Orderly Conduct

[Angel]

Thread Title: Orderly Conduct
Participants: Skoll, Angel
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: Within a outskirt village of the Rukongai, more particularly within a market place set with a variety of traders and merchants as Skoll's clan had taken the liberty to take time to trade with the people of the Rukongai district.
Special Conditions: N/A
Circumstances: Shinigami presence hasn't been the best taken in the outside districts after their neglect or care for the people that live there. However, it happens to be that Angel meets Skoll, the local BC asshat that decides to be an antagonist this fine day.

[Angel]

Hikari Nisei otherwise known as Angel had been situated within the farthest reaches of the Rukongai for the task of reporting large numbers of hollows appearing and to keep the population down. As of late, Hollows have been funneling more and more into the more orderly districts of Rukongai and so she had the mission of maintaining public order, exterminating Hollows if they were to arise, and a third order is to work on sending all potential spiritual beings she comes across to be drafted. She was not the only Shinigami active here however. Four others had been placed in this location with similar goals as her. Yet, she knew that if a real threat were to enter this area, she would not be able to deal with it. She remembered now.

That hollow...the one that had killed so many and with ease. The one that kidnapped her to Las Noches. Even though she had trained to become stronger, if lives of others were in danger, did she have the conviction to strike down her enemy even at the cost of her comrade’s lives as trade? She thought about this deeply. The black haired raven knew well that morally it wasn’t the right thing to do. However, by killing the Hollow back then, she would have prevented further lives from being lost. Could she kill Ajora Santa now though? The gigantic gillian looking down on her was a horrifying thought. Something that was evident was the gap in power between the two back then.

Clenching her fists, she walked through the seemingly broken down district with her hand clenched on her blade. Power. She was stronger now! She would be able to defend this location if need be. Her fellow members of squad seven and herself were at different corners of this location. Angel was to take the middle which also happened to be where the market place was to be. Here the citizens traded and bought various wares from food, paid others to do sewing, timber, etc. The black robed reaper had the easiest job in theory seeing if a conflict were to break out, it would likely take place within the outskirts of the village, not the center.

When she appeared, the black haired child looking no older than fourteen simply stood on guard, her arms crossed over her chest while she looked out to the crowd and their every day business. However, she could feel the cold stares on her, looks of disdain. She was the equivalent of the police, and she was generally planting her authority over the people of the farthest district where authority and order was something that just didn’t exist in a normal hierarchy of society. Here, the leader and the one who called the shots was the strongest. She wondered why, but perhaps it had to do with the Beast Clan and their influence of trade over the people in the farthest out regions.

The trade of fresh game, furs, and other such wares that were uncommon in the outside region districts. Typically they did not stray far from the safety of their villages due to the ever constant danger of the roaming Hollow. The exceptions were typically to cut down wood for the making of a new home, when the need for meat was evident, or for water. She couldn’t say she was very welcome in this land at the moment and she understood that. Feeding off of rations provided by the Seireitei was her main method of getting by. The assignment here shouldn’t last too long either. It was essentially a standby until something of greater importance was to come up.

Speaking of the Beast Clan. There were some here now, wolves by the looks of it that were making deals with the villagers. She was surprised by their ability to remain intelligent while some seemed to be not much better than any wild beasts. ‘Huh...I suppose I should have known better than to stereotype all of them like that after just meeting one.’ The panther that had broken her hand a while back was definitely another being she would remember well. Or for another instance the primitive spider she met in the woods. Getting a bit curious, she decided to get closer, step after step to see how they traded and worked alongside normal human beings. Erh...well plus.

The clouds lazily covered the sky as the weather was generally peaceful. In fact, one could say that it was almost drowsy. The sun's rays lightly touched the people below it. It was almost as if nothing could possibly go wrong on this beautiful day. Why, it was such a good day that maybe she should fit some training if nothing important was going to be happening. Possibly squeeze learning in a new Kido to help her in her career as a police officer of Soul Society. Whatever the case, she wanted to explore her surrounding and understand how Rukongai culture worked. Certainly seemed interesting enough.

SPOILER: Click to show

Stats:

Strength:100

Speed:150

Spiritual Pressure:136(1.25)=170

Reiatsu Strength:136(1.25)=170

Light Aura:75

Dark Aura:25

Instinct:90(.75)=67

Senses:90(.75)=67

Energy Sensory:0

Wound Expertise:0

Total:702







Skills:



Analyzing:1

Learning:1

Weapons*:1[Swords]

Martial Arts*:1[Hakuda]

Battle Analysis:1

Mental Enchantation:1

Pain Tolerance:1

6/15 SKP

[Skoll Koryu]

“Why the hell did I have to come out here again?” Skoll grumbled, a sharp ache between his shoulders reminding him of the heavy pack he carried on his back. With a huff, he shifted his stance, trying to ease its weight. The leather backpack he bore was just one of many visible among the small group of Beast-Clansmen traveling together. Aside from the black-furred wolf himself, there were three other members of the Volsung pack traveling with him, each bearing their own bag. Unlike Skoll’s, however, which was sized for a human-sized load, the other three wore much larger packs whose weight was enough to make the darker lupine wince, even just looking at them.

Once per month, the pack sent out a small delegation of their people bearing large loads of supplies ranging from herbs—both medicinal and recreational—to fresh meats and freshly fallen timber. Though none of these were a necessity, they made life in the Rukongai easier, acted as luxury items for the souls who lived within the outer districts of the Shinigami city. If someone got sick, the city wouldn’t send a Shinigami with their knowledge of Kaido to heal the afflicted; instead, those who were sick simply had to suffer. Eating served not as a method of sustenance, like it would in the real world, but instead as a pleasure, adding stimulation to an otherwise lackluster life. And of course, there was always need for reconstruction materials, given the state of the Rukongai.

Skoll hated being sent on these trips. For one thing, there was a very obvious difference between him and the other Beast-Clansman. Though in terms of bodily builds they weren’t too different—oh sure, the others showed a bit more lean muscle than he did, but in terms of height and general size they were pretty close—the difference in strength was noteworthy. Skoll wasn’t a full-blooded Beast-Clansman, and as a result, his physical strength was notably lower. He had other talents to make up for it, but unlike the others, who could lift heavy burdens with ease, his were far less visible. As a result, he looked diminutive and weak when compared alongside his packmates.

Worse, they knew it, and Skoll had never engendered much communal love with his attitude or origins. He knew that the others had split half the weight from his initial pack, taking the burden on themselves, because they knew he was too weak to handle a full load. Despite the additional weight they carried, none of the other three looked tired; instead, they just looked smug at proving how much more superior they were to him. Skoll was doing his best to keep any complaints to himself, muttering only a few choice words under his breath along with the occasional reference as to where the trio could shove their attitudes, but his temper was already at a fraying point from a few incidents that occurred along the trip.

The first was the departure. All three of Skoll’s packmates had set off at the usual loping run they employed, using their high speed to reduce the time of travel. Of course Skoll, lacking the same physical attributes, was quickly left behind. The trio had come back grinning, teasing him about not being able to keep up, or having some kind of “magic” to do so. That had only set the temperamental wolf’s blood to boiling, and it was only the start. Any time a physical obstacle came up—a large crevice to leap, or a fallen obstacle to lift out of the way—the three of them were more than happy to show off how much stronger, faster, or capable they were, while Skoll was forced to find alternate means. It eventually reached a head when he simply shattered a tree with a Byakurai, but Skoll knew that, despite the silence, he had lost the encounter. They had gotten the reaction they wanted, and he had proven himself to be the freak. Again.

Skoll’s origin was only half Beast-Clansman, and it was the other half that set him apart from the rest of his pack, both in appearance and ability. He was a Nakabakki: half beast, half demon. Though the same general height and only a little smaller in build than the other wolf Beast-Clansmen, he bore several signs of his Hell-born ancestry. The most noticeable and hardest to conceal were the chains that bound his tail; though they were blackened as though burnt, and the color matched his fur rather closely, they still rattled with every motion of the appendage. Flickering red runes ran the length of each arm, and drew a collar of glowing crimson glyphs around his neck as well.

Of course, after years of dealing with his differences, Skoll had learned to conceal them to some extent. Though there was little to be done for the chains on his tail, he had hidden the runic tattoos beneath a human-sized jacket that was a tad too short for his longer arms. The sleeves covered the runes up to his mid-forearm, and the rest of the limb was wrapped in cloth bindings to conceal them. A long scarf of black material that had once been part of a Shinigami’s hakama kept the markings on his neck hidden as well. Dressed as fully as he was, Skoll was a direct contrast to his brethren, who wore simple cloth coverings around their waists for the sake of decency. It was yet another way he stood out.

“Hey, mutt.” One of the others called, drawing another scowl of ire from Skoll. They knew he hated that term, but he bit his tongue; it was better than “freak” or “monster.” Drawing a deep breath, the wolf glared at the speaker. “Bring that pack over here so we can load up some fresh supplies. Don’t worry, we’ll give you a light load; wouldn’t want to push you too hard.” There was a bit of a sneer in that last statement, a mockery of Skoll’s strength in the wolf’s words. Trying to ignore it, Skoll walked over and handed his bag to the trader, and waited for it to be filled with fresh medicinal supplies such as bandages and antiseptic, along with other supplies such as blankets for the sake of comfort.

Discussions over exchange were handled quickly enough, but Skoll tuned them out, just wishing the trip was over. Before long, a bag was handed to him straps-first, and he took it without thinking—only to have his shoulder pop slightly as the bag slammed heavily into the ground, the weight too much for him to bear with one arm. He let out a hiss of pain, though the injury was minor, and looked up to see his companions laughing at his failing. “Oh, sorry mutt. That one was my bag, I must have handed you the wrong one. They all feel the same to me.”

That was it. Skoll’s temper peaked and, before anyone could stop him, he simply grabbed the bag with both arms, swung it around, and threw it into the nearest wall. The sound of breaking bottles could be heard, and liquid bleed through the bag’s sides. No doubt that bottle contained some of the stronger liquors that certain members of Skoll’s clan enjoyed; pity, they’d have to go without. Skoll didn’t give a damn, though; the half-demon just gave a snarl and stomped off after leaving the cargo shattered on the street, leaving his fellow packmates to clean up the situation. No doubt they’d just spread rumors to make him sound even worse; Skoll expected no less.

“Fuck all of them...” Skoll snarled again, his furious gaze turning on anyone who drew near to him. Most edged away or straight-up retreated at the fury in his eyes and the bared teeth. No doubt he was only ruining his own reputation, but the half-breed didn’t give a damn. Anyone got in his way, he’d simply toss them aside, if he didn’t strangle them first; that was the rage that poured through him. Fortunately, most people were smart enough to stay clear, and he didn’t have to choke the life out of anyone to soothe his temper… yet.

Then he collided with something, the impact slamming into his chest and stomach. Stepping back, Skoll looked down to spot a human girl that he had run into. She was a small thing—well, compared to him, anyway—and looked impossibly delicate. That she had gotten in his way and stopped him in the middle of his rampage irritated the Nakabakki for some reason. Perhaps it was that someone so small thought she could dare get in his way. Perhaps it was that he just wanted a target to unleash his fury on. Whatever the case was, Skoll decided at that moment to unleash his temper at that given moment.

“HEY! You fucking half-pint piece of trash, what the hell do you think you’re doing, getting in my way? You got a death wish, tramp? You want me to rip out your throat or something? Huh? Is that it? Come to poke at the freak so I can tear your fucking limbs off, huh?” The wolf’s knuckles popped lightly as his hands clenched into tight fists, and his ears were laid back, a sign of his aggression and fury. There was no doubt that he was itching for a fight, judging by his posture and the thrashing of his tail, the latter sending the chains on it to ringing. “Then I’ll be happy to oblige, wench!”

A hand flashed to his side, and a dark flame, almost black, blossomed in his hand. In a moment it congealed into a long knife with a foot-long blade, held easily in his hand with a practiced and casual nature. The weapon was simple and without ornamentation, though its blade was an ebony black, like the wolf wielding it. Its form was well-balanced, intended for both stabbing and throwing as needed. Skoll brought the knife up before him momentarily, before lunging forward, intending to stab the human before him in the arm. A non-fatal wound, but one that would certainly be harmful, driving the girl off and making his point; he was not to be messed with.

Remaining Reiatsu: 1650/1800 (-150 for Soulfire Forge)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soulfire Forge}Technique Name: Soulfire Forge

Class: 6

Technique Type: Hell Technique

Usable By: Hell Races – Akki, Nakabakki, Hason, Saika

Technique Element: Fire/Spirit

Technique Description and Effects:
Once the user has discovered the use and manipulation of Soulfire, the next step is to focus on the shaping of it into an offensive tool. Soulfire Forge allows the user to take the formed flames and shape them into the form of any melee or thrown weapon, with the degree of mastery determining what can be made. At Learned, very basic tools, such as clubs, knives, or similar simple and small weapons are available. At Proficient, larger weapons such as swords, axes, and poles can be made, or more intricate smaller tools like clawed gauntlets or throwing needles are available. Finally, at Mastered, the limit of this technique is based only on the user's imagination, though they are still restricted to melee or thrown weapons.

Of course, that is not all that this Soulfire technique can do. These weapons are ephemeral and finite, and with a spark from the user's will, they can come apart and release the flames that they are made from. When the flames are released, they will explode outwards from the object one foot in every direction, the size of the explosion varying with the size of the weapon. A small weapon like a knife will not have a particularly wide range as the spread is only a foot around the weapon's diminutive size, though these weapons can be hurled for more effectiveness. Comparatively, an object like a broad sword can cover a fairly large area even with only an extra foot added to its size in explosion radius, but it is harder to get such a large weapon into close quarters for it. Note that this aspect of the technique can only be used when it is mastered.

The Soulfire used to form these weapons is generally disparate and unfocused due to its nature as a beginning technique; upon hitting the foe with either the weapon or the eruption of flames, the victim is treated to the initial burning effect of Soulfire at the spot hit. This pain is like a hot blade slicing through the area ignited. The burn will spread roughly six inches in all directions per post, though a foe with a higher spiritual stat than the user's highest spiritual stat will be able to reduce it to a mere inch in all directions per post. Possessing a 25% advantage to the user's highest spiritual stat will allow the burning to be halted, contained to the spot in which it initially hit.

How to use technique:
Conjure Soulfire, and shape it into the form of a weapon.

Technique Drawbacks
Aside from the fact that this is a very basic weapon, and only a Class 6 technique, this is also sharply limited in its ability to burn, and can be halted quite easily by a skilled spiritual fighter. Additionally, an ally possessing the required resistance stats can also halt or even negate the effects of the flame by spending an amount of Reiatsu equal to the difference between the victim's highest spiritual stat and the threshold they aim to meet (for example, if the victim has 400 RS and the enemy has 500 RS, then halting the flame would require 625 RS, requiring a cost of 225 Reiatsu to make up the difference as long as the ally has 625 or higher RS). Finally, the pain from this is mild compared to the other Soulfire techniques; though it can distract and disrupt concentration, two combined points between Strength of Will and Pain Tolerance can reduce it sharply, while three will allow the victim to ignore the pain altogether. Last, this technique comes with a cost of 150 Reiatsu (50 Reiatsu for a Class 6 technique plus the 100 Reiatsu cost of summoning Soulfire).

Made By: Skoll Koryu

Reserved?: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Skoll’s Stats and Skills}Strength - [50] (50) Points

Speed - [150] (150) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [90 x 2] (180) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [150 x 2] (300) Points

Light Aura - [35] Points

Dark Aura - [65] Points

Instinct - [75] Points

Senses - [50] Points

Energy sensory - [50] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [615] points

• [Special – Mimicry*] 2
  
  
• [Pain Tolerance] 2
  
  
• [Strength of Will] 2
  
  
• [Battle Analysis] 2
  
  
• [Learning] 2
  
  
• [Memory] 2
  
  
• [Mental Incantation] 1
  
  
• [Weapons: Knives] 2

*The Mimicry skill does not act to serve as a perfect basis to copy anything the user sees, but instead just serves as a prerequisite for the Unbridled Learning technique, with points in this Skill making it possible to learn stronger and more complex techniques (See Unbridled Learning for more information).

[Angel]

The shattering of bottles and the outrage of an individual drew her attention to the market place as she walked forward even further. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that this particular individual was upset and angered. As he walked down, Angel had been wondering exactly what it was that happened to cause such unhappiness. Looking to the beast approaching her, she had held her hand out to stop him...only that in this state of unhappiness, he had not noticed her seemingly until her hand brushed his fur and they both came to a stop.

The first impression that she had received from the wolf was that he was incredibly aggressive with his cursing obscenities. “I don’t want to fight I think there’s a mis-” She was cut off as the wolf man called her a wench and said he was happy to oblige. The clenched fists, the angered expression, the look of pure rage on his expression on his face and sharp fangs showed her that he was looking for a battle. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed that she was a Shinigami based off of her appearance, but he has made a very bad decision deciding to engage her in combat like this. Especially considering the fact she was trained to detain criminals and other such individuals for the sake of Squad 7’s work nature. She was not angered at his cursing and obscenity. She was if anything more confused by the situation.

As the wolf flashed his hand outward in order to form a fiery knife, Hikari’s eyes widened in surprise. She wasn’t aware that Beast Clan members had the aptitude for such spiritual abilities. However, he flourished it. Obviously he had experience in using the bladed weapon. She had experience in her own right however in terms of martial arts and sensing his blood lust. Watching the man thrust forward towards her arm for a stab to her arm, Angel swerved with a light twist to the side before attempting to grab Skoll’s wrist with both arms before twisting her feet so her back was pressed against his chest. Assuming she was successful, she would push against the beast clan with her weight while leaning forward to essentially flip him over her shoulder and flat on his back.

She hadn’t tried to hurt him doing this method, simply avoid getting hurt as she drew a triangular shape swiftly with her free hand. “Bakudo no Sanju:Shitotsu Sansen.” Expending a light amount of Reiatsu, three golden rods would shoot out in an attempt to pin the wolf’s wrists as well as both of his legs thanks to an abnormally larger third beak thanks to the mastery of the Kido. “Oi...you’ve just attempted an assault against me for no good reason. Normally that would warrant you a lot of trouble and put you in a shitty spot, but I’m not going to hold it on you yet. Tell me what the problem is.” She looked rather neutrally stoic as she took four steps backwards. She didn’t know what other tricks this being had, so she wanted to be careful.

“Everyone, back away. This is a Shinigami personal issue at the moment!” She said to assumably the crowd of people that could honestly give half a fuck about the situation. They didn’t see their lives in danger to begin with. Angel then turned and addressed her charge as she was prepared for another confrontation. She assumed her Shitotsu Sansen wasn’t going to hold considering the fact the last Beast Clan she fought had managed to shatter it as if it were butter. However, if that was the case, she might have to use lethal force if he insisted on combating her. Not because she wanted to, but because it might be a necessity for her survival.

If there is anything she learned from her encounters thus far, it was that survival was imperative. She never realized how much she valued her existence before meeting Santa Ajora. She never knew how much turmoil she could have fighting the beast clan member Raphael. She was more cautious now as compared to back then. Strength was important and valued to her, but one could never be too cautious. It was what made the difference of life or death to a Shinigami. “Let’s calm down...and you tell me what’s going on. Eh?” She addressed Skoll with her hands casually at her side.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu Remaining:
1650/1700
-50 for Shitotsu Sansen

[Skoll Koryu]

“I don’t want to fight; I think there’s a mista—”

“Raaaaaaaaaagh!” Skoll’s yell broke apart the woman’s attempts to placate him, and his knife struck forward, aiming to rip through flesh and bone. If it had, it would have been disastrous for the girl; a strike would have left a feeling like hot fire running up and down the injury and spreading outwards, consuming the limb and eventually the rest of her body. Soulfire was not a tool to be used lightly, igniting the very spirit and causing wounds on a level beyond what standard healing could easily handle. Though it would eventually sputter out on its own and end its effects, until then it was entirely excruciating.

But unfortunately, the attack failed. Skoll found his knife connecting with nothing but air, the fiery blade sizzling through empty space as he stabbed it forward. The lack of impact left him in a slight stumble forward as he failed to brace himself due to surprise. Even as the half-demon wolf recovered from his slight slip, two small hands closed about his wrist. His eyes met the girl’s as her stance shifted, her grip tightening before she moved in closer. In the space of that moment, Skoll realized that he had made a mistake.

He shouldn’t have stabbed the wench; he should have gutted her.

The child turned and, even as she prepared a simple throw, Skoll quickly reacted. He couldn’t stop her from pulling him over his shoulder, but he had other options. Though she couldn’t see it with her back to him, the Nakabakki’s eyes flashed briefly, his spiritual presence changing ever so slightly. The girl’s lack of spiritual senses would prevent her from noticing the shift, and thus she had no way to anticipate what was coming her way. Skoll did, however; he intended to take her head off at the shoulders in the next few minutes.

Even as he came over his opponent’s shoulder, Skoll silently cast one of the Kido he knew. A tendril of orange light entwined itself around both combatants’ wrists, the energy binding them together as Bakudo #9: Horin entangled them. Normally the spell was cast with the intent to bind a single foe and then, with multiple Horin binds, entangle multiple targets together. In this case, however, Skoll had focused the spell out from the hand that was being held, targeting the girl’s hand. The binds twisted over her hand and held it still, true, but they also bound themselves to the wolf’s wrist as well, tying the two together. Thus, when Skoll was thrown onto his back, the motion of his arm would tug his captive forward and neutralize her follow-up spell by breaking her concentration.

The impact with the ground was painful, to say the least; though he wasn’t seriously injured, Skoll felt his skull collide with the packed dirt road of the path and winced at the jolt of shock that went down his spine. Growling in anger, he immediately glared at the girl staring down at him. “Oh, you are fucking dead now!” Immediately his free hand came up and, without any sort of warning, a blast of pure spiritual energy shot out. With the enormous speed of the technique and the close range at which it was fired, it would be nearly impossible to dodge. Worse, dodging would actually make matters worse, thanks to the Horin binding; any level of resistance from Skoll, even with his slightly inferior strength, would be enough to throw off the trajectory and direction of movement, interfering with the motion. Attempting to dodge to a side could be met by a tug of his wrist to try and tug the girl onto her back, after all, leaving him at an advantage and giving him an opening to deal a fatal blow.

Of course, the Bala wasn’t a fatal hit, even if it struck; Bala by nature were more focused and concussive, as opposed to the more explosive Cero. The impact would be like a hammer blow directed at the girl’s middle, knocking the air out of her and probably leaving her retching on the ground at best. At worst, it would damage the ribs and potentially puncture an organ beneath. Either way, neither result was good for Skoll’s attacker, and it would be in her best interest to avoid being struck at all. But what could she do? Bound as she was to Skoll, she’d be unable to move very far, especially with him on the ground. And at such close range, he could strike her quite easily. Breaking the Horin wasn’t an option either; if she tested it, the girl would find that the Nakabakki’s spell was more powerful than her ability to break the bonds by a surprisingly large margin.

And then, of course, there was the shock value: Skoll had just been witnessed casting both Kido and Bala, neither of were compatible with Beast-Clan spiritual powers. In fact, they were completely incompatible with one another! Yet somehow the half-demon had managed to make use of both abilities to devastating effect; had he gained complete mastery over them, he probably could have killed his captive by now. This was something new, something different, something impossible. And that alone would give reason for anyone to pause, to delay. And in a situation where a base second could make or break the effect of a dangerous strike, every moment counted.

"Now shut the fuck up and just die, dammit!"

Skoll’s Remaining Reiatsu: 1360/1800 (-200 for Lore of the Spirit, -30 for Horin, -60 for Bala.)

Lore of the Spirit: 1/5

SPOILER: Click to show

{Lore of the Spirit}Technique Name: Lore of the Spirit

Class: 8-1

Technique Type: Other

Usable By: Skoll only; cannot be taught.

Technique Element: Other

Technique Description and Effects:
Once a technique has been learned through the effects of Unbridled Learning, it is added to Skoll's technique list. However, at this point the techniques are considered unusable; knowing them and their composition does not mean that Skoll possesses the right nature to his Reiatsu to be able to use them. This is where Lore of the Spirit comes in; when activated, this technique acts as a sort of passive stance, allowing Skoll to make use of any spiritual-based abilities that he has learned as a result of Unbridled Learning. This technique allows his spirit to become more fluid, changing its composition and nature to be able to adapt to the flow of spiritual energy required to mimic these techniques. As long as this technique is active, Skoll is able to make use of the spiritual techniques that he has learned. To activate this ability, it costs 200 Reiatsu as a one-time cost despite the ongoing effect.

How to use technique:
Draw Reiatsu into the body to alter the state and composition of one's spiritual energy.

Technique Drawbacks:
Of course, even when access is granted to a technique, it still isn't as easy to use as one that comes naturally. Any techniques cast through Lore of the Spirit cost 20% more Reiatsu than normal (i.e. a 100 Reiatsu cost becomes 120), meaning that in the long run, this will deplete Skoll's Reiatsu that much faster, and also put him at a higher risk of instability as his Reiatsu gets lower. Additionally, all techniques cast with Lore of the Spirit are treated as though they are one Class higher in terms of the Technique Master drawback, causing more pain for the user.

Finally, there is one more restriction. When Lore of the Spirit is used, both Lore of the Body and Lore of the Heart are unavailable for use for two posts after the post in which Lore of the Spirit is activated. This prevents Skoll from rapidly changing between technique categories without a cooldown between each. And last, Lore of the Spirit lasts for a maximum of five posts before it must be re-used.

Made By: Skoll Koryu

Reserved: Yes

[Angel]

When the wolf had suddenly used the Kido Horin, locking their wrists together, Angel was most certainly shocked as she witnessed her wrist be wrapped by a mysterious energy...until she recognized it as Kido. As she threw him and began to draw her triangle, she felt herself tugged. “Nani?!” She stumbled forward slightly from his pull, and she raised her free hand in protest before she heard him raise his hand and yell, “Oh, you’re fucking dead now!” As he said that statement, a familiar red energy formed in his palm that she recognized immediately as a Bala! The red glow of its charge was over almost instantly as it fired. She had to do something quickly if she could!

The ball fired and rapidly progressed towards the young girl as she instinctively and wordlessly fired out the most simplistic technique known amongst the Kido in Soul Society. Hado#1, Sho had been shot out towards the speeding Bala. While it wouldn’t do much, it would halt it and push against it before the force of the technique was overpowered and the Bala continued onward, albeit with less force than what it originally had. It bought her maybe two seconds of time. “Enkosen!”

With the Bala being slightly weakened with the Sho, a spinning locking barrier had formed at her free hand. What purpose did this barrier hold? As it rotated wildly against the blunt body of the Bala, Hikari had used its mastery and fast rotation to begin to force the Bala to move in the direction of its rotation. The Bala had cracked the shield badly upon impact and she could feel the heat of the barrier at her palm as the barrier did it’s purpose. Right as the shield shattered, the red ball would have had its trajectory changed as it would speed along and slam into a wooden hut in which it nearly shattered the door it collided with even after being weakened by two techniques. It would have been bad if she had gotten hit.

It was right then and there that Hikari decided that this opponent was too dangerous. Looking to the wolf man Skoll, Hikari aimed for the center of his body before drawing the triangle she initially was making before. However, this time a tug wouldn’t pull her off of concentration. The only time it had the last time was due to her shock before. “Bakudo no Sanju:Shitotsu Sansen!” Firing three golden beaks, the projectiles would attempt to pin the hands as before and the beast’s neck this time to the ground. She knew of no Kido or any other skill that was used without the hands or mouth. Hopefully that was the truth.

Drawing her three foot long Katana with her free hand, she would quickly dash forward and aim to split the wolf’s arms open right at the armpits to rip open the muscles and ligaments that allowed proper usage of the arms. If he was successfully immobilized from a safe distance she would quickly point that blade at his throat. This wolf being nearly killed her and had demonstrated an ability that wasn’t natural. This creature named Skoll was something that she had to get subdue completely if she could. That shining blade would be stained lightly red as she pointed her blade directly at his throat.

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu Remaining:
1575/1700
-50 Shitotsu Sansen
-50 Enkosen
-25 Sho

[Skoll Koryu]

The girl made a smart move, slowing the Bala and redirecting it rather than trying to dodge; there was little Skoll could do to interfere with that. But she had made a mistake in delaying, spending so much time to react, redirect, and then counterattack. Skoll had more than enough time to prepare his own strike, even as his Bala was being slowed; another mental Horin was immediately cast on the arm bearing the Enkosen, and the Shinigami would quickly find that as her shield was shattered by the Bala, it would not defend her from the tendrils creeping along it. There was no room to dodge it with her level of reaction time, not at point-blank range and while she was focused on redirecting the Bala. Worse, Horin’s unique property would leave her in a particularly compromising situation; immediately, as it bound the arm, the bonds connected themselves to the ones already existing, forcing both of the child’s hands together atop one of Skoll’s wrists.

Suddenly, the half-demon would have an exceptional advantage; he had successfully bound both of his attacker’s arms together, limiting mobility almost entirely thanks to the twin Horin that held her. Skoll, on the other hand, had one hand free, and the Nakabakki was not one to waste such an advantage. A flick of his wrist had the Soulfire knife that was held in his bound hand tossed into his free one, and though he was not ambidextrous, Skoll wouldn’t need to be to slash at a helpless foe. And slash he did, aiming to rip a deep gash from the girl’s elbow all the way up to her shoulder. It wouldn’t quite strike bone—despite his anger, he wasn’t aiming for a truly killing blow at this point, not when he had such an advantage—but it would be enough to draw blood, especially given the unusual shape and form of the knife.

Wait, unusual form? That was right; the dagger that Skoll held had changed forms. Now, the hilt was in the shape of a canine maw filled with sharp teeth, the blade emerging from between the jaws. Two more heads were visible to either side of the first, and though they did not bear their own blades, the three-headed motif was one that anyone familiar with basic mythology would recognize: Cerberus, the Greek guardian of the underworld. Indeed, this was a special technique from Skoll’s arsenal, one that drew upon the Hellish half of his soul and poured that sin into weapon form. Using the technique sent daggers of agony through his arm temporarily, causing it to spasm and twitch slightly, but the Nakabakki pushed it aside as he pulled his weapon from the wound he had created.

Tempered Sin: Cerberus was a technique with a very interesting ability. Like most Soulfire, it spread throughout the victim like a virus, becoming more effective the further it got. However, where Soulfire burned through the spirit, this disease attacked the senses. Immediately, the Shinigami would feel a surge of dizziness if she did not avoid the swing, a brief and momentary lapse of focus, and then her senses would sharpen again… twice. The effects of Cerberus were unique; they doubled the amount of sensory input that the victim received. However, rather than sharpening existing senses, the technique instead literally doubled the number of inputs, altering said inputs in various directions. Thus, while the victim still maintained their normal senses, they’d also “sense” the same 5-6 things from another direction as well. Worse, as Cerberus spread, the number of inputs would increase to a maximum of seven, making it absolutely impossible to tell the true direction of input.

So now, if struck, the Shinigami would find herself “seeing” things from two different directions. Anything she saw in front of her could also be seen at the corner of her eye, as though it was happening at her side. Anything she heard from in front of her would be similarly affected, and so forth with the remainder of her senses. It would be confusing and disorienting, especially atop the binding that limited her movement. The threat would be as much psychological as it was literal, as well; the girl would not be able to determine what was where, and with her restraints, she’d likely feel like a caged beast being prodded from all sides.

And Skoll had no intention of letting up on that impression. The moment his carving attempt finished, he sent Reiatsu pulsing through one more item on his person, an armband hidden beneath his sleeve. Made up of beastly sinews stringing together several fangs, this item was a “Sinner’s Cross,” a manifestation of one’s Aspect of Hell similar to a Quincy’s own Cross. But the concept was all they shared; while the Quincy Cross drew in Reiatsu, the Sinner’s Cross released it, spreading its effects to all within its range.

Skoll’s Sinner’s Cross was based on his Monstrosity, his view of himself and the world around him as twisted and evil. The Beast Within pushed that impression on all within its range, a full three hundred feet in all directions, with its effects most potent at the center. And, bound to Skoll, the Shinigami would find herself directly at the center of that dark maelstrom as its illusionary powers washed over her and consumed her whole, shrouding her gaze with the same Monstrosity that Skoll himself embodied.

Suddenly, every living being within sight was twisted and monstrous. Clawed hands, scaled skin, burning eyes, and webbed wings all flashed in her dual sight. Slithering, lizard-like creatures; flapping, bat-like monstrosities; twisted, shadowy beings that reached out for her from beyond the edge of her sight. The girl would be overwhelmed by the images, and, upon looking at herself, would find even she herself had changed. Her own arms, bound before her, would be just as monstrous as the images placed on the crowd surrounding them, watching their fight. Only Skoll himself was unaffected, his own mental image already painting him as a monster without needing to change what he looked like.

The worst part was that, draped in the deepest layers of illusion with as close to Skoll as she was, the Shinigami was affected physically, emotionally, and mentally. At the edges, it would have only been the visions, and halfway through, it would have added fear and disgust atop that. But in the center of the storm, the middle of the dark aura that exuded from Skoll, even the mind was fooled. Doubt was erased, and in the victim’s mind, this illusion was real. They were surrounded by a crowd of monstrous beings, those that would devour and destroy her without a second thought.

Some might have been able to resist the illusion, but the girl before him lacked the ability. She lacked sufficient evils in her soul to accept and embrace the darkness, and lacked the emotional fortitude to resist its fear. She lacked the ability to pierce the illusion, and even spiritually she was simply overwhelmed by Skoll’s powerful soul. And, trapped as she was at the most potent point of the illusion, only the strongest of abilities would have been enough to break his power over her. No, the Nakabakki had complete and utter control of this illusion, feeding on his victim’s multiple visions and the monsters rising all about her twinned vision, feeding on the fear that his illusion sank into her soul.

Leaning in close, Skoll gave a wicked grin, baring teeth that seemed sharper and more jagged than before, tongues of flame emerging from his maw as part of the illusion. “You caught me on a bad fucking day, wench. Now, let’s see how you like a day in my Hell!”

Skoll’s Remaining Reiatsu: 1000/1800 (-30 for Horin, -150 for Tempered Sin: Cerberus, -150 for Sinner’s Cross: The Beast Within)

Lore of the Spirit: 2/5

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tempered Sin: Cerberus}Technique Name: Tempered Sin: Cerberus

Class: 4

Technique Type: Hell Technique

Usable By: All Hell Races – Akki, Nakabakki, Hason, and Saika

Technique Element: Spirit/Other

Technique Description and Effects:
One talent that many Hell beings have is making use of their Aspect of Hell; some do it through their Release, while others use techniques such as the Sinner's Cross to make their sin into a weapon that debilitates the foe over time. This is another facet of weaponizing the user's Aspect of Hell, and it is channeled through a conjured weapon formed with Soulfire Forge. When this technique is used, the weapon it is channeled through visibly changes to take on a form suited for the Aspect of Hell that the user possesses. This will always be a noticeable and visible change to the appearance, marking it as a different weapon.

This adds an additional effect to the weapon that is chosen upon learning this technique, which must be passed as a custom for each individual user. This effect is initially equal to a Class 4 technique's power; the Aspect of Regret could create a sense of fear and doubt in the foe upon striking successfully, while the Aspect of Rotting could begin to make flesh melt away at the location hit. However, this technique also merges with Soulfire's natural ability to spread through the spirit and corrupt it, replacing the pain and burning with the twisted effect that their Aspect of Hell grants to this weapon. As this plague spreads at the rate listed in Soulfire Forge, its effects grow in size. By the time the corrupted flame possesses the entire body, an Aspect of Regret can paralyze a foe with self-doubt and remorse, while the Aspect of Rotting could literally slough the victim's flesh away from their body. In the long term, these effects can be very powerful.

Skoll’s Tempered Sin is usually used with throwing knives but is available with other bladed weapons. The hilt of the weapon takes on the form of a canine head, its maw open, and the blade emerging from it becoming jagged and uneven, like a flame bursting free of those hellish jaws. The crossguard of the weapon takes on the shape of two more heads, fitting the name of the Tempered Sin: Cerberus. Named after the three-headed guard of Hell, Cerberus doesn’t take after its name only in appearance, but shows itself in the effects as well.

When an enemy is struck by a Cerberus weapon, they immediately feel dizzied as the Soulfire takes effect. When their dizziness passes, the victim will suddenly have all five of their senses doubled. This is not an increase to the stat itself, but rather, multiple perceptions of the same senses. The victim will see things in two different directions, hear things in two different directions, feel them in two different directions. What’s behind could be heard from one side as well as the back, for example, or a touch on the right shoulder could be felt on the back of that shoulder or on the front of the left. A very disorienting technique, it makes it difficult to concentrate and focus when it is hard to tell which set of senses is in the correct “direction,” as two different sets of input makes it hard to differentiate.

It gets worse as it spreads. As Cerberus spreads through the body on the back of the spreading Soulfire, the number of perceptions increases. For every major body part that the flame has spread to – major being the limbs, torso, and head – the number of perceptions increases by one. This means that by the time the entire body is swallowed by the Cerberus Soulfire, they are receiving seven different sets of sensory inputs, leaving them so unable to tell which is the true input and which are the split copies that distract and split focus as the victim tries to comprehend what they are sensing.

How to use technique:
Channel one's Aspect of Hell into a Soulfire weapon, and alter it to take on the nature of one's sin.

Technique Drawbacks:
First, this requires the Soulfire Forge technique to be Mastered and active to even combine it with the user's Aspect of Hell. Second, the spread of this corruption is still treated much like the spread of Soulfire in the original technique; the effects will spread roughly six inches in all directions per post, though a foe with a higher spiritual stat than the user's highest spiritual stat will be able to reduce it to a mere inch in all directions per post. Possessing a 25% advantage to the user's highest spiritual stat will allow the corruption to be halted, contained to the spot in which it initially hit. This also can be halted by an ally; an ally possessing the required resistance stats can also halt or even negate the effects of the corruption by spending an amount of Reiatsu equal to the difference between the victim's highest spiritual stat and the threshold they aim to meet (for example, if the victim has 400 RS and the enemy has 500 RS, then halting the corruption would require 625 RS, requiring a cost of 225 Reiatsu to make up the difference as long as the ally has 625 or higher RS). In addition to these resistances, each custom Tempered Sin form must have resistances and drawbacks to match the effects, much like any other technique. Finally, this technique costs 150 Reiatsu to use.

For Cerberus, the affliction can be mitigated with a high Instinct. By possessing 200 or more Instinct, the victim can sift through and interpret the multiple sensations so that they can determine the real one. This amount increases by 50 for each additional sensation that they are receiving. This also will not work on victims who are higher in Class than the user.

Made By: Skoll Koryu

Reserved?: Yes

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sinner’s Cross: The Beast Within}Technique Name: Sinner’s Cross: The Beast Within

Class: 4

Technique Type: Hell Technique

Usable By: All Hell Races – Akki, Nakabakki, Hason, and Saika

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
We have all heard of the Quincy Cross of the Holy Quincy Empire, an item of reverence that no real Quincy would be without. Naturally, Hell cannot let such a beloved item go without being perverted, twisted, and corrupted into a dark mass that no longer resembles the original tool, and indeed, everything about it from its appearance to its nature have been completely altered by the Hell being that has taken it for themselves. The Sinner's Cross varies in shape by the user, though it will always resemble a small accessory, either a necklace, a bracelet, or an earring whose charm or symbols are customized by the user. Once this technique is created, this item will exist as a passive accessory with no natural effects until activated at a cost of 200 Reiatsu, which will then activate the ability inherent to it as a passive effect that lasts for five posts, at which point it must be refreshed to resume. Unlike the Quincy Cross, which draws in Reiatsu particles for the user to manipulate, the Sinner's Cross is quite the opposite because it exudes spiritual energy. But the nature of this energy is what varies, once it is activated; it takes on the nature of the user's Aspect of Hell, and the way in which this manifests is chosen during the creation process for this technique. These effects are generally moderate in power, equal to no more than a Class 4 effect, and manifests in the form of an illusion or aura that radiates outwards from the bearer of the Sinner's Cross. The radius of this technique is equal to a number of feet equal to the user's highest Spiritual stat, though the effects will vary in effectiveness depending on the distance from the user (see drawbacks below.)

Skoll’s Sinner’s Cross takes on the form of a bracelet that is secured around his upper arm. This bracelet is made from what looks to be the sinews of a beast woven together into a thick braid, and strung with jagged, pointed teeth that surround the length of it. A single tooth, larger than the rest by a good margin, hangs in the front, the “cross” for the necklace. This bracelet is a symbol for Skoll’s aspect of Hell, Monstrosity, and its ability is appropriate to that theme, drawing out the monster from within all who are affected. Those who are afflicted know the pain and suffering that Skoll himself feels constantly, the pain of being an outcast, a monster to one’s own perception.

The Beast Within is a mix of physical, emotional, and mental illusions, depending on the afflicted individual’s proximity to Skoll. At its furthest range, from the edge to one fourth of the way in, the only illusion applies to appearance, or rather, the perception of appearance. Any victim within this range or closer of the Sinner’s Cross will find that every person around them, friend or foe and even themselves, has suddenly become monstrous to their eyes. Pointed, jagged claws, twisted wings, serpentine coils, scaled skin, forked tongues, ichor and ooze… all of these things transform the viewed into a monster. Only Skoll is left unchanged, but that is because, in his own eyes, he is already a monster. This is, of course, only a visual illusion. However, the sensations that the viewer feels upon seeing these things is very real.

It gets worse at the next step, from one-fourth of the way in to three-fourths of the way in. At this point, the emotional aspect of the illusion begins to kick in. The sight of a “monster,” is enough to begin to put fear into the victim, as well as loathing and disgust. This isn’t just those around them, either, but self-directed as well, as any view of self, even just seeing one’s own hands, shows a monster as well. This loathing is enough to cause one to cringe back, to be unwilling to approach a “monster,” fearing it even as they hate it. They may attack it, but doing so at close range is difficult, simply because of that revulsion aspect. Worse, that fear and loathing distracts them and creates paranoia, making it harder to focus and concentrate. Anything that requires focus to use is more difficult, now.

The worst of it, though, is the last step, from the three-fourths mark to the point where Skoll is standing. At this point, it’s not just physical or emotional illusions: it’s mental as well. Though up until this point the emotions and logic may be in conflict, with the rational mind telling the victim that they are just seeing illusions and not actual transformations, within this range even the mind is convinced. At this point, even logic cannot deny it: these are monsters, terrifying, real to the mind. These are hideous, twisted creatures. Who they were before didn’t matter; all that matters is what the victim sees now. Now, the victim is surrounded by monsters, and must deal with them accordingly.

How to use technique:
Pour Reiatsu into the manifested Sinner's Cross, and let its effects flow out around the user.

Technique Drawbacks:
Naturally, this technique has its own drawbacks. For one thing, the effects of this aura can never be directly fatal, nor can they be significantly harmful, as appropriate for a Class 4 technique. In the examples above, an aura of flames can only create minor burns upon close contact, or an aura of darkness can still be penetrated by strong enough senses or a light source of sufficient spiritual strength. This technique only lasts for five posts before being refreshed, and like the Quincy Cross, the user must concentrate on keeping it active each post; if they do not focus, even as a side thought, on keeping it active while they are fighting, it will automatically shut off. As this is a constant effect, even passive posts taken while maintaining this effect count as combat posts.

The technique also loses potency the further out one is from the user; within the first 25% of the aura, measuring from the center outwards, the effects are at their full potency. For example, if an aura has a radius of 100 feet, then from the user to 25 feet outwards is at full potency. From 25% to 75% (i.e. with a 100 foot radius, from 25-75 feet away from the user) the effects of the aura are reduced by one-fourth of their potency. From 75% to the edge of the aura (i.e. with a 100 foot radius, from 75 to 100 feet away from the user), the effects are reduced to half of their normal potency.

For Skoll in particular, his Sinner’s Cross has two major weaknesses: the first is that it is less effective against those who are not ruled by fear or who live in the darkness. Those who have a Lack of Fear at 2 or higher can reduce the effects of the second stage, making it far easier to maintain their calm and not react negatively to the images around them. Those with a Dark Aura of 75 or higher are similarly able to resist the darkness, unafraid of the shadowy figures within. A Lack of Fear at 3 or a Dark Aura of 90 or higher will grant a similar reprieve even at the worst stage, removing the mental acceptance and simply giving a weaker version of the emotional fear. Even better, a Dark Aura of 100 makes the victim completely immune to this technique. The other drawback is that this is a visual illusion; without sight to trigger the emotional or mental responses, this technique does not even begin to take effect. This also happens when a victim has an Illusion Resistance of 3, completely negating this technique, while an Illusion Resistance of 2 will simply reduce the effects by a single tier. Finally, this technique does not affect those of a higher Class than the user.

Made By: Skoll Koryu

Reserved?: Yes

[Angel]

It was at this moment that she had been able to divert the path of the Bala just enough so that she would avoid being struck, but as soon as her barrier broke, a tendril had connected to her free hand, then binding around and connecting both of her arms together with both of her hands locked together. Damn it all. She had to do something before he attacked her! Most of her Kido would be out of the question as was the usage of Shunpo considering they were bound together. However, she still saw options despite losing the usage of her hands. She could still move her legs and despite her hands being locked together, she could still move her fingers slightly. She assessed the situation, and when her enemy swapped his knife to his free hand, she kept her senses sharp on him. She had witnessed some of his tricks and had made careful views for is hand movements.

She had no time to prepare for his assault however as she kept her eyes on him, aware of the training experience she had disarming people with weapons such as knives or swords. She had a serious disadvantage, but it wasn’t impossible. As the wolf aimed an upward rising slash for her elbow up to her shoulder, his blade drew blood as it sliced across her arm. It was a non fatal wound and she winced in pain but thanks to her pain tolerance, she was able to resist the overall pain of the blade. However, there was more to it than that. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and nauseous as her eyes dilated and then became sharper as they returned to their undilated state. Everything was bizarre. She could hear twice the sounds, see twice the things, and thus, two of those senses were interfered with as she felt a state of disarray.

Hikari Nisei had in this moment begin to twist and turn in confusion, trying to understand what the hell was going on as everything was looking more confusing the more she tried to make coherent sense of the situation. It seemed that her opponent Skoll was far from done however as he activated his ability Sinner's Cross to release Reiatsu into the environment and effect his already disoriented captive. Within a moment, the sight of Angel changed further...but with the same effects of double senses to show the world was suddenly an abomination place. There was no reason, no logical explanation, and in this state of disarray, Angel didn't need one. Suddenly, demons surrounded her, twice as many demons as demonic features took place of the normal crowd. She looked down and saw two sets of monstrous warped arms and she shook and began to feel a pit in her stomach as she felt utterly nauseous from sudden double vision and these demonic like features.

Skoll at that moment took the liberty to assert his dominance by speaking to her and introducing her to hell. She heard double the sound from six different directions. The flaming tongue, the teeth, it was too much. She vomited right in front of her, heeling over to puke her fatigue out. She didn't care where she was at this moment as she was just too sick to notice anything. She was in his hell all right. Tugging her hands, she felt a pull from her legs and even her back. All her senses were scrambled and nothing made logical sense as she found herself utterly manipulated by Skoll's potent illusion. She couldn't effectively fight back while he fought in such method, and now she was at his mercy seeing she had no coherent senses. She would only be able to fight by striking randomly, and Angel didn't even seem to be in the position to do that. The bile and food that left her throat was dry heaved, and she then closed her eyes.

It would help. Closing her eyes would cut at least the double sided blurry vision. She couldn't think straight, but perhaps with this she would be able to start forming some coherent thoughts. "Demons...demons all around me. I'm a demon! I've turned into a monster! IS THIS HELL?!" The monster in front of her said so, but she wasn't here just a few moments ago. Who cared? She didn't. All that mattered was that she was in a place where everything wanted to kill her, she couldn't move her hands, and she could barely see and comprehend anything that was going on. A groan as she felt like she was going to vomit again. She would have screamed if it was not for the sense of dread and pain she had from her slash wound as well as this sudden barrage of her mind. Skoll had almost assured his victory, but what he would do now with a victim was a good question.

This was like Hueco Mundo and the time she was kidnapped by Ajora Santa and forced to be made a pet. She was being toyed with and everything wanted to kill her in an environment of death. The only difference was that now she would not be able to defend herself against the demonic presences against her. Her life in her mind was in utter danger, and she suddenly felt very weak and unable to fight despite the adrenaline running through her system, telling her to run away from the demonic dangers all around her. Thrashing left and right, she tried to break the sensation of these bindings all around her, while in reality she was spinning, running like a flapping bird. She was blind and she was in greater danger than she had ever thought. Skoll was a dangerous opponent. Now that he had a play thing though, what would he do with it?

[Skoll Koryu]

The Shinigami quickly gave way to the illusion’s onslaught, unable to fight against the Monstrosity that Skoll had released on the world about him. And no surprise; she was obviously a low-ranking Shinigami, or the Nakabakki would not have been able to overpower her so easily. As it was, the girl was already on the ground, puking her guts out as sheer terror bore upon her, squeezing its grip around her heart, binding her reason with fear. Skoll was able to stand again, dragging the child up with him as she was still bound to his arm, and as he loomed over her, that last image of a monster staring down at her with a finality that almost certainly promised death.

Skoll had plenty of reasons to kill with minimal provocation; his life was a mix of Hellish origin and the resentment of others. He was a monster, a freak, an animal in the eyes of others. Treated as poorly as he was on a daily basis, the half-demon had every justification for his short temper and his vicious attitude. With a completely helpless Shinigami chained to his arm, all but broken by his illusions, he could simply reach over with one hand and, pressing it to her forehead, could blow out her brains with a Bala. It would be all too easy for the wolf to simply end things now. Skoll took a deep breath, coming to his decision…

And simply released the spell, dropping his captive to the ground to collapse on the stone at his feet. “This isn’t worth my time anymore. Go on, get lost.”

One might ask why Skoll had done such a thing. With his anger, his rage, he should have simply killed the Shinigami with his hot-blooded temper. But truth be told, he didn’t care about that; he had unleashed all of his anger in their brief encounter, had filled her with fear and terror, had outskilled her in her own area of expertise—Kido—and had otherwise proven himself to be her superior. He was the alpha, dominant and in control… and that was enough. Skoll had found his own validation and, in doing so, had determined it wasn’t worth killing the child. Reason and logic came in hindsight; doing so wouldn’t have boded well for the Volsung pack, or even for Skoll himself. The Shinigami probably would not have liked one of their own being killed in a chance confrontation in the Rukongai…

Well, it was done with. Leaving his fallen opponent on the ground, Skoll started back towards the marketplace. By now, his packmates should have dealt with the situation resulting from his temper earlier, and they’d be ready to go back to the pack, if they hadn’t left already. No, scratch that, they’d have totally left by now. Skoll heaved a slight sigh and headed for the exit to the Rukongai; he’d have to walk back by himself. At least he didn’t have a pack to carry, and he could take his time getting back. Maybe he’d even camp out under the stars tonight; who knew? Either way, Skoll was certainly feeling much better after his little encounter.

((OOC: At this point, Skoll has finished his part in this thread; feel free to post again, or simply report it if you feel it is reasonably done.))

[Angel]

Angel was not aware of the poor state of condition she was, and how the situation could have been considerably dire now that she was at the mercy of possibly being annihilated by her foe. However, the ringing in her ears stopped as did the sensation of being yanked in multiple directions at the same time as she was forced to stand, When the illusion was released, she almost fell backwards into her vomit from the sudden confusion and disorientation of what the hell just happened. “This isn’t worth my time anymore. Go on, get lost.” Angel held her ringing ears with her right hand as her free hand held the slice wound she had received from before. It wasn’t a horrible wound. Her mental disorientation hurt her far more than the slice did.

If she could think straight at the moment, which she couldn’t, she would have wondered what the fuck just happened and why the Beast Clan had assaulted her. Slowly she shook her head out as the beast began to walk away from her, having been satisfied that he proved himself to be the alpha male over her, at least in his mind. He had nearly killed her with that Bala before, and now he had made himself known as a unique threat for she most certainly was going to recognize him. “H-Hgh.” As the Beast Clan had walked out into the distance, Angel learned some important things today about battle and the field that it was played on.

One, expect the unexpected seeing she had no idea that Beast Clan were capable of casting Kido and certainly not Bala. The second thing that she had learned was that the world no matter where you went was not safe. Slowly getting her state of comprehension back, The Beast Clan member was strong, and the demonic fire all around her in the illusionary state had made her...remember some very bad things. An illusion was just that, an illusion. However, Angel had lived through some horrible things in reality other than fabricated perception. The horror was something she wouldn’t easily forget.

Normally she would pursue Skoll, but right now she did not feel like she had the energy to after all that just occurred. She had to file a report on this immediately. The Seireitei would likely be interested to hear that there was a Beast Clan member capable of not only using Kido but Bala as well. Once she felt oriented enough and her sense of balance was restored, she would use the Shunpo to vanish into the distance. She would have to inform her team members first she would be leaving before heading off towards the barracks again and explaining her conflict. What was up with her running into so many unique and different foes? From Santa Ajora, to the panther of the mountains, and now to Skoll the spell casting demon wolf. This encounter certainly widened Angel's perspective if albeit slightly. Now she knew she needed to be more prepared.

She had never fought much against spellcasting individuals, and she had to consider that it wouldn't be so easy fighting and restraining people like them. Quickly writing detail on a report file on the encounter, individual, and skills Skoll seemed to display, she would quickly deposit the file to the captain of Squad 7, Himitsu Kasumi'Oji. She didn't really know how to feel about being under a Kasumi'Oji seeing she didn't know the man personally, but at the moment she was just trying to do her duty as an officer of withholding the law. Technically the Beast Clan member would be charged with assault on a Shinigami and possibly vandalism. However, she tried to tone it down a little bit, leaving out detail of a scuffle. Rather she listed the Beast Clan who had a foul mood was seen using these powers in a more distant location without harming anyone. This was somewhat to save her pride as well. To say she was defeated so easily...it would be shameful.

Likely what she was going to need to do was strengthen her training regimen and perhaps strengthen her Kido. Becoming more adept in usage, application, and creativity would all be things that would help her in the long run. She was getting stronger, but it was gradual. Even so, getting stronger wasn't all she needed to do. Hikari needed something to help her grow internally as well. Perhaps it was time to reach out to Kaen Youji and or Himitsu Kasumi'Oji. If not, then time to finally face her...relatives. She never really saw the Kuchiki as family really considering her estrangement of being raised in a Shihoin household as a servant. It was awkward for herself, and she could say she even held a bit of resentment for never being bothered to be taken back with her mother. It didn't matter anymore. It wasn't as if every Kuchiki was bad. As much as she would like to deny it, she had their blood. Damn it all. A plan. That was what she needed more than anything. With a searing migraine, she tried to walk it off through the barracks. With a deep breath, those coal black eyes closed for a moment of silence. 

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Skoll is the winner.

Skoll: 35 paragraphs = 350 TP + 100 TP for victory = 450 TP Total

Angel: 30 parahraphs = 300 TP Total