The Hunt for the Lamina na Espiritos!

[Xaifer Regneis]

"Blast it!" Zanken shouted as Hara was stuck on the back of the Gillians leg. This was not a good position, as the Gillian could just grab Hara and crush him into pulp. There were several plans racing through Zanken's mind at the moment and there seemed to be only one that would both save Hara and kill the Gillian in one fell swoop. First Zanken shunpoed over to where Hara was and grabbed him under his sword arm, he also yanked out Hara's sword as well, they would need it for the plan to work. Second, Zanken shunpoed to just above the Gillians head, threw Hara to the side, stabbed both swords into its head and then shouted at Hara, "AIM A BYAKURAI AT ONE OF THE SWORDS!!" and then jumped to the side as well aiming his right finger at at the sword he was closest to and yelled out, "HADO #4 BYAKURAI!!!!" This would shoot the Byakurai into the sword and channel it down into the Gillian, electricuting it from the inside out. If Hara shot a blast of Byakurai at the other sword, it could create an electric field wich would envelope the Gillian and fry it even more. Zanken landed on the ground and waited to see what would happen next.

Zanken's remaining reiatsu: 175/300 (-50(x2) for shunpo, -25 for Byakurai)
*Docked by Saix Shinra

[ryuujinn00]

The Gillian roared as it saw Zanken frm the corner of its eye. Gillan class Menos are slow, not to mention, they're big, making them easy targets. It couldn't react fast enough even if it wants to, but it sure had another thing in its mind. It lashed out as Zanken tried to grab Hara, but missed. It wasn't fast enough, and certainly not agile enough to catch either of them. It lumbered and growled looking for its prey, until it spotted Zanken on top of its head. It tried to crush the shinigami, but instead, it roared in pain as a pair of zanpakutou pierced its head. It cried out loudly, roaring madly as it flailed its arms around. If Zanken or Hara were not careful, they could easily be hit by the arms, and cause tremendous amounts of damage on them.

The Gillian, however, shook its head, trying to shake off the pain. That was when Zanken's Byakurai hit one of the swords squarely. A surge of lightning cascaded onto the Gillian's body, causing a lot of damage, but it wasn't enough to kill it just yet. It roared mightily, trying to swipe off the swords using its arms. It was survival instincts. It simply groped at its head, and flick off one of the swords, specifically, the one that has a charge on it. At the same time, its mouth glowed dark red, reiatsu converging on the gaping maw of the Gillian. It was charging a Cero.

"RRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGRRRHHHHH!"

The Gillian roared once more as it fired its Cero. The Cero traveled, aimed straight towards Hara, whom it can see in clear view. If it wasn't evaded, it would spell disaster on Hara. On a lighter note, the Gillian was weakened already. It would easily die if another attack like Zanken's would hit it again.

Meanwhile, over at a distance, Honda and Juujinmaru looked at the battle with heightened interest. Honda has twice clapped his hands at what Zanken did. Juujinmaru, however, remained still, and gave a brief smile. He was more interested in how the two were fighting the Gillians.

"Not to shabby. But still. Not enough."

Juujinmaru remarked under his breath. He was eyeing the battle with interest, and his face has a rather strange expression. One that is a mixture of anger and despair.

Gillian's remaining reiatsu: 100/300 (-200 for Cero)

[Hara Lucious]

Hara was surprised to be grabed by Zanken out of no where, Suddenly being high above the Gillian, hara saw that Zanken had stabed the two's Zanpakutou's into the beast, He then was thrown off to one of the sides, Managing to look back and see Zanken fire a Byakurai at the sword stuck in the beast closest to him, But the Gillian quickly got rid of the sword, Hara knew it was up to him, Luckily he had a pretty powerfull Byakurai, He pointed his finger at the beast readying to fire it off when he suddenly saw that the Gillian was charging a Cero he quicly Shunpoed to avoid this, it narrowly missing putting 2nd degree burns on his arm, He now pointed his finger at the sword, Yelling out "#4 Byakurai" The powerfull blast of lightning went straight at the sword, It struck it and effectivlly chared the gillian.

[ryuujinn00]

The byakurai hit the sword flawlessly, but the Gillian didn't fall. It flailed around once more, its arms sweeping everything in a 360 degree angle around it. The attack took out a lot of trees in the area, and caused a rippling wind force nova around it, pushing back everything. This nova blew away Hara and Zanken to a different spot each. The Gillian, with one final effort, slammed the ground with its feet, causing a massive tremor. The Menos then gradually perished, taking up so much damage. The tremor, however, caused Hara and Zanken to be separated even more, and with not much Sensory abilities, it would not be easy finding each other.

The good thing, however, was that they seemed to be both sent to a spot near the vault of the sword. From Hara's point of view, he could already see ruined structures, and a massive Aztec Pyramid lying in the middle. Zanken could also see the Pyramid, but from a different angle. On his side, he was in some sort of clearing, an abandoned encampment of sorts.

In the encampment, a bald man with tattered clothing sat on top of a wooden post. His zanpakutou could be clearly seen and he was currently drinking from an earthen gourd. His eyes flashed towards Zanken's direction, prompting him to stash away the gourd and rise up from his place. It was none other than Honda.

Shinigami. Who are you and What are you doing here?"

His voice was impulsive and certainly hard. His gaze was equally hard, and had a strange look of manic bloodlust present on them. Honda was one of the two persona observing Zanken and Hara earlier. But Zanken and Hara would certainly not know them, yet.

Meanwhile, on Hara's side, no one seemed to be present. Instead, a path lay in front of him, leading towards the temple. In his case, a constant hissing sound can be heard, but it was faint. Could there be a snake around Hara's current position?

[Xaifer Regneis]

"Success!- ohh flipping-" Zanken started, then faltered, seeing the Gillian flail around. He was not hit by the flailing arms thankfully, though the nova hit him dead center and blasted him into an abandoned camp ground. By sheer luck, Zanken's Zanpakuto was also near him, sticking into the ground. Happily, Zanken pulled his sword out of the ground and sheathed it. Then Zanken proceeded to take a look around. He noticed a few things at this point. First, Hara was nowhere in sight, meaning the air nova blasted him to some diffrent part of the jungle. Second, there was what appeared to be a huge Aztec Pyramid, most likely the place where the Lamina na Espiritos was housed. Third, there was an old bald guy, on a wooden pole, drinking what seemed to be Sake. As he heard the old mans question, Zanken said, "Ello, my name is Zanken Gairan, Sixth Seat of Third Division, currently im on a mission with another Shinigami to recover the Artifact in that pyramid. Who might you be and what are you doing here?" Zanken said, and asked the old man.

[ryuujinn00]

"Ho-Ho! You have manners. That's good, young one! Me thinks you and I will get along just fine!"

Honda remarked, jumping off the wooden post with his zanpakutou on his right shoulder. His deep, black eyes shot towards Zanken with an auspicious nature. He paced around the shinigami a couple of times, brushing dust upwards as his bare feet moved through the ground. He was also smiling, a very satisfied smile.

"I am Honda Zaku, former Squad 11. I would tell you my rank, but then, it might not be too prudent to do so, no?"

Honda then sat in front of what looked like a spent bonfire, sitting along its outskirts. There were cut logs around the bonfire which signified that the place was once inhabited. He then turned towards Zanken once again, this time, his zanpakutou was used like a cane, supporting his two hands as it stood in front of him similar to how an old man does when sitting with a cane.

"Do you know what happened to the people once living here? I'll give you a clue. They all died. But how?"

Honda said with a large, toothy grin on his face. He was beaming at Zanken, daring him to answer whatever's on top of his head. Behind Zanken, a little obscured from the sight, were a couple of limbs protruding from behind a bush. If Zanken were to look closely, he would notice there was a pile of corpses sitting a few paces behind him. Those must be the people who once inhabited the camp. But again, Honda's question was lingering. How did they die?

[Hara Lucious]

Hara stood up from being blasted away from where they had been fighting, He was surprised by this, a quick glance around showed nothing was around, He could not see Zanken or sense him either, He only saw a path infront of him leading to the temple, He thought to himself How convinient He began to walk towards the path but suddenly heard a hissing sound, He was figuring there was a snake nearby, but he was not sure, He decided it would be safer to travel in the air using his Reiatsu, So that is what he did, He focused his reiatsu climbing into the air, But not to high he could not see the path, He walked above the path following it heading towards the Temple, Where he hoped to re-group with Zanken.

[ryuujinn00]

Even as Hara climbed up into the air, the hissing sound followed, growing in intensity by the minute. It wasn't long before something flew past Hara, missing him by a couple of inches. It looked like a wooden arrow of sorts. It travelled in an arc, finally landing someplace to the right of Hara. A few more flew past him, missing him entirely, and landing a few meters to his right as well. The hissing sound then stopped as directly below him, a young man wearing pristine white clothes stood in the middle of the clearing, holding a bow of sorts. A quiver chock full of wooden arrows lay beneath his feet. He was staring back at Hara.

"You shouldn't be here. This is not a place for your kind."

The young man voiced out towards Hara, with a volume loud enough for the shinigami to hear. It wasn't too loud, nor was it too soft. It was just enough. At the same time, his bow was held in front of him, ready to fire if Hara does anything weird. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary with this young man. However, his shots clearly were intended to get Hara's attention. It was a mystery whether they really miss or they missed intentionally.

[Xaifer Regneis]

Zanken thought about Honda's question for a little while. Then he smelled the sickly sweet stench of what could only be described as rotting corpses, and turned around to see what it was. It WAS in fact a pile of rotting corpses, meaning several things. "Well... there could have been lots of things that could have killed them. An Arrancar could have killed them, a Hollow could have killed them, some random animal from the jungle could have killed them, something in the temple.... then again...." Zanken paused for a second, " YOU might have killed them." Zanken finished. There was not a trace of accusation in his voice however. "Seeing as i was not here, i honestly don't know WHAT could have killed them, but those four possibilitys seem the most likely." Zanken finished. "No offense or anything." Zanken said to Honda, apologizing if he had been wrong about thinking it was him that had killed the people. In any case, Zanken's hand was over his Zanpakuto's hilt, ready just incase something happened.

[ryuujinn00]

"Killed them? Me? Now why would I do that?"

Honda remained sitted as he spoke out, but he gave Zanken a very sharp glance and a grin. The bonfire in front of him crumbled to dust as he does so. It was ominous, but the man did not do anything. It was caused by the wind blowing towards them. From a distance, crows flew out of the trees, filling the air with their cries. Again, another ominous sign. Honda stood up following this event and walked past Zanken, flawlessly moving through his side, with his tattered hakama whisking past Zanken's right arm. All the while, he had his hand on his blade. As he passed by, there was a slight "clunk" that echoed faintly around them, but it disappeared as quickly as it was heard.

"You know what? I'll make you a deal. I'm kinda bored doing nothing and talking, young 'un. So tell you what. If you give me a good fight, I'll tell you what happened to them."

As Honda finished his sentence, part of Zanken's clothing was ripped to tatters. But Honda did not moved at all, nor did he showed signs of drawing his sword. And even if he did, he was too far to attack Zanken. He did it some other way. That "clunk" sound earlier was no illusion then. If he did do that, then Honda's sword art is pretty advanced. His battoujutsu was impressive to say the least. He gazed at Zanken with heightened senses, waiting for the shinigami to respond to his challenge.

"Just so you know. I don't take no for an answer."

Honda remarked, gripping the handle of his zanpakutou and crouching low. His unorthodox stance gave emphasis on his right leg, which is cocked behind him. His sheathe hangs on the right side of his waist, and his left hand was gripping his zanpakutou. Wind blew once again, brushing the grass with its invisible hands, and caressing Zanken and Honda's face with its breath. The trees rustled ominously as a leaf fell down from a nearby tree. As it reached Honda's eye level, another "clunk"-ing sound was heard, and the leaf was slashed, all the while, Honda's sword remained within its sheathe, and his body didn't moved more than just a slight shuffle. It was fast. Perhaps if Zanken had a higher perception, he would be able to see Honda's movement. The man was showing off.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - [50] Points

Speed - [100] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [50] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [50] Points

Light Aura - [50] Points

Dark Aura - [50] Points

Instinct - [50] Points

Senses [50] Points

Energy sensory - [0] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [350] Points

Honda has no Shikai, much less bankai, but is very well versed in the use of battoujutsu. His flash draw requires an opponent to have either at least a 20% greater speed that him, or a value of at least 100 on either Instinct or Senses to properly see his slash. He can also triple his instincts when he receives enough bodily damage.

[Hara Lucious]

Hara simply looked at the man, Not sure what to make of him, He simply stared at the man taking him in for a moment, Before finally speaking. "No disrespect to you, but i do have meaning for being here, I was sent by the Gotei 13, To retrieve intel on an artifact, Or to retrieve the artifact it self." Hara stated to the man, Simply crossing his arms across his chest, Hara did not feel like the man was going to attack, So he simply left his Zanpakutou strapped to his back as he looked at the man waiting for a response, Hara was hoping to find Zanken soon so they could continue there mission.

[ryuujinn00]

The young man's face lit up when Hara uttered the words "Gotei 13". A look of surprise, with a mix of hatred surface up as the young man put away his bow. To say put them away was rather an understatement. He threw them far away from his position and gazed at Hara with utmost intensity. The crucifix dangling around his left wrist can be clearly seen now. He adjusted his clothing by the collar, and gave Hara a quick glance using his deep, green eyes.

"Gotei 13 huh? Then you will forgive me, but I cannot allow you further into the forest. You are a dangerous threat to the relic."

The young man remarked, but not before producing a bow made of reiatsu and pointing it towards Hara in a deadly fashion. His eyes glanced from left to right, and then he closed them. A slight hissing noise escaped from his persona. It was he who was producing the hissing noise that was following Hara earlier.

"I am Juujinmaru, the frontier guardian of the relic. You may not pass, Shinigami"

Juujinmaru remarked, his eyes closed. If his eyes were closed, how is he planning to fight Hara? But then, there was that hissing noise that constantly emanates from his persona. It kept sounding off every 5 second.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - [50] Points

Speed - [150] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [100] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [200] Points

Light Aura - [100] Points

Dark Aura - [00] Points

Instinct - [50] Points

Senses [100] Points

Energy sensory - [100] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [750] Points

[Xaifer Regneis]

Zanken did nothing but sweat drop as the two omens of ill fortune had happened. Honda didn't seem to notice, or not care, so it probably did not mean anything. Zanken grinned as Honda proposed a fight, and said, "All right!! I learn more about people when i spar with them then when i talk to them anyways!" Zanken grinned again as Honda finished his speech, and then said, "Hehe, i wouldn't have it any other way." As Honda walked by, Zanken's Shinakusho was slashed! By what though, Zanken did not know. The mysterious thing Honda did to his uniform also happened to a leaf falling down from the tree! However, as Honda took up his unothidox stance, Zanken did not draw his own Zanpakuto, and did not seem to be frightened by Honda's slash. (Well, Zanken ASSUMED it was a slash, he couldn't really tell what it was, and so labled it as a slash). Instead, he took up his Rakurai stance, wanting to test out Honda's abilitys first before anything. Zanken assumed the stance, right hand open palmed over his left, left in a fist, and slightly bending backwards. Zanken then made a motion, pulling back his arm, as if he was going to hit something. Well, lets see if he can react to this shall we? Zanken thought to himself. Suddenly, Zanken's body "flickered" and he promptly vanished!! Honda would probably be perplexed by this, when suddenly, Zanken reappeared in front of him! Zanken seemed to be aiming his fist for Honda's stomach! At the last second though, Zanken promptly aimed lower instead, aiming at the ground. As Zanken was around twenty-four feet from Honda, the accumulated momentum from all that distance was able to create a shock wave as soon as his fist impacted the ground, and that was able to destroy the ground around them in a ten foot radius! The ground suddenly was blasted apart. If this hit Honda, it would destroy his foot hold and then he would be thrown into the air. Though the fact that Honda would probably have no idea what was coming, coupled with the fact that the move was extremely fast, Honda would probably not be able to avoid or dodge it. Zanken then kicked Honda in the stomach, hard. If this connected, Honda would probably break a few ribs.

Rakurai Counter: 1/2

[ryuujinn00]

Honda didn't looked too disturbed by Zanken's movements. He was not focusing on his opponent's moves. His eyes were fixated upon Zanken's waist. The waist, after all, is the only part of the body that cannot change or rather, cannot be feinted. And no matter how fast Zanken was, he had to stop in front of Honda to execute the move, which gave the battoujutsu expert enough time to take in and formulate a defense. So the moment Honda saw Zanken's waist bend, he knew the punch would not be aimed at its initial target, but somewhere lower. He kicked off the ground just as Zanken's punch connected and a "clunk" sound echoed once again. As the ground exploded, he landed on a patch of undamaged earth 15 feet away from Zanken. The kick shot towards Honda missed altogether as he was not in his place anymore.

"Not bad. But not enough."

Honda's last word triggered what looked like a hazy number of slashes around Zanken's torso, effectively ripping the clothing and causing slash wounds. The wounds were not really too deep. But they were enough that blood would surface, thought it would not gush out. Honda just attacked Zanken midway the latter's attack, showing yet again how skilled he is in using his sword. His eyes flashed with intensity towards Zanken. Somehow, he was looking to kill.

[Hara Lucious]

Hara suddenly without saying another word lunged at the man as he ran towards him, Once he got close to the man he began to swing his blade as to attack him head on, But then suddenly Hara Sunpoed twice, one time being behind the man his swing bearing nearly done, The second time ending up on the left side of the man, as he completed the swing of his sword, he then slid back ready for a counter attack from the man.

Remaining Reiatsu: 200