to make a normal person sick. And that was just from Astrid. The beast was making a loud show of the bones being crunched into less than dust. Hell it even had the presence of mind to mix the pasted brain matter along with the bones in the hands and feet of this shinigami and to keep it moist. Not that Astrid noticed given how deep she was in her need to consume every facet of this shinigami. Bones, flesh, organs, even his clothes. She wanted to just consume him utterly and with a few more minutes and the aid of her newest companion she'd manage it pretty quickly.



Once she was finally done and had yet again come to some semblance of her new mildly clearer sense of self she glanced up at Alastor. She was quiet and uncertain of what to do or say. This was evidently followed by her companions who simply moved next to her with the hollow taking a more proactive stance between Astrid and Alastor. Though it wasn't making any immediate motion of trying to be aggressive to Alastor. Yet. They. . . swarm me. . .not told. . .hmmm. . . Calm them. . .I . . should. Astrid then proceeded to reach up and rub her bloodied tendril claw at the hollows side. It glanced at her mild confusion evident but stepped back afterwards. From that alone the wisps stepped back a couple steps but still watched Alastor unerringly.



Now there was nothing standing between Alastor and Astrid. She glanced up at him while he was undoubtedly looking down at her. Something that immensely bothered her but the hieght difference was not something she could overcome so she'd have to deal with it for now. There was only one thing to do at this point, especially with his current interference in her life. She had to ask a simple question that would likely change how things would go for her from here on out. Raspy and low but with a noticeable decrease in aggression, though it was still underlying in her tone she asked him directly. "What now? . . . Short talk. . Ackkey

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reference for canine hollow}

[Alastor Caedes]

Alastor observed the small Hason carefully. Hason's weren't too entirely bright in their first few stages of power, so it was easier to just skip to the point. Later once Astrid was closer to a Eques in terms of power, she would be able understand more complex wording. Yet The Akki simply smiled as he watched, a form of understanding bursting from the hasons eyes. He knew she might have doubt in the words of being able to control the forest of suicidal souls. Yet, even he knew it was entirely possible. Alastor himself ruled over the entire circle of violence, the forest included. Letting her rule over the forest as a ally isn't a bad move. 

Then he watched her hunger return and with it a brand new thing. A large wendigo like wolf spirit forming from her backside tree. If the Akki could blink he would, but it was clear. He was thoroughly amused by every aspect of Astrid. Watching as the wolf spirit crushes the shinigami's skull, Alastor stopped flexing on the shinigami as he was now deceased. Watching as the wolf spirit turned the shinigami into paste, yet kept the vital organs intact. Clearly this Hason had a thing for organs specifically, a mental note Alastor made to keep track of. When her hunger finally subsided again he felt the clarity return in her reiatsu. 

The wolf spirit stood between him and Astrid. Trying to protect her from him perhaps? Could the wolf spirit sense the Akki's psychopathic self? The very personality that was glaring daggers at the little Hason, waiting for any reason to send her back to Hell forcibly. Yet, Astrid calmed it and spoke. "What now? . . . Short talk. . Ackkey" Alastor chuckled softly. She was learning and that was the best thing. With a snap of his fingers, he opened yet another gate. This gate would smell familiar to Astrid, as it led directly to the Suicide Forest. " For now. Return. I will find you again when i have free time." Alastor's words were true, finding Astrid now would be a piece of cake. 

Yet it was her time to go back to Hell. By now they attracted some attention from other forces, so it was best to leave. Once Astrid did. Alastor would close the gate behind her and her spirits. Then make his way into the building of the three dead shinigami. "Now..." Taking a deep breath, he pulled in the scent of blood and faint traces of shinigami reiatsu. "There you three are...." Quickly the Akki gathered up and sheathed their blank zanpakuto's. "These will be a good gift to the Compitus Legatus.... See what magic they can do to them." Alastor grinned holding onto the sheathed zanpakuto's by what cloth straps they had.

Before he himself disappeared through another hell gate that took him directly to his castle. Once he arrived back in his castle. Alastor had all sorts of things to do. One was set the zanpakuto in a safe spot to deliver as a gift for later. The other was to update himself on everything that occurred during his short time away. Being the Legatus of the Consulari was taxing and time consuming and even demanded a lot of his focus. Though it was fine. Thousands more sinners entered Hell, with about eighty percent of the newcomers joining the Sanctus. The rest of the twenty percent either being too mentally dulled by the pain, or not willing to work and just accepting of their fate. 

" Its always prettiest.... After the Fall~"

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid glared up at the akki. She actually managed to understand the majority of what he'd said to her and she was. . . concerned is likely what the feeling was. Though she couldn't yet put a name to it. Instead she'd simply chalk it up to being wary. He'd find her. That implied a lot of things. Things such as Astrid's life changing. . . and not necessairly for the better. But Astrid couldn't have known, she didn't have the mental capacity to think that deeply. She could only take his words at face value at this point.

Astrid did not break eye contact with Alastor for a long moment. Enough that even her spirits got concerned yet again. Tensing somewhat but she simply allowed it to be. Astrid knew deep down she couldn't fight Alastor. Or rather she'd never win and even mocking him prior had allowed him to send her here. . . wherever this was. He wasn't someone she wanted to contend with at the moment. And honestly? She really never wanted to intneract with him again but that was clearly out of the window at this point. So she'd just have to make certain to get strong enough to make Alastor think twice about pulling any fast ones on her.

If nothing else this gave her a serious goal. Something that wasn't just eating, although truthfully it did involve a lot of eating. She'd have to consume a great many others in the forest, hell maybe even start consuming the plant life considering they seemed to be alive as well. That's when it hit her. Things cleared up again for her. Something about consuming these beings, beings of actual notable power and not just eating the flesh from the trees the Suicide Forest spawned out actually made her different. Something she'd never realized prior given she'd not had a chance to consume anything or anyone else. In truth she was incredibly low on the totem pole when it came to the hierarchy of the Suicide Forest.

This continued to pose an interesting idea. Something that she couldn't plan. She couldn't see or think far enough ahead to even truly consider. But now, more so than ever she'd gotten just enough clarity of mind to notice the light before her. At least as far as the idea manifested in her mind. It wasn't her idea. It wasn't something she'd thought about until Alastor mentioned it. And regardless of if he was lying or not it'd still influence her. It'd still plant the seed of curiousity about IF it could be possible. And that alone put a smie on Astrid's face. That'd get him and others, namely akki's to take her seriously.

But to accomplish this she needed to take what she figured out from this excursion with her. Her bestial side was her survival instincts. They wouldn't fail her in the heat of a moment. But this strange clarity was needed for the longer term. To be capable of seeing possibilities and ideas that weren't previously possible. This was the start of something. Something Astrid couldn't see but she'd finally have the means of changing things. Putting things into her favor. She'd be able to do things instead of being on the bottom and scavaging. Hiding and being killed and consumed by others.

And then it dawned on her. That must be why Alastor said it'd be easy to find her. He was expecting her to make waves. To become stronger upon their next interaction. She noticed the gate that was opened and recognized the scent immediately. It was the forest, her home. Even as fucked up as it was it was hers in a way. And possibly it would all be hers in more than just sentimental value. Between Alastor's idea he planted and the fact that Astrid was slowly but surely gaining some level of clarity she was going to be able to rise beyond her current station. She wouldn't be at the bottom of the barrel anymore. She'd rise up and get to the top. She'd conquer the forest and be it's apex predator. Or at least in her limited mind's capcity she'd be a threat. And tht was a lot more than she'd been in a very long time.

She didn't say or look at Alastor anymore. She knew what she'd do, and it was exactly what she'd done today in the Vatican. She'd feast on others. And with her new helpers she'd have an edge very seldom few had in the Suicide Forest, let alone anywhere in hell. She'd have allies that helped make her strong. Allies that weren't going to abandon her and wouldn't disobey her. They were capable and strong and they were hers. No one elses. That alone was worth it's weight in gold.

With a look at her canine companion she got an idea. She nodded to it and the hollow lowered itself to the ground. From there she simply crawled her way onto it's back. Once firmly seated, as best as she could be, she motioned forward to the gate. The hollow nodded and walked forward with the wisps following behind like unorganized guards. Little did Astrid know that this would be the beginning of a new chapter in her life. And more importantly a new era in the Suicide Forest. She was slowly but surely learning how to make teamwork happen. And just how important it was given she was in charge of her spirits. Whatever happened to them was on her. And though she didn't get quite that point she did get that as a pack they needed to work together to achieve this goal of attaining strength. So strength she would attain and it would be on no one else's merits but her own. This is where it all started and with it change would come to hell from the lowliest hason around.