Noveno

[Lagos Oscuras]

Pain. Pain. Pain. It was full of her life. Yes. In a sense, Lagos Oscuras thrived and lived in constant pain. Mental pain, emotional pain, spiritual pain. However, physical pain was the easiest to deal with in a sense. Even as the toxic oppressive blast slammed into her person, the concussive force rupturing something inside of her. She could feel it. The squelching feeling as she was blasted out from her own dome of magma, the burning liquid clinging onto her person as she was sent flying at break neck speeds away from Ailene.

The blast not only sent her flying, but had sent her slamming into the backs of several of the metal trees of which her tails were slammed against. If it was not for her Hierro, the concussive force might have killed her. If it wasn't for her abnormally powerful body, it would have killed her. Clunk. Clunk. Clang! She felt herself slam through them, the several metal constructs falling to the earth. For a while, Ailene might find herself at a sort of relative peace. The pain lingering of the magma of which clung to the surfaces of her form, along her back and wings. For a while, perhaps she would have thought Lagos dead.

However, slowly then from the distance does a figure hobble. Her right arm was bent in an angle that no arm should ever bend. Trickles of blood ran down from the sides of her mouth like rivulets, and with it, as she limped her way along, with the pustules of disease, some popped, and others burst, she walked like a stoic statue. With it, there was a sort of madness in her eyes of sorts perhaps, as she stops in place.

'Shikihitsuko-Sama. Your toxins have been more dreadful than this, and I have come far. Your wounds of Cero have been far more devastating than this, and I have survived. I have come here. I refuse to lose like this.' As she limped, her eyes were widened, looking with an almost animalistic deepness to them, one of the fangs off the top of her skull helm chipped and cracked, falling to the floor in that moment. Lagos was tenacious, unrelenting, and stubborn.

She feels the shuffle of sand as a large mouthed Hollow appears from the sand with a giant gaping maw, widened to swallow Lagos, to bite down upon her with waiting jaws. However, in the next moment, she firmly slams her left fist against it's head, shattering it into a spray of red mist and viscera as she looks upon the dragon, her tails moving slowly in her background, the remnant magma about them shuffling as the wind lightly kicks up. "..." She rests in place, shuffling herself, and with it, she looks upon the Wyvern like entity, as droplets of her blood soak the sand.

"To think I am weak..." She seemed to spit at the thought as she momentarily raises her claw to her own face, looking at her mangled body. "I refuse it. I refuse it..." With little to say, with little word otherwise, she could feel her internal organs were devastated. Even with her tails and Hierro to cushion the impact. "..." 

[Ailene Haschiro]

As Ailene emerged from the magma, the wyvern could not help, but visibly twitch. Even despite having a formidable Hierro, the magma slowly cooked her. Though, this was a moment of respite. The sizzling of her fur and scales could be heard nearby as the hazardous material clung to her body. Thankfully, she was beginning to feel her strength return to her. She could finally used her enhanced metabolism to rejuvenate herself. To effectively undo severe wounds that had been inflicted upon her. The magma itself did leave grievous wounds on her after all. Though, Ailene was sure that Lagos had received far worse injuries as the Arrancar was effectively launched away by Ailene. 

Though before Ailene really had a chance to relax, the wyvern noticed a hobbled figure emerging from over the dune of the White Desert. Focusing on her intently, Ailene naturally noticed that she was severely injured. It truly seemed that there was no vacancy in hell for her. Slowly, rising to her feet, the Espada would growl softly as she felt a small rumbling beneath the sand. This felt familiar. Sure enough, a Hollow emerged from the sand as the white grains shifted wildly. Ailene was growling loudly. Not so much at the fact that this Hollow was attacking Lagos, but more so because this pathetic hunter had the gal to attempt to feast upon her prey.

It seemed that despite her injuries, Lagos certainly had some fight in her. Ailene watched as in almost an instant, the Hollow that was once towering over the Arrancar remained still. As its head cracked somewhat and a scarlet mist filled the air, falling to the floor and staining the sand. This opponent was full of surprises. Lacking a sound and rational mind, Lagos become even more desirable to Ailene. Not out of interest or even lust. Instead, the arrancar became attractive as a morsel for the wyvern. She was after all a predator. She feasted on the corpses of those beneath her and attempted to slay those above her to gain more power. Naturally, the devouring of souls or bodies did little for her, but the hollow-side of her could not help itself. 

As Lagos seemed to lose her strength, the cruel Espada began to move in. Inching closer and closer with a relaxed cadence. After all, there was little more to do than to kill Lagos and feast on her remains. As she began approaching the Arrancar, Ailene slowly began to pant and gasp. Her injuries were beginning to hamper her. As her form slowly towered over Lagos, the wyvern grunted. If Lagos watched Ailene's injuries, she would notice something occur. The scales that were charred were beginning to shift. The fur that was sizzling slowly regrew. The wounds that were exposed to the calm Hueco Mundo air began to close as Ailene was effectively using an Arrancar trait of High Speed Regeneration to rejuvenate herself. 

After a few short moments, the Espada slowly breathed out as she seemed to look far better than before. Her form rose with grace as the imperfections that once plagued her just now simply were no more. A sadistic grin ran across the maw of the Espada. Yet before she would attempt to move in for the kill, there was a pause. A long pause that maybe seemed like a few seconds. It was clear that something was holding the animalistic side of the beast back. Something deep within was fighting. Growling somewhat, the beast slowly grew silent. With a low growl, it began to speak to Lagos. "Powerful. Cunning. Adaptive. Like self." 

The mists that once surrounded the Espada slowly began to converge upon herself. This mist would then become a blackened sphere that slowly grew smaller and smaller. From this sphere, a few feet from the broken and battered Lagos, the gentle Ailene emerged kneeling on the cold sand. Her reformed Zanpakutou and sheath in hand, Ailene began to retract the beautiful blade into its sheath. Fastening it her waist, it clung against her robes. Sighing and opening her eyes, she rose to her feet to be greeted by both the beautiful moon and the equally ghastly sight of Lagos' injuries. The Espada this time looked upon Lagos not with malice, but with a look of care.

Ailene could feel her power remain for a moment. She had little time before her abilities would be sealed once more. Even now, she began to feel her physical abilities diminish. She began to approach Lagos. If the Arrancar made any attempt to move away, Ailene would continue approaching her. Though given the state of her injuries, Ailene had doubts that she would get far. The Espada reiatsu would slowly begin to flare as a green aura enveloped her hand. Ailene would attempt to bring her hands to Lagos' body. If it touched, she would begin to manifest her own healing proficiency in an attempt to aid Lagos in whatever way she could. The green aura would slowly grow, albeit not much larger, but it would grow. 

The major wounds such as burns over the areas that Ailene was touching would slowly begin feel more soothing. The minor scrapes and cuts along with other minor wounds would start to close. Ailene knew this would take a bit and it would require cooperation from Arrancar she was healing. Ailene did not speak. Nor did she try to give orders. At her core, she felt that she was somewhat of a good soul. At the very least she was kind-hearted and needed to attempt to help Lagos. After all, she had put up a good fight. This was Ailene's way of honoring her. Most other Espada would have most likely slain her where she stood. Ailene knew that this Arrancar would be better alive than dead. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Specialist}

Strength Sealed: 100 --> 40

[Lagos Oscuras]

"Don't humor me." She sounded cold, as she stepped forward, her blood dripping from her person and into the sands. The field lay absolutely devastated about them, there was no doubt of their display of power. However, the Arrancar Lagos had to admit that she lay on the verge of defeat. However, that didn't mean she would beg for life, be meek in allowing it to claim her. If Ailene was the predator, then Lagos was a fierce prey. However, it was in those next moments that Lagos would pause.

To see Ailene retract her form to her base appearance. It made Lagos pause, a dark shadow underneath her eyes as she had felt assaulted, insulted, shamed perhaps even. It was within those next moments, as Ailene closed inwards in her crawl to touch her, to touch Lagos that she would seemingly wretch internally. The main reason why was because Lagos was never the kind of person that relished in the idea of compassion. Rarely did Lagos ever find ideals of such things such as camaraderie amongst Arrancar.

In Los Noches, there was the strong and the weak. The masters and the servants. There were no friends and enemies however. Only rivals and opportunists. When grasped, there was a damage to Lagos pride, to have her wounds tended, and with it, as she looked on, she had taken the liberty to remain stoic, as her tails seemingly flickered and twitched, baffled by this development in a sense. After all, they had just met, and with it, she half wondered if the Espada intended to have Lagos join them.

Be one of their Fraccion. One of their servants. "Why? Why in the world would you waste your time and effort on an enemy? Are you daft?..." She didn't fight her touch however, as her wounds began to experience relative relief. The Kyuubi proceeded to clench her fox claw so tightly as her palm lightly bled. Yet, her face never betrayed her. It was cold, calculating, even as a seething fury was building within her person. She looked upon the soft details of her face, the beauty she held and yet morality.

She remained silent. For if she spoke. If she acted, she might go mad. 

[Ailene Haschiro]

As the Espada tended to Lagos' wounds, she began to realize just how resilient these wounds were. This was the first time that Ailene was up close and personal with the injuries she had inflicted upon another in her Resurrecciòn. She had seen many injuries given her inclination towards studying medicine. From searing burn wounds to eviscerations to even minor flesh wounds. They were all interesting to Ailene, but the knowledge that she had brought such catastrophe to another individuals body gave her an uneasy feeling. Sure Lagos had tried to defeat her, but this was expected. Ailene held little ill will. In fact she would have been more concerned if Lagos didn't challenge her.

As the Noveno Espada, Ailene was a sort of gateway into the rest of the fabled group. As the lowest ranking member she was preyed upon by many who coveted a position within the Espada. Most were going in expecting Ailene to be easy pickings due to her position. Time and time again she proved them wrong. Corpses upon corpses piled up of those to stubborn to recognize the need to retreat. The Arrancar certainly did not relish it, but she understood the system and played along . Typically, it was Ailene's wish to let her opponent live. To let them grow stronger and become truly worthy. Sometimes a fall is what someone needed to truly become excellent. 

Ailene would continue to use her healing aura to attempt to mend Lagos as much as possible. Though it seems that Lagos was helping to do some of the heavy lifting even if it was not intentional. Normally, wounds like these would require several moments for Ailene to heal. If not a minute. As demonstrated in their fight, however, Lagos' body was capable of a heightened metabolism. It was not quite High Speed Regeneration like what Ailene possessed, but it could clearly help in a pinch. Ailene chuckled softly as she began to feel a certain fire ignite in Lagos. Capable of an intimate understanding of others' emotions, Ailene could feel the disdain. The shame. The supposed dishonor. 

When Lagos spoke, Ailene initially just listened. She did not want to interrupt nor provide a rash answer.  "Why? Why in the world would you waste your time and effort on an enemy? Are you daft?..." The Noveno Espada looked up and seemed to ponder for a moment. For that short moment it almost appeared that Ailene was truly considering whether she was crazy or not. Most Arrancar would kill off their opponent. In some display of dominance. Ailene was very different. She preferred to develop and foster friendships. Relationships that would last. Besides. At the end of the day, Ailene's duty was to Lord Kouhai. His group of elite was incomplete. It was fragmented. Ailene would help mend it.

As she looked upon Lagos' arm which was beginning to look presentable, Ailene swiftly moved on to the next part of her body. She needed to move swiftly lest her ability to heal be stunted. As she moved, Ailene would speak in a rather sweet and calming tone. "I'm not surprised to hear that you think I am crazy. After all, you are still utilizing your Resurrecciòn. If you truly wanted to, you could take life here and now perhaps. Am I insane? Perhaps. Am I wasting my time, however. I adamantly answer that with a no." She smiled for a moment as she continued to focus upon Lagos' recovery. She was not going to die, but the last thing she needed was for someone else to try and kill the two of them. 

Capable of incredible analysis, Ailene targeted Lagos' wounds with the efficiency and ability of an experienced wound care specialist. Lagos' own natural ability to recover from minor and mild wounds certainly helped as well. As Ailene looked up once more, she was trying to figure out how to fix her arm. In truth, Ailene's abilities may be out of that league and only rest and perhaps a strong hand would effectively return the bent arm to a better condition. Ailene sighed as she slowly felt her vision blur for a moment. Her heightened senses suddenly plummeted and it was clearly visible that she needed a moment to adjust. AS her focus returned to normal, she shook her head. 

Rising to her feet, Ailene took a step back. Looking up and down Lagos, she smiled warmly as the Arrancar was in a far better position. She was likely still fairly injured and Ailene could not do much against a majority of the wounds. She did her best to try and help provide some relief to Lagos regardless. Such was the kind-hearted Arrancar. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to look at Lagos. After all, would the Arrancar before her still attempt to attack her? Ailene was not sure, but she wanted to give it a moment. Allow her to make her decision. If she did, the Espada would fight back of course, but Ailene recognized that Lagos was not in pristine condition anymore. Granted, neither was Ailene, but her ability to regenerate gave her an edge over the healing she provided Lagos. 

If Lagos did not go for an attack, Ailene would smile once more. She continued speaking in her calming voice. "Harkening back to what I said about my seeming waste of time, I believe that you are of more use to Lord Kouhai alive than dead. Lagos. Hmm. You were once a Fraccion, correct? Of Shikitsuhiko if my fragmented memory serves correctly." Ailene was not trying to stir anything up given the former Espada's disappearance, but she continued to speak anyway. "Once a Fraccion yet here you are. Still standing after a battle with the Noveno Espada. I see potential in your future. Potential that is of no use if beaten and killed." 

Ailene chuckled for a moment as she cracked her neck from side to side. "I have been the Noveno Espada for centuries. Yet I now recognize that is it time to embrace new horizons. I will be leaving this position in favor of the Septima Espada. I doubt that Lord Kouhai will mind me discarding a relic of the past." As she opened her eyes, she was quietly staring at Lagos once more. "Due to this, the Noveno Espada will have a vacancy. We could use someone like you. If you choose to strive for it, you have my word that I will give my personal recommendation to Lord Kouhai. Las Noches would be foolish to turn away potential like yours. Yet your abilities are equally squandered if you were to become a subordinate to another Espada." Ailene would pause to see if Lagos had any response. Any comment at all to Ailene essentially endorsing and even encouraging her rise to an Espada.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Specialist}

Senses Sealed: 100 --> 40

[Lagos Oscuras]

Lagos understood in that moment. Ailene was not daft. She was no draconic predator. She was a dog. A domesticated and tamed dog for Kouhai. In those moments, as she listened to her speak, about what a waste it would be, Lagos seemed to have a misconception, or perhaps had taken her words and twisted them into a deeper meaning. She had meant to say that Lagos too would make a find and fitting pet for him. In a sense, that idea, that thought did more damage to Lagos than any of Ailene's attacks ever could.

Even though Lagos had come for the position in the first place. To be that Shinigami's dog had made her internally wretch and want to vomit. It almost physically made her sick, which itself was a challenge considering her incredible constitution. However, as she remained being healed, she realized her pride had taken a far greater blow. As a warrior, as an Arrancar, as an opponent. Yet, she remained still, for she heard the potential of becoming an Espada. This was a major step in her plans and ultimate goal.

For an Espada's power and authority was only limited by their personal strength. That, and their independence when not called for Kouhai's labor was incredible. Though, it was no brainer that those that held interest in the Espada would strive to usurp and overpower them, and in turn research them and keep tabs in every shadow. Lagos had done the same after all, having heard and studied a good bit about Ailene personally from records and the enemies that lay defeated by her own hand. Though, Lagos would never tell her that. 

"Naruhodo. Naruhodo." She'd note, keeping in her internal dilemma. The battle she had. To think she would have to bow before that man, to call him master. Yet, she thought too about how Shikihitsuko had done the same with a devotion and pride. It made her more sick than even Ailene's power of sickness and illness. She half wondered if it was out of genuine devotion her master swore himself to Kouhai, or if the Shinigami had some mind altering power that turned her master into his slave. She wondered herself if she might end up in a similar state.

Yet, she then realized...Would that be so bad? To live in ignorance as some sort of brainwashed dog? Would that not be better than living in these agonizing thoughts she was now? Lagos' eyes stared on towards Ailene, and with it, she thought about the answer, and realized that regardless, it didn't change the fact she despised Kouhai. She didn't despise him as an individual, but instead despised the idea of him, what he was, and what it meant to have him at the top and pinnacle of Las Noches.

'He had taken the position of the King. From Shikihitsuko-Sama, the one I had admired the most and envisioned at the pinnacle of all things. Now Shikihitsuko-Sama is gone...and I have been lost without him. Lost thinking of him. Agonizing him and the thoughts I once had. Agonizing what I am now that I am alone. Who am I? What am I without him? I hate it. I hate this.' She thought to herself, and with it, she knew what she was. She was an Arrancar.

The pinnacle of all races. The natural result of a Hollow's development and evolution. They were always meant to be, they were always meant to exist in this cycle and come to this conclusive point. If only Kouhai were an Arrancar, if only that was the case could she acknowledge him with open arms as the strongest, the fittest to rule. Yet, he was never one of them. He would only rule over them as some malevolent God that would view them as lesser as opposed to beings in his own image. That was what Lagos thought of Kouhai.

However, she needed this position if she was to plot and scheme. "...I accept. I will be useful to Lord Kouhai, and if your word will assist me in garnering the title, then so be it." A major moment for Lagos, she had done something that she thought would have killed her. She had killed her pride and swallowed it in order to reach the grander goal, the goal of grandeur. As disgusted as she was, she could feel that bathe her and slowly wash away as she maintained a mask of indifference, all while she seathed internally. The battle was over.

Lagos was the true winner. For she had gotten what she had come for. To be marked and blessed with the power and authority of an Espada. That would be enough. For now.

[Deleted]

Okay~! So With Ailene's win' she'll be granted an extra 100 TP! That said;

I counted 60 paragraphs for Lagos, so that'll be 600 TP!

For Ailene, you wrote 78 paragraphs, so with the additional 100, that'll be 880 TP!