Astaroth VS Arantima!The Broken Souls Meet!

[Arantima Kawada]

Thread Title: Astaroth VS Arantima!The Broken Souls Meet!
Participants: Arantima Aoire, Astaroth
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: The Wilds of The Rukongai.
Special Conditions: Arantima is not Able to summon Rasen Naga during this thread. Arantima is not agreeing with Rasen naga right now and Rasen Naga is refusing to release for Arantima.
Circumstances: Arantima is Attempting to Wrest control over his shikai once more, Astaroth has been Combing through the Rukongai wildlands. The day has been annoying for the both of them, and what is worse is Arantima does not know what is coming for him.

[Arantima Kawada]

Mood music

Arantima is out in the center of a clearing int he forest outside of the Rukongai. He is sitting cross legged with his broken Zanpakuto suspended in the air before himself. Jinzen, the technique that Shinigami use to talk to their Zanpakuto spirits, a technique that Arantima uses quite often these days, only to be brought into his inner world to find it calm, serene.. And Empty.  He Can not find Rasen naga anywhere he looks, he can not force him to come, he can not call out to Rasen naga To release his Shikai.. Which now he has been somewhat thankful for that limitation.

What was once the Entire goal of his being has become a bane and a curse to him. Rasen naga has been taking full control over Arantima as he Releases and .. Causing harm to many many people in the Time of his Release. His body is intense and powerful, the soul of Arantima trapped inside his inner world, Watching it become tormented and Hellish, filled with storms and crashing waves as he sank down deeper in the crushing depths of his ocean just to retreat from the storms. His Spiritual form wracked with endless sadness for the remorse and pain his body has caused, the fear his face will put into people as he walks through the Rukongai now.

His sword, he knew it was broken. He knew from the day he formed it, that his blade was not his own. He had found a Record of this Zanpakuto's name and it was ever since that day that Naga had abandoned him. He had discovered that Rasen Naga was used in one of the Worst disasters of the seireitei and it's wielder died shortly after.. Only the Broken half of the blade that Arantima now holds was ever found.. And Now it rested with him. A Broken Zanpakuto, for a Broken Soul, it was fitting wasn't it? At least Arantima thought so.

He had been Meditating for hours, resting in the Clearing to try and commune with Rasen naga, to ask him why he took control of his body, to try and tell him that Arantima was not seeking to refuse the strength he had to offer but he wished that Naga did not have to be so violent. Arantima was a good man, and he wanted to be able to continue to call himself a good man. His Body was not just a tool for Rasen naga to use how he willed, They were supposed to be partners.. they were supposed to be equals.

Arantima opened his eyes and Grabbed the Blade of Rasen naga. He Sheathed it and stood, his shoulders hung heavy with stress and anger, his breathing was slow and depressed. It was then they Arantima heard something.. A Soft rustling from the woods and then he heard another soft sound but this wasn't the wind through leaves.. This was something new, a sound no one really had ever heard before it was thicker than leaves but more hollow than wood.. it scratched at the air and at Arantima's soul, it was unsettling to say the least.

[Astaroth]

Astaroth was moving through the Wilds of the Rukongai, Wandering because he had been sent here to kill. Kill, what it was didn't matter who it was didn't matter, just the fact that he was killing was what mattered. The Akki who allowed him to break out behind himself knew of the destruction he had caused here in his life and demanded that he do whatever he could to recreate that again. Astaroth as he was now, did not care, he only cared about finding his old sword and whoever was currently wielding it if anyone.

He Had no skill with Sensing Energy, he didn't need it. He had no great skill with tracking, He didn't need it. His Body was made of Bone, ash, and hatred. He was not going to let anything come in his way, oh no there would be nothing living between him and his goals. The Hason was walking with a singular determination to get to the Rukongai and wade through it's districts killing and murdering until they sent Shinigami out to find him. But wait, what was this?

Astaroth stopped as he was walking through the tree line, he saw a glinting from the Sunlight in the clearing he was passing. His Vision was not that great but he could see that glinting and then looked out to the creature siting with the glinting thing in the light. There was no Haori but those Black Hakama pants were unmistakable. He Grinned behind his Bone mask and started to Rustle his Bone spines, once.. Twice.. then the Shingami stood. He Smirked and this time didn't just do it lightly he shook his entire head, making the bone rustle loudly.

That got the response from the shinigami that he was looking for. The Shingami didn't know what that noise was, it was throwing him off roughly and This was the perfect time to shake him up even more. If that Shingami could Sense Energy he was going to be fully overwhelmed by a Dark aura in mere moments and even if he could not sense energy, he was about to see Astaroth come free of the tree line a walking statue of death.  He Looked over the shingami and his Dual swords.. Three swords at his hips and nodded.

Astaroth Drew his hands out from both of his Scabbards and brought them together infront of himself. The Ash and dust from his scabbards Blew forth and formed a Large 12 foot long two handed sword, his Signature weapon,  ready to cut through that arrogant bastard with three swords. He Stepped through the Treeline and casually swung his blade as he did so, causing two trees to fall like twigs before himself as he goes. A 12 foot tall creature made of stone and ash, carrying a blade more than twice the height of Arantima.

"You! Shinigami!! Get on your knees and hang your head for your sins!! You will die regardless of your surrender, so make it easier for myself and die painlessly!" He Holds his Blade level with Arantima's face, albeit from at least Thirsty or Forty feet away from him. The Body of Astaroth was un-moving and un-rippling. His form is one of constant Rebirth and death, crushed and remade like an ancient statue and he was ready to kill. If Arantima was not a level headed man, calm and neutral as he was Astaroths aura of pure evil might screw with his head.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - [50] Points - 125
Speed - [50] Points - 25
Spiritual Pressure - [50] Points - 25
Reiatsu Strength - [10] Points - 5
Dark Aura - [100] Points
Light Aura - [0] Points
Instinct - [50] Points - 50
Senses - [70] Points - 35
Energy sensory - [0] Points
Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Skills

[1] Pain Tolerance - Free

[1] Bleeding Resistance

[1] Heat resistance

[1] Weapons: Swords

-75 Reiatsu to create a Blade

175/250 Reiatsu

[Arantima Kawada]

Arantima Draws his Dragons whiskers and looks straight towards the Monstrous creature that just shouted at him. This was no hollow, he saw it, the mask was not a Hollows Mask, the body had no hollow hole. Arantima shifted uncomfortably in the air, he wasn't deeply affect by this powerful aura of evil that wafted from Astaroth, but he knew that other people might be, he also knew that Astaroth was a creature of death, and death is what sated him. The dark creature before him was not born of Heuco mundo, The soul society, nor even of the world of the living and that is what frightened Him. A Singular creature stood before him, unseen and unheard of by many shinigami and he would have to fight it.

Arantima Shook his head, He wasn't going to play into the creatures demands, he wasn't going to play by this creatures rules. All he knew was that this creature was demanding his death upon first meeting him and that meant that he was beyond salvation, Arantima would Work towards the salvation of many creatures even at the risk of his own life if he thought they were capable of being saved, but this being? No, it wasn't there there was no light in this beast. Arantima looked around at their surroundings, not moving his head but shifting his eyes back and forth across the clearing they were in. An apmle amount of space to move through.. Good.

Arantima Was rarely the one to make the first move in combat, his conscience would not let him even against a creature like this. This was his current Dilemma, he was facing a beast hat was 12 feet tall and looked to be made of some form of stone.. And carried a sword that was at least as tall as itself. This was not going to be an easy fight, he could sense that even without being able to sense energy. His inner world was empty and Rasen naga would not be able to win this fight for him.. And he was rocked by this realization, win this fight for him.. He knew that Rasen naga would win this fight in a mater of moments..

The Rage that flew over Arantima's face was frightening to behold, a mess of rage and hatred and sadness as he roared out his only reply "DIE!". He Used Flash step immediatly to close the gap and appear behind the Stone Beast. He knew he was weak in this state, that his muscles were not powerful enough to utilize the full extent of his skill and that made him tremble slightly before he used it. Unfurl, and let your wings cascade.. Inner turmoil boils within and erupts in pain! He incants in his mind as he thrusts out his now empty right hand to impact the back of The creature.

As Arantima Impacts Astaroths Back the Energy comes ripping through His own arm and tears at the flesh and crushes his own bones.. And Comes Crashing to a halt when it reaches Astaroth. Arantima's Eyes Come open wide and he takes two wobbling steps backward, there isn't even a mark on the creature, just a smoking bloodied hand-print where his hand had been a moment before. He Clenched his broken fist and rolled his shoulders as he let the pain roll through him, he could handle that.. But not another one.. The body of Astaroth was, just standing there for the time being.

Arantima looked up and up and up at the imposing creature, knowing that this was not going to be something he could do with simple Techniques like that.. He had to react before he was swept up in the danger. He Nodded and Used his Mastery over Sho to thrust downwards from his feet and launch himself up to the Beasts head, coming down with a hard slash meant to cleave the Beasts Head in twain. He had the strength to do it, If the creature didn't react or had some sort of armor in his flesh that arantima did not know of.

-400 Reiatsu for Ten kaika ken

-50 for Shunpo

150/600

[Astaroth]

Astaroth blinked, and in that moment the Shingami was gone. The Word he had shouted out echoed inside of Astaroths mind like the the ringing of a gong and Suddenly There was a palm on the small of Astaroths Back. He titled his head softly, not really disturbed by this until he felt the war cascade of blood coat his stone flesh and his grinned darkly under his mask. He may not know what technique was just used but he felt the vibration rush through his entire being but it had no effect on him. This Shingami was weak, physically, spiritually, and cocky enough to Not release his Zanpakuto to fight him..This was going to be fun as he ripped the little creatures arms out of their sockets.

Astaroth shuddered as he felt the rush of wind below him and without hesitation Thrusts his own blade through his right shoulder, up and behind himself. Impacting the Shinigami behind him. Whether it was caught on a blade or not Astaroth did not care, he only cared that he blew the puny creature away from his head. He used this moment of stabbing himself to Coat his blade in a dark and smoking ash as he withdrew it and turned to face the panting and injured Shinigami. His burning red eyes glowed behind his mask as he surveyed the shinigami closely, and he could not help but laugh and  point his Smoking blade at the Soul reaper who injured himself.

As He was Laughing Astaroth  Began to move towards the shinigami, going from a standing position to a full tilt run, Being so large however he only needed Two steps. Bringing his blade crashing down to slice the Shingami in half. The Blade was not traveling very fast however, and astaroth knew this, which is why at the end of the Downward slash he Cleaved the blade out and to the right hoping that was the direction this dumb Shinigami would run off to, and get himself cut in half by his blade of ash and smoke! And that is when Astaroth caught a glimpse of the blade that was on the shinigami's back.. His grin turned into a look of pure unadulterated anger.

-25 for Coating the blade

150/250

[Arantima Kawada]

Arantima was ready to swing down and end this creature life, until the large blade of Astaroth's katana cut through the back of Astaroths own body to strike at Arantima. Arantima barely had time to move his own Twin blade in between Astaroths own and his chest. As he did so Arantima's Arms were flung out to the side and the Blades Were Shattered harshly from the force of Astaroths blow, sending shards of The dragons Whiskers flying every direction possible. The Blades were not just Blades to Arantima, As the shards flew past his face cutting his cheeks and thn suddenly a Large chunk of shattered blade embeds itself into his left eye, Lodging there and ruining his eye sight.

Arantima Clutches his eye and screams out in pain as he lands. He stands shakily and for the barest of moments he thinks about whether or not he should continue fighting, and then he hears it, the sound of Huge blade passing through the air. And he looks up to see the swing coming down to Cut him in half, but at the speed that it is coming down Arantima Merely Sidesteps the blade, Only to have the direction change and come at the side in a cleave. Arantima suddenly brings up His Zanpkauto in defense, Not only the Zanpakuto but his Right hand leaves his eye and forms a Shield down at his side, He didn't have time to make the incantation For Seki.

The Seki Shield Shattered on the impact of the blade but lowered the power of it Sufficiently to catch it on Rasen naga. He was trembling. His left hand was the one he had used for the Ten kaika ken.. And now it was on fire with pain, His left eye was ruined and bleeding. And Now Arantima had to Contend with Astaroths immense strength without being able to call upon Rasen naga. He had no techniques that could scratch this beast.. But he did have one thing that he could use to Win.. His own Skills and He was still fairly decent at Byakurai For range.

Arantima Looked up at his Opponent who was beginning to win this conflict of strength and saw the rage in his face. Arantima Nodded once and decided to take advantage of that. He Shunpo'd away from the clash and using his impressive amount of speed compared to this slow giant Stabbed his Zanpakuto down to the crossguard into Astaroths Spine. The Creature began to laugh at that and Arantima just Jumped backwards from that point, "Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners! HADO NUMBER 4!! BYAKURAI!" He wasn't Simply going for the stone exterior of the Hason before himself, He was going to use his Zanpkuto as alightning rod and Send its energy flooding through Astaroths spine.


-25 Byakurai
-25 Seki
-50 Shunpo.

50/600

[Astaroth]

Astaroth Grunted lightly with.. Was that strain? Astaroth had not found a creature yet in this world that could cause him to strain outside of hell. He was going to relish Sending this Shinigami down to hell where he would break him, over and over... And Where the Fuck did He go?! Astaroth was not aware of his own deficient Speed, not yet. He was not ready for a Torrent of Speed that was able to come out of Arantima's even weakened state. The Sensation of a blade sinking into his back was nothing he wasn't used to, but it was the way that the blade sunk in.. It sank down until it paired almost perfectly with the Shard of blade that Astaroth always kept whole within himself.

He knew he knew that sword! That was Rasen naga! The Sword that used him to kill his friends, the sword that broke His soul... He Roared out and tried to reach behind himself to claw and grab at the blade, to no avail. He Began to turn, but his movements were too broad, they were too slow to prepare him for what was coming. He heard Byakurai and suddenly the Sword in his spine was engulfed in lightning, shooting through him. Amplified by the Spiritual steel line rushing through him a hole the size of Rasen naga's true form came spilling out of Astaroths insides, which were just smoke and ash and dust.

After the Blade sank out of him and clattered to the ground, both halves of the blade were fused together by the Byakurai Hado. And Astaroth just looked down at the blade he desired to brek and crunch betwen his teeth laid there, fully formed and whole before himself and he roared. "FOOLISH SHNIGAMI!! Your Sword is what Caused a Disaster Hundreds of years ago.. Your sword is cursed, it is not a Zanpakuto! it is a Demon!" He roared out and Spun to start carving at Arantima's direction, Cutting though the air in deadly but slowed strikes that were easily Dodged.

As Astaroth Began his unrelenting onslaught he was brought back to that time, that day. He Roared out in the real world as his mind was engulfed in Horrid memories of the slaughter he committed. The World was red with blood, for a straight Mile a Storm raged that poured down blood as he cleaved through hollows and Shinigami alike. His blade did not care to see what he was cutting though, He was left to his devices, he was a one man army, Clad in nothing but his Shinigami robes and wielding his sword that carved storms through the sky.

Something weighed on Astaroth through this entire memory, he was not in a rage or a blood lust, he was not out of control.. He was Acting on his own, choosing to cut through friend and foe. And Thats when he saw it, the chains already beginning to form on his exterior. He was already bound for hell, a sinner, a committer of Heinous crimes. He watched then as he met an arrancar who drove him into a blood lust, a non choice state that drove him to kill any and all that were around no longer picking and choosing who and what to kill he just was slaying.

The Slaying continued on until he was elbow deep in his wife's chest, Sword discarded at this point and tearing people apart with his bare hands. Arantima was now in his vision, A Man who was bleeding from his left side heavily and dodging Astaroths blows like they were child's play. He was calm, and centered even in the face of this, choosing not just fight but choosing not to surrender to rage. He was calm in the face of this hellish combat where he had no hope.. And He was calm even when he was shouting, that was this Shinigami's Secret.

He was Calm and he was only looking for a way to get his Sword back from the ground now, and Astaroth could see that. He had to stop him some... No, He thought let him Grab it and then i will kill him! Astaroth Backed off from Arantima, Looking now to seem like he had tired himself out and needs a rest. He hung his arms low, Hung his head, let his breathing become labored. He was going to play possum now, H had a Strike that Not even this Shingami could dodge.. Not if he flash stepped to grab that blade.. the moment he disappeared would be the moment Astaroth Struck.

[Arantima Kawada]

Arantima was Dodging, weaving and easily keeping out of that Smoking blades reaches. The problem was he had to choose, dodge or get closer to his sword. For the time Being Arantima had to choose to dodge.  His Body was taxed, and h knew the moment he let up was the moment he was cleft in two. using The Ten kaika ken like that for it to have no effect was.. killing Him, slowly but the Drain that it had on his sealed form was massive, more than massive, Over half of his Total energy went into that strike only for it to blow up in his face.. Liiterally.

Arantima Watched however as Astaroth slowed, Hung his shoulders and head and relented for a moment, breathing just as heavily as he himself was. He Saw an opening and took it. He Didn't Shunpo to go and grab his sword, No he Ran. Knowing he was fast enough to move now that he wasn't being pressed against a blade. He heard a Very confused sound escape the Hason's lips as he streaked past it and ran on his own two feet for the Blade, Scrambling slightly as the Fatigue and strain was catching up to him, he had to be fast but he couldn't use shunpo not yet..

The Blade came Ever, ever closer.. And then there was a loud burning sound. As if the air was being torn and set on fire all at once. He Lifted the Fused Blade of Rasen naga once more and  Tilted his head as he looked for Astaroth and found him standing tall, barely hurt but having ended a slash. The problem wasnt that position it was the blackened ash that was streaking his way. it was moving fast, much faster than he would have expected from a Creature like Astaroth, He could easily dodge it with Shunpo, but he had to save it..  He had to save the last of his essence to Deliver the Fatal blow.

Arantima Steeled himself and took a defensive stance, but the Ash simply Roiled around his Blade and Came sawing into his torso, Ramming  home Roughly and scarring his chest deeply, Cutting him to the ribcage and sternum. He Was going to be in a lot of pain, and the scar that remained with him would forever be a reminder of this battle, if he lived.. If he could muster enough strength left to kill this beast..

Arantima coughed up blood, a loud gout of it before taking a wobbly step. He Flicked the now 4 foot long blade of Rasen naga back handed and took another step.  "Monsters.. revere no gods, revere no rules beyond those that govern even gods. Walking through fire even if it means our flesh burns away to land a blow.. Breaking your own arm in order to try and create an opening for yourself." He looks down as blood starts to flow from the wound in his chest and his vision flickers a moment.

He looks up to Astaroth who had tilted his head to the side, confused. "Monsters.. Do not understand what it is to be weak.. " He Coughs and hits a knee. His Body Failing now, Ready to pass out.  "But i do.. i understand weakness.. And i am sorry to say this Demon.. You are weak.. Lost in your rage. i must end it.. i must End your weakness. " And He is gone, Shunpo took him far above Astaroth's sight range and as he moved, His Motions slowed.

As He was moving past Astaroth he sunk his Rasen naga into his Belly and Brought it up through the gullet and to his throat. He stopped there at the throat and held the blade there to look deep into Astaroths eyes. "I Am the bridge between Weakness and a Monster.. And I refuse.. Your.. passage.." He Closes his eyes and falls backwards. passed completely out and bleeding heavily. Astaroth was fading away even then.

[Astaroth]

Astaroth Grinned wildly As the Shinigami ran assed him to grab his Sword. Even Better, He thought, i will send the strike just bahind him so he can't run away this time! And So he did, When Arantima was halfway between astaroth and the sword he turned and Swung his blade, The Arc of which was slow and so the Flung ash would start it's roiling boil just as Arantima grabbed the blade. The sound of ripping flesh and crunching bone and ash against blood and bone was like a symphony to his ears. 

The Words that echoed out after were strange to him.. The Fact that this Shinigami was standing was strange to him. And Then He Felt it, the Sickening levels of Spiritual pressure that radiated off of this poor wretch.. it Hammered him down into the ground and he couldnt move. The Weight of his body was like ten fold. Astaroth could only watch, and then not even that as the Shingami dissapeared from sight only to re--appear as he blade cut Astaroth open from crotch to Throat.

Even a Hason could not survive such a Blow, But the secret of a Hason or any denizen of hell was that they were destined to return. And This Hason watched as his killer passed out cold.. leaving his blade embedded within Astaroth. The Blade.. Which astaroth forced down into the depths of his core before the Hell gate opened to drag him back in. Astaroth Held tightly onto the Broken Zanpakuto and slaughed the entire time as he was being eaten alive by the Hell guardians.. He had his Sword, He had the Source of his turmoil.

[Johnwaluigi]

42 paragraphs: +840 TP to Astaroth and Arantima

As this is a Cinematic Fight, this TP cannot be converted in SP. As Astaroth was ‘killed’ in this fight, a solo thread documenting his re-escape from Hell should be written (min. 25 paragraphs) before he can participate in any new threads. All injuries to Arantima should be paid for in his Healing Thread.