Aftermath [Open]

[Lagos Oscuras]

After the level of devastation that was said to have struck Soul Society from a level of invaders from Hell, at least according to the agents of Las Noches, Lagos had come to see it for herself. Namely because it seemed so humorous that all the souls that the Shinigami had damned had come to destroy them, as if it were some sort of rapturous karmic justice. After all. What authority had deemed it worthy and necessary for Shinigami to do these actions? Under what circumstances did they see they were fit for such a duty?

What flawed system or God was it that allowed for there to be such breaches and holes in what was supposed to be eternal torment that such an invasion could occur? As Lagos walked through the remnants of ruin, she sliced such a demon blood's head straight off from its shoulders with just her hand. They were like a disease. An infestation. "Vermin." She walked through in her white and black heavy trench coat. Those heavy boots. A look of indifference on her face.

"So. This is it. The remnants of the once devastating Soul Society. Hanging onto its existence by a mere thread." Thus was their weakness in a sense. There would always be Hollows. So long as they existed, there would always eventually be Arrancar. That was simply a matter of fact. There would always be sinners. However, the concept of the Shinigami was an organized institution. And institutions rose and fell all the time. Just as nations and civilizations did.

All it took was one bad event. This hellion invasion was likely that.Though. She did come to wonder. Without Shinigami to send the corrupted into Hell, would all those restless damned souls walk the earth? It was an interesting thought. Well. She did suppose there was that old saying wasn't there? When there is no more room in hell? In a way, she too wondered just how grievous the offenses were to end up in such a place?

The criminals, the deviants, the murderers, the liars, the abusers, the homosexuals. The faithless. Lagos frankly didn't believe in God, or if there was one, they were a cruel and horrible one. Instead, Lagos chose to believe in the Gods she could see and feel. Her fists and blade had the power to take lives. Hunger could drive a man to madness. Even if one is spiritually sated, a man still dies without food. That was god. Grief and vengeance alike could drive a man's life to change. That was god.

A woman's bosom and lap were enough to provide comfort and lull one into restful slumber and joy. That was God. She seemed to linger and look at the carnage and wanton destruction, and in truth, she was bored. Destruction and mayhem for the sake of destruction and mayhem was boring. The concept of hell, bored her. After all. What was the point of eternal damnation, pain, and suffering, if there was no prospect of such a thing as redemption? The sorrow of knowing the possibility of redemption may be there, but ever so far out of reach?

Sorrow and torment seemed to exemplify Lagos far too much considering her aspect of death was to represent divine retribution and the end of all things. In truth. Life itself was becoming something of a monotonous and dull existence. It was boring. As Lagos looked on ahead, she tilts the fox skull atop her head, its grinning maw looking about the area with hollow sunken in sockets as she looked upon the tainted and ruined land.

[Lagos Oscuras]

As Lagos continued to wander the landscape, over the corpses of sinners, Shinigami, and mortal souls alike, she raised her hand, clenching it tightly as she formed a yellow aura along her tightly enclosed fist. "Bala." With a single punch, she launched a projectile of energy that was as large as a truck. Barreling through the earth, buildings, and anything inbetween her. With a rippling explosion of force, she began walking through the newly made clearing. She was seemingly free to rampage and do as she wished.

Her goal was simple really. To intercept any and all in her path, to gauge the level of strength of the Shinigami, as well as their surviving fighters. So far, Lagos would be lying if she said she was relatively impressed. How could she be? Drawing her turquoise handled blade with a shlick from the sheath, she found herself casually stepping through. Slashing idly at hellions or soul alike that came by her. With a seeming cold gaze in her eye. However. Such an endeavor?

It bored her. There was no torment that she could inflict that was greater than the hell that was already upon thee fools. there was no grandeur rapture that she could enact that the demons hadn't already done. Though...At some point? She stopped. Her instincts told her that her advance had not come unnoticed. Arching her back, she finds herself leaning far back, one leg rising high into the air and slamming a Shinigami reaper straight in the head, sending them soaring into the air, as she used Sonido Gaara to whip her arm out and grasp her second assaulter by the throat. Lagos was not amused.

She clenched her hand tightly, before then pulling the reaper over her shoulder, and slamming them so hard into the ground, the earth cracked from the force. "Come now. The Shinigami can do better." Lagos declared rather matter of factly, desiring little more than death, battle, and destruction. "Is this truly it? Is this truly the end of the Shinigami that had come to hunt us so fervently over the millenia? Is this all there truly is to offer?" Stepping on top of the Shinigami she had just hurled into the earth, she lightly rests one of her boots upon his head.

"To think that the downfall of the Shinigami were the very souls that they sentenced and put to eternal damnation. How poetic. Truly a tale of vengeance that makes the Count of Monte Christo pale in comparison." She stepped past, kicking the Shinigami on the ground hard enough to send them flying past the street with a crash into the building. She wasn't trying in particular to guarantee death with every strike. Only to strike. She hoped that someone would come entertain her. Lagos was bored.

[Celes Shindazu]

The Invasion had come to an end. Orobas and Alastor had gone to great lengths to try and eradicate the Soul Society. Not only had Orobas chosen to Saigo, but Alastor had rallied an invading force, six million strong. Despite these odds, Soul Society endured. Captains had been rallied; officers of every rank stood their ground against the overwhelming odds. The Seireitei would stand but this is not what concerned Celes. As Captain of the Tenth Division, she did not merely see the Seireitei but Soul Society as a whole as hers to protect. She swore to herself to do anything in her power to protect anyone under her care. Despite that, the Captain felt as though she had failed her oath.

The Rukongai was drenched in blood. Bodies littered the streets. Not just of Hellions whose corpses were soon being consumed by the ravenous fires of hell. Rukongai citizens were dismembered, burnt to nothing but ash and even left to die slow agonizing deaths. Among the corpses, Celes even recognized the banner of a few of her own. She knelt in mourning. Central 46 would likely declare this a victory for Soul Society. That these Shinigami had given their life for a greater cause. That each and every one of the Shinigami that stood in defense were loyal. Celes did not see it the same way. She had effectively sent the men and women to their deaths. Officers that trusted her. 

A few moments of silence would pass. Only the idle crackle of nearby fires filled the air. This was by far the hardest pill to swallow. She had sent these members of her division for crowd control. To detract any other invaders from the defenseless citizens of the Rukongai. She wanted to believe with every ounce of her being that she could protect all those under her care. It was a delusion. She softly muttered to herself. "You were family. All of you... I swear there won't be a next time. We will be better prepared and there won't be any senseless deaths..." She rose to her feet, her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach. She was devastated. 

It was tragic. Yet she couldn't stop here. She had to look for any survivors. Nobody deserved to die alone. Much less under these circumstances. She began to run through the streets of the Rukongai at a speed of 200. To Celes this was a leisurely speed. After all, she was not sure what still resided among the carnage. She needed to conserve her strength in case there was something far viler in store for her. She'd run for what felt like several minutes. There was nothing in sight. Nothing but devastation and death. For now, it seemed as though her attempts to make contact with anyone, friend or foe, would prove pointless. That was until she felt something.

A burst of spiritual energy. She quickly whipped her hand in the direction of the sensation. The Captain of the Tenth was not gifted spiritually. Compared to many of her peers, she abandoned the spiritual arts. As such her ability to sense energy would be less than impressive. She could not tell what kind of spiritual energy it was. Whether it was friend or foe did not matter. She had a responsibility to investigate it. Aside from that, she had a general interest. If this was a Shinigami, no matter their division, she would assist them against whatever threat they may face. With this in mind, Celes towards the last known place where she felt the burst. 

Continuing to trudge across bodies of Shinigami, Rukongai citizens and Hellions alike. Suddenly a figure came into view. The Captain couldn't make her out effectively. Celes kicked it up a notch. Nearly running at double her previous speed, she'd approach far quicker. She'd make no effort to hide her Spiritual Pressure. Suddenly Celes noticed something. A kick being delivered. Whoever it was flung with some force. Nearly crashing into a building, Celes decided to not take any chances. She vanished from sight. Using her Shunpo she intercepted the launched Shinigami, catching him and landing a dozen or so feet in front of Lagos. 

As she knelt on the ground, her haori covered both herself and the male Shinigami. She looked down at him. He was still conscious albeit dazed. Bruises covered parts of his body. His body was twitching. Celes spoke softly in the tone a friend may use to give a close companion strength. "You'll be okay." His breathing was a little shallow. Celes was no doctor. She had enough combat experience to tell when someone was on death's door. He was hurt, but he'd live. For a moment, she'd look up and assess the threat. A woman in a trench coat. The most striking feature? A foxes' mask adorning her head. Celes muttered under her breath. "Great... more Arrancar..." Shifting her gaze down, she'd look at the male Shinigami. "Head back to the Seireitei. Rally any other survivors you come across." Her tone of voice completely changed. This was an order. Immediately rising to his feet, he nodded. "Yes Captain!" Assuming Lagos let him, he'd disappear with a Shunpo. 

With the collateral out of the way, Celes' full attention focused on the woman before her. The Captain rose to her feet, her Shihakusho and haori on full display. Even if Lagos had not been listening at all, it would be clear that she bore the mark of a Captain. Even the way she carried herself. There was a calm intensity to the pale green-haired woman. Along her hip, Lagos could see the purple hilts of twin Zanpakutō resting idly in their sheath. Celes' hand had not yet touched them. Celes began to speak. Her voice sounded tired, but not out of fatigue. "I'm not usually one to seek conflict... especially now, but alas it seems we've passed the point of reason." She paused for a moment as her eyes narrowed, peering at Lagos. "So then. Who are you and will I be forced to remove you?" It was blunt, brutally so, and clearly no idle threat. They had just been caught off guard by an army of Hell. She needed to know whether to cut the pleasantries and draw her blades against the Arrancar.

[Lagos Oscuras]

When Lagos was finally confronted by a challenge, she was surprised to find that it was a Captain right away. Looking up, faced with the green haired Shinigami woman before her, she tilted her head in confusion, as if Celes had just grown a second head. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you that it's rude to ask someone their name without introducing yourself first?" Lagos scolded, her cold, piercing eyes gazing towards the reaper in question. Celes certainly looked to be an interesting figure in Lagos' perspective.

"Please." Flicking her right hand behind herself, a small spread of blood rests along the ground as the she fox looks all around herself. "I came here on an agenda. To see the extent of the damage that your people have taken. As well as to I suppose provide a form of aid." Though Lagos sounded disdainful when saying such words. The Sinners were disgusting, to say the least, vulgar, and filled with flaws. Horrid.

"Besides. Let's not be so pretentious. You act as if Shinigami hesitate before slaying Hollows and Arrancar alike. Or frankly anyone or anything that doesn't have use to your organization." Lagos remained cold, calculating, and otherwise, incredibly neutral in her stance. "Try to remove me if you like, but I'm frankly not here for you or your men. Though...I would be lying if I said I wouldn't kill any that attack me. I'm an observer."

Whether Celes believed that or not for a single moment, that wasn't Lagos' problem. She sucked on her teeth for a moment or two, trying to gauge Celes thoroughly, up and down, her entire form. She was such a beautiful woman, it felt like a shame to see her like this. Crossing her hands over her chest, she slowly unfolds them, her fingers raised to the sky as she shows a grimace. "I don't care much for these...psychopathic degenerates. Not very much in the slightest." That said?

"If you are so inclined, and willing to break bread with me at the moment. I wouldn't mind sparing the aid of a few of my personal forces. To deal with this trash. So long as you keep it discreet. For as long as it takes to complete my objective." It must have been incredibly strange, to hear that an Arrancar was offering aid in ridding of sinners that were invading Soul Society? It must have sounded blasphemous, strange beyond compare? Curious. 

[Celes Shindazu]

As Celes stood face to face with the Arrancar, she tried to keep a close eye on the woman's movements. She waited for her to identify herself. She tried to make her position in this crystal clear. Soul Society was suffering. The majority of the demons had been taken care of as their smoldering bodies were consumed in hellfire. Yet there was still so much to be done. Casualty reports and relief efforts likely were chief among them. After all, the Rukongai seemed to suffer the greatest damages. If not from Hellions then from the Shinigami who weighed the value of their lives and found it worth less. Finally, she got a retort.  "Hasn't anyone ever taught you that it's rude to ask someone their name without introducing yourself first?"

Celes blinked for a moment. Her amber eyes focused more closely on the Arrancar. "Is she... being fucking serious? She comes in Soul Society... assaults officers... and then asks me to stand on ceremony?" The Captain of the Tenth groaned, clicking her tongue shortly after. "Tch... so be it." She rested her hand upon her hip. "My name is Celes Shindazu and I am the Captain of the Tenth Division." There was clear annoyance in her voice. It took a lot of nerve for Lagos to act the way she did. Celes told herself and the Arrancar that she was not looking for a fight. This was true. However, she was more than willing to repel Lagos much like the Hellions if it came to it. 

"I came here on an agenda. To see the extent of the damage that your people have taken. As well as to I suppose provide a form of aid." Finally, there was a semblance of an answer. The sentiment though seemed crazy. An Arrancar actively seeking to provide aid. The Captain of the Tenth was not some more brute. She wouldn't condemn Lagos... at least not immediately. Not until she felt that the woman before her was being treacherous. Despite her best efforts to make that clear, Lagos gave yet another retort.  "Besides. Let's not be so pretentious. You act as if Shinigami hesitate before slaying Hollows and Arrancar alike. Or frankly anyone or anything that doesn't have use to your organization."

Celes stood there, unmoving. It did little to offend her personally nor did it harm her pride. At the same time, Celes didn't really care what Lagos thought of the Shinigami. Finally, Lagos would show that she had some bark after all. "Try to remove me if you like, but I'm frankly not here for you or your men. Though...I would be lying if I said I wouldn't kill any that attack me. I'm an observer." For a moment, Celes smirked. Her hand idly grazed the hilt of her Zanpakutō. "Oh, I'm sure I can remove you if I so choose..." They didn't seem like empty words either. There was assurance behind the Captains' words. Confidence. For as much as part of her relished the idea of fighting though... what would it ultimately accomplish.

The green-haired Shinigami relaxed her stance. "Well, enough posturing from both of us. We could likely stand here and try to threaten each other as much as we like. Nothing would get accomplished..." Moving her hand away from the hilt of her Zanpakutō Celes declared, "You said you come to offer us aid? Of what sort?" She stood there quite patiently and listened to whatever Lagos had to say. If she had anything to say.  "I don't care much for these...psychopathic degenerates. Not very much in the slightest." Celes smirked for a moment. "Finally. There's something that you and I can both agree on..." She laughed briefly. 

"If you are so inclined, and willing to break bread with me at the moment. I wouldn't mind sparing the aid of a few of my personal forces. To deal with this trash. So long as you keep it discreet. For as long as it takes to complete my objective." It was certainly an interesting proposal. Celes began to walk towards Lagos. Her stride would signal no aggression. She didn't need to. She knew little of her opponent, but she was confident in her own abilities. She could be ready at a moment's notice, and she was more than confident in her own speed. If allowed to approach without much trouble, Celes would walk up the Arrancar until there was no more than 2 to 3 ft of distance between them.

Celes grinned for a moment. "So let me see that I understand this correctly." She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "You want to spare your own troops to help us deal with the remaining demons. But for what I wonder. You must be expecting something in return..." This was a unique situation for Celes. She fought the last Arrancar she had met. That was a blind rage though. After all, the woman contributed to Camila's departure from Soul Society. Now Lagos was declaring that she was here for humanitarian reasons. A mission of mercy. Celes wasn't sure if she was entirely convinced, but the Arrancar had not made an aggressive move against her yet. "So then, who am I dealing with here? After all, it's such poor manners for a guest to not introduce themselves." A smirk formed on Celes' lips. She was clearly mocking the Arrancar for her initial comment. 

[Lagos Oscuras]

Celes seemed defiant in her answer, declaring that she could remove Lagos, to which Lagos looks up with a dark glint in her eye. As if daring the challenge. Though instead, they would move to productive discussion instead. "Wonderful". Celes approached her, and as she did, her eyes looked up and down at the black robes of the Shinigami. They were polar opposites, two sides. As Celes approached, Lagos would allow her to an extent. Though would be mindful of the distance. She didn't feel like she wanted to be closer to this one.

"I don't care for much from your "Soul Society". I've come to do my task. To reconnaissance your people." Of course, she had her own agenda. That was without a doubt. "Since you've introduced yourself. I am Lagos Oscuras. Though. You might better recognize me by my title." She opens her thick trench coat, and there, underneath, she shows along her back along the shoulder on the right side. The number nine. Engraved into flesh. Though in truth. It was a shame in a way. 

"I am Lagos Oscuras. Espada number nine." She might have thought it was laughable, that perhaps Lagos was the weakest of the Espada. However, that might be grossly underestimated. After all, to hold this rank implied she was the strongest Las Noches for one, but also...there was no real telling or saying that Lagos was truly that level. After all, it had been quite a while since she aspired to climb up that ranking. Didn't she?

"To blood my Fraccion is a bonus." She didn't feel much desire to give away too much idea of her real intentions and purpose. Though, she proceeded to look toward the Shinigami captain in earnest. Before daring to get even closer into her space, so that their faces were a few inches apart. Her body practically pressing up against Celes' own as she stares her deeply in the eyes. "Though I'm curious on what you'd offer." She said with a murmured whisper. A light growl under her tongue.

Before then stepping back. The acquisition of data from the sinners would be nice, even if their corpses might vanish, but also, there were a large amount of Shinigami dead here. Some of their bodies might be useful in her experimentations, studying what was her enemy, and their remains would prove to be a useful resource. The bodies of these regular souls as well. Lagos regularly burned through research material, and it was not common to find this much readily available. How lovely indeed.

[Celes Shindazu]

"I've come to do my task. To reconnaissance your people." Celes hummed softly. "Scouting us about right on the heels of an invasion. How convenient..." Was Kouhai really aiming to make a move? Could be really be so bold? Could Las Noches compare to the assault from Hell? Celes wasn't sure. Given their current state, however, it could prove crippling. Then again, Lagos seemed to have other plans. After all, she was planning on offering her Fracción and herself in cleansing the demons that had come to Soul Society. It all seemed so... off. She really wasn't sure what to make of it.

Finally, the Arrancar would reveal herself.  "Since you've introduced yourself. I am Lagos Oscuras. Though. You might better recognize me by my title." Celes raised an eyebrow as Lagos opened her trench coat. Celes' eyes drifted for a brief moment to look her up and down. As she saw the tattoo of a 9 on her skin, the Captain knew who she was dealing with before Lagos even said anything.  "I am Lagos Oscuras. Espada number nine." Celes nodded in return. She knew of the Espada. Las Noches' most fearsome Arrancar.

It hadn't been a while, but Celes had run into one of their number in the past. The Septima Espada, Ailene Haschiro. The Captain lost that fight thanks to her own carelessness. For all intents and purposes, Lagos ranked lower than Ailene. Therefore, she must've been weaker? Right? Celes wasn't sure whether to trust in that rationale. One could be strong and simply choose to remain at their current station. Kaen was a great example. Many believed that he was fit to run the Seventh Division without a question and yet he chose to remain a Vice-Captain. 

Celes remained silent. She had to take in as much as possible before she made a move. Then came something that the Captain was not expecting in the slightest. Lagos began to approach her. The Shinigami's eyes narrowed for a moment as she stared at Lagos with intent. "Is she... being serious? She's entering my range..." Celes made no effort to keep her distance from Lagos. Actually... if Lagos paid attention, Celes would actually seem far more elated. It was almost as if she wanted Lagos to draw nearer. 

This elation, however, suddenly changed as Lagos started making demands or at least hinting at them subtly. "Though I'm curious on what you'd offer." She wanted something in return for offering her aid. Celes scoffed for a moment before chuckling softly. It was friendly, but in a twisted sort of way. Almost comical. Lagos certainly made the right call to back off from Celes. She had almost half a mind to strike at Lagos outright. "Just who the hell does this woman think she is." 

Celes had a radiant soul. Even Lagos could potentially feel the warmth radiating from her without much difficulty. It was this good heart of hers, however, that made Celes really good at sensing the nature of intentions. Lagos had already made a poor first impression with her attitude nor her actions towards the Officers whom Celes had to rescue. She couldn't feel out her exact intentions, but something deep down made the Captain think that she wasn't going to like what Lagos desired. Not one bit. Lagos herself didn't give off a particularly malevolent violent, not like Orobas or Alastor at least. 

The blond-haired Shinigami cracked her neck for a moment. Her hand still lightly gazed her Zanpakutō. This could go south really quickly if Celes wasn't prepared. "You want to skulk around the Rukongai? Fine. You want to offer your help? Fine. However, don't think for a moment that we owe you anything. Hell has opened its gates at our doorstep and yet we endure. We fight to the bitter end. Right now, the finest Shinigami I know are taking care of the filth. Allow me to be clear that if you make me doubt your intentions one more time, I will cut you down where you stand." This was no mere threat. Just as before, there was confidence behind it. There was promise behind it. She was a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. It was her duty to protect the Soul Society and remove any threats. Lagos was rapidly approaching that label. 

[Lagos Oscuras]

Ooh. A threat. What a big scary Shinigami Celes turned out to be. Lagos rolled her eyes at the notion. "You endure. You endure for nothing. Your men. They die for nothing. Fighting an onslaught of sinners your people condemned and failed to contain. Dispose of. The Shinigami's finest are a farcry from the finest that was. By the end of this, the finest will be thinned." As far as Lagos was concerned, she spoke nothing but the truth there. It was in those moments, the fox offered her right hand outwards. Holding it at waist level.

"What I offer you is cooperation."

"You don't have to like me. I don't like you. Your agents. They've tried killing me, time and time again. Simply for existing. Even now, you look at me like scum because of the harm I did to your men. I understand. You're biased." Before firmly curling her hands inwards towards herself. Crossing her arms over her stomach. Frankly, she didn't know if there was any purpose in explaining this, but she did.

"It's something I'm used to. Something all of us are. I'll be honest. I don't care about your men. I have no reason to. Or your people. Because all you seek to do is kill me and mine." The life of a Hollow was hard. A struggle existence of eat or be eaten. Yet, they were a natural result of human grief, sorrow, and misery. Those feelings were natural. They were natural. Lagos' eyes softened, as she stood next to Celes then. Looking out over the horizon to see what she'd see.

"You don't understand us. Or desire to. Do you? You probably go about. Killing us. In the idea that you bring goodness. Justice. That doing so is the natural way of things. To those of us that have made it as far as I have? You're our worst enemies. Because you seek to end everything we are. To erase us and make us forget." Lagos didn't want to forget. She wanted to remember all of the suffering and pain she'd endured. The loss and horrible sensations. Because that meant she was alive. That meant she was herself. Forgetting. Losing it all.

That was too horrible. "I'm a threat." She said honestly. "As if you or anyone else could see me as otherwise. Don't you think?"