Master of Puppets [NDE/PVP]

[Celes Castellanos]

Thread Title: Master of Puppets
Participants: Celes Shindazu & Connor Greaves
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: None Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: Taking place in the training grounds of Squad 9
Special Conditions: [None]
Circumstances: Within the situation of the Lab at France, Celes first met Connor and was curious about his abilities. Now knowing who he is, Celes chose to seek him out and challenge him to righteous combat. More than just a friendly spar, Celes was looking to push him to his limits until she either can't move or the last of her blood fell to the floor.

[Celes Castellanos]

The Squad 11 were silent as always as the halls were vacant, not a soul in sight. This was the usual trend of how things went down. Yet it was in the squad training grounds that the Shinigami could be heard, carving into the numerous training statues that have been set up. Those that walked past the training grounds often saw Celes training there valiantly. As a member of Squad 11, the members were traditionally combative and bloodthirsty. Only one of these was true for Celes however.

As she layed these little training mannequins she was performing all kinds of techniques on these targets. Combinations of bladed attacks, open-palm strikes as she began practicing her Baguazang, and different types of movement. After all, she was not planning on focusing much of her attention on Kido. It was by far her weakest skill as a Shinigami. She preferred battle tactics and close combat compared to the odd clumsiness she felt that Kido represented. She used to use Kido, but then again, she was once heavily with her spiritual side.

As she attempted to continue throwing together seamless strikes to try and keep up her constant assault, she would mess up, but regain her balance. This was the last straw for her, however. She dug her twin Zanpakutou into the ground and yelled up into the air. "Damn it! Not again. I don't think this is doing it for me. They don't react, don't counterattack and can't learn." Before she was about to continue, she realized what the issue was. She needed someone to go up against.

At her core, Celes needed someone to respond to her, but it was more than that. This could not just be a simple spar. The medical squad of the Soul Society was pretty advanced enough to handle most injuries. She needed a good fight without risking her own life. She knew that most Arrancar already had not only the capability of killing her, but actually the want. A comrade of hers would not dare do so. Celes would make good on that as well, but ultimately, Celes just needed someone.

As she walked to over to the steps, she sat down and ruminated on it. Who was capable of handling her skills. As she wondered and wondered about it, she had an idea. During the lab incident, there was a Shinigami she originally met. What was his name she wondered to herself. As she tapped her foot, moved her hand onot her chin until she exclaimed once her metaphorical lightbulb hit. She immediately got up  and made sure to get her Zanpakutou. She then proceeded to head off to the Squad 9 barracks.

As she ran over, she thought about it a little more. She had not gotten the best look at Connor's power. She was not sure what he was capable of or hell even what his release did. Unsure of this, she was determined to figure it out. After all, she had to collect all the information she could on others. In the end its what made her even more of a versatile fighter. To get beaten down and learn from her mistakes was the best way for her to gauge someones ability and just how to combat it in the future.

As she began closing in on the Squad 9 barracks, she was getting rather excited at what was to come. Even if Connor said no, she would pester him till his bones turned to dust. Then again, did he really have a reason to deny her? It seemed that the two of them were cut from the same cloth right? Was he even capable of handing her? Moreover, Celes wondered if Connor was a spiritual fighter, a physical brawler, if he relied on his senses and instinct? So many question to boggle the mind.

It was then after all this ruminating that Celes ended up right in front of the Squad 9 barracks. With a smile she suddenly called out, hoping that she could single out Connor. "I am looking for a Connor Greaves. This is Celes, Third Seated Officer of Squad 11. I need to talk to him about something." She hoped that this would either catch his attention or hell someone elses attention who could send him out. After all, who could resist a sweet girl like Celes who just wanted a "friendly fight".

[Connor Greaves]

If there was one thing that Connor truly enjoyed, it was those quiet days where nothing happened. He was currently laying on the roof of the Squad Nine barracks, watching the clouds drift by. He let out a sigh of pleasure, as the sun kissed his skin, and the breeze tickled his hair. He had his hands behind his head, and his new mask lying right next to him. It was a silly little thing he had found while exploring some of the nicer parts of the Rukongai. It seemed to be the face of some sort of marionette, a large grin painted on, bright red dimples, and thick purple lines running down from its black eyes, like exaggerated tear tracks.

He picked it up, taking another look at his most recent purchase. In all honesty, it was pretty creepy, and not something he'd likely wear too often, but still, it was nice to know that his collection was growing. He still remembered his chicken mask, and the difficulty it was to bring that back home. He was just glad that nightmare was behind him. He was about to put the puppet mask back down, when he heard his name being called from down below. He put on the mask, before looking down over the edge to see who was looking for him.

Peering over the edge, hoping it wasn't a captain or something, he saw a familiar face; Celes it seemed, wanted an audience with him, but didn't know where he was. That was fine by him. He decided to ignore her. She was one of those crazy battle addicts from Squad Eleven, doubted any good could come of whatever she had planned for him. He assumed that any 'talk' they had would be done with swords. He just wanted a nice lazy day after all the nonsense he went through last week, and since his senior officers banned him from going hollow hunting, he was content staying right up here.

"Connor? Yeah, he's on the roof over there." Connor's eye shot open from the act of betrayal of his squad. "ISUKI, YOU TRAITOR!" He yelled as he got up, the comforting warmth fading away as he did so. Huffing out in disappointment, Connor leapt down, landing on road below. He gave the man a glare, that went mostly ignored because of the mask, before addressing Celes as he towered over her. "Hello Celes." The Soul Reaper sighed as he greeted her, knowing that he probably wouldn't get to be lazy again today.

He didn't hate the poor girl, truly he didn't, but there were a lot of bad memories she was tied to that he desperately wanted to forget, and seeing her again so soon was bringing them back to the forefront of his mind. He idly wondered if she wanted to talk about what happened that night, but he doubted it. They barely knew each other, and she probably had better people to do so with than someone like him. "What do you want?" He asked bluntly, but not insultingly so. She might have been more or less a stranger, but he wasn't about to insult a third seat without good reason.

[Celes Castellanos]

As Celes waited, her excitement would be crystal clear once Connor saw her. She was ecstatic to actually challenge someone to a proper duel. Not just one like the battle Dia and Celes had where they had to hit a certain spot or fighting against a Hollow who was so much stronger than her. It did not need to be a duel to the death nor did it have to have serious restrictions. The fact of the matter was that combat in any form was a combination of willpower, tactics and skill. That's what Celes loved so much about it.

She did know of Squad 11's unfortunate reputation. Most outsiders thought that they were crazed fighters who only sought to destroy. To fight to the bitter end and let death claim you. Celes did not have this extreme desire though. The girl just loved fighting. She liked to learn. To adapt. One of the best ways to learn about a person was with crossing of the blade. In the moment that blades crossed, so many aspects of a person could be discerned which all culminated into a conversations of sorts.

As Celes continued tapping her foot, almost impatiently, someone did come out and came to talk to her. It seemed that a fellow member of Connors' squad ratted him out as she seemed to chuckle and say, "Connor? Yeah, he's on the roof over there." Admittedly amusing to Celes, she sighed and stretched as she noticed Connor show his feelings at this act of betrayal. Celes smiled and just did a complementary bow as a show of thank you to the squad member whom she now knew as Tsuki.

The Shinigami just waited for Connor to drop down. It was at this point that she noticed something interesting. Connor had a mask, but what was it for? Was it a part of his power? Was it just for show? If it was, Celes found the mask to be elegant and fitting. She chuckled and looked at the other Shinigami who just seemed to ask her a rather blunt question. "What do you want?" Celes tilted her head and sighed a little. Granted she did not have her blades drawn so maybe it was not clear.

Celes continued the staring contest with Connor as she just proceeded to speak rather calmly. "I was training in the Squad 11 training grounds and while I was there, I had an epiphany. I needed to go out and actually seek someone out to challenge to a duel. Connor...I believe you to be capable of giving me a challenge." This was one of the utmost compliments Celes was able to give. The Shinigami was abnormally strong for her build and did not show alot of this strength until recently.

She smiled at Connor as she placed her hand on her Zanpakutou. Not in an aggressive action, but because she wanted to show her dedication to this effort. "I will say that this duel will be different from just a simple spar. I am looking to be challenged, pushed towards the upper limit. I am warning that you of this because this is how I will treat it. Treating this seriously will be better for the both of us." She smiled, hoping that the other Shinigami valued honor and pride as much as she did. She would patiently, for now atleast, wait for a response.

[Connor Greaves]

And there it is, the sole reason she came all the way over to the ninth division to bother him. She wanted to fight him, what a surprise, he thought to himself sarcastically. Unfortunately for miss Celes, Connor didn't enjoy fighting. He only fought when the situation called for it, like against Hollows. He usually had to be forced to even spar with the other members of his squad, so there was no way that he was going to accept her duel. But he also didn't want to just tell her no, not after she helped him so much on their mission together, so he'd let her down easy.

"I have things I need to do." He told her in a dull monotone. "Squad things." He elaborated. There was a pregnant pause in there air, before- "Ey, uh, weren't you just sleeping on the roof again like usual, Connor?" The man next to him asked, nudging him in the ribs with his elbow. The masked reaper glared down at the man once again, who was blatantly ignoring his frustration with the man, and grinning ear to ear. "Besides, all you ever do is try and take hollow hunting missions in the Human World, you don't do anything around here." He continued, further damning Connor with facts.

And he wasn't wrong; there were only a couple of people he actually knew in his squad. He sighed in annoyance at his squadmate. Maybe if he had ever bothered to get on good terms with anyone in his squad, they might have been willing to cover for him... but he didn't. He spent as much time as possible going on missions in the world of the living, just to avoid being in this place. "Fine. Let me go grab my sword." He told her, walking back and into the barracks. It took him a minute to reach his little bed, with his Zanpakuto resting atop of it.

He could feel the giddy energy from the spirits inside Tamashī. They could tell what was going to happen since he was back so early. He pushed his disgust for the sword down, as he attached the weapon to his hip. He took a couple of deep breaths, before returning outside. Celes was still there, more than likely annoyed at him taking so long. Or perhaps she was annoyed at the fact he didn't carry his Zanpakuto with him at all times like the rest of them. It didn't matter in the end. He was here. "Are we fighting here, or did you have a location in mind?"

[Celes Castellanos]

Celes was being rather patient for once when it came to seeing how Connor would respond. She wanted to put her best foot forward now because in battle, she would honor him by showing him what she could do. It was not going to be a basic spar after all. Why would it? They were Shinigami and while Connor might not have been the warrior type like Celes, she just wanted to have a good time. She felt that being challenged was a good thing as it seemed counterintuitive to be comfortable with your current level. It was always better to strive for more.

Despite her efforts it seemed as first that Celes would be met with disappointment as she pouted almost immediately to Connor's initial answer. "I have things I need to do." Celes would then chuckle as one of Connor's squad mates simply said, "Ey, uh, weren't you just sleeping on the roof again like usual, Connor?" He seemed to continue on which deepened Celes' smile. "Besides, all you ever do is try and take hollow hunting missions in the Human World, you don't do anything around here." Celes just sighed as it seemed that this squad mate just had it out for Connor.

It seemed that Connor was actually beginning to reconsider as he seemed to give up. Celes would just hear him say, "Fine. Let me go grab my sword." The Shinigami would simply nod in response. It was odd for Connor to not be carrying his Zanpakutou around with him. Celes always carried Yunorashi with her. After all it was not only her partner, but an extension of her hand. Blades were not just simply tools, they were a part of the user. To be honed and mastered. Swordfighting was an interesting concept as it should never be viewed as separate from the body.

As Celes waited and began to idly converse with Connor's Squad Mates about inconsequential things, she noted Connor returning. She smiled as he just said, "Are we fighting here, or did you have a location in mind?" Celes looked around and thought about it. This place would most likely do. While it was similar to an open dirt area, Celes would make due with this. After all, the location did not truly matter. It was the thrill of combat that drove Celes. While environment was important in strategic combat, Celes thought it would also be good to create a neutral place.

It was then that Celes spoke firmly. "This will do. Your squad mates are welcome to watch if you wish. Admittedly, I'm indifferent just as long as they do not get involved. My battle is with you Connor and I suggest you take this seriously. Else there will be hell to pay." Celes was a nice girl, but she sounded rather serious about this and it was true. She was going to go all out and push Connor to his limits. After all, it was something that she felt needed to happen. Even with her low energy sensory, she could feel an impressive amount of spiritual pressure from Connor.

Despite this though, Celes wondered if he could control it. She met those with very high spiritual pressure and equally impressive reiatsu control, but they always lacked the physical strength. Celes was the opposite. Her spirit was rather meager, but her warrior spirit and her physical prowess reigned supreme. Only time would tell as Celes unsheathed both of her blades and sighed a little. She locked eyes with Connor and took a mixed stance. She then calmly said. "So then. Let's see what you got, Connor of Squad 9."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}
Strength- 400 x 1.75 = 700
Speed - 200 x 1.75 = 350
Spiritual Pressure - 200 x 0.5 = 100
Reiatsu Strength - 50 x 0.5 = 25
Light Aura- 90
Dark Aura - 10
Instinct - 150
Senses - 75
Energy Sensory - 25
Healing Expertise - 0

Total SP: [1100]
Pain Tolerance: 2
Martial Arts: Baguazang: 2
Martial Arts: Hakuda: 2
Battle Analysis: 2
Lack of Fear: 2
Weapons: Spear & Shield: 2
Weapons: Katana: 2

[Connor Greaves]

She wanted it here and now? With all these people watching? Connor paused at his unintentional double entendre. He had been hoping that she would have wanted a more private location to fight. He didn't like the thought of everyone focused on him, judging him for any mistakes he'd likely make in his fight against the eleventh squad member. He wanted to sigh, but stopped himself. Instead, he merely unhooked his sheath from his belt, and held the sword by the hilt. He remembered that Celes wasn't all that fast the last time he saw her, and was hoping that was still true.

Connor didn't like to mince words, so he didn't bother. There wasn't a single thing he could say to the spartan that would convince her to leave him be, without directly saying it. Even then, he doubted she'd accept the refusal, especially not with how his own squad ratted him out. Even if she did, the higher members of his own squad would likely not let him sleep around for awhile, so if beating her would let him get back to resting, then so be it. He looked at his still sheathed sword once more. A broadsword, four feet long, with various spikes in place of a more traditional guard.

He could practically feel the spirits of Tamashī, begging him, no demanding that he draw them, unleash their power unto the world. He had been hoping, for a fleeting moment, that they might want him to win the battle for whatever arbitrary reason, and just stop there. But he knew them well enough by this point, to know that wasn't the case. Death for the sake of death was all this blasted blade wanted, and he wasn't about to give it to them, not for something like a simple spar, with a woman he barely knew. He wasn't going to give Tamashī the satisfaction. He could fight without drawing his zanpakuto.

He placed his other hand on the hilt of the weapon, and rushed at the green-haired woman. He wanted to end this sooner than later, so when he reached the halfway point between the two of them, he used his shunpo to flash over to her left side, hoping to take her by surprise. He swung his sword like a bat, aiming to strike her in the temple and knock Celes out. Since his sword wasn't drawn, he wouldn't cause her any serious damage. He hoped. He wasn't a doctor, and he was sure that the forth squad could heal that level of injury with ease, considering the squad Celes was in focused on combat.

Shunpo: 50

Total Reiatsu Remaining: 5,950/6,000

[Celes Castellanos]

Celes would keep her eyes locked on the Connor. She began her mental checklist just as she did before any fight. Her stance was tough, yet flexible. Her grip was tight, but not too loose. Her breathing was nice and even. She was in her perfect fighting condition and waited for Connor to make the first move. As she watched, she began to try and think about all the ways that he could advance at her. The Third Seat was an excellent tactician as her eyes remained trained on the Shinigami.

Time almost seemed to slow for the two of them. This was only figurative of course and was more reminiscent of the state of hyper focus that Celes was in, whenever she fought. It was one without distraction and without a loss of her senses. It was then that as Connor placed his hand on the hilt of his weapon that Celes noticed the odd blade. It did not seem like a regular katana and Connor's own spiritual pressure seemed to be bountiful, almost as though it were overflowing.

Of course, Celes could not know just how much her opponent possessed. As his other hand came onto the hilt, Celes noticed that he was beginning to make a rather linear attack. He was coming straight at her which admittedly made Celes chuckle a little. Ever since the last they met, Celes had begun training her physical strength and speed far more. While her own spiritual ability suffered as a result, the Shinigami was now able to hold her own effectively in close combat.

As Connor closed in, it was only at the halfway point that he would suddenly vanish. It was only for a moment that the Shinigami would do so as he was now right next to Celes. The Third Seat was all too familiar with this strategy. The Shunpo was intended to catch her off-guard and for a moment she was. It was then that her instincts kicked in. It seemed that Connor was aiming for her temple in an attempt to quickly knock her out, but Celes would be damned if she just let it end like this.

As those instincts quickly kicked in, Celes would weave downward with fancy footwork, allowing her to effectively move to the Shinigami's side at a speed of 350 as his blade was swinging. Using her flexibility and understand of the martial arts style, Baguazang, Celes would attempt to move underneath the blade that was swinging like a bat. If she succeeded, the Shinigami would quickly sheath one of her blades as she would suddenly bring her hand up to Connor's chest. In a quick motion, the Third Seat would use her full strength of 700 to attempt to physically overpower Connor.

In fact, this movement was intended to bring him off balance. If it succeeded, Celes would place her weight into it and it all went as planned, Connor would feel himself almost be lifted off of his feet as he would come slamming to the ground. Due to the nature of cutback and Celes not quite understanding it completely, she would let go halfway, allowing gravity to do the rest of the work after her mighty shove. Regardless of whether, this caught Connor, Celes would quickly jump backwards a few dozen feet. As she did this though, she grabbed the Zanpakutou that she had sheathed and pulled outward, slashing into the air. Normally nothing would happen, but due to Celes incredible strength, a massive shockwave of air would begin travelling at Connor just below the speed of a Cero, threatening to barrel against him.

[Connor Greaves]

'This is gonna hurt...' Was the only thought that Connor had before his world turned upside down. The air was forced out of his lungs, as he slammed into the ground with a substantial amount of force, nearly shattering his ribcage in the process. His back and chest both felt like they were on fire, and it was only by the little experience he had in street fights, that he didn't crack his head open against the ground. He had kept his head upwards, barely avoiding an utterly humiliating defeat. A single move had him winded and gasping like a fish on the dirt. He could hear the jeering laughter of his squad, however muted it was in comparison to the blood rushing in his ears.

He had underestimated this woman, and very badly at that. He considered just lying there and letting her claim victory, when she leapt back, and swung her blade at him, unsheathing it for the second time this fight. While Connor was unable to physically see the shockwave barreling towards him, he could very clearly see the ground being ripped apart from the sheer power behind the attack. His good eye widened in horror, as he rolled to the side as quickly as he could, but even that just wasn't good enough. He was blown to the side, as he was hit by the edge of the blast.

His mask blew off his face and into the distance, shattering against the ground somewhere. Now Connor was visibly in pain, with an eyepatch wrapped around his left eye. His right eye was glaring at the woman who beat him to the ground like a dog. 'You're weak, PATHETIC!' A voice screamed in his head, adding to his mounting headache, he palmed his head, as the voice grew louder. 'You were her superior before, and look at you now! Getting batted around like the weakling you are! I will not stand for this! Use me!' The voice demanded, screaming out in rage and Connor's refusal to draw him. 'USEMEUSEMEUSEMEUSEMEUSEME!' It repeated like a warcry, the drums of war pounding in his head.

Connor gripped his head tighter, wanting to refuse the spirit once more, but lost the will to hold back. He really was pathetic. "FINE! NOW SHUT UP!" He grabbed his scabbard and ripped it off his sword, throwing it to the side of the crowd. Celes would instantly be able to tell that the zanpakuto was already in shikai, as it was an inky black bastard sword with a white strip running down the center of it. The blade looked as if it were covered in a thick sheen of oil, it looked like a glob would drip from the sword at any moment. Connor raised the blade, pointing the tip to the Heavens, and swung down with all his might.

And that's when all Hell broke loose.

A black wave flew from the zanpakuto, made of the same viscous black liquid that seemed to be coating the blade. It dragged along the ground as it rushed towards Celes, intent in cutting her in twain. If the woman had the time, she'd likely notice that wave was coating the ground in its oily mass. The attack moved at a speed of 800, with 600 power behind it. But that wasn't the worst of it. Whether she avoided the attack or not, the ground that was in contact with the Poisoned Wave would shimmer. It shimmered and shook, turning from grey, into a violent shade of red. The texture changed from a cobblestone pathway, to large fleshy bulges, in an area of ten feet on either side of the attack.

Then they started screaming.

The flesh changed and warped, turning into the rotting faces of the damned. Tightly packed bodies wriggled and writhed, freeing their arms to grasp at the sky, clawing at the air above them. The crowd around them quickly dispersed, fleeing to a safer distance to watch from. Connor walked forward, walking over them as if the zombies weren't there to begin with. The rotting humans provided stable ground for him, palming his feet with every step he took towards wherever Celes ended up. As tightly packed as these apparent humans were, they made no move to try and escape their place in the dirt.

Poisoned Wave: 150
Total Reiatsu Remaining: 5,700/6,000

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills, because I'm an idiot that forgot them the first time around}Strength- 200
Speed- 400
Reiatsu Strength- 50
Spiritual Pressure- (400+50%) 600
Senses- 50
Instinct- 60
Energy Sensory- 0

Dark- 100
Light- 0


Skills

Strength of Will- 1
Weapons
Swords- 1
Weapons
Guns- 1
Street Fighting- 1
Acting- 1
Disguise- 1
Crafting- 1
Charisma- 1

SPOILER: Click to show

{Poisoned Wave} Poisoned wave: This is Connor's only ranged attack in release. By charging his blade with a bit of reiatsu, some of the poison will gather on it. By flicking his blade or slashing, a large crescent wave will fly in whatever direction he attacks at. This blade will cut anything it touches, as well as spread more poison. The crescent flies at a speed of 800, and cuts with the force of his highest spiritual stat. Anything it makes contact with will have its infection accelerated by three posts. This will also turn weaker abilities into poison. Costs 150 reiatsu, and can also be used in shikai.

[Kyomei Kuchiki]

+260 TP to Celes
+180 TP to Connor

No victory TP