Introduction to the Light [Raphael, Joint Training]

[Lucien Dantes]

Karakura Town. What made this place so special? Was it something in the air? The water? Just sheer happenstance? The town, despite being completely unremarkable in so many ways was a veritable hub of spiritual activity. Shinigami and Hollow activity was in greater concentration here than almost anywhere else. Whatever the reason was, it made the town an important place to stakeout. An excellent place to hunt and train new recruits for the Vandenreich. Both Shinigami and Hollows were fair prey, afterall, since the Vandenreich opposed both the likes of Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. This meant that almost anyone who was drawn to a Quincy's reiatsu was an enemy. It made things very simple, easy, and greatly lessened the risk of collateral damage.

"How sad that is though." Came the thoughts of the Vandenreich who currently now sat at a small human café. Hair so faded it was nearly white, a pale complexion and deep bags under his eyes, Lucien Dantes sat in thought. A high level Hollow's reiatsu had been detected in the vicinity of Karakura Town. Menos class. Karakura town was a messy little civil war in its own right, as three different factions vied for supremacy. The Soul Society, the Vandenreich and Uzaki Enterprises. It would have been easy to simply let one of the other factions take care of it. Let them expend their own resources to deal with this creature. Lucien understood the pragmatism of such an approach from a military standpoint. In a war such as the one the Vandenreich found themselves in, it was advantageous to let your enemies wear each other down, until one remained, then to crush the weakened victor. There was a ruthless effectiveness to the tactic, as long as your enemies did not grow stronger for the struggle.

But conversely, there was another line of thought. One that Lucien wished to put to the test. Lucien understood Shinigami on a certain level. Many Shinigami did not oppose the Vandenreich out of some deep seated principle or hatred, but solely because they believed that theirs was the best way. How many Shinigami simply wish to protect the innocent and make the world a better place? It was a thought Lucien had often considered. There must be many. For so many Shinigami to walk about with their self-righteous attitudes, they had to believe that what they were doing was right. To prove to them that their way was ineffective, and inefficient. To prove the falsehood of their claims. That no matter how much they preached about stability, and balance, that they were failing at that task, and that under their supervision the world would only become a worse place. Well....

If a Shinigami could come to terms with that reality, one of two things would happen. They would see the error of their ways, and accept the truth of the Vandenreich. Or they were already lost. In which case, far better to put them out of their misery, than to risk them causing others to lose their way as well. Lucien disdained that such practices were necessary but... Well. These were cruel realities when you were trying to create utopia. Lucien didn't have to like it. He just had to fulfill his duty. So why not start here? Destroying a Menos before the Shinigami could even mobilize a response to the beast.

Lucien had opted to wait patiently for his prey to come to him. Hollow bait was always plentiful, but Lucien wasn't looking for any meager Hollows-- though he expected those would come with the Menos. He was instead going to let his reiatsu leak out. Invisible to the humans around him, a flickering, ice blue aura flowed up from Lucien like a giant signal beacon. With the potency of his reiatsu, he knew that if the Menos hadn't moved on, it would detect his reiatsu. As long as it was in the area, it would take notice of him. And it would come. Perhaps other Hollows would come as well. Typically Lucien afforded his enemies a chance to surrender or flee. A chance of living, that he did not have to take lives when possible. Hollows were a bit of a blind spot in this. Hypocritical? Perhaps to an extent. One might argue that Hollows were souls too, and souls at that, which could regain their human minds, given enough time.

However. Hollows could not do so without taking the lives of others. A fact of their biology. Hollows needed to prey on living souls if they wanted to regain that strength. Unlike Shinigami whom Lucien considered merely misguided and foolish, Hollows were a malicious species, whose very existence was an anathema to the Vandenreich. It was cruel business, but there was no choice. If Lucien did not kill this Hollow, then many others would die before someone else did. When weighing the value of one soul against the hundreds that would be snuffed out, it was a simple thing to decide.

While he waited, Lucien chose to quietly enjoy a short breakfast, opting for an English tea and breakfast sandwich, which lay half eaten on the table in front of him. Lucien sipped from his tea cup, golden eyes staring quietly at the street and passerby's. He could sense every noticeable reiatsu signature around him, waiting for the instant he detected a Hollow's reiatsu. At that moment, he would kill it and then move on. If you found yourself having to do an unappealing task, it was far better just to close your eyes and get it over with. Lucien didn't care to spend anymore time here than needed. Lucien felt a familiar sensation in his chest, and he quickly put his teacup down an instant before erupting into a hacking fit of coughs-- barely having time to cover his mouth before they exploded out.

This did have the consequence of attracting a number of concerned looks in the man’s direction, and Lucien felt discomfort radiate up his spine, as he tried to bring his coughing fit under control. Even so it took him several embarrassing seconds before he could do so, embarrassedly trying to avoid eye contact with those around him.
He sighed slightly. Even after enduring it for his lifetime, his condition still caused him embarrassment. Oh well. At least it was a beautiful morning. 

Even as he thought this, Lucien picked up a stronger reiatsu than the others, and looked sharply in its direction. It didn't appear to be Hollow or Shinigami. It wasn't very powerful either, but it did stand out from the usual humans. Hmm.... Perhaps someone to speak to while I wait. Lucien thought briefly, taking a bite out of his breakfast as he stared directly ahead at the newcomer. 

[Raphael Laurent]

Raphael was on a casual, slow stroll through the streets of Karakura Town, it still being only a little bit of time since he'd woken up in Taka's infirmary and found about... Realistically, Raphael still wasn't fully ready to come to terms with himself and everything else. There were still a million questions that he wanted to ask about...everything, but there was no one that knew everything that there was to be told. The capacity to relax was something that had been partially stolen from him the day that the hollow had attacked as suddenly he realized that the level of power that he had would easily call them to him, if he wasn't careful. Still his own abilities had grown almost exponentially and within only a short amount of time. He felt a good deal stronger, strong enough to be able to...well, really he had no idea, seeing as how the world of spirits was so new to him.

Still, he knew that there were now things that he was more attuned to, things that he was now much more sensitive to that others were not. He passed by people, normal people and felt the oddest sensation of pity mixed with envy: pity that they would never experience such a state of awareness as he now enjoyed, while at the same time envying them for the fact that they could remain in their ignorance for as long as they wanted. Nothing was going to come along and force an awakening in them, a change in them like it had in him. Few, if any, would experience the awe inspiring feeling of awakening to this new world, of having to meet so many different people from the experience.

It was a rather beautiful day, in fact, for just wandering the streets. He hadn't wanted to leave Taka's bunker just yet, at least not in so far as heading home. He didn't have the heart to tell her that he'd been evicted and didn't actually HAVE anywhere to go, that just wasn't his style. Soon, though, he'd look for a new place to live so that he wasn't imposing on her anymore. The card for Xcution he'd received remained in his pocket, though. He still wasn't sure what to do with it, or what he even wanted to do. The only thing that he DID know was that he knew nothing about these groups. Well, almost nothing. He had the most basic of basics for them: shinigami were idiots, hollows were evil, vardenreich were...well he wasn't gonna think about them.

It was during the walk, as he was looking around at the trees and compare them to how many buildings were in the area he felt something. It was faint, at first, and then without warning exploded into life, blazing like a flame and Raphael could easily feel it, even from the distance between the two. He looked in its general direction and pondered. It was far too strong to be someone that didn't know how to force down their own power, but he didn't like what it could mean. Strong energy would attract hollows, and that would lead to deaths, which is something that Raphael would prefer to avoid, if he could help it.

Without a second thought, Raphael took off running down the street, heading in the direction of the power that he could so clearly feel. Who the hell had this much power? And, most importantly, why were they just standing around and allowing their power to leak out?!

He came to a stop nearest a cafe, the place where the energy was emanating strongly from, and even then it was an man that had been coughing upon Raphael's arrival. The moment that he'd gotten it under control he'd looked around. Raphael took in a breath and walked forward. If the guy didn't know what the hell he was doing then there was no reason for Raphael to be an asshole at this time, if he KNEW what he was doing on the other hand, Raphael glare at the man, as though doing so would automatically make the man give his reasoning and spill his secrets.

"Excuse me," Raphael said as politely as possible when. "Is this seat taken?"

[Lucien Dantes]

Lucien smiled gently at the Fullbringer as he approached. Or at least Lucien figured him for a Fullbringer. Lucien knew the feel of a Quincy's reiatsu quite well by now and he could tell Raphael's reiatsu signature was not that of a Quincy's. Nor was it a Shinigami's. And it certainly wasn't a Hollow reiatsu. Not that he had the look of a Hollow. To Lucien's knowledge, that left Fullbringers or Shinigami's mod souls. Between the two, he considered it more likely his guest was a Fullbringer however. Mod Souls were far less common.

"No, not at all. Please be seated." Lucien said, closing his eyes a moment as he smiled at Raphael. "It's very rare I get to entertain company." He added, folding his hands in front of him with a certain elegance. Practiced, as with the mannerisms of one who has been drilled on proper etiquette often. "Lucien Dantes." He introduced himself, extending a hand towards Raphael. "And you are, sir?" He asked, giving pause for a moment. Golden eyes took in Raphael in a moment. Lucien was currently adorned in a dark purple dress jacket overtop a black button up shirt, with dress pants and a tie.  While he was technically on assignment, his usual attire would have attracted far too much attention. And Lucien was not overly fond of attracting too much attention. Even now after so long, he felt awkward in large groups. So many eyes staring at him. He could get over it when he was operating in official military capacity and commanding his troops.... Somehow.... Somehow when Lucien resolved himself to his mission. When he let his mind simply be consumed by his duty to the Emperor and the Vandenreich, things became a lot easier. A lot simpler. Lucien could well understand how so many others of the Vandenreich simply enmeshed themselves in that mindset and never left it. They were the perfect soldiers, 24/7. Admirable in a way. 

"I can only presume, by your reiatsu that you are a Fullbringer, yes?" Lucien suggested. "I expect you were drawn by this?" He added, indicating his reiatsu. His gentle face suddenly grew stern for a moment. However, Raphael was fortunate. Lucien wasn't angry or upset. Merely fighting another battle as a hacking cough forced its way up from his lungs. A losing battle in this case, as Lucien barely had time to snatch up a napkin from the table, before coughing violently into the serviette, being courteous enough to turn away from Raphael when he did so. "Excuse me." Lucien added in apology for his rudeness, folding the napkin and placing it aside before returning his attention to Raphael. "I imagine you're quite new to you abilities, aren't you? Your reiatsu stands out from everyone else's here, but it is fairly meager compared to most realized Fullbringers." He noted. "Or is it that you wish for a peaceful life, and thus haven't trained your powers?" He inquired further.

There was no judgement in Lucien's tone. Indeed, Lucien thought it nice for those who could try to live peacefully. The key word, of course, being try. Raphael would never face that sort of life. No human truly did. Their idea of "peace" was relative, and not absolute. The idea of absolute peace was something of a farce. And how sad that is. Lucien thought, looking into Raphael's eyes as he sipped the last of his tea. He could feel it now. Stirrings in the reiatsu of the world. It would happen soon. His quarry, no. His victim would be here soon. Lucien only picked up on this because of his own extremely attuned ability to sense reiatsu however. He expect it would be yet at least ten minutes before the Menos emerged and he could complete his assignment. Swiftly and efficiently. That was Lucien Dantes' way. He didn't care for violence, so he executed his target as quickly and painlessly as he could. Minimizing their suffering. Poor creatures that could not help their baser natures. Though Lucien could take no joy or pride in executing them, he did take solace that he was putting them out of their misery at least. 

But as he brought his focus back to Raphael, he noticed something. There was something about how Raphael looked at him. Was it agitation? He was upset about something? Was that aimed at Lucien? Curious indeed. But Lucien had asked enough questions of Raphael. He had to wait for the Fullbringer to answer his questions. No doubt Raphael had some inquiries of his own, or else he would not have approached Lucien. And those inquiries probably went beyond simple comradery.

[Raphael Laurent]

"Ah, thank you." Raphael sat down in a chair across from the man, his expression shifting only slightly from neutrality to a bit of a smile and back to neutrality again. Reaching out across the table, he shook the man's hand. "Raphael Laurent, IT specialist." He gazed at the man, thoughtfully, thinking through exactly what was going through his head. Why would anyone allow their pressure and strength to cascade out of them? To make matters even worse, the man seemed, calm and at peace, as if he was doing it on purpose...but why in the world would someone...

The question about whether Raphael was a fullbringer or not made him blink a few times. Was he that easy to read? That or the man was much more competent than Raphael had first thought. The question came on if he'd been drawn in by the reiatsu that this Lucien let explode out of him again. Suddenly the man started coughing, snatching up a napkin from the table and hacking into it a few times before apologizing and Raphael simply waved it off, dismissing it completely. Lucien quickly went on to ask if he was new to his abilities or simply ignoring them in order to live a peaceful life. Raphael chuckled. "My reiatsu is fairly meager compared to most realized Fullbringers, eh? That's a very polite way of saying I'm weaker than most that you've run into." Smiling warmly, he continued. "Sorry, couldn't resist a bit of sarcasm, but yeah, I am fairly new to my abilities. Only recently found out what it's capable of, on the most superficial level, and there's a lot more for me to learn, realistically."

Raphael couldn't help but watch the man, thinking deeply about what this man could possibly be doing. Realizing that his agitation was a bit more obvious than he'd meant it to be he looked Lucien in th eyes. "I've gotta apologize to you, Lucien. Ya see, for a while I thought that you were just someone uncommonly strong that wasn't able to control it or just didn't give enough of a damn to do so. I can see, however, that you're far more competent than I would've thought for someone just leaking their reiatsu." Raphael watched the man a bit more closely. "You don't feel like a bount, nor a shinigami... You don't really feel like me either."

 Slowly, he felt his body tense just a bit. "Are you a quincy?"

[Lucien Dantes]

IT specialist? Lucien had some familiarity with the work and jobs of the human world, but it was still somewhat limited. He understood this meant that Raphael worked with computers, but he didn't know much beyond that. "That must be quite an interesting career, Mr. Laurent." He commented offhandedly. Still, he saw his comment about Raphael being a Fullbringer had caught him offguard. "No need for concern. It was simple deductive reasoning on my part." He assured Raphael, but then let the young man continue. Despite his goodnatured and relax poise, it seemed Raphael had taken some offense at Lucien's comment-- something Lucien wished to quickly alleviate.

"I apologize if I have insulted you." Lucien replied. "It was not my intent. True, your spiritual abilities seem weaker than most of the Fullbringers I have encountered, but most of those were battle hardened fighters." He stated. "If you are new to your powers, then do not fear. If you train and develop them, you will grow. Perhaps you will become quite powerful yourself in turn." He mused, though there was an almost somber tone in his voice when he said that. One that was erased, as Lucien let out a quiet chuckle at Raphael's assessment of how much there was to learn. "On that you are not wrong. The world is a complicated and messy place, even before one gains an understanding of the worlds beyond. It must be at once enlightening and discomforting to find there is so much you did not know about."

Raphael then gave his own assessment of Lucien, and apologized for his own assumptions of him. "There is no need to apologize. In most cases you would be correct. But today, I am doing this with a purpose." He briefly explained, watching Raphael with an amused expression as the Fullbringer attempted to discern who Lucien was. A Bount? Hmm.... Lucien hadn't considered Bount. They were so incredibly rare, that he didn't even think that Raphael might have been one. Were Bount too on the rise? Lucien found that thought disquieting. He did not care for the idea of yet another species needing to be put to the torch. For much like arrancar and Hollows, the Bount's existence was something that the Vandenreich could not tolerate. But unlike Hollows, Lucien expected, Bount would have enough sentience to understand their own existence. Enough to know why they must be purged, but still face it with the desperation of humanity-- a desire not to die. It was a sad state of affairs.

But in the moment of thought Lucien gave to that statement, Raphael's own deductions brought him to the correct conclusion. "I am, yes." He stated. "I am a ranking officer in his majesty, The Emperor's Holy Vandenreich. Endless may be his reign." Lucien brought a hand up to his heart with reverence at the invocation of the Emperor's title, to form a holy symbol. The motion was much akin to a Catholic tracing the symbol of the cross over their own breast. "There is a threat to this part of the city. A Hollow of unusually high power. I have come to ensure that it does not harm anyone, and that the people of this town may continue to live peaceful lives. I do not trust the Shinigami to be able to deal with this threat safely, without considerable collateral damage. That is why I am here, and that is why my reiatsu burns as it does." He explained to Raphael. "Some of my brethren would use Hollow bait to draw the creatures in, but such tactics can be unpredictable. Larger swarms than anticipated can appear at a moment's notice. At present, my reiatsu is burning with a fraction of my power. High enough that the creature may be drawn to me for a promising meal, and sufficient to dissuade lesser Hollows. Low enough for it to believe it is capable of devouring me." Lucien informed Raphael.

"But you appear to be familiar with my kind. Please do tell. How was it you came to know of we Quincy? It seems you are familiar with us." He inquired, taking a moment to gauge Raphael's reactions, and whether he recognized the name of Lucien's holy order as well. This would be an enlightening answer, he had no doubt of that, of who Raphael had learned from. Had he been taught by a Shinigami? A Fullbringer? Another Quincy? Lucien very much hoped that Raphael would be a reasonable young man, and that this wouldn't have to come to violence. He waited patiently for the Fullbringer's answer.

[Raphael Laurent]

As he spoke, Raphael couldn't help but notice a peculiarity about Lucien: while not many were aware of the nuance that came with the aspect of being in IT they usually had either more to say or more to ask than it simply being an interesting career. The way that he spoke made it seem like he spent barely any time in the normal world associating with other people. This either made him a wonderfully disguising spirit or, and something Raphael shuddered to think about: one of the Vardenreich. He knew about them, of course, after all his brother had left to go and join the bastards, but he didn't KNOW about them. They were a quincy group that supposedly served some emperor, many of their soldiers oftentimes blindly, but beyond that, what were they, really? And deductive reasoning? Sure, such a thing was plausible. Raphael, after all, had felt this guy's and he was stronger than Raphael was. 

Shaking his head and waving his hands, Raphael dismissed the man's apology, as no offense was actually meant. "No offense taken, dude. Was just a bit of sarcasm." Though the more that the man spoke, Raphael couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; if he trained he could become strong as well? Sure, he could train himself day in and out, the way that his mom used to make him and Brian, but he didn't just want to experience it, to get strong with it, he wanted to understand it, learn about it, know the ins and outs of this new and exciting craft. He dared not place his hands on the table in front of him, didn't want the metal bending, god knows people seeing it would probably panic or freak out or ask him how he did the trick. It was still a bit difficult to control, after all. "Eh, the world isn't anymore or less messy or complicated than it needs to be. I kinda like the chaos that it brings. Helps people to grow, ya know?" 

Then they came, at last, to why the man was pouring out his energy like a tea kettle, claimed he was doing it with a purpose in mind, much to Raphael's relief. Doing something like that could easily attract a hollow. But then it came out, the thing that Raphael dreaded the most: the bullshit about the emperor. The same bullshit that Brian had been spouting in the weeks leading up to him deciding to pack up and leave for the Vardenreich. He gave a bit of a sigh at that bit of...loyalty and bravado. The next part, while more worrying, was less annoying as Lucien explained about a threat to the city that would leave it destroyed and in smoldering ruin and hundreds dead... Well, maybe not that dramatic, but still and that he didn't trust shinigami to deal with it while avoiding collateral, which was something that Raphael agreed with him on. The samurai weren't exactly thinking about what they might destroy during their fights which was always concerning. 

Then came the question he'd been dreading: how Raphael knew the quincy. There was the difficult question. Did he answer truthfully? It was a difficult thing, being that candid. But, for the sake of civil discord and in respect to the politeness that the man was showing, himself, Raphael decided to be fully honest with him. "Honestly? My adoptive family. They were all quincies. One joined the Vardenreich, if you get my meaning." Raphael's reply was short, if honest. He didn't exactly try very hard to show that he didn't approve of his brother's choice. "Was his choice, but I wish he wouldn't have just decided to leave one day without really saying anything to anyone."

[Lucien Dantes]

Lucien's gentle smile did not change as Raphael discussed the nature of the world. It was nice that he didn't find his abilities to be much of a burden, but his comment about the world being the same anyways struck a chord with Lucien. Specifically the bit about liking chaos and chaos helping people grow. Yes, chaos does help people grow stronger. Chaos breeds hardship and struggle, and it is through hardship and struggle that we evolve and grow. Lucien agreed with that. But there was a flash of sadness in his eyes at that thought. He didn't speak aloud or interrupt Raphael, but suffice to say, Lucien did not see that fact as a good thing. Besides. Even for all that growth, what does it really matter in the end? What difference the strength and growth of an individual make? One day, Raphael, Lucien, and all the people at the cafe here would die. Maybe it would be by some terrible accident, or perhaps a more peaceful end, comfortable in bed. But their death would certainly be assured. No amount of growth would change that. What did all that development through pain, suffering and hardship matter beyond personal self-satisfaction? One more flaw in the world. Lucien thought. These thoughts, however, were not given voice. Lucien did not want to preach to Raphael of anything of the sort. It was enough for Lucien to simply let the conversation move on, with nothing more than the slight melancholy flicker in his eyes betraying his disagreement with Raphael's thoughts on chaos.

The discussion moved on, and when Lucien stated that he was with the Vandenreich he did see that Raphael recognized the name. You are markedly well informed for one who has just awakened their abilities. But that was a mystery swiftly cleared up as Raphael explained his background. Ahhh, so the man had been raised by a Quincy family. And one had joined the Vandenreich? At the notion of that, Lucien took a moment to ponder the name. "Well, isn't that a wonderful coincidence. I do believe I recognize your last name. It is not uncommon so I thought nothing of it when you told it to me, but I do believe I know the name Laurent within our Order. Shall I extend him your well wishes when next I see him?" Lucien offered of Raphael. He was not so certain that he did get Raphael's meaning, however. "But it seems from how you speak of his joining that is not a fond memory for you."

Raphael elaborated, mentioning that his brother had left without saying anything. The melancholy returned to Lucien's eyes in an instant. "...Ah." He said, then took a long pause. Lucien did not say anything for a time or two, he merely quietly finished what little was left of his breakfast, and then began to tidy his spot, keeping his remaining dishes and garbage in a neat little pile to be easily removed by either himself or whoever came to clear the table. "Yes, I do understand that. Perhaps we are not so different." He commented, remembering his sister. Why had she left them, and left Lucien to carry on her responsibilities? She had been stronger than he. Better suited to bearing them. Had she continued on, Lucien had no doubt she would have commanded the rank of Sternritter by now, if not, perhaps even climbed to General. Lucien often found himself wondering what had become of her after-all. Lucien thought about that for a long moment. "If you ask it, I could pass on a message to your brother. Even try to arrange for him to return and visit you if you would like." He offered. "I have no doubt that you are a fine young man Raphael, if you were raised by the family of one who was accepted into our Order." Lucien encouraged. "And your family? Are they well?" Lucien seemed about to continue but was cut off by another onset of coughs, and then a familiar tingle in his mind's eye.

It's coming. As Lucien finished coughing, he placed his hand on the table and began to rise. "I do apologize Mr. Laurent. I believe it is time for me to attend my duties." He stated. "It has not quite yet emerged, but I can feel it coming through to this world. I should be able to find its approximate location. That will be enough. A Menos Grande is quite hard to miss." Lucien began to walk out from the cafe. He didn't need to look back to be sure if Raphael was following him or not. His ears were well trained and could pick up the sound of Raphael moving his chair out from the table if he wished to follow.

[Raphael Laurent]

Raphael saw an odd look in the man's eyes and couldn't help but ponder on it. Sure he knew that his thoughts about a peaceful world being, not only, a giant dream and wish by those that lacked the imagination to think of anything else, but also an impossibility. It didn't really bother him that the man might've found his logic a bit distasteful, many people did. They wanted an easier life where they could still work, but not have to work nearly as hard as they were doing now. What made people want to do that? Was it a biological thing, struggling for so long and now that you don't really have to you don't want to? Or was it just some twisted part of society kicking into effect? Technology, in some ways, made people a bit lazy and dependent on it. It was one of the fascinating paradigm shifts to his expanding understanding of the world. 

When Lucien mentioned that he'd heard of a man with the same last name as Raph, Raphael sighed. Did he really want his brother to come and visit? Did he want his brother to come and say something? To leave the Vardenreich for familial reasons? Even if momentarily, Raph didn't want to interrupt Brian with whatever the hell he was doing. Thus, with a bit of a smile, Raph shook his head. "Nah. But thanks, though. I'm sure he's fighting for your...emperor, was it? Honestly, I hated interrupting his training with mom and dad as it was. But that's what happens when you get adopted by people that have weird powers, and yet you don't have any powers of your own. Er..." He looked down at his hands. "Didn't used to have powers, anyways." 

Right before Raph could reply about his family was, not like it really mattered, they were constantly working at...something, they never actually told him what, the man suddenly cleaned up his breakfast plates and started to have something of a coughing fit, again. Raph was about to ask if he was ok when he suddenly started to feel an odd sensation, a light tickle at the edge of his senses. Rising, the man apologized but said that it was time for him to attend to his duties. Raph thought, trying to place what odd sensation he was feeling. It was almost like iron...or...no, like copper hitting his teeth. Suddenly he snapped to attention when the man stated "Menos Grande". 

Immediately Raphael shot to his feet, staring at the quincy man. "What in the hell is a menos grande? Given that you said you're trying to attract something, I can only imagine that it's a hollow of some kind." There was a moment of thought, before suddenly he forced himself to his feet, chair scraping as it went back. "I'm sure you already know that I'm going to be going with you," Raph said. "Worst comes to worst, it should be a hell of a way to look into the combat ability of both powerful hollows as well as more combat data for quincy."

[Lucien Dantes]

Lucien's brow furrowed ever so slightly at Raphael's confusion about the Emperor. He found it surprising that Raphael had been raised by Quincy, and had a brother in the Vandenreich, and seemed to know so little of the Emperor. While Lucien wasn't insulted by this lack of knowledge, he did find it disturbing and made it a mental point to enlighten Raphael. What he'd just thought about not wanting to go into a lecture was shifted aside. If Raphael was raised by Quincy, he deserved to know. He needed to know and understand. Though it was possible, Lucien rationalized, that as Raphael was not a Quincy, his parents had chosen not to induct him. Many of the Vandenreich had a very elitist mentality, and treated all other races, not merely as below them, but as explicitly undeserving of the Emperor's holy light. That was something Lucien found saddening. Lucien believed that the Emperor's light deserved to be beheld and embraced by all who would accept it. Yes, those who spurned his holy light were one thing, but Shinigami, Fullbringer, Bount or Mod Soul, if one bent the knee and bowed their head in service to the cause of life, peace, unity and order, why should they be forbidden from the blessings that all Vandenreich enjoyed as a natural part of their lives?

Lucien glanced back at Raphael. "....If you can keep up with me, then I will show you." He stated. "Consider this a valuable lesson for you. But you must be quick. Now that it is coming, I will not slow down for you." A partial lie. If Raphael actually came under risk of danger, Lucien would double back to cover for him without a second thought. But if he could not keep up with Lucien, Lucien wasn't going to let the Menos rampage around a bit just so Raphael could see it first.

Assuming Raphael could keep up with the Captain-Supervisor, Lucien spoke as he moved at a brisk stride towards a street crossing. "A Menos Grande is a designation given to a specific type of Hollow. Over time, as Hollows grow in power, they will often congregate in great swarms. These swarms will often turn on themselves, Hollow devouring Hollow." His face was distasteful as he said this, as though displeased at the mental image. "This massive feeding frenzy will result in a singular entity with the combined strength of every Hollow in the swarm. That is what we call a Menos Grande." Lucien stated, having reached the crosswalk by now, and beginning to cross it.

"There are three classifications of Menos. Gillian class is the lowest of them. They are newborn Menos. They are bestial in nature, and do not usually possess any sentience of their own. They are by far the most common of the Menos class Hollows. The one that is coming here today is one such creature. Do not be underestimate them, simply because they are the weakest of the three. They are still the result of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of Hollows conjoining their strength into one." Lucien cautioned Raphael. He had crossed the street now and then walked into an alleyway. "Are you familiar with the air ground technique?" He asked. "In the human world, the reishi in the air is somewhat.... malleable. It can be solidified into platforms allowing one to climb the air like a staircase." As if to demonstrate his point, Lucien launched himself off the ground, leaping an impressive height, clearing nearly eleven feet with a single jump. Then stopped in mid-air, as if he were indeed standing on an invisible platform. He then leaped three more times and reached the rooftop of the building. "This way, Mr. Laurent." Lucien's voice had shifted from before. It was sterner now. Harder than when he had been leisurely speaking with Ranth at the table. Lucien had to harden himself to carry out his task. He didn't enjoy violence, and he hated killing. But it didn't matter if he liked doing. He was a soldier in the Emperor's Vandenreich. He would do the duty expected of him. He would lay low the enemies of the Emperor. Let his willingness to carry out his task despite his personal feelings prove his loyalty, devotion and faith. That was how he rationalized it to himself anyways. That was how he was able to keep himself going from one day to the next, despite the many who had died at his bow.

There was a fire escape if Raphael was unable to replicate Lucien's air ground technique, though it would certainly be much slower than climbing the way that Lucien had. Though as a Fullbringer, Raphael would likely have an easier time learning it than a Quincy. Soul Command was a natural part of his abilities, and generating air ground would not likely prove too different from that. However Raphael chose to do it, Lucien would not wait for him. The Vandenreich officer marched across the rooftop and then sprang off from it, launching himself into the air over the street with such speed that he became a blur of movement. Lucien's legs were not quite powerful enough to clear the street entirely, even with a running start, so he was forced to use air ground again to kick off and land on the next rooftop. The Vandenreich placed a hand over his heart briefly as he landed on solid footing, as if checking if he was about to have another coughing fit. His body did not hold up well to the rigors of combat, due to his frail health. Rather than let this weakness consume him however, Lucien had instead endeavored to train such that he could strike down his enemy quickly and efficiently. It could not handle combat long, but it could handle intense battle well enough.

In any case... it was time. If Raphael reached the rooftop he'd see it. A crack in the very sky itself. None of the onlookers below seemed to notice it, implying it was a spiritual phenomena. And beyond that fissure in reality, something was moving. Something big. Raphael had likely seen large Hollows before. The creatures could be massive. Monsters the size of cars, even trucks. Some rare specimens even became the size of elephants. But what lay behind that crack in the sky was bigger. Much, much bigger. A hand that looked large enough to hold a minivan reached through it. Fingers the length of street lamps curled around the edges of the crack and pushed through. The very sky itself peeled itself back as the masked face of the monster poked its way through. A tremendously long and pointed nose extended from a vaguely skeletal mask. A pair of pale red orbs stared vacantly ahead in the mask's eye sockets. The sky was folded back further as the beast attempted to drive its immense bulk through the rift it had created between its world and the Human world, pushing its way through. A groan of exertion sounded like a foghorn, echoing through the streets.

Lucien's eyes had changed. They were dull. Lifeless almost. As if he had stopped thinking. He was holding something in his hands now-- what looked to be a black longbow. He lifted it and drew back the bowstring, generating a blue-white arrow of reiatsu as he did so. He then held it taut on the line, his dull gaze focused entirely on the creature that had nearly fully emerged into the human world. Raphael would be able to see more of its form now. It vaguely resembled a massive robed human. Its proportions were vaguely humanoid in nature, with very long arms. The length of its legs were difficult to tell as they were masked by the cloaklike body of the creature. One thing was certain though. It was big. It towered over the houses of the street, its height seemingly comparable to an apartment building. Maybe even a bit taller. "That is a Gillian class Menos Grande Raphael." Lucien informed him coolly. He could sense more beyond the void. "And he is not alone." Indeed, in the wake of that monster, Raphael, if his eyes were good, would see dozens of other Hollows attempting to squirm out of the rift it had seen.

"Are you afraid, Raphael Laurent?" Lucien asked him.

SPOILER: Click to show

{"Stats and Skills"}
Stats
Strength: 230 (151)
Speed: 400
Reiatsu Strength: 100 (250)
Spirit Pressure: 320 (800)
Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0
Senses: 120
Instinct: 150
Energy Sensory: 100 (250)
Healing Expertise: 80 (52)
Total: 1500/1500

-----

Skills:
Marksmanship: 4
Battle Analysis: 3
Calm Mind: 3
Strength of Will: 1

Spent: 12/15

[Raphael Laurent]

The man was almost at a quick stride by the time that Raphael pushed his chair back, striding towards him quickly to catch up, as Lucien launched into his explanation of Menos Grande. It was something that he hadn’t even thought of, the idea that an entire swarm of hollows would fall upon one another, killing striking, devouring and eventually combining together to form one gargantuan monstrosity. It was like a swelled up tick, and he couldn’t help but think about the interesting physiological and evolutionary differences of these creatures. Yet, they were also an enemy that he would need to get used to fighting so that he could prevent himself, or even others, from getting eaten or injured.

The lesson, it seemed, was not over for as they were passing across the street to get to the other side and get to where Lucien was wanting to go, he was already expounding on the fact that this particular variety was called a “Gillian” and was the youngest of the Menos, a newborn. That fact sat even less well with Raphael, who’d been hoping that the creature that Lucien had been calling was one of the stronger ones, that a great evil beast might be killed. But no, this thing was the weakest monster that existed... It was such a sobering thought for Raphael, he couldn't understand that such incredible beasts exist. That was when he stopped and asked if Raphael knew the air ground technique, and Raphael could only watch him, confused, before the man inexplicably jumped nearly eleven feet into the air and seemed to hover there. He blinked, watching the man. That wasn't possible! He was defying gravity! Or... Raphael could sense an odd outpouring of energy underneath the man's feet. 

"Wha... How the hell did he do that...?" He stood there watching the man, before looking down at his own feet, slightly cursing his own idiocy. He didn't know quite well enough about energy and how it functioned to be able to do that... But... His mind flashed back to not too long ago when he'd just woken up and had managed to cause a bed frame to bow inwards. He focused on the cement below him, trying to make it bow in and then rubberband outwards. It worked to much greater effect than he'd originally intended, rocketing him into the air, just a little less than Lucien himself, allowing him to grab onto the top of the fire escape and then swing himself onto the roof, trying to make some platforms out of air for himself. It didn't work nearly as well as he'd originally hoped, not having time to adapt to these new powers was really turning out to be pain in the damn ass...

The moment that he got to the top of the roof, he felt the creeping sensation of fear. The world itself was seemingly breaking like it was made of glass, while Lucien stood there, holding what looked like a black longbow. When the hell...? Wait, right. Quincies were able to make weapons out of reishi, though normally they were bows, as far as he understood it anyways. But the creature was...well, he wasn't entirely sure what he'd expected, but that certainly wasn't it. It was almost like something that he always expected the grim reaper to look like, only even lankier. He could sense that it was VERY powerful, though, and that made it something to be concerned about. When the man said that the creature wasn't alone he could feel them, just barely against the larger one's strength, but they were certainly there. Quite a number of smaller hollows were approaching, squeezing through the crack in spacetime. 

"I won't lie to you, I am a little, yeah. But I trust you can handle the big one. I'll do what I can."

[Lucien Dantes]

Lucien didn't pay Raphael much mind as he came up behind him, his focus entirely on the beast emerging from Hueco Mundo. "Please watch carefully if you like, Mr. Laurent. I will demonstrate to you what the Vandenreich is capable of." Lucien's voice had changed. It wasn't calming and pleasant, but stern and hard like iron. The voice of a militant drill commander, rather than the kind, gentle soul that Raphael had met only about fifteen minutes before. Raphael confirmed that he was a little afraid and Lucien nodded. "Good. It is good to be afraid. But what are you afraid of? Are you afraid of dying? Are you afraid of being hurt? These are natural things to fear. Some people claim that fear dulls your senses. Dulls your strength. They are wrong. Fear only does such things if you allow it to conquer you. If you conquer fear however, it keeps you sharp. You fear being hurt so you are more watchful for things that will hurt you. You fear being killed so your reactions are a hair faster to avoid being killed. Fear sharpens your senses. It quickens your reactions. It can give you strength when there is none to give. It is right to be afraid. Understand your fear, embrace it, and conquer it." He instructed Raphael.

The Menos Grande had now fully entered the Human World. Its head moved ponderously to gaze upon the Quincy and the Fullbringer standing on the rooftop. Its gait was steady, and although it seemed to move slowly, its strides were massive, so that it still covered ground incredibly quickly as it began to march down the street towards them. Hollows began to spill out of the rift it had left behind it. "Now take that beast before us that you so fear. Understand its power." Lucien stated. Reishi began to draw in towards Lucien as he used his spirit fragment, the Quincy's earring beginning to glow. Lucien murmured something under his breath. "O' Emperor on high. I shall wield the powers you bestowed upon me, and execute thy enemies in your name." He proclaimed. Quietly, but a proclamation all the same.

The Menos then did something. Its massive foot hovered above a civilian walking along the sidewalk. Someone blissfully oblivious to the death that hovered a half-second above them. Before it could finish, Lucien loosed his arrow. It streaked through the air, a bolt of pure brilliance and struck the Menos's shin, piercing through it. Black blood spilled into the air from the wound, though it seemed a pinprick on such a monster. "No." Lucien murmured. As if controlled by some invisible force the Menos's leg snapped back, freezing in the air before slamming back behind it, and twisting in such a manner that the creature suddenly uttered a cry of pain as the twisting motion must surely have injured something terribly. A second arrow was already flying through the air from Lucien's bow, piercing the beast through the forehead. It stopped for but an instant. And then its colossal head, which held jaws that could have swallowed both Lucien and Raphael at once, whole, suddenly and abruptly twisted about, reversing 180 degrees. There was a sickening snap as the Hollow broke its own neck. And then the beast began to fall back. Lucien's eyes scanned the street closely to make sure it did not collide with anything. Fortunately, there did not appear to be any cars traveling along the road so the creature collapsed on the street and immediately began to decay.

"Behold then, the creature you feared. And how insignificant it is compared to the Vandenreich." Lucien commented. "Now we had best deal with the others. Some will lose heart and flee in sight of their leader being dispatched but there are no doubt a handful that will be ravenous and immune common sense. I shall put them out of their misery and you are welcome to help." Lucien stated as he scanned the street. He ignored the swathe of Hollows already trying to flee back into the rip in space the Menos had opened, but he counted at least four that were remaining.

One of the remaining Hollows stood slightly larger than a man, with similar body structure and mottled green/gray skin. It had long talons, and its mask seemed somewhat basic-- a snub nose above a jaw filled with large teeth, small pinpricks for eyeholes, before the mask fanned out like the tail of a peacock. Another was serpentine, with no legs and a red-orange body. Rather than arms a pair of mantis-like talons extended from its shoulders, with a gaunt mask like a human skull. A third Hollow was huge. Though nowhere near the size of the Menos Grande, the creature must have stood nearly fourteen feet tall, with long apelike arms that ended in gnarled twisted hands in which a pair of mouths gnashed at the air. The fourth remaining Hollow also had a mask like a human skull, but it had strange protrusions that almost gave it the look of having a handlebar mustace. Its mask had a nose, long and pointed, much like the mask's chin. The creature stood about ten feet tall, with a lanky frame, and it seemed to have some strange mirage about it that caused it to flicker in place. Its arms were long, nearly twice as long as its body, and although one of them had a regular, almost human-like hand, the other was a single long, pointed blade like that of a rapier.

Lucien was picking his target, but if Raphael wished to help, he would let Raphael pick his mark first. Lucien didn't plan to let any of the humans come to harm, Raphael could be assured of that. "Do you wish to fight then, Mr. Laurent? This is your chance. Or I will dispatch these creatures quickly." He offered, as he seemed to already be picking out his next target.

Reiatsu Remaining: 7775/8000
+225 for Spirit Fragment with one property active
-200 for activating Power Property "Vector"
-100 for firing two Class 3 arrows

Power Property "Vector" active

Stamina post: 1

[Raphael Laurent]

Raphael smiled as the man spoke, his voice while gentle and calming was also sharp and he had a tendency to accent his words a bit harsher. The voice of a military man, someone that had been trained long and hard to be a sharpened weapon, in a way that was what Brian had been wanting. Raphael, for all his disdain of authority, could respect it, at the very least. There was nothing wrong with wanting to be a part of something greater, no fault in wanting to give your life for a cause that you found to be worthy. Well, unless that cause resulted in genocide, and that was something that Raphael was pretty sure that the emperor of the quincy had in mind for all those that didn’t fall in line and obey him like good boys and girls.

Yet when Lucien asked what Raphael was afraid of, specifically, Raphael found himself at a bit of a loss. “A lot of things, honestly. In this specific moment? Death. Dismemberment. But at the same time, I’m afraid to turn away, that if I do then I’ll miss something enormous that would otherwise alter my understanding of the world. I’ve been blind for a long time and getting these powers, seeing these things, being able to do what I do… It’s like waking up and it’s an exhilarating feeling, in a way.” Raphael wasn’t even watching Lucien, at this point, but had his gaze transfixed on the creature that was striding forward. Raphael could feel the blast of power as it entered the real world, though that was nothing compared to Lucien. Though now there as a wound in the world that smaller creatures were pouring out of.

As it strode, heedless of anything that seemed to be before it, a lumbering behemoth on a singular mission, it was about to step on a random passer-by. Yet before Raphael could even so much as shout at the man to move, he heard Lucien utter the word ‘No’ as a bolt of light pierced it, sticking it like a pig. Raphael could hardly believe his eyes as the creature stopped, its momentum was halted. Then it seemed to contort back and forth, before another arrow pierced it again and it began to vanish as if it had never been there in the first place.

Despite the awe and quasi-reverence that he must’ve let escape, this was not his first time seeing such a thing. Jennifer, her husband and even Brian had invited him on their hunts before and they were always releasing such arrows of light. As much as Brian bragged about his father, he knew that his mother was the one that had a great deal more power or, at the very least, more techniques within her repertoire. Their father was strong, there was no doubt, but their mother had something else, a special confidence to her that always left Raphael awestruck and a little afraid. This man did something similar, though he didn’t feel the same fear that he had with her. It made him wonder if he’d felt the fear because he’d lacked anything of his own, or because he was simply older.

Lucien’s proclamation that he would deal with the others and that Raphael was welcome to assist made Raphael look at the man. Assist? Against what? Against ants? He looked back at the other hollows, still making their way. They didn’t feel necessarily overwhelming, at least not for Lucien, and he would most likely be able to ward off two of the three, but the last one would be a challenge, especially with it’s size. The one about his size and the serpent he would be able to deal with fairly easily, he felt, but the two others, the larger ones, they would be a problem…

“From what I can tell, the two smaller ones I should be able to put up a decent fight with, it’s the larger ones, especially if they focus on only me, that will be a challenge. Though from what I’ve seen, and felt, from you, you’d be able to nuke ‘em pretty quick.” Despite his smile, he was still feeling a bit of fear. That was something that he’d have to master though, he didn’t have the time to be afraid. He reached down with his hand, and placed it on a nearby pole, altering the tensile strength so that he could pull off a decent bit of it. “My lack of a weapon is a bit of a problem, but not one that I can’t work around. I’m ready.”

[Lucien Dantes]

Lucien listened to Raphael explain himself, even as he focused down his mark. "Very good. Then let me help you remove your blinders further. Take in all that you can." He ordered Raphael, shortly before dispatching the Menos in only two shots. Truthfully, Lucien could have done it in one, but then the Menos might have hurt someone. Lucien, as he had said, aimed to reduce collateral damage, not cause it. It defeated his purpose of being here in the first place if he hadn't done that. If Lucien couldn't reduce the damage done to the city, he may as well have let the Shinigami waste their own efforts.

Lucien could see Raphael's visible confusion at his statement. "You said earlier that you were new to your powers. Do you want to develop them further? Develop them quickly? And for what reason do you want to use them? There is no shame in turning down this offer. If you desire nothing more than a peaceful life, then it is well to step down here. You do not need to endanger yourself." Lucien informed him. "I could defeat all of them fairly quickly, just as you have surmised. But you will not learn as much from that." He informed him, his watchful eyes on the Hollows. Raphael stated that he believed he could take the two smaller ones, but not the larger ones. "Very well." Lucien said in an agreeable tone. He deactivated Vector. It had been necessary for the Menos Grande, but for an ordinary Hollow, his regular arrows would suffice. Lucien needed little more than "Echo" to dispatch them. The Vandenreich engaged his Firing Property, and waited for his moment. The Hollow with apelike arms loped towards the bystander that had nearly been killed by the Menos, reaching out and howling at them. Being spiritually unaware, the human didn't even flinch as his doom bounded towards him. Lucien's arrow changed that, as the man winced, looking about to see what had caused the flash of light. The Hollow certainly noticed as well, as the arrow pierced its body and disintegrated it in an instant its howl of hunger turning into a cry of pain. Lucien visibly winced at that. "I am sorry.... There's no need to forgive me." He murmured at the Hollow's death knell.

The peacock Hollow was near the one that had just been destroyed, and its confidence seemed to waver a moment. The creature hesitated. Took a step back. Lucien looked at Raphael. "Whatever you choose, Mr. Laurent, do not hesitate." Lucien reached to his belt and procured a short rondell dagger. He spun it in his hand, so that he was holding it by the blade and held it out to Raphael. "If you choose to fight, then fight. If you wish for peace, step back. This is your decision on who you want to be, Raphael Laurent." Lucien informed him. Unbenownst to Raphael, unless the man had advanced Energy sensing capabilities, this was no ordinary dagger Lucien was handing him. Or rather. It was a completely ordinary dagger, that Lucien had just made extraordinary. If Raphael possessed advanced Energy Sensory he would have noticed a surge of Lucien's reiatsu transmit into the dagger, and the dagger would have begun to produce the same type of reiatsu as Lucien. This was Lucien's Soul Property, and he had just made this dagger qualify as one of his own arrows. A spiritual weapon beyond the likes that Raphael would normally have been able to create.

If Raphael turned down Lucien's offer, then Lucien would take no offense. As he'd just said, there was no shame in refusing the call to battle. A peaceful life was something worth striving for. And Lucien's performance likely had assured Raphael he could deal with this problem himself quite easily and quickly. It was a matter of choice, and nothing but choice on Raphael's part now. Was it strength he desired? Or was it peace?

Reiatsu Remaining: 7800
+225 For Spirit Fragment with one property active
-150 for activating Firing Property
-50 for firing a Class 3 arrow

Stamina Post: 2

[Raphael Laurent]

Raphael believed in one thing above all others: If you could have an open mind, then you could learn from anyone from any and all walks of life. He’d learned that very early on and it had stuck with him. He made it a point now to try and do that whenever he met someone. He’d even learned some things from Shinigami, despite their inattentiveness at the time. Now, here he was, location in space-time, with someone more than prepared to further his understanding of the spirit world. He could feel the strength of the hollow, but more than that, he could feel the overwhelming strength of spirit that Lucien possessed one that dwarfed the enormous hollow.

Lucien was challenging Raphael’s paradigm, whether he understood it or not, and the answer that Raphael gave here would change the way that he would be forced to look at the world. Taka had begun it, but with that he’d only just started dipping his toes into the very edge of the spiritual world. This was flinging him much farther into it than he’d expected, and much sooner too. He could feel his heart beating, as he stared ahead of him. Yes, was the answer to the questions posed to him by Lucien. He wanted to develop his abilities, though quick wasn’t necessary. He wanted to learn the intricacies of his ability and bring them to greater heights. His reasons for doing so were altruistic, at least as altruistic as Raphael tended to get.

He watched the arrows pierce the enormous hollow, destroying it utterly, leaving nothing behind. Though it wasn’t long before the ape hollow came at passerby again and with a brief flash of light, it was gone, though the man seemed to finally notice something and looked around, wincing. The scream from the hollow, though, was something that Raphael didn’t expect to bother him as much as it did. “Urgh… I didn’t expect that it would be quite like this. It makes me wonder if Brian went through this, when he first joined up with you all.”

The man held out a dagger to him, and he looked at it for a second or two, a bit confused. But when it was explained what he was doing, Raphael suddenly felt the weight of the decision for the first time. It was the crux and turning point, as well as a point of no return. Looking at that dagger, it felt like time crawled. If he didn’t take it, if he didn’t, then he could go back to his old life, the life that he’d originally grown up. But… if he didn’t, then all the work that he’d been doing, all of the research and the hoping and the pain that he’d gone through would be invalidated! He could feel something rising up within, almost like his blood was boiling. He reached out and grabbed hold of the hilt of the dagger.

“I can’t go back to being who I was, no way that I can go back to being blind like I was before.” He raced at the peacock hollow, ducking low as it went to attack, and stabbed the dagger into it, pulling it up from it’s chest where he’d stabbed it and pulled it up through to the creature’s mask. It might not’ve been the first time that he’d fought one, but there was something different to this time, something almost entirely new about this attempt, about this fight.

“Lucien…” Raphael muttered as he stared at the dagger, and then up to Lucien himself. “I feel like I needed to do this much more than either of us realize…” He had an odd feeling that the dagger he’d been given was much more than a normal dagger, and he couldn’t help but laugh as he threw it at the last hollow. Although, due to his lack of knife practice it slammed into the creature’s eye, instead of the center of the mask, as he’d originally wanted before the creature vanished and it clattered to the ground.

[Lucien Dantes]

Lucien's eyes were still determined, but somber when Raphael mentioned that he hadn't expected it to be like this. "There is no glory in battle." Lucien replied. "Some manage to delude themselves into thinking that there is some meaning and beauty behind violence and death. I do not know if your brother is one of them. If he is, he is mistaken." Lucien stated firmly, and with conviction. The Hollow's scream had bothered him alright. Lucien hated killing. He hated violence. He fought and he killed because it was his duty to do so, but took no joy in his work. If duty demanded he execute the Emperor's enemies then he would do so without hesitation, but he would ensure the death was as quick and painless as he could manage. There was nothing wonderful about inflicting pain on someone else. Lucien's pride was in his duty and devotion to the Vandenreich. To his Emperor. Not so much the things he did in their name.

When Raphael grabbed the dagger, a momentary flash of sadness was reflected in Lucien's eyes, but he allowed Raphael to take it freely. Disappointing. Yet another chooses war over peace. He thought. It wasn't that Lucien necessarily looked down on Raphael for it. But he was saddened by Raphael's decision. It was an understandable decision, yet it was decisions like the one Raphael had just made that made the world filled with so many warriors and soldiers. How could one create a peaceful world, when everyone, when given the chance, would take up arms, even for matters that didn't involve them? It was an admirable quality in many ways-- to be willing to put yourself out on the line for the sake of others, even complete strangers. But it was not the road to peace. Of that Lucien was certain.

But this was not his choice to make. He had given Raphael the chance to make his choice-- a choice he would have had to ultimately choose eventually anyways. Lucien didn't prevent Raphael taking the dagger, merely finishing making the dagger an "arrow" with his Soul Property. "I hope you do not come to regret this choice." Lucien informed the Fullbringer.

As Raphael battled the peacock Hollow, Lucien changed his focus, aiming at the remaining two. Raphael believed he could take the Mantis one as well, which left the flickering one. The creature leered up at Lucien and bounded towards him. It flickered about, appearing to be in three places at once. I am sorry. Lucien mentally intoned. "May you rest in peace." An arrow exploded out of what seemed to be thin air-- right where the ape Hollow had been killed, flashing through one of the flickering images, which was dispelled as it pierced it. "Not there..." A second arrow flew from where the afterimage had been destroyed, and then a third. The second pierced nothing but an illusion, but the third pierced the Hollow through the back of its neck just as it reached Lucien. "Rest peacefully. There is no need to forgive me for this." Lucien said to the Hollow's face as it gagged on its own blood and then dissolved, its rapier a hairsbreadth from Lucien's face.

Lucien watched Raphael now, the Mantis Hollow wanting nothing more to do with Lucien, and focused on finding the opportune moment to attack Raphael. Raphael's attacks on the Hollow proved effective. The dagger pierced the Hollow's flesh as though it wasn't even there, spilling black blood out onto Raphael's arm and the street. His knife toss was also effective, piercing the creature's eye and slaying it. Lucien shook his head up above. It was as good as could be hoped, he supposed. Raphael was not as powerful as he was and lacked the skill and experience to kill the Hollow in a single swift blow.

The mantis Hollow picked that instant to attack though. Raphael, having thrown the dagger, it lunged at Raphael, talons extended and lashed out with a lightning quick cross-cut in the shape of an "X" as though to slice Raphael's torso into four pieces. It was quick, and it moved in a frightful burst of speed. Even if Raphael evaded the attack, its tail flashed out to wrap around him and bind him tightly, like a constrictor snake. Pinning him down for a killing blow. Granted, Raphael was lucky that Lucien was there to protect him if need be, but that didn't mean that he wasn't still in danger from the serpentine creature that was currently assailing him.

And Lucien was indeed watching closely. His Spirit Fragment was still drawing in reiatsu, replenishing his reserves. But then something happened that, if Raphael were to witness it, might have drawn some confidence out of his protector. After a few moments of battle, Lucien suddenly dropped to one knee, coughing violently into his hand. Flecks of blood speckled his glove, as his throat, worn so raw by his regular coughing, had begun to bleed slightly. Coughing up blood was nothing new for Lucien and his illness, but it could be a problem for Raphael if he had been counting on Lucien to cover him. At present, Lucien didn't seem capable of shooting arrows, overwhelmed as he was by his coughing fit.


Lucien Remaining Reiatsu: 7230/8000
+150 for Spirit Fragment with two properties active
-500 for activating Soul Property
-150 for three Class 3 arrows
-70 for one Class 1 arrow

Stamina Post: 3

SPOILER: Click to show

{Mantis Hollow Stats}
Strength: 120
Speed: 150
Reiatsu Strength: 50
Spirit Pressure: 70
Dark Aura: 100
Senses: 50
Instinct: 50
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0
Total: 500