Yet Another Invasion [JT with Ambrose and Kimiko]

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In the newly restored sanctum of his quarters within the Tenth Division's barracks, Benjiro Hiroto stirred from his slumber. The scars of the recent invasion had finally faded from the walls, replaced by the pristine serenity of a repaired abode. And as the wounds of the division were mended, a brief respite unfurled its wings, gifting the Twelfth Seat with fleeting moments of reprieve. The confines of his quarters bore witness to this newfound calm, a sanctuary where he could once again dedicate himself to the pursuit of enlightenment.

Yet, beneath the veneer of his journey to tranquility, a subtle current of restlessness tugged at Benjiro's spirit. He pondered the plateau he seemed to have reached—a stagnant pool where his growth, once a torrential river, had dwindled to a trickle. He recalled his monumental progress throughout his early tenure as a Shinigami, even becoming the Twelfth Seat so early into his career, yet since then, he had stagnated. He found himself wrestling with the question that had echoed within him: Was this, the current state of his abilities, all he was destined to be?

Futan Juzemasu, his constant companion and embodiment of his potential as a Shinigami, lay beside him—a silent witness to his contemplations. He reached out, his fingers tracing the hilt with a touch that mirrored the delicate reverence of a pilgrim at a shrine. He brushed his palm against the prayer beads, longing for warmth and companionship from the spirit within, but both he and his blade knew that this silence and frustration would lead to growth. His Zanpakuto held secrets yet untold, mysteries of power that dwelt within the both of them, if only he could unravel their enigma.

The sun's gentle caress painted the room with shades of gold, casting the warm light of a midday sun upon him. Time was ever fleeting. If he was to try and pursue anything meaningful with the time that he had, he needed to do it now. With purposeful resolve, Benjiro donned his Shihakusho, his fingers deftly maneuvering the traditional robes that bore the weight of his duties. Next, his own personal flair came in the form of his green Buddhist haori that he draped over his shoulders. Futan Juzemasu found its rightful place within its scabbard— prayer beads coiled gently around his wrist at all times..

Seeking guidance and the prospect of growth with the limited time he had, he embarked on a quest for his Captain, a beacon of wisdom and strength to the Twelfth Seat. Captain Celes was one of, if not the strongest Shinigami he knew, but that reputation often came with a schedule far too busy to host additional training sessions, especially for new members. Though, he thought there would be no harm in asking, for she had told him that the Tenth was like a family. Was it not normal to seek guidance from family?

Yet, the fates had other plans, and as he sought her counsel, he found that she was nowhere to be found. She had been increasingly absent as of late, save for the moments of true crisis and emergency. She always fought in threat after threat, Benjiro was beginning to worry about her. It wasn't easy, especially with the Tenth not having any Officers strong enough to back her up against the more serious threats. In fact, one of his goals was to reach that level of strength, so that he may be of use in the protection of the Soul Society.

It was then, as he was deep in contemplation, that he came across the first Officer in the Tenth that had grown close to him. Seijuro, a lower-ranking officer, at this point, and a steadfast friend. The older man seemed to look distraught, but he still held that same smile on his face. Perhaps some friendliness would ease his troubles? "Good afternoon, Seijuro!" Benjiro greeted, his voice filled with warmth. Seijuro nodded in reply. "Ah Benji! Good afternoon to you as well. What's the rush?" Seijuro asked, curious as to why Benjiro was roaming around the quarters.

Benjiro's smile wavered a little as he opened up a little to Seijuro. There was no harm in asking a friend for help, was there? "Have you seen Captain Celes? Does she have duty again today?" His inquiry was a loaded one, filled with a mix of worry, concern, and hopeful eagerness. Unfortunately, Seijuro's solemn nod was all the answer he needed. "The Captain's busy right now, I haven't seen her today." Seijuro responded, looking quite bothered by it himself. "Something you need, Benji?"

Benjiro's lips curved into a wistful smile. "I was hoping I could ask the Captain to train me. The threats that we have been facing, invasion after invasion, it... it's been weighing heavily on my mind. We are the Tenth Division, the Defense Squad of the Soul Society, yet we have fallen short at every turn. If not for our Captain's efforts, I feel like we have failed." His words hung heavily in the air, the sentiment shared between the two Seated Officers. Seijuro felt the deep burden of his own inadequacies building up within his chest. "We have, Benji. We have failed."

The tense silence held for a few more moments until Seijuro broke it. He had noticed Benji's burdens and figured it might have been time to lighten the mood a little. "You know, I was about to do the same. I need to step up my game too, until I can go head to head with any threat that comes our way." Seijuro spoke with a fiery facade, hoping to spark some sort of life and enthusiasm back into his junior, despite his junior being both larger and higher ranking by now. "I was thinking we could head over to the 11th to see if there's anyone to train with. Captain Celes taught their Captain, you know!." Benjiro smiled softly, grateful for his friend's attempts at cheering up. "Alright, that sounds like a good plan."

Benjiro and Seijuro seemingly resigned themselves from the heaviness of their thoughts and doubts. It was those very doubts that pushed them onwards, after all. Growth often came after a crisis, and this was as big of a crisis as one could have. With that, they made their way over to the Eleventh Division. Their sister squad awaited, a bastion of strength and camaraderie, the warriors of the Seireitei, the Attack Squad. As he approached the barracks of the Eleventh, Benjiro called out to the Shinigami that manned their reception. "Good afternoon, could we join your Squad in training today? We are Officers of the Tenth Division. I hope that we aren't too much of a bother."

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The Eleventh Division was often considered by the people of the Soul Society to be the sister of the Tenth Division. It was an unofficial fact in the minds of many inhabitants of the Soul Society and Shinigami officers alike, but it has remained as such for what now appears to be a few couple of decades, up to even a century. There were many reasons as to why that was, many of which were related to the simple concept of the sword and the shield, or perhaps more simply still, the friendship shared by the squads' two Captains. There were also many rumors as to how this fact even came to be over the course of time, with the most popular of them all being the age-old tale of the friendship shared by two figures of legend, Omaeda Zaraki and Fujiwara Masashi... in spite of the fact that they have never met one another before their inevitable passing. In the end, no matter what the people believed, the fact itself remained paramount even to this day, as made evident by the camaraderie shared by the people of the Eleventh over course of the last few months.

A number of weeks ago, the holy city of Seireitei found itself under attack from a group of various assailants. This leader of the group - a certain man who was eventually identified as Rizer Tile, a servant of the ruler of Las Noches - conducted a large-scale operation in order to directly assault the confines of Central 46's headquarters and acquire hidden knowledge contained deep within. Naturally, he failed. No sooner than an hour or so after the battle began, the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, Ningen Kyousou, confronted Rizer, and before the latter could so much as even attempt to respond to the Shinigami's presence, he was reduced to fiery ash. It was a fitting end for a foolish man with foolish ambitions. Unfortunately, as foolish as he was, he had made sure to form quite the distraction in order to even reach Central 46 in the first place. That distraction was a swift and sudden attack against the people of Seireitei, as well as several barracks of many squads of the Gotei 13.

The outcome of this attack was poor for several headquarters. Many Shinigami officers, all of which were braver than most, had died on the battlefield, whether by the hand of a powerful Vizard or by the fangs of a monstrous Hollow. However, for the Tenth Division, it was all nothing short of catastrophic. As though one of the assailants had made sure to deliberately focus on reducing it to nothing more than a pile of rubble, the barracks of the Tenth was completely destroyed. By the time it was all over, there was nothing that remained of the headquarters but many crushed corpses stacked on top of one another on a great wreckage that could barely be compared to what it once was. All in all, in a moment of cruel irony, the Defense Squad - one of the pillars of the Soul Society's very defenses - had found itself unable to protect its very own home. No, it was worse than that; rather, it could even be said that, in that moment, it had outright failed to do so.

It was needless to say that, ever since then, morale has been fairly low amidst the people of the Defense Squad. The Captain of the Tenth Division, Celes Shindazu, has been rendered busier since the day - both by the many new tasks that she now had to complete, but also by the burden that she now had to bear - and many of her soldiers were left in a similar state. Worse, they were now stripped of shelter, something that only brought them even greater shame. However, in an attempt to better their mood, the Captain of the Eleventh Division - Nakajima Kimiko - as well as her own many subordinates as attempted their best to support them as much as they possibly could. The people of the Tenth were granted shelter within the four immense Nijūkan dojos as well as their respective capitals within the 40th district of Rukongai, and a few officers were even permitted to remain within the Eleventh's barracks as well as the repairs of the Tenth's own barracks were underway. It was the least they could do for their sister squad.

Today, some of the morale lost throughout this time has finally returned to the Tenth. With their barracks returned to form, the people of the Defense Squad could finally return to their home and tackle the main brunt of their duties once again. There were still a number of officers who remained disheveled nonetheless, but in time, they would be able to recover. At the very least, that is what Kimiko believed as she handled her paperwork today. Rather exceptionally, the dual swordswoman had decided to remain at her own barracks in order to tackle the many documents that remained in regards to the sheltering and handling of a portion of the Tenth's soldiers. As always, the task wasn't particularly pleasant; in fact, she could not quite recall the last time she actually enjoyed filling up any sort of paper. Even so, she made sure to take care of them nonetheless, if only to spare Celes a little bit of the work that would have eventually fallen into her hands.

It was around noon when she reached about a third quarter of the pile that had formed on her desk, a fraction that she would not have reached without the help of her assistant, Gideon. Although her motivation was sound and her goal honorable, the energy that she had at the beginning of this process had left her by then to be replaced with the usual boredom she shared for bureaucracy. The papers were becoming nothing more than a blur, and the more of them she completed, the further her assistant realized that her usefulness in that regard was unfortunately coming to an end. Thus, at a certain point, the man told her that he could finish the work that was left by himself, much like he has always done for what has now turned into a number of years. He was aware that she didn't like the paperwork, that he quite enjoyed it, and that he was a rather anomalous entity within the squad for that very reason, so in the end, he believed it to be the best outcome in this instance.

Kimiko made no objections to this, quite unsurprisingly, and so, eventually, she found herself walking down the many halls of the barracks to head outside into the main courtyard. Once there, she couldn't help but let out a pleased sigh as she felt the outside air fill her lungs once again. "Ah... Finally..." she muttered to herself with a calm smile. The weather wasn't particularly pleasant: it was cloudy, so much so that there was not even the slightest hint of sun rays that could reach the ground below, and it was somewhat windy, enough so that there was a constant chilly push that brushed against her skin every once in a while. Moreover, for all intents and purposes, it appeared as though it was going to rain soon, as made evident by the darker clouds that occupied the skies here and there. In spite of this, she much preferred being here, alongside the rest of her soldiers who trained in the aforementioned courtyard, than in her office, where the only thing that awaited her was paper after paper after paper.

Her eyes would wander across the courtyard shortly after she arrived, namely towards the many training installations scattered about it. The most of them, ranging from the simplest training dummies to the more complex training weights, were visibly occupied by one or multiple officers at once. Even the Coliseum, the colossal and intimidating structure which stood in one of the corners of the courtyard, appeared to be busy, as many cheers could be heard from it. It was all good work, an effort that Kimiko found to be quite satisfying to observe. With that said, there was training dummy amidst them all that caught her attention the most. Well, not the dummy specifically, but rather the people that remained by it. From the looks of it, they appeared to be spectating the work of a single man wielding a large blade with a single hand. It would not take long, however, for her to recognize his bulky, one-armed figure.  It hasn't even been that long since you've been out of the hospital, and yet...  she couldn't help but think at that moment with a look of awe and what appeared to be regret.

Quietly, the Captain would remain where she was, observing the one-armed man seemingly train so tirelessly despite of his condition. For a moment, she appeared to be impressed enough to almost want to approach the crowd that was forming. However, before she could do so, she would hear a voice resonate from the entrance to the courtyard, one that she hadn't heard before amongst her officers. Lifting a brow, the scarlet-eyed would thus turn her head towards the main gates, where she would see one of her officers guarding the area there converse with what appeared to be two other officers. "Good afternoon!" The aforementioned guard would greet one of the two newcomers, a man with a rather nasty scar on his forehead as well as strange white eyes, and then listen to his request. Once it was fully spoken, it did not take long for him to respond to them. "Of course! All who seeks strength is welcome behind our walls! Come in, come in."

The guard as well as the other officers installed before the gates alongside him would then make way for the newcomers. By doing so, they would quickly realize that their Captain was looking at them from afar, which would prompt them to nod at her and gave her a few waves. The lack of etiquette was immediately apparent, as the entire interaction was strictly casual. Even so, Kimiko paid absolutely no mind to it. The casual side of the Eleventh Division was an aspect that she appreciated most during the time she served Tsukuyomi, and thus, she made sure to keep it afloat. "Don't worry! People from Jūbantai are never gonna be a bother to us!" The swordswoman would call to them in this moment with the friendly and energetic smile she usually carried with her nowadays, all the while she would walk towards them with a stance that lacked any sort of tension. It made her appear less like a Captain, and more like an officer like any other, even though she was proudly wearing her haori. "Welcome to our barracks! It's a bit busy today, but we have should have everything you need to train better." 

For a moment as she looked at the two men, she would realize that one of them appeared to be somewhat familiar to her. His tall stature, the scar on his forehead, his empty eyes, and that green haori... She could have sworn that she has seen this man before, albeit quite some time ago. Hm...

[Ambrose Grail]

He wasn't doing it on purpose. Ambrose had no control over where the portals sent him. Wherever they went is wherever he went. Sometimes he'd be fortunate, and they would take him to the human world. Today was not one of those days. He was minding his own business, tending to a patch of rice on a layer somewhere, when one of the eternally long chains of Hell pitched out of the ground, hooked into his shoulder, and dragged him through the earth until it reached a cave. He saw the glow of the portal just half a moment before the chain dragged him through it and high speed. Dang. What a way to go.

The chain-hook lost its grip on him once he breached the portal's surface. Wherever it had been taking him had been lost, but this was where destiny had flung Ambrose for now. He could feel his gravity shift in that sickeningly familiar way, as he hurtled through the Abyss through the portal, bound for whatever far end it had in store for him. He tumbled feet over head and head over feet, torqued hard by the momentum that chain had put in his shoulder, and without any purchase or force of gravity on which to right himself.

For several second, that was his doom. Just when through the tumbling he thought he'd be sick, gravity reasserted itself. A portal opened up a fair twenty feet above the ground. Fire spilled forth from it and screaming atmosphere rushed into the void within, feeding the flames as the gash in spacetime ripped through the air, widened out, and then blossomed. From within, Ambrose "arrived." The chain had brought him here at a hasty thirty-six meters per second. Honestly, a blurringly ridiculous speed for a body to be moving at. Just like his introduction to the portal, Ambrose's exit from it left plenty to be desired.

He rocketed at the ground while flipping ass-over-teakettle, and landed with the plainly audible slap of his white mask against the ground of the Attack Squad's home territory, shattering into five large pieces from the force at which he'd been introduced to the Seireitei's foundation. A wide puff of dust and spray of dirt heralded him, and he groaned in pain. He lay there for a few moments, blood trickling down from where the hook had punctured through his shoulder just moments ago, and from his nose. The nausea caught up with him at once and the paired seared through his face.

"Unnnngh," he complained, the chains of his manacled wrists jingling across the ground while he slowly scrabbled to gain purchase and lift himself up. Maybe the lamb chops and that steak, no matter how delicious, had been a mistake. They were trying to rebel now, and his hardest fight was to merely keep his stomach under control. Which of course meant his reiatsu was running rampant. It always was, really, but there was a distinct possibility that now might not be the best time.

Thanks to the unusual density of his spiritual energy at this time, his soul was lit up like a beacon for all to observe, so much so that even people who had no aptitude for sensing energy could have clearly identified him from over twenty-five hundred feet away. He was a Hellion, and a powerful one, at that.

Ambrose dragged himself to his feet, feeling his face and noting where his mask now lay on the ground in pieces. Ah. Okay. So it was going to be one of those kinds of days. It was fine. This was fine. Ambrose was fine. Really. Just fine. His stomach grumbled and he grimaced, revealing the steel teeth in his mouth. He started to dust himself off, still unconcerned with the exact nature of his surroundings. That could at least wait for a self-status check, right? Surely nothing was going to blast him off the ground again. Or through it?

Out of Hell posts: 1/50

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Items}Physical Strength: 150 (250) (687)
Speed: 100 (200) (550)
Reiatsu Strength: 100
Spiritual Pressure: 400 (500) (1000)
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
Instinct: 400
Senses: 150
Energy Sensory: 100
Healing Expertise: 0

SPOILER: Click to show

{Snack Satchel}Name: Soul-synthesized Leather Snack Satchel
Description: A durable leather bag keyed to a specific individual's reiatsu signature. Steeping the spirit snacks in the bag allows for them to be chewed and swallowed more quickly than normal.
Class: 2
Item Type: Utility
Item Power (IP): 800
Offense Type: None
Durability: x2.5 Item Power
Bonuses: A snack satchel is keyed to its owner's reiatsu signature. Only its owner can withdraw spirit snacks from the satchel, all others are denied. A snack satchel can hold up to 50 spirit snacks. While withdrawing a spirit snack from the satchel, its owner can pay 250 reiatsu to consume a spirit snack during a combat post.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. If the satchel is destroyed, all the spirit snacks it contains are also lost.
Cost: 8,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Candied Sandalwood Nut Filled Chocolate-dipped Strawberry (4)}Name: Candied Sandalwood Nut Filled Chocolate-dipped Strawberry
Description: Sandalwood nuts, chopped finely and candied, and then filled into the center of a hollowed strawberry, and then dipped in dark chocolate to seal up the snack.
Class: 5
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): N/A
Offense Type: None
Durability: 100
Bonuses: When consumed, the user's reiatsu burgeons for the next 4 posts. During this time, the strawberry pays for the first 100 reiatsu of the consumer's techniques and effects per post.
Drawbacks: Each filled strawberry is consumed on use, even in an NDE thread. Consuming multiple strawberries does not make this enhancement or its duration stack.
Cost: 2,500 Ryo each
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 2
Donated to Urahara's: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Coconut Strawberry Cheesecake Bites (6)}Name: Coconut Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Description: A perfect little cheesecake, made small enough to be consumed in a single bite. Coconut, strawberry and graham cracker come together in a wonderful combination of flavors.
Class: 4
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): N/A
Offense Type: None
Durability: 100
Bonuses: A coconut strawberry cheesecake bite is an uplifting snack. Upon consumption, the bite heals its consumer of minor injuries or reduces critical injuries into major ones, major injuries into moderate ones, and moderate injuries into minor ones. (Critical injuries are crushed bones and flesh, lacerations and punctures up to 5 inches in severity, and fourth-degree tissue damage. Major injuries are broken bones and heavy bruising, lacerations and punctures up to 3 inches in severity, and third-degree tissue damage. Moderate injuries are cracked bones and moderate bruising, lacerations and punctures up to 1 inch in severity, and second-degree tissue damage. Minor injuries are bruised bones and light bruising, small scrapes and cuts, and first-degree tissue damage.)

When boosted by a Gadgeteer, each consumed cheesecake bite counts as two for the purposes of what healing is gained.
Drawbacks: Each cheesecake bite is consumed on use, even in an NDE thread. Cannot be consumed during any combat post.
Cost: 3,000 Ryo each
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 2
Donated to Urahara's: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Espresso Bean Cheesecake Bites (6)}Name: Espresso Bean Cheesecake Bites
Description: A perfect little cheesecake, made small enough to be consumed in a single bite. Ristretto, espresso bean shavings and graham cracker come together in a sensual combination of flavors.
Class: 2
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): N/A
Offense Type: None
Durability: 100
Bonuses: An espresso bean cheesecake bite is an invigorating snack. Upon consumption, this decadent cheesecake nibble extends its consumer's stamina by a margin of 1 post. A character with a stamina-type drawback has their current level of stamina extended by a margin of 1 post on consumption.

When boosted by a Gadgeteer, each consumed cheesecake bite counts as two for the purposes of what stamina is gained.
Drawbacks: Each cheesecake bite is consumed on use, even in an NDE thread. Cannot be consumed during any combat post, and no more than two can be consumed per post. In a thread, no more than six can be used effectively; any excess are consumed without effect.
Cost: 8,000 Ryo each
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Opus of Enki, Preserver of Life}Name: Opus of Enki, Preserver of Life
Description: Drenched in highly concentrated, wild reiatsu throughout, a portion of a perfectly marbled cut of professionally-aged beef is seared with lime oil at high temperature and drizzled with lime juice during the resting phase. Once mostly dry, the beef is sauced with a jasmine honey-based caramel and speckled with small shards of black lava salt. It is accompanied by a salad of arugula, crushed smoked walnuts, and slices of dates featuring irregular pieces of breaded goat cheese that have been baked until crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth gooey on the inside.
Class: 1
Item Type: Consumable Armor
Item Power (IP): 1000
Offense Type: None
Durability: 2500
Bonuses: This meal may be consumed before the beginning of a thread, but its consumption must be tracked in the thread participant's opening post. Once consumed, this meal benefits its eater for one entire thread. The benefits of the meal are that it functions as armor for every location of the consumer's body until its durability expires, and even once its durability has expired, it continues to reduce the severity of injuries its consumer suffers from. Critical injuries are reduced to major injuries, major injuries are reduced to moderate ones, moderate injuries become minor injuries, and minor injuries can be ignored as a result of causing no real harm at all.

For this meal, critical injuries are defined as up to complete blood loss, destroyed internal organs, powdered bones, and fourth-degree burns. Major injuries are defined as major blood loss, destroyed or missing flesh, complex broken bones, and third-degree burns. Moderate injuries are defined as moderate blood loss, crushed flesh and heavy lacerations, broken bones, and second-degree burns. Minor injuries are defined as disorienting blood loss, heavy bruising and light lacerations, light fractures, and first-degree burns.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. Gadgeteers cannot boost this meal. Multiple purchases of the meal do not stack. 15% of the Offensive Strength of each attack striking the consumer will punch through the armor's protection and be deducted from the Durability of the item.
Cost: 20,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Zenith of Amun-Ra, Flight of the Mandjet}Name: Zenith of Amun-Ra, Flight of the Mandjet
Description: Smoke-infused with extremely concentrated, focused reiatsu to a precise balance, a single portion of lamb loin chops grilled to perfection, drizzled with wild natural honey and a balsamic sauce during the cooking phase. Once rested, is it sauced with an eggplant coulis prepared with fresh basil and parmesan, among other flavor-matched selections.
Class: 2
Item Type: Consumable Weapon
Item Power (IP): 800
Offense Type: None
Durability: 400
Bonuses: This meal may be consumed before the beginning of a thread, but its consumption must be tracked in the thread participant's opening post. Once consumed, this meal benefits its eater for one entire thread. The benefits of the meal are that it empowers and hardens the user's reiatsu channels, filling the veins around their hands and feet with shining light the same color as their reiatsu. This effect allows the consumer to replace their unarmed attack Offensive Strength with the Item Power of the meal until the meal's Durability reaches 0. Each time the eater strikes with an unarmed attack and opts to use this ability, the meal loses 80 Durability.

Before and even once its durability has expired, the meal empowers its user, massively increasing the spiritual density of their attacks. Characters benefiting from this meal partially bypass skin and flex defenses, inflicting 25% of their Offensive Stat's damage regardless of the presence of these defenses.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. Gadgeteers cannot boost this meal. Multiple purchases of the meal do not stack. After consuming this meal, the consumer becomes plainly detectable to the Energy Senses of other characters and detectors; those sensors treat the consumer as though they had a highly unique spiritual signature and the sensor had an additional 100 Energy Sensory.
Cost: 8,500 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Culinary Arts 3
Donated to Urahara's: No

[Benjiro Hiroto]

The halls of the Eleventh Division's barracks embraced Benjiro and Seijuro with an atmosphere that bore the unmistakable resonance of camaraderie forged in battle's crucible. The air hummed with a sense of vitality, a testament to the division's dedication to combat and its unyielding spirit. Benjiro, accustomed to the formalities of protocol, had expected to tread the familiar path of procedure upon his arrival—a sequence of checks and routines that adorned his visits to the Twelfth Division. Yet, to his pleasant surprise, the Officers of Squad 11 embraced them with open arms, their warrior hearts extending a welcome that echoed through the corridors.

"You have my deepest gratitude," Benjiro intoned with a bow, his words a symphony of appreciation that resonated through the air. Beside him, Seijuro's snicker teased the edges of their friendship and bond, the older man brimming with a much more youthful energy. "You've been here, what, 80 years?" Seijuro's jest mingled with the air like a playful zephyr, "You still have that old-timey speech with you, huh." Benjiro's cheeks warmed with a touch of embarrassment. In his decades of being in the Soul Society, his conversational skills were never brought into question!

Amid the backdrop of their interaction however, a woman approached, her presence akin to a breeze that carried whispers of intrigue. The Shihakusho that clad her form bore the emblematic uniform of a Shinigami, yet the Captain's haori adorned her shoulders—a dichotomy that spoke of her rank and power. Like the rippling waters of a tranquil pond, Seijuro's posture snapped to attention, Benjiro following suit as recognition painted their expressions. This was the Captain of the Eleventh, likely one of the strongest Shinigami in all of the Seireitei. She had to be, to lead the Attack Squad, after all.

"Good afternoon, Captain!" they echoed in unison, their voices a reverent tribute to the authority she bore. Benjiro and Seijuro both knew that disrespecting a Captain was likely to lead to punishment. Though they had no distrust of her, they were both old fashioned in their thinking with authority. Her greeting, casual and laid-back, wove through the air like the gentle rustle of leaves. Her words spoke of welcome, her assurance that the Officers of the Tenth Division were no burden at all. 

The Captain shared that the barracks were quite busy today, but their facilities were more than enough to host their training. "Thank you, Captain," Benjiro's voice carried the weight of his gratitude, "Though, if I may request some tutelage from one of you—" His words were a prelude to a plea for guidance, an exploration into the synergy of strength and spirit. But before he could fully articulate his request, a surge of energy—an ominous tremor in the tapestry of spiritual senses—rippled through the air, a shadow that cut through the tranquility.

Benjiro could pinpoint this spiritual signature anywhere. It was immense and similar to the energy of Kitai, the invader that nearly destroyed the Shino Academy. This was a Hellion, even the chains around his wrists confirmed that. Fear gripped at his heart but his will urged him to action. In the blink of an eye, Benjiro's reflexes surged to life, his hand thrusting forward to conjure a rope of reiatsu—a desperate effort to contain the impending danger. "Horin!" The rope of reiatsu surged like a geyser of energy before hardening and whipping around its target like a vine or a bramble of branches.

Beside him, Seijuro surged forth with the grace of a seasoned warrior, his Zanpakuto poised for action, a blade forged from the essence of combat's crucible. He dashed forward with his great speed, the steel in his hands singing as it cut through the air. Time seemed to stretch, each moment etched with the brushstrokes of urgency. Adrenaline surged through their veins, a palpable current that mirrored the crescendo of danger that unfurled before them. The very air pulsed with the weight of their determination, a battle cry that echoed the lessons learned through trials past.

As Seijuro's blade descended, and Benjiro's reiatsu coiled, their worlds converged—a tapestry woven from the threads of duty, courage, and an unyielding resolve. Their actions were born of their inadequacies, of their failures. Both had sworn themselves to defending the Soul Society, and both had failed time and again. The weight of the deaths of their brethren and sistren had been a burden on them both, and they would not allow a single soul to die. Not until both of them had drawn their last breaths.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Horin}Technique Class: 7 - 10 TTP



Technique Type: Kidō - Bakudō.



Usable By: Kidō-users.



Technique Element: N/A.



Technique Cost: 25 Reiatsu.



Description: The second Bakudo of this number, Horin causes an orange tendril of condensed spiritual energy to spiral out of the caster's fingertips and attempt to enclose around and bind an enemy. These tendrils, once having bound a target, can merge to connect the targets.



How to Use: The caster needs to point at the victim, not unlike casting any regular Hado.



Incantation: If used, the incantation allows a 10% increase in reiatsu strength. (I.E. A reiatsu strength valued at 100 would instead be worth 110.) ("Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and tear out your own throat!")



Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost.



Made By: Unknown.



Reserved?: No.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Stats}

Strength: 200 (300)



Speed: 200 (100)



RS: 220 (330)



SPPR: 180



Instinct: 100



Senses: 100 (50)



ES: 100



HE: 0



LA: 75



DA: 25

Reiatsu: 1800 - 25 = 1775

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The officers stationed before the gates that led into the courtyard of the Eleventh Division's barracks couldn't help but smirk as they witnessed the man with the great scar on his forehead bow before them. For all intents and purposes, they didn't appear to be too bothered by the sight of the bowing; in fact, none of them really appeared to be angry at the man or his friend in the moment. However, admittedly, it was quite clear that this kind of formality was not something that they really saw very often, especially not between ourselves, and so they found it to be rather amusing. This was made apparent once the man's friend, the somewhat-burlier of the two, made sure to comment on his mannerisms. "Heh, it's alright, don't worry about it! I mean, shit, we got someone around here who's ten times worse than him!" Another guard would speak then, chuckling with a friendly air to him as he waved the concern away. "Just don't be an asshole and you'll be fine!"

Obviously, there was more to the squad's rules than the man let on, but quite frankly, he was not very far off. Ever since Kimiko was promoted to Captaincy, a few rules have indeed been established, if only because the Captain that preceded her - Francis Grin - had apparently not established any during his time at the helm of the Eleventh. Even so, none of the ones she had created or the values that she wanted everyone to maintain were especially severe or difficult to understand. The majority of them only applied to members of the squad, and the others were things that were simply to be expected from anyone with a modicum of decency, such as respect for one another and the ability to contain their fighting spirit within themselves until the time came to showcase it to the world... or, in other words, the ability to not want to assault people for no reason at all. With that in mind, so long as the guests behaved, it was guaranteed that they would not find themselves in any form of trouble.

In any case, eventually, the aforementioned Captain of the Eleventh Division would find herself approaching the guests. It took about... hm, let's say one to three seconds for both men to suddenly perk up, stare right at her, then greet her in the most formal way possible. A brief silence would come in this moment, one during which those guarding the gate would remain stunned for a moment, before they would each begin to chuckle quietly between themselves. Kimiko, meanwhile, would simply stare at the guests with a bit of a tired smile before she then shook her head. "Captain this, Captain that... Celes and I really should prepare something for you guys to stop being so formal with us!" She would reply first, doing so with a tone that was very clearly not serious at all. Then, after that, she would tense down and return to the welcoming smirk she sported before. "So long as you're here, forget about the titles and the ranks, got it? Call me Kimiko. If that bothers you, you can call me Sensei. Either works for me." 

There was no offense behind the excessive formality that was on display before her. At this point, she had somewhat come to expect it from those who were not aware of her or even Celes' preferences. Hell, at one point, she was just like that. From the very first day at the Academy right down to her graduation from it, she was always told to regard those who occupied higher positions than her with the utmost respect, as not doing so would usually lead to quite the terrible punishment. In so doing, she had always made sure to do so as often as possible, especially in front of other Captains - with the exceptions of Celes - and even the Captain Commander. However, now that she was a Captain, she didn't really feel the need to do so anymore, or at least with anyone who wasn't the Captain Commander. It was one of the things that her combat experience as well as her time spent with the people of the Eleventh Division had made her lose after a while.

Perhaps one day, these two will be able to learn that such formalities were, in the end, not entirely necessary, especially not in a place such as the Soul Society. Really, at this point, respect for one's physical or spiritual power was all that was needed to make sure that people knew who could lead and who still needed to follow a leader. For now, however, they needed to focus on their training, and Kimiko would gladly give them everything they needed in order to achieve a greater physique. Although, judging by their frames, it didn't seem they really required that. No, these two looked just about powerful enough to break entire walls with only the tip of their thumbs. Technique was most likely what they instead required most, and fortunately enough, that was something that she could definitely grant to them. Of course, that will require coordination as well as a will to follow her guidelines, but in time, anything could be possible.

For a moment, it would appear as though this little theory of hers would be correct, as no sooner than a few seconds after introductions were completed, the familiar scarred fellow would attempt to ask someone to teach him. Kimiko would hear this, and as usual, her instinct as a teacher would beckon her to answer the call, so to speak. Such was the instinct that she had developed over the many years that she has spent building the great Nijūkan schools and training the many people that she has now come to refer to as her students. Yet, before her voice could even come out of her throat, something strange suddenly flowed right through her and made sure to freeze her chords right then and there. Briefly stuck, she would remain immobile as she felt the unnatural energy pass right through her, as if her mind was trying to comprehend its source. Finally, however, she would have the strength to look over her shoulder, and then turn her body to be able to gaze up towards the skies above her barracks.

Up there, underneath the clouds above, was a portal. Well, at least there was something looked like a portal. At a glance, it looked like a ring of fire. It belched flames of unconditional heat and spread about what could only be described as an unbearable heat. Then, without warning, something was spat out from it. It was difficult to tell how fast that something fell, but regardless, it eventually landed on the ground. Its impact against the earth was powerful enough to cause many of the officers within the courtyard to quickly stand back up as a cloud of dust was rapidly arisen. Eventually, the dust cleared, and each and every being who had the misfortune to remain within the courtyard at this present time would be subjected to quite the sight. The object that fall was a man. At a glance, he was exceptionally fit and young, with a body that might as well be the epitome of strength and power. He was also scarred from head to toe, was bleeding, and had markings and tattoos all over his body that appeared to be somehow glowing from a light that shone beneath his tanned skin.

To say that the sight was odd would be nothing short of an understatement. A normal man shouldn't have survived such a fall, and more importantly, he shouldn't look the way this one did. However, as his energy spread throughout the barracks and even beyond its walls, every officer would begin to realize that there was something deeply, deeply wrong about that particular man. Kimiko was among the first to notice this. She had felt this energy before. It was a while ago now since she has last felt it from such a close distance; in fact, it has been a couple of years, maybe even a decade. However, even to this day, she recognized it all the same. Even her, a woman who had only but limited expertise when it came to detecting spiritual energy and probably recognizing their source, could tell exactly from where this energy came from. This energy came from the likes of beings that she has slayed in the thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands. It came from the condemned, the beasts from below... the Hellions.

A demon was standing in the middle of her courtyard.

There was nothing that suggested that the intruder was going to do anything to herself, her subordinates, her guests, and then the rest of the Soul Society. In fact, at a glance, he appeared not only be wounded, but also hungry, as made apparent by the growling of his stomach. However, Kimiko did not care. How could she? After so many attacks against the Soul Society, after so many intrusions, she could no longer treat any unexpected visitors to the heavenly realm as being peaceful in aspect. Now, she could only consider them as being immediately hostile, immediately antagonistic and confrontational. Perhaps, if this man had landed anywhere else, she could have taken at least a second or two to reconsider that view of hers and review what she was about to do next. Perhaps, then, she could have realized that this man didn't necessarily wish any harm upon herself or her people. Unfortunately, she did not have the chance. She couldn't take it, not while he stood in the place that she has come to call him.

So, upon realizing what was happening, she acted quickly, instinctively. With every fiber of her body burning with a wild and beastly impulse, the woman would find herself locking her scarlet eyes onto the man's golden gaze, then clench her hands onto her swords, causing henceforth a burst of black and white "ink" to suddenly surge from her body in the following second. Then, with a speed of 7000, her body would disappear in a single Shunpo jump before it would appear behind the man, white blade in hand. Once this process was completed, the blade would begin to vibrate at an intense velocity until it would begin to glow a bright red color. Finally, with teeth clenched so powerfully that it almost hurt, Kimiko would then use the glowing blade to quickly slash at the air behind the Hellion. What was left behind from this slash was a crack, almost like something similar to glass was near shattering. Not before long, though the crack would expand and expand... until it would burst outward.

The result of this entire maneuver - one that was hopefully accomplished successfully with the aid of the rope-wielding monk of the Tenth - was the creation of a tear in reality itself. A literal tunnel in aspect, it appeared to open into a beaming path of red that rushed into a mass of grey and black. This... was the Valley of Screams. Either that, or Garganta itself. The officers in the courtyard were stunned at first, and quite frankly, so was Kimiko. This was the first time she was using Shibori, the very first time she actually attempted to create an aperture between worlds. She admittedly had not designed it for this particular occasion, for she wanted to use it to bring Ruhe away from the Soul Society... but she didn't have a choice. She needed to do this now, else this Hellion was going to lay waste to a place that she held dear. "PUSH HIM!" Her voice called from the mass of "ink" that she produced from her blades as she attempted to communicate with the guests and her officers in the chaos. "PUSH HIM INTO IT! NOW!!"

Gone was the casual side she had earlier. Gone was the calm and energetic trainer. Now, there was only the warrior, the leader of the Attack Squad, screaming a direct order to anything and anyone who could understand her. She wanted this man gone from her courtyard, right then and there, and she didn't give a damn how anyone was going to do that. In response to this, several officers of the Eleventh would immediately unsheathe their swords and let out war cries before rushing straight for the Hellion.

This was going to be messy.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}

Statistics

Physical	Spiritual		Sensory	Miscellaneous
Strength: 158 (210-52) Speed: 700 (400+300)	Reiatsu Strength: 30 (40-10) Spiritual Pressure: 700 (400+300)		Instincts: 400 Senses: 300 Energy Sensory: 50	Light Aura: 50 Dark Aura: 50 Healing Expertise: 0

Skills

Mental	Battle		Body	Utility
Strength of Will: 3              Analyzing: 2	Iaijutsu: 4 Martial Art - Hohō: 3 Battle Analysis: 3 Battle Focus: 1		N/A	N/A

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu: 5850/7000  |  Shizukakane (0.6m) : 10 Posts Remaining  |   Taishokukane (1m) : 10 Posts Remaining  |   Light Gauge : 0%   |  Dark Gauge : 0%}
Technique Name: Shunpo (瞬歩, "Flash Steps")

Class: 7

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

Technique Reiatsu Cost: 50/step

Technique Description and Effects

A movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow. The focal point that determines the basis of this technique is speed. As speed is the main point of the technique, the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from Point A to Point B in the least amount of steps. Training and skill are what determines how fast a user of Shunpo can move. Those of little skill in the technique or those who haven't used it for an extended amount of time would obviously be out of practice, causing those individuals to be considerably slower. This requires the use of more steps to move the same distance and become tired more easily in a shorter amount of time. A single step magnifies speed for that step by ten times. Shunpo uses fifty Reiatsu per step. This one is automatically learned in the academy. All Shinigami know this when created. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique

Focus of Reishi around the feet area and launch off into a single blurring step. It is not unlike teleportation in appearance, but it is simply extremely fast movement. It is often used to gain an edge in a single moment of combat or to dodge incoming attacks.

---

Technique Name: Shibori (絞り, "Aperture")

Technique Type: Zanjutsu - Hohō | Dimensional Breach

Technique Element: None

Usable by: Shinigami, Rogue, Vizard & Beast-Clansmen

Class: 1

Technique Reiatsu Cost: 0 (Cinematic), 750 (Combat)

Technique Description and Effects

A variant of Sukima designed not to transport attacks, but rather proper living beings. The user takes a deep breath before they begin to raise the spiritual energy within their body, bringing about an intense vibrational force that permeates throughout its entirety at a great speed. Once this energy reaches a level that causes it to pour out of the user as a blurry aura that can be seen by all, it is then abruptly moved towards their blade. This abrupt movement causes the creation of an immense cluster of energy to suddenly inhabit their very weapon. As it remains within the weapon, it begins to change it, forcing it to progressively lose its physical form as it enters an ethereal nature which beams brightly with the color of the user's Aura with almost blinding intensity. After this transformation has caused the weapon to become so warped by the energy that it can no longer be affected by the laws of physics attributed to the world which surrounds it, the user then focuses onto a particular point in space which remains in front of them, then brings about a single slash to that point with their weapon.

Due to the sheer amount of energy fueling both the weapon and the power of the strike which it has delivered, this single action causes a great tear to appear between the location the user is currently located in and the Valley of Screams, the world between worlds. This tear first appears as a crack within reality - as though something akin to glass has somehow been broken in front of the user - before it then suddenly expands into what could only be considered as something that is similar to a tunnel which beams with the color of the user's Aura, after which it remains open until the user decides to go inside of it or to close it during the course of the next three posts. Whichever of these options have been chosen, the closure of the portal causes the user's weapon to return back to normal and the tear to disappear completely as the world swiftly reconstructs what was damaged by the great mass of energy which affected it.

After passing through the beginning of the tunnel and closing it behind them, the user can then decide to guide its end throughout the Valley of Screams by simply moving forward. This causes the tunnel to slightly pass by them and to push anything that dares to approach it. Since the Valley is connected to each of the main realms, this characteristic of the tunnel allows the user to choose where they wish to go within the realms, much akin to how a Hollow moves between the realms via the use of Garganta or Descorrer. The destination of the user can be located within any realm, which can allow them to effectively appear within any location at any given time, without warning.

The user of this technique must be proficient with it before being able to execute it properly in combat, as it requires a proper amount of reiatsu in order for it to be executed. However, though this amount is required, no reiatsu is ultimately spent by the user during the technique's use outside of combat, as unlike the energy delivered onto an enemy with Sukima, the energy used to create the tunnel is returned to the user upon its closure. Complete mastery of this technique allows one to use this technique during combat, and thus to quickly bring themselves towards their opponent with a process akin to teleportation. Most opponents with less than 300 Senses will have a difficult time properly ascertaining the location of the tunnel's end as it appears near them, which permits the technique's user to strike them in a more efficient manner.


Drawbacks & Weaknesses

As a variant of Sukima, this techniques shares some of the difficulties related to its use, given that the process required in order to form a tear in reality is similar. It too requires the user to be able to understand how quickly they can vibrate the spiritual energy contained within their body, and to consider how much of this spiritual energy is required in order to properly achieve the technique's main goal. However, there are other factors that one must take into account while executing Shibori, as noted below:

• The user's weapon is completely intangible during the creation of the portal. This means that they cannot use their weapon in any way against an opponent or the environment that surrounds them before the portal has been created, as doing so will merely cause it to pass through them.
  
  
• The user's tunnel can welcome as many visitors within it - whether they be alive or not - before its closure. This can include allies or even troops, which can be quite useful for commanders who wish to use this technique. However, it can also include enemies. In certain cases, such an occurrence can drastically affect the course of a battle and greatly endanger the lives of those within the tunnel, as the user may be distracted and thus be unable to properly guide the tunnel towards its end.
  
  
• The user and the rest of those who are within the tunnel cannot physically get out of it by any other means than through its destination, as its structure is solid. This property also affects each ends of the tunnel, as although they appear to be open, an invisible force blocks the path leading into the Valley of Screams.
  
  
• If the user is not within the portal upon its closure, the tunnel within the Valley of Screams begins to fold into its beginning until it is no more. Upon the end of this shrinking process, anything and anyone that are within the tunnel at this point of time will suddenly be launched throughout the Valley of Screams. While this process is surprisingly harmless, it forces the Valley of Screams to recognize the presence of intruders within itself, and thus to forcefully spit them out into one of the main realms. This imposed destination is dependent of what the Valley of Screams believes to be the most appropriate for the intruder depending on the quality of its spiritual energy. For example, Shinigami are returned to the Soul Society, while Hellions are returned to Hell. Due to the strangeness of their Soul, beings with split souls (namely Vizards) will be chosen a destination at random which fits their own energy.
  
  
• The user's destination must have been witnessed by them at least once before their arrival there. This must have been accomplished in-person or through other means, such as looking at a picture of the destination or by watching a video recording of it. Moreover, if the destination is located in Hell or the Silbern, demonic or Vandenreich reishi must respectively be present within the tunnel in order for the user to access them, either in the form of an object (ex: the horn of an Akki) or a person.
  
  
• While the user can use this technique during battle, doing so causes it to be much more exhausting to use than usual, as the reiatsu spent to properly create the tunnel is not returned to the user. This is due to the fact that the presence of hostile reiatsu disturbs the returning process, preventing it from being successfully completed.

With these factors in mind, it is thus imperative that one must be capable, but also knowledgeable enough in order to execute this technique. Proficiency requires a Martial Art - Hohō skill of 3 as well as any skill related to swordsmanship (ex: Martial Art - Zanjutsu) of 3, while its mastery requires the first skill to be raised to 4. Any attempts to use this technique without properly respecting these criteria may result in severe consequences to the user, such as a blast of energy upon creating the tunnel which may harm or even kill the user... or somehow worse.


Made by: Nakajima Kimiko

Reserved? : No

[Ambrose Grail]

The atmosphere exploded around Ambrose even as he was still taking stock of where and who. Okay. Maybe it couldn't wait for a status check... where was he, exactly? Wherever it was, this exact location wouldn't remain good for more than a few second at most. Oh, scratch that, too. A rope of energy lashed around him. Ambrose frowned. Did he do something wrong? Come to think of it, was this the kind of reception he should have come to expect from others? Most of the people he'd met so far were immediately hostile, even outside of Hell itself.

A warrior was came toward him. More than one, really. The important one, for this moment, was the black-haired woman with the white sword. She moved more quickly than he was prepared for-- fast enough that he wasn't sure if he could keep up if he needed to. But she didn't attack him.

In the next moment, a tear opened up in space beside him, and the woman shouted about pushing "him" into it. He could guess who she was referring to. It seemed rude, though. They hadn't even exchanged pleasantries of any sort. Or unpleasantries, for that matter. Wait-- these soldiers... most of them weren't using released weapons. Ambrose's expression turned serious. The situation was suddenly much more grim than he had anticipated. The first time one of those swords hit him...

He couldn't allow that to happen. Idiot Shinigami or not, no one deserved the pain that would follow that decision. Ambrose flexed, pulling apart the energy rope not with any special skill or power, but strength alone. "Wait," he said, trying to warn them. It was too late. They were already coming at him, fear in their veins and anger in their eyes. Someone took a swing at him. The tip of their blade nearly made contact with his skin, but he managed to weave out of the way.

Wherever he was, Ambrose wasn't keen on passing through another portal again so soon. As had been covered from his treatment from them so far, portals weren't any good for the Hellion man. There had to be something he could do... for now, he'd make do with a little obfuscation and redirection. With a jangling of his chains, he lifted his right foot, and put it back down again with such force that it produced a shockwave, kicking up a large cloud of dust and cracking the earth in a random splay around him. His energy signature might still tell people where he was, but the dust cover would distract most of them for at least a few seconds. In the same moment, he restricted the flow of energy around his body as best he was able, suddenly and dramatically increasing its pressure. Impel Mode.

He launched himself at the woman with the white sword. Green light flicked off his feet, and he moved inches closer before quickly redirecting his momentum. The first movement at 5500 Speed, and the second, at 7150. As he neared her, he veered to the left with his second step, changing his trajectory and putting some space-- several feet-- between them. Rather than step a third time, he assumed a guarded stance, clearly having something planned for the very near future.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Techniques}Reiatsu left: 5,450/6,500
Impel Mode Duration: 1/6 posts
Force Stacks: 1/10
Out of Hell posts: 2/50

300 for Impel Mode
50 for Bringer Light
100 for Bringer Light
200 for Bringer Light (paired)
400 for Ten-Petals Lotus Wheel Hand

SPOILER: Click to show

{Impel Mode Techs}Technique Name: Force and Pressure, Stage One
Class: 7
Technique Type: Other
Usable By: Kenpachi only
Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The user gains a capacity for Force stacks, up to 5.

At the cost of 300 reiatsu, the user may enter Impel Mode for the duration of 6 posts. Upon entering the mode and at the beginning of each post, the user gains 1 stack of Force.

Up to 1 Force stack can be transferred into an opponent on physical contact. In an opponent, Force stacks exacerbate damage taken, projecting a secondary, explosive spike with a combined Offensive Stat equal to 10% of the user's Reiatsu Strength per stack, out the opposite side of the body, whenever the victim suffers a physical injury. When 6 or more Force stacks accumulate, the next blow causes a volatile chain reaction, venting all accumulated Force out of the body and resetting the number of stacks to 0.

An opponent with Force stacks vents them automatically after going 2 posts without gaining a stack, at the rate of 1 Force stack per post. Alternatively, they can forcefully purge their reiatsu by paying 50 reiatsu to eliminate a stack of Force.

How to use technique: The user's capacity for Force stacks is a passive, always-active feature. To enter Impel Mode, the user partially traps their enormous reiatsu output inside their body, greatly increasing its pressure.

Technique Drawbacks: If the user's Force stacks exceed their capacity, the stacks vent forcefully out of their body, inflicting body-wide second-degree burns and inch-deep lacerations in an explosion 10 feet wide.

Made By: Ammutseba

Reserved? No


Technique Name: Force and Pressure, Stage Two
Class: 4
Technique Type: Other
Usable By: Kenpachi only
Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The user's capacity for Force stacks increases to 10. They may transfer up to 2 stacks of Force to an opponent with physical contact, and up to 1 stack of Force by being within 15 feet of them for one post. The secondary damage from the user's Force stacks increases to 15% of their Reiatsu Strength per stack, and your Force stacks trigger a chain reaction only after 11 or more have accumulated. Triggering a chain reaction uses one Short-Term Stat Boost per thread. Opponents begin venting Force stacks only after 3 posts without gaining a stack have passed, and they must pay 75 reiatsu to eliminate a stack of the user's Force.

How to use technique: This technique represents the user's increased resilience to and growing affinity for Force.

Technique Drawbacks: Before this technique can be learned, the user must first know Force and Pressure, Stage One. If the user's Force stacks exceed their capacity, the stacks vent forcefully out of their body, inflicting body-wide second-degree burns and two-inch-deep lacerations in an explosion 15 feet wide.

Made By: Ammutseba

Reserved? No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bringer Light}Technique Name: Bringer Light
Class: 4
Technique Type: Human Technique
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
This is the stepping technique for humans. It increases their speed for a single step by 10 times for 50 Reiatsu. It leaves a column of flickering light in the place where the user previously occupied. Unlike other steps, this one can be used to build speed. If used in succession, the speed and cost go up with each additional step. The second step is a 13x increase, and costs 100 Reiatsu. The third step is a 15x increase, and costs 200 Reiatsu. From there, the cost doubles with each additional step, and the speed increase goes up by 1 time. Meaning the fourth step is 16x and 400 Reiatsu, the fifth is 17x and 800 Reiatsu, etc. Though at first the column of light is visible where the user was, once the third step is reached, the column of light is no longer there. This technique does not take up a technique slot.
How to use technique: To work, this technique manipulates the soul in whatever the user is standing on, allowing for feats such as high jumping, or the step which increases speed.
Drawback: None

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ten-Petals Lotus Wheel Hand}Technique Name: Ten-Petals Lotus Wheel Hand
Technique Class: 2
Technique Type: General Physical
Usable By: Kenpachi only
Technique Element: None
Technique Cost: 400 reiatsu

Description: This is not a standalone technique, and it takes effect over two steps. First, it is primed in conjunction with a stepping tech, when the costs of both techniques are paid. Second, when the user is attacked in close or melee combat by an opponent using a stepping technique either as a part of their attack or immediately before their attack, the user may execute any primed instance of this technique they have prepared. To qualify for close or melee range, a character must either be grappling or attacking within the reach of the Kenpachi's limbs.

When this technique is executed, the high speed at which the user reacts effectively negates the advantages of the opponent's stepping technique, allowing them to respond to the incoming attack at a reaction speed based on their own Speed and Instinct times the paired stepping technique's multiplier. As a part of these movements, the user snaps out a weapon, fist, or foot, countering the incoming force with power based on the speed multiplier of the technique's paired stepping technique and all indicated multiplier tiers beneath it. The benefits of different stepping speeds are as follows:

Up to 12x: None.
13x or more: The kenpachi's counterattack knocks the attacker twenty feet back in their direction of origin.
16x or more: The kenpachi's counterattack bypasses defensive properties and techniques, such as (but not limited to) armor and Hierro.
20x or more: The force of the kenpachi's counterattack reverberates throughout the body of the attacker, punishing further stepping technique use for 1 post. When a stepping technique is used during this time, the muscles of the affected limbs shear, causing intense pain that results in the loss of that stepping technique and reducing all future stepping speed multipliers by x2 for the thread. Pain Tolerance 3 or more can overcome the loss of the stepping technique.
25x or more: The kenpachi's counterattack reverberates through space, resulting in a rippling explosion that affects a 50-foot radius with their Strength at the time of the counterattack.

If the user is in Impel Mode, they may generate stacks of Force as a part of executing this technique. For each stack of Force generated, increase the effective speed multiplier of the paired stepping technique at the time of execution by +x2.

How to Use: Surge raw reiatsu into the eyes and spine in the same manner as a stepping technique, storing up energy for intuitive release.

Drawbacks: This technique requires at least 300 Instinct to learn. The guarded nature of the stances necessary to keep instances of this technique primed is visually apparent; any character with greater Instinct than the user may read that they have a defensive technique readied, though not necessarily its nature. This technique cannot be used more than once per post. Priming this technique must be done in a post before the triggering attack takes place, and the user cannot have more than two instances of this technique primed at any time. Not compatible for pairing with partial stepping techniques (such as but not limited to Shunpo Karin). The costs of the paired stepping technique must still be paid.

If the paired stepping technique's multiplier is 25x or more, this technique has the additional costs of reducing the user's stepping technique multipliers by -2x for 2 posts and 1 post of stamina use.

Made By: An ancient master
Reserved?: No

[Nakajima Kimiko]

In an instant, what was previously only but yet another courtyard of one of the barracks of the Gotei 13's divisions had become the equivalent of a warzone in the making. The soldiers that populated it had effectively completely forgotten their previous training duties, instead turning their attention solely towards the demonic intruder who dared set foot into their home unannounced, and they each had effectively concluded that the man needed to be removed from this location at all costs. Their will to eliminate what they believed to be their enemy was apparent. They had their swords drawn, their spirits at the ready, and their bodies ready to be thrown to the fire all for the sake of what they all now considered as their one true home. Perhaps that such a thing was to be expected from them. Indeed, like Kimiko, they had all seen the horrors of the latest invasion and what had befallen onto the home of their sister squad. They do not wish for this fate to be bestowed onto them either... or worse, the other barracks too.

Among the soldiers, there was one that stood tall among them: the one-armed swordsman, Bushida Dai, that was previously training onto one of the training dummies. With widened eyes, he had watched the Hellion's arrival into the courtyard, and since then, he has been staring at the scene with his hand clenched against the hilt of his weapon. It was clear that he was furious at what he was seeing, as made evident by the several tremors of adrenaline that ran down his body as he watched his comrades move onward. However, he wasn't sure that his Captain would allow him to fight. The fact that he had even brought himself to train was already miraculous enough from her perspective, that much he knew. In so doing, there was no way he would be allowed to do battle again. For now, it was clear that he'd just be in the way. "Damn it! Why now?! Why couldn't he just wait for me to recover properly before showing up?!" He spat as his spiritual energy beamed around him like sheet of pure unadulterated anger. Then, he looked down towards his permanently-altered weapon. His eyes frowned further then, as though he had just heard something he didn't want to hear, then he huffed. "Tch.... Fine! Fine... I'll wait."  

Meanwhile, from a nearby window of the barracks, a man observed. He was tall and lanky, with long hair that completely hid his face in a storm of crow-black from which only a single eye could be witnessed. The eye shone in the darkness of his hair, staring right at the Hellion that had just appeared in the courtyard. A few soldiers of the Eleventh Division's officers who were still in the barracks once they realized what was happening were passing right by him in a full sprint, ignoring him due to the more important matter at hand. However, there was one officer that didn't. Noticing how immobile he was before the window, they would quickly stop behind him with a shocked look. "Lockwood! Lockwood, what are you doing?! We... We have to go help them now! We... We..." they would first start before their voice trailed off once they began to feel as though the tall man was not actually listening to him. Fortunately, before they could find themselves calling to the officer again, the one known as Lockwood looked over his shoulder towards his fellow officer.

"We... should not fight this man... This is wrong," a coarse voice came from the man then. It sounded as rough as usual, low, as though the simple act of talking was a struggle. Of course, in the moment, he noticed that his fellow officer did not seemingly understand what he meant by that and that they were slowly becoming outraged by his statement. Thus, he would point a bony finger towards the Hellion through the window and speak again. "No, please... Let me explain... Look at him... He does not want to harm us. This is nothing more than a... misunderstanding." 

"The... The fuck are you talking about?! That asshole is a Hellion! They're literally evil incarnate!" The officer would balk at the man's words almost instantly, clearly unable to believe that someone who was very clearly a demon from Hell could lay waste to their barracks at any given moment. Then, in a fit of a frustration, they let a heavy huff and shook their head. "Oh, forget it, Lockwood! If that guy destroys our barracks and you did nothing to try stopping him, I'll come back and kick your fucking ass myself! You hear me?!"

Lockwood would raise a hand in an attempt to stop the officer from going with his fellow officers to attack the Hellion. It was quite clear that he believed in his assumption of what was happening here and that he did not wish for this entire situation to come to blows all because they had reacted too quickly. Unfortunately, by the time he had finished raising his hand, his fellow officer was already halfway through the hallway and barging out of the barracks with their sword unsheathed, ready to join their comrades towards the fight. It was a sight that was most disappointing to him, to say the least, as it reminded him of a time during which he had suffered from such prejudices. However, there was nothing he could do about it. Not now, anyway. All he could instead do for the time being is remain by the window and watch how the situation would unfold. Only then will he and his blade judge whether their observation was correct or not.

Needless to say, the situation wasn't entirely positive for the time being. Ignoring the fact that the Hellion was not attempting to crush them all into a thousand pieces right away, it was clear that his power eclipsed that of the majority of the common officers who attempted to rush. Lockwood, Dai, and most definitely Kimiko could withstand the greatest weight of his spiritual energy without any struggle, but if he ever bothered to release it onto the common officer, they would quite simply be incapable of resisting it. They would need to flee from it as fast as they possibly could in order to escape its might. Fortunately, as the man attempted to do just that by releasing the energy in a shockwave, that was exactly what the wave of officers was able to do shortly after their first sword swings. Before the majority of them could be hit by the incoming shockwave, they would quickly Shunpo away from the Hellion in a showcase of their training under Kimiko's wing. Unfortunately, there were a few who were nevertheless caught in the shockwave, which caused them to be launched away from the man. Needless to say, this quickly became a source of frustration.

"Hellion dung!" One of the officers would call. "You dirty little bitch!" Another would cry out in a more childish manner. Kimiko, meanwhile, had her eyes completely fixated on the man with a gaze of utmost fury and determination. She was most assuredly angered by the man's presence, but her frustration went beyond the need to scream petty insults. Instead, it all bundled into a single wish to cast the man into the portal. She knew that it was only a matter of time before the portal would close; after all, there was no way that it was going to stay open forever, as if her theories were correct, the amount of spiritual energy that she had used to even conjure it would eventually become too unstable for the portal to remain open. In other words, to put it as bluntly as possible, she had no time to waste. She needed to quickly bring this demon's sudden visit to an end, regardless of whatever the intentions he may have had prior to coming here may have been.

Since her subordinates had struck first, she felt like she did not have much room properly strike the man. Her "ink"-covered blades, as powerful as they were, could accidentally cut through her soldiers if she ever came close to them, and she quite simply did not want to bother having to think about being this careful around them. So, she waited patiently, her scarlet eyes wide and bright like two burning flames. Then, just as she saw the shockwave, she witnessed his light. She had seen this light before, long ago, when she had fought a particular Fullbringer. Of course, she didn't know its name... but she knew that it was similar to Shunpo. Therefore, upon seeing it, she quickly sheathed her white sword and waited for the man to properly approach her. Obviously, it was rather difficult to follow him. As attentive as she was, there was only so much her eyes could see, especially when it came to extremely-fast targets. However, this particular use of the technique screamed deliberate obfuscation to her. She knew this, because had used such a tactic several times in the past. So, she waited patiently, clenching her teeth in anticipation.

Then, suddenly, the man appeared a few feet away from her. He did so after the second time he used the technique, almost as if he was trying to get her into a particular rhythm. What was most apparent to her, however, was the lack of any incoming attacks. Indeed, the Hellion simply stood there with a stance that appeared to be defensive in aspect. The Captain stared at him with a straightened posture, her eyes glaring with great intensity as she understood what the man wanted to do. He wanted her to attack him so as to perform some kind of counter-attack. Again, she knew this, because she had used this tactic too. Such was the way of the Iaijutsu, the very basic nature of her swordsmanship style. Admittedly, should she had been less attentive to battle then, she would have been caught fair and square. However, not this time. Not this time. So, she crouched down and grabbed onto her sheathed black blade's hilt, beginning to fuel its entire structure with a considerable amount of reiatsu. Then, with one single scream, she would quickly move at full speed so that the man would be appropriately positioned in front of her between her and the portal, then unsheathe her blade straight towards the Hellion with one powerful scream:

"I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF TWICE!" 

"LEAVE!"

The scream was loud, almost akin to a beastly roar. It echoed throughout the courtyard, causing a few to wince at the sound. However, none in the entire area would be most affected by the scream than the Hellion himself. In an instant, he would feel fear in a paralyzing degree. It would feel like he was in the presence of someone - no, something - that truly wanted him to immediately be out of her sight. But then, shortly after the fear came something else. Indeed, just as Kimiko removed her black Zanpakuto from its sheath, the reiatsu collected within its body boomed of its steel into one massive streak of energy. The power would collide with him head-on at a speed of 2100 like a freight train, set against him with a spiritual strength of 700 in the process. It was such that it completely tore through the ground of the courtyard both in front and behind him. 

Fortunately, the energy that was released did not hit the barracks that were behind the portal. Instead, the portal simply swallowed it, launching it into whatever was behind it. Nevertheless, it remained a most frightening power.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu: 5250/7000  |  Shizukakane (0.6m) : 9 Posts Remaining  |   Taishokukane (1m) : 9 Posts Remaining  |   Light Gauge : 15%   |  Dark Gauge : 15%}
Technique Name: Akuma no Sakebi (悪魔の叫び, "Demon's Cry")

Technique Type: Other | Fear Inducement

Technique Element: None

Usable by: All races

Class: 2

Technique Reiatsu Cost: N/A

Technique Description and Effects

The projection of one's own will to strike fear in the hearts of others. The user channels the strength of their very soul within themselves before screaming it out with monstrous energy, similarly to how a beast howls or roars. Though it possesses no physical or spiritual attribute of note, the manifestation of this power is considered to be so intense that it can induce terror to the targets that have to face it. Those who do not possess an ability that would allow them to resist the effects of such a demonstration - namely a superior Strength of Will, Calm Mind, or Lack of Fear skill, or a Aura of 100 - will find themselves so taken aback by the scream that their combat performance will worsen, rendering them sluggish. Masters of this technique possess such fearsome cries that their targets are literally stunned by them for one post, unable to fight against the terror they have injected into their soul.


Drawbacks & Weaknesses

To unleash fear onto one or many beings at once, one must be able to be physically capable of unleashing such a thing in the first place, and unfortunately, there are a few who will be forever incapable of doing so. Some are simply too softhearted to even express such terrible power, while others are too discreet to even let out such a loud scream to begin with. Considering this, the main users of this technique will possess a Strength of Will skill of 3, which is just enough for them to be capable of properly unleashing Akuma no Sakebi. However, there is an alternative in the form of Dark Aura. Those who happen to be monstrous enough to possess fully-darkened energy will be capable of using this technique just as well as the aforementioned wilful individuals, for better or worse.


Made by: Nakajima Kimiko

Reserved? : No

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Technique Name: Tsukanoma Kanmeki (つかの間んめき, "Fleeting Bolt")

Technique Type: Zanjutsu - Hohō | Ranged Attack

Technique Element: None

Usable by: Shinigami, Rogue, Vizard & Beast-Clansmen

Class: 3

Technique Reiatsu Cost: 600

Technique Description and Effects

A modified variant of the classic Iaijutsu technique aimed to correct the short range of its inspiration. The user bends their back in a crouching position before putting their foot forward and grabbing the scabbard of their weapon with one hand and the hilt with the other, slowly fueling reiatsu into the aforementioned weapon in the process. Once a sufficient amount of reiatsu has been transferred into the weapon, the user then rapidly unsheathes it from its scabbard, allowing its power to guide their arm towards the target. This abrupt movement causes the stored reiatsu to then burst from their weapon in the shape of a large streak of energy molded by the speed of the user, one large enough to span a maximal distance of 20m. Should it ever reach the target, said target will feel as though they have suddenly been hit by a direct strike, more precisely one possessing three times the speed of the user.


Drawbacks & Weaknesses

Much like Unmei Kanmeki, Tsukanoma Kanmeki bears many similarities to the Kagami Kanmeki attack, so much so that not fueling the blade with any reiatsu would only really make it look like a lesser version of the latter. Due to this, it is thus easy to assume that it is one of the easiest techniques to learn among those used by the followers of the Nijū Kanmeki-ryu. However, it is the complete contrary, for this technique requires an unprecedented level of mastery for one simple reason: it's lack of any use of Kidō. Indeed, this strike does not possess any magical properties and is instead only natural material, as it only requires a certain use of reiatsu alongside both speed, power and precision all conveyed through both a Iaijutsu skill and a Martial Art - Hohō skill of at least 2. In a way, one could interpret this technique as a means for Kimiko - its creator - to boldly show how one does not require Kidō to even achieve long-range combat, but rather only utmost mastery of the blade. Case in point, the primordial nature of this technique is to simply insult practitioners of Kidō. How petty.

Ironically enough, this interpretation is not shared by the followers of the Nijū Kanmeki-ryu, for unlike her, many find this technique to be incredibly useful despite the fact that it does require a greater amount of reiatsu to execute it compared to most of the other techniques created by Kimiko. This is especially the case for those who find themselves unable to reach their targets, as they will often use this technique to bridge the gap between they and their opponent. Its lack of complexity also makes it quite popular among those who are capable of mastering it, so much so that many followers of the school tend to show their mastery over it with pride and accomplishment. So much for Kimiko's lack of respect for ranged combat, eh?


Made by: Nakajima Kimiko

Reserved? : No