Canon Z-3: Empire of Betrayal

[Zeich Yajuu]

Name: Arc 3: Canon Z-3: Empire of Betrayal

Participants: Up to 6 members from either Soul Society or The World of the Living. (Hollow/Arrancar excluded; sorry!) Priority goes to those who have previously participated in Canons Z-1 and Z-2. See special conditions for details on such a large group.

Location: The Senzaikyu Prison System: Human World AND Soul Society

Difficulty Level: Hard/Extreme

Setting: DE

Plotline:
Finally, the plot that has been brewing has been unleashed. The tides of the “converted,” as they are now called, have increased to such amounts that more than half of the world’s population, in addition to about two-thirds of the World of the Living’s spiritual population, have become enthralled to this strange message of downfall for the Spirit King. Normally, such ramblings would be considered pointless, ignorable even, but this is no longer the case as the number of spiritual groups have grown, and Shinigami who have been corrupted are attempting to open the Senkaimon to let these maddened, rioting masses into Soul Society to further fuel the increase of chaos. Worse, though they are being slowed by the Shinigami desperately fighting to keep the gates close, trouble is brewing within as well; this same fervor has spread to many of the Squads within Soul Society. The converted are everywhere, and it’s a war on two fronts for Soul Society.

But it only grows worse. While a large portion of the converted are trying to force open gates between the two worlds, they do so with a goal: breaking into the twin towers of the Senzaikyu Prison System. There are more than enough people in the World of the Living to begin to storm the tower on that side, and after the escape of another notorious individual referred to as a Prison Lord, the one in Soul Society is greatly weakened in effectiveness. It seems as though both worlds were going to be swallowed by the converted, and that there is no way to stop it.

However, as the fight continues, new information has been discovered: a stronghold, the center point from which the corruption that converts individuals start. It is very likely that the leader, the one spreading this corrupting influence, is there. The strange part, however, is its location: it is actually located within the Senzaikyu prison, in the space between worlds where the towers are connected. A hidden, third area of the prisons that not even the majority of the non-converted wardens knew about; what secrets could it hold? Who dwells within? What is their purpose? Whatever it is, they need to be stopped.

But doing so is not so easy; any attempts to attack the prison’s center has been thwarted. Few Captains can be spared, forced to deal with the rising tides of converted, and even the World of the Living is in disarray right now, only able to muster a few troops. As a result, three individuals are all that stand in the way of those who would proceed to enter this third prison area, but these three have thrown back every challenge coming their way. Yet a new group approaches, a large mixture of forces from various organizations. Will this group be the one to make it through? Will they be the ones to stop this sudden war on both realms? Only time will tell.

Estimated Enemy Strength: 3-2 (general), 1-0 (major foes)

Estimated Time Until Completion: 6+ pages

Starts: Immediately after three participants have entered. Any who wish to fill slots after the thread has started needs to PM me to be added in appropriately.

Special Conditions: Relatively early in the thread, the participants will be split in half, and one of these two groups will move on to Canon Z-4 at the point indicated. Once you have joined Z-4, please do not post any further in this thread. Note that there is a one-week time limit on posts, and any who receive three strikes will immediately be removed from the canon. If there are extenuating circumstances, please PM me.

[Zeich Yajuu]

“Hold the gate!”

“We can’t let them through!”

“They’re attacking from District 33! We need reinforcements at that gate!”

“We can’t! We’re already stretched thin here!”

“An attack from within Seireitei reported! Three more units have broken away from their squad and are attacking the north wall!”

Madness filled the command center at the Squad One Barracks as reports continuously came in. More often than not it was bad news; reports and messages of betrayal from Shinigami within the Seireitei as well as attacks from the citizens of the Rukongai trying to fight their way in were becoming more frequent. It didn’t help that they couldn’t afford to use lethal force, not on this many people; even if it weren’t for the possibility that they were under another’s control, the fact was that such a massive exodus of souls to the World of the Living would tip the scales horribly and leave the two worlds at a risk of collapse. Besides, with more and more surprising deserters, including seated officers, their forces were becoming more and more limited and across more fronts.

The best they could do was hold their ground, and the Shinigami forces were starting to have problems doing even that. The siege would start to wear on them more and more, especially if newly-converted units continued to attack from within, causing the walls to be breached. They had tried to mount a counter-offense twice now, but each time they had been driven back. Of course, it didn’t help that the target had been located within the depths of one the most fortified prison structures within the two worlds; the Senzaikyu Prison System was extremely well-defended, and even after the destruction from one of its prisoners breaking out, it was still sturdy and had plenty of intact passages for the enemy to defend.

The first group had made it past the initial wave of enemies before it had become fortified, managing to make it into the bridge between the two worlds, where their sensors had detected the central point of this conversion that was overtaking the minds of many. There they had discovered a third chamber, one that was in neither the World of the Living, nor the land of the Gods of Death; rather, it existed between life and death, a purgatory whose existence was almost entirely unknown, even to the few wardens that had been found and rescued. Someone very powerful was contained there, someone that the world had no chance of knowing about.

The group had been unable to advance, however; a vanguard of merely three men had been able to stop their attack, decimating the entire group of a dozen seated Shinigami with little effort, and after that the passages had been fortified. A second group had been sent in, but due to the advanced defenses, they had not been able to break through. Now the battle had turned against Seireitei, and the tide was starting to advance back towards them. At the rate things were going, it looked as though they would be overrun within a few days, if they lasted even that long. They had to break past and into the heart of the prison, to deal with the one behind everything before all was lost to the converted.

There was one chance. There were a few of Soul Society’s stronger members still able to fight, and if they could break past the initial fortifications, they could possibly defeat the second line of defense and make it into the inner sanctum. From there, it would be unknown territory, but there was no other chance. They had to push past in one last charge, or Seireitei and the rest of Soul Society would be buried in the converted. And so, the few remaining units were called together. It would be time to make a charge, soon…

---

The human world was faring only somewhat better than Soul Society was; as it was, the sheer number of individuals of the World of the Living was staggering. With their numbers, some began to attack Shinigami, forcing their way through opened Senkaimon, making their way to Soul Society. Others started in a mass migration towards the Senzaikyu Prison system tower that existed within the World of the Living. Chaos was more rampant due to a lack of focused direction, and as a result, the world seemed to shut down. Power and other utilities was out in most cities due to a number of converted workers, while riots erupting in various locations were difficult to quell due to the limited number of non-converted personnel. Things were getting out of hand quickly.

Only a few places still had any true semblance of order. The first was Xcution; Satsujin kept his men under control thanks to the information granted to him by the Seven Guns member, Shizuka, who had been involved in an elaborate experiment to convert people not long back. He was able to root out those who had been converted quickly, and maintained a firm hierarchy of command that prevented Xcution from falling into chaos. Fortunately, his best subordinates, the Seven Guns, as well as several of his other high-ranked officers had been left untouched by this conversion, leaving him with a strong power base. Indeed, he might have been one of the strongest forces in all of the world now, if he wasn’t already.

The other place that held even some semblance of calm was Uzaki Enterprises, again because one of its members, Kazura Uzaki, had also been involved. He knew what to look for, and had systematically removed any of the converted from his main office once the chaos began. Uzaki Enterprises stood as another bastion against the converted, but much like the rest of the world, they were just a small island in a sea of madness. Though they would hold strong for a while yet, they could not last forever. Something had to be done soon.

Fortunately, the same information had gotten to the various human world organizations that were still sturdy and intact: the source of the madness came from the Senzaikyu Prison System, in a third gaol that existed between the two known towers. A position of power within a well-guarded prison system made for a difficult barrier to overcome, yet it had to be done before the world was swallowed up and all its people converted. Thus, teams had been sent in to scout the situation. As with the Shinigami side, their attempts had been repulsed, whether stealth or force was used. A trio of individuals had stood at the entrance to this third prison area, and those three alone were annihilating any forces that came against them. A description had managed to make its way through to the human world forces, however, one that both the Xcution and Uzaki Enterprises groups would recognize thanks to testimony.

One of the three men had also been a prisoner in the same experiment that had involved both Shizuka and Kazura, a man that they had thought lost to a devastating attack that should have annihilated him. But the man they knew, who had gone by the name Reynard as a prisoner and Cross as an alias, was no longer there. That man was a blank, almost expressionless individual, attacking with an emptiness that was almost like any of the converted, albeit focused and directed. On his shoulders rode a small white creature reminiscent of a fox with many tails, much like the demons in Japanese mythology, and it was said that this creature was the one in control, giving orders to the captive he rode upon.

Another of the individuals was the man that had attacked them as they tried to escape the facility, a former Stern Ritter who now went by the name Blood. A powerful foe, Blood had backed the various group members into a corner with his control over two of their allies combined with his deadly Seraphim form, and it was only by Cross’s doing that they had managed to escape… that time. This time, however, it seemed that Cross was supporting Blood and their ally, which neither party had any information on.

Time was drawing close, however; before long, the openings in the Senzaikyu Prison System would close, and if it was fully fortified, there would be no getting in. One last group would be sent in, and it would be their last chance to make it past the deadly trio guarding the third prison. If they failed, then it was possible that the world as they knew it was doomed.

((OOC: Post order will be established by entry posts.))

[Kazura Uzaki]

Kazura had barely survived Blood's twisted game and yet he was already preparing for more fighting and threat of death. In his heart he held himself responsible for A's "death" and conversion and half of the world had fallen under the twisted spell of whoever was responsible. His company had remained strong in this time, remained pure for now, but time was becoming shorter and shorter until the whole world fell. And if the reports he received from Satsujun, his new overseer, were correct, then the Soul Society was faring no better right now. They were being pressed in on all sides by hordes of converted, barely hanging onto their territory.

Kazura wished that there had been time to prepare better equipment before heading out, but there just wasn't. He had to rely on what was familiar to him and hope his wits would carry him through this hard time. Alone in his office, with the lights turned low, he prepared himself for what was to come. A highball of scotch later and he was ready. He wasn't inebriated, maybe a little tipsy, but he had a long flight ahead of him to get to the Senzaikyu prison system here on Earth. A couple Advil and a few glasses of water would kick any ill effects of drinking before the fight of his life... Hopefully.

The jet Kazura had ready was going to be flown by his most trusted pilot: Charles his Butler. Kazura got a slap upside the back of the head for the smell of alcohol on his breath, which he knew he deserved. He silently accepted his admonishment, but was surprised when Charles pulled him close in an embrace. "Don't you go dying on me Sir. You're all I have left to serve. And what good is a servant without a Master?" Kazura reciprocated the hug and whispered into Charles' ear. "I love you too, Charles. This isn't goodbye. Not yet. There's too much work unfinished."

The jet ride was uneventful and silent as there were no more words to share between Charles and Kazura. Kazura quickly sobered up and prepared his battle plan. He didn't have much to go on, because there was nearly no information to be had. His attempt to send in employees to interview Wardens had gone south due to a small uprising in the Human world prison that was quickly squashed but lead to Takara and Jem being shut out from any information they desired. As a result, Kazura was basically flying in blind. Not to mention this "third prison" was unknown to even the staff and wouldn't have any intel for the fullbringer to access.

The jet eventually reached the island the prison was located on, but Charles could find no place to land. "Sir, not only does it look designed to be difficult to approach from the air, but it looks like Hell down there. You'll have to parachute in." With a nod, and a clap on the shoulder, Kazura prepared his chute and his ejection seat. Charles also prepared himself for the ejection by strapping himself in tighter and putting a full helmet on instead of just a respirator. If things went south with the ejection, the butler would also need to parachute to safety. "I won't let anything happen to you, Charles. On the count of three. One... Two... Three!"

The ejection went smoothly, launching Kazura out of the jet and allowing Charles to escape smoothly. As the plane flew off out of sight, Kazura breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to enter the fray. With his parachute out and a steady minor wind being manipulated through Soul Command, the fullbringer prepared to land in what appeared to be the safest location as far away from all the fighting as he could. He wanted to make sure that he could gather his wits and disengage from the parachute before the enemy could take advantage of it. After all, he didn't know exactly what he'd be fighting. All he knew is that there were humans down there, and he had to be prepared to pacify them.

He could only hope that it wouldn't lead to him having to put them to rest...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}



Strength - [200 x.5 (100)] Points

Speed - [300] Points

Light Aura - [40] Points

Dark Aura - [60] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [400 x2.5 (1,000)] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [150] Points

Instinct - [250 x2 (500)] Points

Senses [150 x.5 (75)] Points

Energy sensory - [50] Points

Healing Expertise - [100] Points


Total SP: [1600] Points

Abilities

• [Crafting/Forging] {4}
  
  
• [Strength of Will] {3}
  
  
• [Analysis] {2}
  
  
• [Learning] {2}
  
  
• [Krav Maga] {2}
  
  
• [Street Fighting] {2}
  
  
• [Leadership/Charisma] {2}
  

Total SKP: 18

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

More and more problems just seemed to be popping up all over the place and now one of the biggest ones to date was happening not only in the human world, but in Soul Society as well. It was enough that Asmoskon felt he might age far to harsh for his liking. He actually liked his hair and with all the stress that came with constantly almost dying, leading his family, working for Xcution and Hell would freeze over if he ever forgot about his wife. Even as a powerful Quincy with connected he was still human and a young one at that. So when Satsujun contacted him about a mission that he would be sent out on that involved so much danger and risk of death that it was quite possible he was going to die what did he do?

Of course Asmoskon accepted the mission whether he had the choice or not didn't matter because it was a danger to the worlds not just to a select people or group. Asmoskon didn't care if a few people or a group had a problem or got wiped out completely so long as someone he cared about wasn't a target. When it came down to both the Human world and Soul Society being destroyed though there was no way Asmoskon could turn down the assignment. Satsujun probably knew this since after being told about it Asmoskon agreed immediately and even if he wouldn't have been allowed he would have done what he could regardless. The problem was that he had just barely finished recuperating from the last tragedy.

Lately that was all his life consisted off tragedy after tragedy with near death experiences occurring almost every other week. He knew his resolve was in danger of breaking, but thankfully he couldn't mortally sit by and allow the chance of both his families being destroyed get any bigger. So he had set out for the island that Satsujun had briefed him on. Asmoskon had a different approach to the island than the others it seemed though. It was natural for someone to simply use an air craft of some kind to fly them over the island and then drop from it to gain access quickly with minimal chance of being attacked.

Asmoskon though needed more information about what was going on than just what he had read over the last few hours. He had grabbed all of his equipment made sure all of it was in perfect working order and then set out. Hotaru was busy in Soul Society and he wouldn't have wanted to worry her anymore than usual anyway so saying goodbye or informing her of his mission wasn't something that really crossed his mind. The others had taken jets that allowed for space and relaxation prior to getting to the island. Asmoskon had made a different decision.

Asmoskon had taken one of the Military fighter jets under his command as the Major of Xcution's Military. The jet was one that was meant for human warfare and allowed him to exceed speeds that he otherwise wouldn't have been able to accomplish. Moving fast enough that the sound barrier itself was broken was something that he could accomplish himself yet keeping it a constant was impossible. So he piloted the jet until he neared the island. He got within five miles of the island and then ejected himself from the seat after setting the jet on autopilot back to the Military base.

Asmoskon would descend from the sky so high that sight of the jet even with binoculars would have been incredibly difficult. He dropped through the sky while keeping himself locked in the ejection seat to increase the speed that he was descending at until he got about one hundred feet from the surface of the water. At that point he pressed a button that had been installed on the right arm rest. A burst of fire expelled from the bottom of the chair like that of a rocket.

The counter of momentum was both painful and disorienting however it counteracted the built up speed that Asmoskon had accumulated from descending from such a height. So much so that when he actually hit the surface of the water it caused a no larger splash then that of a divorced dad at a public swimming pool. Asmoskon pressed the center button on the ejection seat straps allowing himself to swim back up to the surface of the water as the seat sank leaving no evidence that he had arrived.

Now he began to approach the island using his strength and endurance to swim at his own pace breathing deeply to keep himself from exhausting his stamina. It became more like a free swim after a few moments. However, the mission was at hand so he'd have to pick up the pace if he wanted to get into this strange third area and break down the defenses to save both worlds. It was going to be impossible without back up though. Satsujun just had to love sending him on suicide missions. To prepare for this suicidal mission like he normally did Asmoskon gathered the reiatsu around him into his cross making sure that his reiatsu supply is as big as his material one.

However, the impossibility of the mission quickly turned into a possible bright one as Asmoskon heard the sound of a plane in the sky. His senses so fine that he could hear the sound of a parachute going off. It took a moment for him to realize it, but after sensing for the reiatsu Asmoskon smiled happily now knowing that his friend Kazura was going to be an ally for this mission. "Perhaps death will be below 90 percent now." Kazura was headed right for the island though so Asmoskon began to swim again now at a faster pace.

He was still about half a mile away from the island when he heard the approach of another plane. Just as he had done with Kazura he stopped and looked upwards while sensing for the reiatsu of whoever was doing what he had done on a few occasions. Leaping down from air ground to air ground to safety approach from the sky was something that he had done himself a few times and now his face was both worried and happy. It seemed Shizuka had been sent in as an ally too. "Well maybe 80 percent now." Just like that he began to swim again and within a few minutes he'd be on the island ready to meet up with them both so they could come up with some way to breach the defense.

Reiatsu: 2100/500
Quincy Cross: {+1600}

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}
Strength ❖ 300
Speed ❖ 400
Spiritual Pressure ❖ 100-50%=50
Reiatsu Strength ❖ 400x2=800
Light Aura ❖ 80
Dark Aura ❖ 20
Instinct ❖ 300
Senses ❖ 285
Energy sensory ❖ 50
Healing Expertise ❖ 0

•[Weapons: Archery] [4]
•[Acrobatics] [3]
•[Strength of Will] [3]
•[Battle Analysis] [3]
•[Battle Focus] [2]
•[Crafting] [3]

[Amagai Kuchiki]

SPOILER: Click to show

{A Bit of Music}

Amagai sat in an office, and quietly cried. It was the first moment he'd managed to find alone in the past twenty hours, all of which he'd been awake, and he was starting to feel the burnout. So much death. So much violence. And so many people who were corrupted had names, families, identities that he knew of. The second he didn't have the outright duty to keep up a stoic face, his emotions overwhelmed him, and he finally started to weep. He was just so tired, so sick and tired of this violence.

But Amagai knew his feelings, his tears, they were not weakness. They were a sign of his strength, of his empathy, of his leadership. Emotions were not contemptible, they were what rendered us human, and Amagai was smart enough to embrace them when he had the chance, in order to not neglect them and damage his mental and emotional state further. He had seen what hardened hearts for years at a time could do to people, his brother was a perfect example of that.

But he only had a few minutes to himself before someone burst into the room again, and he had to compose himself once more. "Vice Captain Kuchiki!" "Yes, Seventh Seat." He rose from his seat, wiped his face, and turned to look at the seated officer with a smile of confidence on his face. "How has the situation progressed? My apologies for this brief absence, I needed a moment to catch my breath. I'm capable of acting once more."

"Sir, you shouldn't push yourself too far, if you need time to rest, I'm sure we can find someone to–" "This is not an issue, not any more at least. The situation, Hiro?" He called the seated officer by his first name, forcing the familiarity into the mix. Reminding him that he was still Amagai Kuchiki, Vice Captain of Squad 1, second in command as far as administrative power in Soul Society went. He knew what he was doing, and he had a mind for details. He strode confidently out of the office, and into the frantic barracks.

Papers covered the desks as reports poured in from all divisions. The Captain Commander was out in the field, leaving Amagai with the majority of the administrative decisions. Which was, quite frankly, absolutely horrifying, and one of the reasons he was succumbing to burn out. He read the documents, quietly cursed, a very humble Bother, and let loose a deep sigh. The situation wasn't going to improve as it was currently going, and most of the captains were focused on just keeping the peace.

They needed action, they needed a leader. And unfortunately for him, Amagai was responsible for picking up that slack. After a struggle to decide, knowing that he would be taking the lives of people into his hands, he steeled his resolve. "Send word to..." He checked his documentation. The vast majority of the Captains, all of the ones who were combat ready, were in the fray, not to mention the host of seated officers that were being used as practically cannon fodder to hold back the tide.

It disgusted him. It enraged him. People were not disposable. Not now, not ever. But this was a disaster, and he couldn't afford to contradict his captain, who had made the call. But after this was over, he would not let this go unspoken of. He would make sure that every life was remembered, and every decision was questioned as closely as possible. "I suppose this is all we have. Notify July Kasumi'Oji and Aevus Renald. They are to meet me at the entrance to Senzaikyu prison. We're going to only have one more chance of stopping this, so lets make it count. Send them documents A29, F43, and T81."

Those documents would tell them the primary details that Amagai was working with, which was the source of this strange worship, and the location of said source, as well as key information on the current state of Soul Society and its troops. Basically, why the hell had it come down to this. "Notify the third seat that he is now in charge of holding down the fort until further notice. Focus on making sure that the right people get the right reports, and alert the Captain Commander of any major changes. Don't do anything stupid. I expect to see all of you, alive and ready to eat, at my family's dinner party next weekend."

With that, Amagai vanished in a blitz of speed, faster than many of the captains in Soul Society. Fast movement was critical. It was all down to this.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Days of continuous work and nights of endless insomnia didn't help this young woman's complexion at all. Horrible stresses turned her once glowing, olive-toned skin into a phantom-like memory. Dark circles inhabited the spaces beneath her eyes as the puffiness added to her exhausted physique. Being put in charge of the Seven Guns, though noticing a severe lack in overall numbers, was incredibly taxing when piled on top of her usual mission load. The blonde Fullbringer tried so desperately to move on, to forget everything that happened back at that strange facility, but to no avail. She was stuck.

Nightmares plagued Shizuka's inner consciousness while she slept whenever she finally got the chance, disrupting her sleep patterns and causing her to become incredibly sleep-deprived. Occasionally, she would take some form of medicine that forced drowsiness because she knew how unhealthy it was to go so many days without a relaxing night, but even Shizuka knew that it was far from over. The poor Fullbringer was really pushed to her limits mentally and emotionally, but now she was being called out again to stop the converted from accomplishing their goal. Whoever was in charge was going to have to be taken down, and Shizuka was one of the people who got assigned to the job.

The Xcution member's usual private jet flew her to the prison system where she needed to be, and this was one of the rare times that she appreciated her family having a decent amount of money. Satsujun spoiled his higher-ups quite nicely, but Shizuka's father had personally donated one of his own private jets to Xcution a while back. His reasonings were to make peace and establish good connections as a businessman himself, but little did he know that his own daughter would have full reign over where the jet goes and who is permitted to use it within the organization. A sense of pride briefly washed over her as she stared out the window, awaiting her dreaded future.

An attendant provided a drink for the young woman as she offered a few calming words of advice, quickly catching on to Shizuka's obvious nervousness. She had mentioned how the Fullbringer should be proud of her abilities and status, yet Shizuka felt none of that. What she felt was fear and concern and, frankly, nothing. Yes, as weird as that was, she felt nothing. Defense mechanisms kicked in throughout her mind, shutting off any and all connections to emotions that she previously had. Shizuka was unaware of how long this could potentially last, though triggers would pop up every now and again that could snap her out of this state in a matter of minutes to hours. Ultimately, it was probably beneficial for her to remain relatively stoic about the whole thing.

The attendant got a word from the pilot that the jet was approaching the area but that there was a severe lack of landing space. Shizuka simply nodded and looked out her window again, studying the world around her. Air ground would save her from plummeting to her most gruesome death, and could also be more fun than parachuting. Shizuka had nothing against parachuting, but heights weren't really her thing. Ridiculous, yes, but she wasn't a fan. Not when it came to being up that high in the sky, anyway. But once the hatch was open and the woman had a clearing, she quickly jumped out of the jet with a brief wave to her attendant friend.

As she descended, jumping down from spot to spot as if the air was made of platforms, Shizuka spotted a familiar face. She recognized the man as Kazura, and he had obviously already been there for a while. A small smile crept up on her lips as she made her way to the ground, hoping he would recognize her, too. Their first exchange wasn't the most ideal, but the Fullbringer hoped she had proven herself to him, even if it was only a little bit. She had made her assumptions about who would be joining her on this mission, and her original guess that Kazura would show up was correct. He had been there before, so he knows information on all of this crazy stuff. Once she approached him calmly and partially closed the space between them, she greeted the man as maturely as she could muster.

"Kazura, right? We may have gotten off on the wrong foot the last time we met. I'm Shizuka, if you remember me. I also played that horrible game with you and everyone else. It looks like you and I are going to be working together again, so let's make the most of it. You can always count on me, you know. That, I can promise. But, listen. I'm truly sorry about everything that happened back at the facility. I wanted to be able to save everyone, but I couldn't do it by myself. We all tried our best, so I hope you can understand."

Maybe he'd listen. Kazura was an important man and, apparently, very serious about his work. Shizuka was ready to help him in any way she could, but she knew the two of them couldn't handle this alone. It would be entirely too challenging to take on every single converted that they came across, and they had to think of a way to revert them back to normal. Not to mention, Shizuka caught wind of a rumor that a man named Cross was out in the world once more, being controlled somehow. It had to be the same cross they worked with last time, but what could they do to save him?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shizuka's Stats}

Strength - [100] Points

Speed - [300] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [200] = [500] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400] = [1000] Points

Light Aura - [60] Points

Dark Aura - [40] Points

Instinct - [200] = [100] Points

Senses [200] = [100] Points

Energy sensory - [0] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

Total SP: [1400] Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shizuka's Skills}

[Weapon: Firearms] {4}

[Analyzing] {3}

[Stealth] {3}

[Strength of Will] {3}

[Honeypotting - The art of manipulation to obtain information. Basically, a girl gathers enough information about her target - male or female, doesn't matter - and dresses accordingly or changes how she acts to be able to get them to do whatever she wants or tell her what she needs to hear.] {3}

[July Kasumi'Oji]

{OOC: Not sure if I was supposed to PM, given there are already three entries (but only 2 intros) but July is in for this thread. }

The situation was interesting, thrilling even. There was so much chaos and uncertainty, people were unsure for how much longer the centre would hold. It was like the point in a strategy game where one was unsure whether the defences that had been built up were going to withstand the onslaught of enemies that they were preparing for. And it seemed the Shinigami were holding out - though only barely. Of course, they had been given ample notice that such an event would occur, there had been rumblings of this for quite some time, but of course - given the politics of the situation - the Seireitei would never just act.

But at least the Gotei 13 knew how to handle a crisis, sort of. Squad 12 were buzzing away, doing their thing, the defence squads had been working on the fortifications, and the rest had been trying to breach the defences of the Senzaikyu prison. Whoever the opponent of the Seireitei was, they were pretty good. The Shinigami had unwittingly provided them with the perfect fortress, as well as a trained army ripe for the taking. In fact, it was a masterful move on the part of this mysterious grandmaster, and a glaring blunder on the part of the Seireitei. Perhaps, this time, they would learn from their mistakes.

Of course, the Seireitei had decided that simply defending was not enough - much to the delight of the Squad 8 Captain. There ouwld be no fun in this game if they were to simply roll over and let themselves be annihilated. He doubted that their opponent felt that way. I wonder what they’re like… Do they appreciate what they’re doing…? Of course, chances were that they were one of these boring extremists - one of these people who had a goal, those who were interested in fulfilling some kind of objective other than the silly restrictions they placed on themselves. The purpose of the ‘converted’ was too specific to be anything else.

Still though, just because his opponent had an ulterior motive didn’t mean that he wouldn’t be an interesting encounter. In fact, July had willingly signed up to the infiltration squad, simply because he was incredibly curious about the mastermind behind this carefully organised coup. It would be like a tower defence game! Except instead of being the one who dropped the towers, he would be one of the mindless NPCs, slowly weaving his way past the carefully constructed defences to reach the goal at the heart. He could barely stop quivering with excitement.

He had been kept off the front lines for far too long. As the Captain of one of the non-combat oriented Squads, and due to his lack of Squad members, he had been refused access to fight alongside those who fought against the converted Rukongai citizens. Of course, July had initially bemoaned this fate, as he had been cooped up in his office for hours on end, with nothing to entertain him except the multitude of games of solitaire he had worked his way through. But now, they couldn’t turn down having a Captain level Shinigami on the team - no way would they stop him signing up.

July grinned - things were getting really interesting.

SPOILER: Click to show

{July’s Stats and Abilities}
Strength - [100] Points -> [60] Points from Cunning Type

Speed - [400] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [400] Points -> [640] Points from Cunning Type

Reiatsu Strength - [200] Points -> [120] Points from Cunning Type

Light Aura - [50] Points

Dark Aura - [50] Points

Instinct - [200] Points -> [400] Points from Cunning Type

Senses - [150] Points

Energy sensory - [50] Points

Healing Expertise - [100] Points


Total SP: [1600] Points

• [Battle Skill: Dagger/Knives] {4}
• [Utility Skill: Acting] {3}
• [Body Skill: Acrobatics] {3}
• [Body Skill: Stealth] {2}
• [Mental Skill: Strength of Will] {2}
• [Mental Skill: Analysing] {3}

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Thoughts whirled through the Shinigami's mind as he caressed that cross tattoo on his arm. He couldn't concentrate and fingers would part from the mark. Even so he could still hear that silver haired fanatic. “And as long as your heart is pure of thoughts of betrayal, our family will find you and bring you home.” What did he mean by that? Aevus would shake his head, his cold blues drifting to that far off horizon. A storm was coming, he could feel a chill in the air. He was alone with his thoughts for now but that was only for the moment. Others that were marked had joined that flock and well he had felt that pull too. Was he in trouble?

He could still feel the burning of that tattoo on his arm. He could still hear the whispering. It told him everything he’d want to hear. It was all to good to be true. Conspired lies spoken from the silver tongue of a fanatic. It fell on zealotry and Aevus hated that it got to him. The reaper sighed, his heart felt heavy in his chest as he found himself questioning the part he would take in the battle ahead. What was he doing fighting for these people? What was he doing fighting as a Shinigami?

He sheltered a golden eyed monster. He could see that vulpine slither into his mind, covering his body in that inky black. How long could he keep that secret caged? How long could he keep her caged? He didn’t want to think about it. He hated thinking about the future. Tired blues closed as he'd fall into himself. His head bobbed and he’d open them once again. He needed to sleep but sleep never came that easy for this Shinigami. His aspiration to the role of a nocturnal hunter buried him in exhaustion.

It was endless and it was beginning to take its toll on both his body and now even his mind. Thorn had given him a choice. He didn’t have to join if he didn’t want to. But what did he want? The she-wolf rested herself on her haunches alongside the tired Shinigami. “It's strange... this one--I always feel a sense of relief when the light of day chases away the night, like it's a surprise." Her bushy tail coiled around her front paws as she cast her gaze to the morning light. "...I guess i'm just not used to it yet." Aevus would immediately roll down his sleeve as the lupine spoke. He knew she had already seen that mark but he didn’t want her knowing that he was thinking about it.


Lumina was the one who had turned him away from those whispers in the end after all. It wasn’t by his choice. Three questions and he would have joined that flock. Three questions and he would have converted to that twisted family that Thorn spoke so highly of. He managed only two and thankfully that she-wolf stopped him. Lumina was his reason when he didn’t have any. “...Aevus?” He could feel her silver lined eyes beating into him. They were warmly placed but they felt like daggers.

“I know, i’m ready.” He wasn’t. He hated this part, the quiet before the storm. Slaying hollows was one thing. He could purify those masked fiends without batting an eye. He enjoyed it really. The thrill of the hunt excited him. The shrieks of hollows howling in the night. His dark moonlit silhouette becoming but a blur as he sought that pasty flesh with Zanpakuto in hand. But people? People were another story. There was no enjoyment there.

And even if there was. Even if by some flicker of fate he enjoyed carving the flesh of souls, beasts and humans alike. He’d deny it outright. He’d blame it on that silver-tongued vulpine. He’d blame it on the sultry whispers of that golden eyed hollow who tiptoed mischievously in his very mind. He didn’t like putting himself in that position where he’d have to kill someone. And well he didn’t want to be. It frightened him to think that something inside of him held such blood lust. That maybe even he possessed it too.

Aevus would eye those dark markings of fate that covered the wolf from head to toe. The wintry furs of the white wolf would sway gently in the breeze. “Let’s be off then-” One paw forward she would turn back to the reaper eyeing him with those reflective silvers of hers. “-shall we?" Her tail twitched like a banner in the wind as her dagger like eyes sought his blues. The bags under his eyes spoke volumes. He really didn’t want to go. He wasn’t ready for this mission but he'd still nod in reply. With but a step they were off.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}

Aevus

Strength - 100 (75)
Speed - 400 (540)
Spiritual Pressure - 350 (525)
Reiatsu Strength - 100 (70)
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 150
Senses - 100
Energy Sensory - 0
Healing Expertise - 0

Lumina

Strength - 100 (75)
Speed - 150 (202)
Spiritual Pressure - 262
Reiatsu Strength - 50 (35)
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 100
Senses - 150
Energy Sensory - 50
Healing Expertise - 0

•[Weapon: Katana] [2]
•[Stealth] [2]
•[Battle Analysis] [2]
•[Strength of Will] [2]
•[Hoho] [2]
•[Acrobatics] [1]

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: I have changed my mind on having a posting order; there will be a free order of posting until the two groups are split up, to avoid coordinating six individual posts in turn and slowing down the thread. Post at your own convenience and luxury.))

In Soul Society, Amagai called together his last few forces, using his authority as the Vice Captain of Squad 1. Those who had been sent orders had gathered, and now the man would have roughly twelve individuals gathered before him: the two specifically called for, and a congregation of ten seated officers, the best that was available at the time given the circumstances. The odds were not good; these ten were low-ranked, between tenth and sixth seats, and though they were better than the average unseated Shinigami, they were still far below the level of the three who were far above them in rank. Worse, this was the best that could be mustered; out of the original one hundred and thirty seated officers, including Captains and Vice Captains, these twelve, thirteen including Amagai himself, were the only ones who were in a position to make up a strike force to head into the Senzaikyu Prison System and deal with the mastermind at the center of it.

And what of July and Aevus? The Captain of Squad 8 and a high-ranking Omnitsukido member both had their own experiences in major combat, and they, along with Amagai, would be the most invaluable members of this force. All three of them would probably look around, realizing their position; the other ten gathered would likely be the ones dealing with the standard units on the ground, Shinigami and Rukongai residents that they may know personally, while the stronger fighters went ahead to deal with the three who were blocking the way into the inner sanctum. For all they knew, these weaker Shinigami may end up being cannon fodder, or sacrifices so that they may proceed. It was a heavy burden placed on them, knowing that lives would likely be lost as they moved ahead to do what must be done.

But now was a time for preparation. If the three had words for one another, or for the men gathered before them, this was the time to say it. If they had words of encouragement, of readiness, or of conviction, now was the time. If they had doubts and misgivings, now was the time to dispel them. If they held fear and despair, now was the time to overcome them. The tears which had not dried too long back on Amagai’s face, the boredom that had dragged away at July’s hours, and the doubt that plagued Aevus’s mind; these would have to melt away, leaving them in a position to lead. For as men of authority, the officers gathered would look to them. It was time for them to be ready for combat. Now was the last moments of quiet they would have before it all went down.

---

On the other side of the Senzaikyu Prison, in the World of the Living, another force prepared itself for a final charge. Though they lacked some of the spiritual firepower that Soul Society had, Xcutions forces were still fairly numerous despite the number of converted, giving them a good deal of firepower to help deal with the masses blocking the entrance to the prisons. Files had been distributed to officers, and with the naturally-efficient chain of command established within Satsujin’s forces, information was quickly passed down on a need-to-know basis, giving limited amounts to the general fighters to suppress unease and still ensure organization.

The only exception was Kazura; he received a full folder including a complete brief on the situation, as he was outside of the Xcution chain of command yet was a powerful player among the forces gathered. Shizuka and Asmoskon, with their high ranks, would also be privy to all of the material. They would know about their target’s location, the forces defending the prison, and more importantly, the stakes. A figure was included that gave a terrifying estimate of the number of converted in the world, numbering in the billions, and it would be enough to cause anyone to pause, knowing that half of the world’s population was against them.

But even more chilling was the note that was given to even the lowest foot soldiers, one that gave everyone reason to pause. “On my authority, all units are cleared to act with fatal force. Know that those before you must be considered the enemy. Fatal force is a last resort, but it will be a necessary one in order to complete your mission. Know that you are free of responsibility; the safety of both worlds is far greater than that of the lives of the individuals gathered before you.” Basically, they had all been given permission to kill, and had been informed that they would probably be doing so. These people, these converted, were innocent, yet they were doing everything they could to stop forces from getting through. As stated, fatal force may be necessary. No matter the consequence.

They would have to come to terms with that. Of those forces gathered, Asmoskon and Shizuka, as leaders within the various Xcution branches, had the most authority of those on-site. Additionally, Kazura had connections to both, and though he held no official rank among the Xcution members, he still had a good amount of say thanks to the fact that both would hear him out. The three of them were, essentially, the ones in charge here and in control of the Xcution forces. They would have the opportunity to discuss how best to disperse their individual forces to deal with the heavily-guarded prison front, and their best action to get past the three guards in the center of the prisons. In the latter regard, both Kazura and Shizuka would have more information on two of the three opponents, and would be well-served to inform Asmoskon.

[July Kasumi'Oji]

”Don’t cry for me, Amagai-kuuuuun! ♪”

When Amagai had sent the summons for the Squad 8 Captain, he could have hardly expected the bundle of energy that had been returned. July stormed into the room, gripping the Squad 1 Vice-Captain in a surprise-attack hug. It was plainly obvious to July, who had incredible analytical abilities, that the Squad 1 Vice-Captain had been crying a few moment ago - the slightly red marks around his eyes indicated where he had dried his tears. Not that it detracted from his beauty - the typical beauty that seemed to proliferate the Kuchiki gene pool. How desperately unfair - the Kuchiki had both a monetary and aesthetic advantage, how could the Kasumi’Oji compete? July didn’t let his pouting show on his face, instead he continued to grip the clearly upset Amagai.

To Amagai it would be as if a typhoon of green and gold had descended on him, accompanied by the fresh smell of peppermint. July had given little concern for Aevus and the 10 other members of their Squad, and acted unashamedly energetically and enthusiastically. It would be impossible to alleviate his boredom in this dour atmosphere, and no-one else seemed to be taking the responsibility of lightening it. July had sighed inwardly - it seemed as though it would always fall to him to keep spirits up, and make things a little more interesting. July disengaged himself from Amagai, and reached a hand into the pocket of his magnificent emerald coat. Turning back to the other Squad members, he brandished a small paper bag.

”Can I tempt anyone to a jellybaby?”

Surprise would probably be the reaction of most of the taskforce members. They had come here expecting a serious briefing, and perhaps a few words about “courage” and “duty” and “self-sacrifice”. Unless they had prior experience with the Squad 8 Captain, or heard reports of his eccentricity, they would undoubtedly be caught off-guard. And that was exactly what July wanted. He wanted to dispel their nervousness with shock, make them loosen up a little. They had no hope of beating the grandmaster that served as their opponent if they were so highly strung. High tension just meant you would be easier to snap.

If Amagai - the leader of this taskforce - had anything to say, July would allow him to. However, as soon as he had finished, July took the opportunity to add a few words of his own. It was unlikely Amagai had anything too lighthearted to say, given that most of his time would have to be spent explaining the logistics of the situation. Perhaps he might include a bit of a pep-talk too. That was all well and good, strategy was an integral part of gaming after all, but it would serve to dampen the mood slightly. People craved excitement - or, at least July did - and to simply sap away at the entertainment provided by a battle with a genius would be a poor way to start.

”Oi, no need to look so dejected! We’re playing to win!”

The use of the verb “play” might have offended some in this context, sowing doubt as to whether July was taking this whole affair seriously. His energy and enthusiasm in the face of such danger would seem unnatural to the soldiers of the taskforce. What they wouldn’t know, perhaps, was that this was one of July’s first true missions - he lacked the true combat and mission experience of other Captains, having served as a guard in the Word of the Living for so long, and he had only passed the Captaincy examination on the merit of his raw ability and the fact that he had mastered his Bankai. So, perhaps, this enthusiasm could be attributed to his lack of experience.

Of course, that reason would hardly inspire confidence in the soldiers, but it was certainly a lot better than the real reason July was so energetic in the face of such danger. He just didn’t care. He didn’t care whether they all lived or all died. He didn’t care whether they won or they lost, July was only playing for the thrill of it. Yes, he would prefer to win, but the idea that they might lose was not something he was afraid of - he simply wasn’t wired that way. Losing was a part of life, just as winning was. He didn’t communicate this apathy to his subordinates, in fact he deliberately masked it (he did have an acute understanding of social standards), for fear of demoralising them. Playing with or against those with no spirit was just boring.

July clapped his hands twice, and flashed the room a smile.

”Well, well - shall we get ready to go?”

The game was afoot, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used to say.

[Kazura Uzaki]

Kazura nodded to Asmoskon and Shizuka. "Yeah, maybe we did get off on the wrong foot. Torture chambers like that... they tend to harden you. We're going to see two familiar faces today, only Reynard won't be on our side this time. We'll have to watch out for his Time manipulation powers, as well as Blood's ability to home in his arrows on a specific location. Trust that I have your back and I'll trust that you have mine. Asmos, do you have a plan of attack for your troops? You know them better than I do." Kazura was struggling to deal with the last page in the intel. The page that everyone received. Lethal force was authorized.

He didn't want to, didn't think it right, but he knew that it may be necessary. He had seen what this conversion had done to A and Beatrice, turned them against former friends and even former lovers... The whole world was at stake... So he had to just suck it up and move on. He waited for a report from Asmos and Shizuka while inspecting his equipment for what had to be the fifth time just to make sure that nothing was broken in the descent and that everything was in top working condition. His life and the life of thousands others could depend on it. Billions of others, even...

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Asmoskon's familiar face gave Shizuka's heart a bit of relief from beating so fast. She was sure that just about everyone could hear it, but it wasn't because she was nervous. Actually, it was because she didn't want to have to fight comrades. She didn't want to fight friends. She was so concerned with their well-being that it surprised her. Thinking back on it, since learning about Kento Sasaki's death from Douma, she couldn't bring herself to care about the people around her anymore. She saw most of them as inconveniences, and it didn't matter who it was. She'd lost a few friends that way, but found it difficult to feel anything at all. She was still grieving.

This time was a bit different, though. This personally affected her. Everything that was going on was a personal attack against her, so she had no choice but to care. She looked at both Kazura and Asmoskon and gave her best, most genuine smile that she could have ever mustered up. She carried no files or folders of any kind, but she remembered the information she learned from her briefing. It was likely that the Quincy needed to know about their time in the facility, so she assumed it was best for her to share what she knew with him. Kazura could always fill in the blanks if she left anything out.

"Okay, so. Kazura and I, along with about six other people, were kidnapped and placed in a strange facility without the use of our powers. These weird bracelets kinda stopped us from being anything more than average humans, which was frustrating. In the end, most of us made it through. Two of the players, however, were converted during the process. I didn't see either of them escape. The biggest threat we had was a Quincy named Blood, but Cross actually sacrificed himself to save the rest of us with his time manipulation abilities. I had thought he'd perished, but both he and Blood survived. Cross became one of the converted, unfortunately. We'll be fighting both of them."

Shizuka felt a strange, almost foreign feeling well up inside of her chest. She felt remorse and guilt for not being able to save the rest of the players and hated herself for it, but she couldn't let herself dwell on that anymore. She had important business to take care of, and making sure her fellow Xcution member was updated happened to be one of them. The more he knew, the better. She wasn't very sure how much he knew already, but he wasn't there with her and everyone else when this whole event was going on, so she knew filling him in would probably help a little bit. Every piece of information was useful.

"Despite us having relatively good amounts of people on our side, the Seven Guns are a bit... lacking. I'm not very familiar with Asmoskon's division, but he may have the same problem. Who we have as our allies are still strong, though. I think we can do this if we just trust each other and work together. Then, hopefully, we won't need to end this with any major sacrifices."

The Fullbringer said that last part while glancing over at Kazura, aware of his discomfort with killing people. She knew it was going to have to happen, but having to kill friends is completely different from having to kill enemies. Usually, Shizuka was pretty good at dehumanizing her targets to make their capture or assassination much simpler, but this time was going to be different. She'd need to just pull herself together and take care of business, as she always did. She would just have to manage. Still, managing is easier said than done. Was she really going to be able to support everyone the way she needed to?

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: Giving a one-week warning for Amagai, Asmoskon, and Aevus, who have not posted in this round in the last two weeks.))

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Asmoskon had made it onto the island and stripped himself of the clothing that he had been wearing to keep the cold water from soaking his skin and bones. He had been planning to take on this problem by himself, but seeing both Kazura and Shizuka here gave him far more confidence that this mission could be a successful one. Still suicidal yet not completely hopeless. A bag of supplies had been taken with him strapped over his back while he ejected out of his jet and swam through the water to avoid any type of normal detection. It would be a few more minutes, but after they passed both Kazura and Shizuka as they spoke would be able to see the dark haired Quincy walking up to them as he pulled the last piece of his uniform over his skin.

His hair slinked back while his military uniform looked to be perfectly clean. Both Kazura and Shizuka were friends and far to powerful for the effects of the uniform to even make their notice. It seemed that they would get right to work as there wasn't any time to waste. Asmoskon already had an ear piece in his right ear that was connecting him to Cynthia on the other side of the island where his troops were currently keeping the loons at bay for the time. The Quincy that was inside Asmoskon had read up on seemed to be the first topic of discussion. He had arrows much the same as Asmoskon's own and it seemed that he would be a problem.

Shizuka went over what had happened to the both of them and while she did Asmoskon listened intently to her making sure he got all of the information that he could. It was then that Kazura asked what Asmoskon's plan of attack would be for his troops. Asmoskon starred intently at Kazura for a second forgetting that he was looking at his best friend and not a foe for a moment his gaze cold containing no sentiment of friendship or even his normal emotion. It reverted after that instead though and Asmoskon sighed after realizing that Kazura would be mad at him regardless of the situation if he went about things like normal.

Moving his right hand up to his ear he pressed the ear piece enabling him to speak to Cynthia instead of just hearing her commands to the other troops as his second in command. "Cynthia make sure that the Fullbringers are up from. All combat experienced troops are to be spread out with a minimum of five others. Have them use their Soul Command to raise the ground into walls to keep the converted from rushing inwards. Wall type C. All Quincy and Distance Fullbringers are to be kept fifty feet behind the walls at all times and to fire both through the openings and over. Keep Causalities to a minimum. IF they become a danger to the stability of the walls then blow their legs. Continue to retreat and start this sequence over again. If you run out of room then everyone it to fall back to the base on our island. Major Masurao out."

Asmoskon pressed the ear piece again and then sighed once more only to look at Kazura. "One day you're going to have to accept that death isn't the end or the worst thing my friend." He then looked to Shizuka and smiled as he shared her own views on this mission. "Shizuka is right we can only work together against Blood and Cross. When we actually find them though you two approach and act as if I'm no longer a factor. Trust me I'll take them out without them knowing. Let's do our best to keep each other alive through this endeavor." Asmoskon although serious had to lighten the mood in this time of utter chaos. "Besides I can't let anything happen to the man that can make things I can't or the girl that still owes me a new bike."

[Amagai Kuchiki]

As he felt July's arms wrap around him, Amagai gave a warm smile to the Captain. The Kasumi'Oji heir was an overwhelmingly positive force, one of the Good Guys. Amagai liked July a great deal, and the fact that he found the Captain attractive probably contributed to that a fair amount. While Amagai had done a good job of cleaning up before appearing in front of the Captain and Vice Captain, as well as the general troops, July's analytical capabilities were such that the cleaning up hadn't done it's full job.

"Now, now, July, there's nothing wrong with crying sometimes. But I suppose I'll maintain a stiff upper lip for the duration of this mission, for your sake, if nothing else." Amagai's voice was friendly, and cheerful, and July would pick up on the charisma, the drive, the leadership, the carefully worded nature of those two, casual sentences. Amagai was a motivational speaker like none other, and while the statement might have been directed at July, it was for the benefit of the assembled troops as well.

Amagai was the antithesis of a harsh leader, and his actions reflected that. As he spoke, he suggested a multitude of things. Emotions were not weakness. It was okay to be overwhelmed briefly by the catastrophe that they were in, that they were going to the heart of. But once things were in motion, focus was needed, and emotions and focus clashed in obviously inconvenient ways. It was an invitation for everyone to take a deep breath, to let their emotions take over for a moment, then to recenter, and be capable of taking on the task ahead of them.

As July disengaged himself from Amagai, and let his reiatsu run wild, cheering up the mood instantly, Amagai continued to smile, although it faded from being a friendly smile to one of absolute confidence. And he as well let his reiatsu loose, controlling it so it was subtle in nature, and its gold color melted into July's own reiatsu. It was a calming, warm reiatsu, that would inspire bravery, confidence, all of the good things to have in a presumed suicide mission. Once he had given the troops a moment to let their emotions bubble up, then calm back down, he would start to speak.

"I know that this mission is asking a lot of all of you. I know you all have friends, family, people who you care about who are probably out there in the chaos right now. Brothers in arms who are holding back the riots, loved ones in the Rukongai which is descending into madness. Trust me, trust in the Gotei 13 to keep everyone safe. Any casualties are unacceptable in my eyes, and I will be leading this misison with that in mind. I know you, each and every one of you. I've reviewed your files, I know your names, birthdays, and so on. You all matter to me, and so know that when I ask you to do something, it is with all of that care and empathy that I do so."

He took a breath and paused. "That being said, this is our only option. Find the source of this madness, and deal with it directly. Hands on solutions to a imminent disaster. You were selected because of your diverse skills, and your availability in this crisis. I won't pretend that we are sending our best men possible, but we didn't have access to the best of the best. They are working full time on ensuring that while we take this problem to the heart of the prison, the rest of Soul Society doesn't collapse while we're on this job."

"We're capable of this. I know that. So follow me, follow my instructions and my judgement, and I promise to keep you all alive. And if I somehow fail to keep you safe, then I will avenge you, and ensure that your family remains safe for the rest of my life." He extended a hand, and concentrated his reiatsu. After a breif moment, the Kuchiki crest would burn in reiatsu, appearing on the back of his hand. "I swear it as one of the heirs to the house Kuchiki."

He paused, and July took the opportunity to make a quick quip about the game being afoot, to which Amagai chuckled, letting the tension dissipate in the room. Upon July's clapping, Amagai motioned for everyone to follow him, and turned towards the Prison. Now was Amagai's turn to quote an old, dead, british man: "Once more into the breach dear friends, once more." He muttered to himself. Slowly, he drew his Zanpakutou, and marched forwards, leading the rest of the strike force to follow him.