Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2020 12:13:00 GMT -5
Training for TTP
There were just certain things you had to accept when you were a Shinigami. Low pay, no retirement, decent healthcare, and always knowing that each and every day could be your last. Especially in the World of The Living. It was almost ironic, wasn’t it? That the world where ninety nine point nine nine nine percent of the human population were completely normal, spiritually blind nobodies, who were no risk at all would actually be the second most dangerous one. If you broke it down into a list of most dangerous to least dangerous it would go; Hell, Hueco Mundo, the Human World, Chicago, the Moon, the Valley of Screams, the bottom of the ocean, and then Soul Society. So when Shinigami were sent to the World of the Living they always had to expect that they could die.
Whether it be by Hollows they were sent to slay, out of control super powered humans, or even justified Quincy deciding to get some revenge. But in some cases? Sometimes it was something weird and peculiar that did a squad in. Just as it did today. Somewhere in Michigan, one of the states of the United States of America, a peculiar reiatsu had been detected. While a Shinigami squad had been deployed to investigate it had been at least twenty four hours since they were last heard from. While that was certainly strange, Soul Society opted to send at least one more Shinigami in to see if something was going on. Reason for only one? The sudden appearance of Vice Captain level Arrancar’s in South Africa. That was more pressing.
Foliage crunched beneath his dark colored boots as one foot went in front of the other. The black cloak dragged leaves and twigs behind him as he walked. A few grunts escaped him here and there as he was forced to navigate alternating terrain. ”I hate nature.” he complained after reaching the top of the hill he had currently been traversing up, tugging on his cloak with his left hand to pull it free of a branch snagging it. Raising his head back up, all the blue eyed rogue saw was more and more trees. His lips pulled downwards into a frown before he let out a loud sigh. He’d been at this for hours.
It wasn’t often that a hunter found its prey. It took much effort in the field of research to confirm the presence of something demonic. Many leads ended up being dead ends as well. Weather patterns, reiatsu bursts, dead animals, change in people's behavior, Shinigami activity, all of this and more went into the art of tracking down the trail of a demon. Things had become a bit easier for Alex with the recollection of the Alistair Hold and a few of the toys they kept within. Methods and tools to scry, better ways of detecting reiatsu, and better sources for tracking down demons. The Eye of Amara was rather useful as was the Distance Mirror that he had acquired from his family's vault. But even then, actually finding something still proved difficult. But when something strange occurred… well, Alexander was probably already there checking things out.
Sporting himself a new black and red outfit and cloak, Alexander was a little miffed that his fashion was being tarnished by the dirt and leaves around him. Demon Hunters of old would comb the countryside and dark forests for Hell Races. Nowadays they hide themselves away in the nice, clean, cities of society. Alexander much preferred that. Though he was a stickler for tradition he was sick and tired of this fucking hiking. His left arm, specifically his left arm, navigated its way to his belt and pulled out the canteen he was carrying with him. Coming to a rest after another half an hour of trekking and leaning against a tree, the Quincy stopped to give himself a drink.
”Woods of Michigan. Couldn’t actually pinpoint where in these fucking woods so I’ve been left walking in god knows what direction for the past however many hours.” Alex complained to himself, not having thought to bring a compass or map. He thought this would be easier than it actually turned out to be. Granted, he could easily return to the Silbern at any point. Getting back wasn’t a concern. But he wanted to find the source of the disturbances he’d noticed. With a sigh he wondered if this was just going to be a dead end. What could possible be happening in the middle of the woods aside from some rubes inbreeding with one another?
But as he complained and groaned to himself he happened to notice something from the corner of his eye. Turning his head and looking down he noticed a small and colorful thing just laying on the ground. Bending down to pick it up Alex realized it was a bird. A dead bird. Some tiny little bird. There weren’t even any bugs on it. ”Hmm?” he muttered before noticing that it wasn’t the only one. Lifting his gaze he saw quite a few more dead birds just laying around in the foliage. Some song birds, some ravens. ”Sorry tweety. Seems there’s something to this after all.” the hunter said to himself after dropping the bird back down and continuing forward.
He managed to find a road. Thank the fucking Emperor. But it was a dirt, barely used, road. But the distinct sign of tire tracks were seen on it. Following the trail Alex began to notice something. No noises. The forest was dead silent. It was only a little after midday too. There was an anxious stillness in the air. It put Alex on edge. Made his eyes narrow a little and the hairs on his neck stand up. He stopped and turned when he heard a crack of a branch somewhere behind him. His eyes darting from right to left but not seeing anything. His medallion was quiet as well. Still and cold. But the hunter knew to trust his instinct more than a tool. Something was out there.
After a little while longer of following the road, the cloaked Quincy came upon what he might have been looking for. Not the shitty, dirty, beat up blue pickup truck. No. Rather, Quincy laid his eyes on the shitty, dirty, decrepit cabin only a dozen or so meters away from him. Old, ugly, and looking as though a strong wind was all it took to blow it over. Looking to the left he could see a workshed as well. Much smaller than the actual cabin though. ”Are you my evil mistress in the woods?” Alex asked with a slight smirk. This looked jank enough to just house something insidious.
But as Alexander started to move towards the cabin another loud crack of a branch caused him to jump. His left arm snatched something off his belt as he swung to his left and extended his arm. Reiatsu surging and igniting the Seele Schnieder handle in his hand creating a black and blue outlined blade of energy to point in the direction of what he just heard. The sudden move and extension of his arm pushed the cloak away just enough to reveal that Alexander’s right arm was still in its cast and held close to his body. The wild look in his eye retreated a little though when he saw just what, or in this case who, made the noise. ”Well, well. What are you doing here?”