Beast vs a Beast [Beast v Rafael, NDE]

[Beast]

As Beast started to move to continue past Rafael in his blitz attack, he found that the panther jumped backwards and responded to the braids of hair bursting forth with a growth of fur his own. The braids clashed with the fur head and as they started to get pushed backwards and overwhelmed by the physical strength difference, Beast knew he needed to do something in order to prevent his entire arm from being overwhelmed and ripped off or something similarly gruesome. As the Beast Clansman's fur started to push, Beast pushed back.

Winding up the hair, it became rigid and extremely durable. It was interwoven in the panther head of fur, so it would just be stuck there as a stalemate. Rafael's fur head wouldn't be able to push past the hardened fur, especially as it was locked all the way to Beast's arm which was now fully extended. He locked his elbow out in order to support his braids of hair with his own physical strength rather than their natural strength. As Rafael's physical strength was vastly inferior to Beast's current physical strength, the fur wouldn't be able to push aside the 1,200 durability hair braids that were supported with 900 strength behind them.

The problem now, though, was Beast couldn't do a whole lot with his arm locked outwards and just working on holding back the fur advance from the panther. He did have another free arm though. While the two were locked in a strength struggle, Beast's sword arm raised up and slashed downwards. What emerged, though, was not the flaming leaves from before, but a cutting shockwave. Sakugen was a simple technique, just a flying cutting edge, but it had power behind it. Not only would it travel towards the panther and seek to sever something vital, but it would have weight behind it. It would feel like not only Beast's Strength was cutting into Rafael, Beast's Weight too.

The Sakugen cut would be aimed to try and cut Rafael's left side. The vertical cut would probably hit at the shoulder if Rafael wasn't able to move to dodge, severing the arm off if it's ideal aim was met. With the two entangled in their power struggle, Rafael would have to somehow cut off his fur head from his body before he could effectively move away. Any other movement would be stopped by Beast holding him fast with his 900 strength and 1,200 durable hair braids that were being stressed to their limit...

With the limit of his Shikai coming up and needing more spiritual energy soon, Beast was starting to understand that attrition was not going to be a successful strategy in this fight. He needed to be aggressive, pouring everything he had into debilitating attacks. He was getting tired, spiritually, so he needed to press on as powerfully as he could physically. His Stil Roofdier was out, so there was no need for him to waste a lot of reiatsu on more big flashy spiritual attacks. This fight could probably be won in just physical combat if his Mask could hold up.

Reaching out his heightened Energy awareness, he could sense that the two of them had let out an immense amount of reiatsu in the last few seconds. Rafael's eyes were glowing violet, so he must have done something significant, and that mane of fur was no small feat either. Beast had also let out a good amount when he used Shunpo and Stil Roofdier. That residual energy was something he could use... Lightning crackled around his body harmlessly as he started to pull in that residual energy into strengthening his Facade Mask. Due to the amount of energy that had been let out by the two, this was easier to perform than it should have been.

Pleased with his strengthening of his Mask for just a little while longer, Beast focused his attention again on what Rafael was doing to respond to his Sakugen and his inevitable counter attack.

Remaining Reiatsu: 675/4,000 (-25 Sakugen -50 Fortified Hair, -50 Rigting -200 Hollow Wraith's Nectar) (275 Suspended Reiatsu Cost)
Mask Duration: 4/7
Bloeding Rand: 6/6
Oerwoud Hart: 6/6

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techniques Used}

Technique Name: Sakugen (Cut)

Class: 7

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
The user pours Reiatsu into their body, and their sword, and releases it in a mighty slash attack. A small slash of Reiatsu shoots outwards, and can cut with the same force as the user, if it hits. It also bypasses cutback effect, as well as comes with the user's weight. It feels like it hit the enemy with the user's body weight, on top of cutting into them or their tools.

How to use technique:
Charge and slash in an instant.

Drawback:
It drains some Reiatsu and some stamina, but also comes with a requirement. One must have a minimum of 200 in strength to be able to use this technique, or it cannot be used.

Made by: Ozuru Ren

Reserved?: No



Technique Name: Hollow Wraith’s Nectar

Class: 3

Technique Type: Other (Spiritual)

Usable By: Hollow Wraiths

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
A Hollow Wraith has experience in draining energy and life from their host, and they can use this knowledge in battle to further reinforce their strength and combat capabilities. By stealing the spiritual and physical energy of their foes, they are able to convert that excess power into a longer duration for their Wraith’s Facade. This allows a Hollow Wraith to further convert that mask energy into greater stats or more powerful techniques, depending on how they use it. This technique has two forms, one for draining physical energy, and one for devouring Reiatsu. The user must choose which of these forms is being used upon activation of this technique.

In its first form, the Hollow Wraith must make physical contact with their enemy and remain in contact for at least the duration of a post. For each full post in which they successfully do so, the Hollow Wraith will drain physical energy from their foe, reducing the target’s Strength and Speed by 10% for each post in which they are being siphoned. In turn, the Hollow Wraith can regain a post of mask usage by feeding on that energy, restoring their own reserves.

The second form can be used in any area that has been saturated in loose Reiatsu through the use of techniques and abilities. When this technique is activated, if at least 500 Reiatsu aside from Hollow Wraith’s Nectar has been spent between combatants since the user’s last post, the user can then take in and absorb the loose energy particles left in the air, drawing them into their body and converting them into further energy. This allows the Hollow Wraith to restore a post of their mask usage. Even better, if at least 1000 Reiatsu has been spent in this time, part of that spiritual energy can go towards compensating for the cost of this technique, reducing the cost of this technique by half.

How to use technique (How is it activated?):
Absorb energy through contact or through absorption of loose Reiatsu, and convert it into energy that can restore mask duration.

Technique Drawbacks:
To begin with, this technique is expensive at Class 3, costing 400 Reiatsu per post it is active. Additionally, this technique cannot push the user’s remaining mask posts above six – the energy can only restore depleted posts, but cannot push the user above their limit to store for a more difficult fight by draining weaker enemies. Additionally, this can restore no more than a total of six posts in a single thread without a long resting period. Finally, this technique cannot be used at all if the user’s mask posts are already reduced to zero, as there needs to be a foundation upon which to convert the energy.

Reserved?: No

[Rafael]

The colliding entanglement of mammal hair was something Rafael hadn’t dealt with yo to this point. While he had faced off against other beasts that had fur and could use some techniques that revolves around it none of them could use the technique he was now. This was perhaps his strongest technique outside of his trump card. The mere fact that the rushing appendage of fur didn’t wash away his foe meant that Rafael really couldn’t hold back and it was a good thing he’d come to that conclusion already. The theee snake like dreads of hair managed to put up a match as both managed to tangle turning into something that would fill any teenage girls nightmares.

The twirling, snagging and binding that was going on Rafael could feel in his chest as his fur was beginning interwoven with that of his foe. A smart choice normally although Rafael wasn’t so sure about it from his foe’s point of view. There was one major difference right now between how each of them was attacking. The emergence point of their hair. Rafael had grown his fur out from his chest while his foe had done the same from his arm. Rafael believed that gave him the advantage as both his arms were still a single to him now while his foe wouldn’t be able to use his arm so easily.

Rafael had to figure out a way to attack his foe while the two were clashing against one another in a test of strength through the mediums of these technqiues. Rafael still had one little advantage to him against this foe in this particular case. He was a fair amount taller. Rafael could still see I’ve three mass of fur and hair to the individual that currently clashed against him in a battle of might. Witnessing the foe raise his arm up Rafael figured out what was about to happen. Not only preparing to meet what was coming head on, but unleashing an attack of his own. The moment that his foe would slash downwards Rafael would deliver a hook punch in the opposite side sending out a shockwave positioned to hit the opponent’s head.

As for the sharp shockwave that had been sent to his left side Rafael decided to meet the challenge head on. Moving is back paw apart to better sustain his weight and lower his center of gravity Rafael flings his left elbow forward with all his might clashing against the shockwave of his foe. For a moment it would sound as if something was bursting apart as the force collided, like a dozen hammers slammed against metal all at once. In the moment that followed Rafael could feel the pain of his elbow being cracked from the shockwave. It’s power different than he had expected as he’d never come across a shockwave with the aspect of a blade.

His elbow hadn’t been cut deep, the minor amount of skin and flesh that covered was cut through easily while the actual bone suffered a cut only a few centimeters deep causing several cracks and a fair amount of pain. Thankfully though it wasn’t anywhere near as much as his foe had wanted he assumed due to the durability of his bones. While the snake like hair was so durable that Rafael couldn’t seem to break them, he was confident especially now in his bones which after he started taking things seriously had only ever been beaten once.

If the entanglement between them was still ongoing whether or not his shockwave had worked Rafael afterwards would inhale a large amount of air from his surroundings. It’d only take him a moment to accomplish and then unleash it all as he roars a large shockwave from his mouth meant to push things away. Rafael was curious what would happen if he put such a technique against the immovable object that his foe seemed to be now. “You’re doing much better than before. Although you still don’t seem like much of a Shinigami..”

Yaseishin: 2/6

Technique Name: Howlburst (Proficient)
Class: 4
Technique Type: Other
Usable By: Beast-Clan
Technique Element: Wind/Sound

Technique Description and Effects: A variation of the Howlrazer Ferality, Howlburst is an attack that focuses on raw damage rather than striking at something's hearing. A common tactic from an animal to cause intimidation is to roar, something that the Beast Clan know all too well about. Howlburst is used when someone has gotten too close for comfort and the Beast wants to make some distance. Using this technique, the Beast Clan roars and releases a sound wave from their body, pushing anything away from them. The wave is equal to their Strength stat, throwing back anything that has less strength than them.

How to use technique: Take a deep breath, build Reiatsu in the throat, and release it with a scream or howl of some sort.

Technique Drawbacks: Obviously, this technique cannot be used by mute characters. This technique also targets everyone except the user, including allies. This technique costs no reiatsu, due to being a physical feat. If used this technique can only be used three times within the span of ten posts since the first use, otherwise the character will lose their ability to talk for fifteen posts.

[Beast]

Rafael punched outwards at Beast's head. A vulnerable spot, for sure. The shockwave would shimmer through the air towards the Wraith, who simply flexed his sword arm with all his might and raised it up to block the wave. With the Flex defense of 900 strength, the shockwave would hit the arm and crash like an ocean wave upon the cliffs. Sure, it would wear down the arm, but it was less tiring to flex just that arm for a moment than it was to punch with all one's might to shake the air. Beast would have less fatigue from flexing than Rafael would have from shockwaving. For now, at least. The Sakugen had done less than expected, but Beast was unfazed. He'd just have to work harder.

The Shikai were about to fade, but Beast poured more reiatsu into them to stabilize them and refresh them. Seemingly wasted energy, but Beast needed to be able to fight with both his flaming saber and his hair. The hair of his head, which was now almost half as long as the braids themselves at seven feet long, was not something Beast wanted to have to start over. His fingernails were getting too long, though, so he fired those harmlessly into the dirt. Didn't want them messing with his sword grip or his boxing. With that out of the way, he could go back to focusing on Rafael who was being annoying. "I'll say again, I'm no Shinigami. I'm a Wraith."

The two of them still attached, the panther let out a Howlburst to try and push Beast away. This would do next to nothing but annoy Beast as he was physically a lot stronger than Rafael with his Facade on. The Howlburst would try to push away the fortified hair but would just be dashed harmlessly against it. So, in response, Beast pulled. Hard. Yanking at Rafael's fur would be incredibly painful with the 900 strength behind it, but that was just to try and get the panther off balance. Once off balance, Beast would actually do something incredibly risky. He slashed with his flaming saber to sever the cords of hair that were tangled in Rafael's fur face.

This left him free to move around again, but also risking effective counterattack by the Wild Mane of the Beast. First Rafael would have to regain balance, then he'd have to untangle the foreign hair from his face, then he'd have to find Beast who was Strength Stepping up in the air again, then he'd have to attack an opponent up in the air. Shockwaves might help, though those would be tiring, but Beast had already demonstrated that Rafael's shockwaves would just meet a Flex Defensed area of body and would be repelled. Up in the air, though, Beast had the advantage of range, visibility, and control of the battlefield.

With another slash of his sword, another slash of Sakugen emerged. This one, however, was infused with Draakstaking, so it was flaming. Sure, it was a heavy cost of reiatsu for his dwindling reserves, but the flames and the Sakugen would be dangerous enough to cause Rafael to want to dodge if he managed to see it coming. When Rafael made any movement to one side or the other of this flaming slash, Beast would kick off of Advanced Air ground and Strength Step to come rushing at the Beast Clansman with a powerful swing of his sword and engage in melee combat. He was about spent, and though his Facade Mask was helping him with some of the strain, he didn't think he had much left before he passed out once the Facade was over...

Remaining Reiatsu: 325/4,000 (-25 Sakugen -100 Draakstaking, -50 Rigting -100 Bloeding Rand Class 6 Shikai Refresh, -100 Oerwoud Hart Class 6 Shikai Refresh) (300 Suspended Reiatsu Cost)
Mask Duration: 5/7
Bloeding Rand: 1/6
Oerwoud Hart: 1/6

[Rafael]

Witnessing the results of the shockwave that he had punched out at his foe weren’t satisfying at all. Rafael had been expecting perhaps his foe to take the hit and be unfazed by his mask or duck. The fact he could simply use his arm like a shield wasn’t something Rafael wanted to see. Everything he was seeing right now told him that what he was doing wouldn’t be enough, his normal power wouldn’t be enough. The longer this went on the more Rafael could feel it in his spine, his instincts were trying to consume him.

A fairly eleven heard guy that didn’t let his anger cloud his judgement nor allowed the outcome of a fight to impact his opinion on others. If he didn’t like you it was due to something you said or an action you took outside of a fight. Everything was fair game in a battle of monsters like himself and whoever this was. Rafael had grown to not only believe these things but accept them after he had gotten this second life. Right now though the human-like attitude, control and judgement that Rafael used to beat down the majority of those that clashed against him, it was waning.

Frustration. Something that Rafael can’t handle rather well, an aspect of himself that triggers his anger and leads to loud outbursts and violent actions. Something that he didn’t possess while he had been a human yet had seen from the moment of his birth in his previous life in his father. Right now the techniques that he was using, the strength and speed he’d trained to achieve, his knowledge of combat, none of them were claiming victory for him. His lips spread wide as his sharp teeth emerged and his anger began to fuel his body.

“You have same things as Shinigami! Stop lying!”

His rage clouding his judgement Rafael is pulled forward taken off balance only for a moment as he hops forward turning the pull into an aid. Before Rafael could rush in on his foe though the interwoven chain that bound both to one another was cut. His foe jumped right into the air like he had jumped only a couple seconds ago. Rafael discarding his technique allowed the reiatsu that control the Mane to fade and thus immediately the fur died off falling from his chest to the ground. Almost as if Rapunzal had just been shaved.

Once again his foe had seemingly vanished from all sides giving Rafael what he needed to look up and see the familiar sight of a sword being swung down at him. Although Rafael could feel the frustration of this match eating away at him his beastly nature wasn’t completely in control of him. What was coming towards him could very well be mighty, but why challenge it. His elbow was already completely fine from the last slash yet it had proven he wasn’t strong enough to overpower such an attack without cost. “Another fire attack, no thanks.”

Rafael uses his strength to squat down then push off the ground to leap backwards several feet out of harm's way. Looking up to see his foe jumping down towards him at an excellent speed Rafael smirks up. In the moment that followed Rafael would vanish, executing Shunpo to accelerate his speed as he jumped off the ground at his opponent. In the next blind Rafael would be upon his foe, his right knee positioned to strike directly against the torso with all his might.

Yaseishin: 3/6

Remaining Reiatsu: 2100/3000
Shunpo: (-50)

[Beast]

This was it, the moment that Beast had needed in this fight. A full on, close quarter's combat where he was actually up on par with his opponent. An opponent that could challenge him, for sure, but an opponent he felt he could beat in his current state. As he moved towards Rafael, the panther jumped up towards him with Shunpo, a move Beast had mastered and seen time and time again. With his heightened Instincts, he could almost see the trajectory of the Besat Clansman, anticipate where he was going to end up, and be prepared for it. Not just be prepared for it, but react and retaliate. As the Rigting broke off of his body, exposing his bruised ribs to incredible pain, his hair, the power of Oerwoud Hart's Shikai, flowed in front of his body and wound up, ready for Rafael's kick.

The kick would impact the 1,200 durable hair and not immediately break through it. Beast then poured everything he had into his Facade and let out the most powerful technique in his arsenal. Would he survive this? Most likely. Would he definitely pass out in mere seconds after this once the Facade ended, yes. In the air of the Soul Society, where there was no air ground save for what Beast generated himself through his feet, he had the advantage over Rafael. The brutal Wild Arts, a Hakuda subset, would descend on the panther. "Wild Arts: Hundred Fangs!" As he was pooling the reiatsu into his sword arm to strengthen it, he screamed outwards in a mixture of glee and rage as he stabbed from beside his shield of hair.

At just over 750 speed, one hundred stabs of flaming sword was launched from the side of the hair like a spartan and his spear. At nearly 1,300 cutting power, these stabs would be brutally effective at severing arteries, breaking bones, piercing flesh, rending organs, impaling the face and brain... All at an insanely close range with little way for Rafael to course correct. What was he to push off of as his opponent fell down towards him? How was he to evade this incredibly quick salvo of attacks? To Beast, there was no escaping his power. To Beast, there was no surviving this. Sure, his opponent had an ability he hadn't witnessed or understood, but he didn't care. Everything was on the table, he was going All In...

Remaining Reiatsu: 275/4,000 (-50 Hair Fortificaiton-400 Wild Arts: Hundred Fangs) (700 Suspended Reiatsu Cost)
Mask Duration: 6/7
Bloeding Rand: 2/6
Oerwoud Hart: 2/6

SPOILER: Click to show

{Technique Used}
Technique Name: Gigei Mikon: Hyaku Shikon [Wild Arts: Hundred Fangs]

Class: 3

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:

This technique was developed in order to increase the user's strength in hand-to-hand combat. Using this technique sends Reiatsu pooling into the muscles and joints of his arms and hands, strengthening them and increasing their resilience. By using that same Reiatsu, he sends powerful impulses to the nerves that allows his limbs to react quickly in the form of a hundred powerful punches. Each one is fired off at twice the user's current Speed stat, causing his limbs to blur as the attacks are delivered in a sudden barrage that lasts only a few seconds. Each hit’s damage is equal to the combined total of user’s base Strength and Speed after type. This causes a massive amount of damage in a short time.

How to use technique: The user focuses their Reiatsu into the arms, strengthening the muscles and bones first to prevent excessive damage from overuse of the limbs. Following that, the same Reiatsu is channeled into the nerves and causes them to fire impulses rapidly, making his limbs move quickly in the form of a hundred lightning-fast blows.

Drawback: Moving one’s limbs beyond their natural limits causes strain and damage on the muscles and bone; though Reiatsu is first channeled to prevent the worst of the damage, each use of this technique wears down the muscles and causes them to throb heavily after only one use. Two uses within five posts causes the muscles to begin tearing, and small fractures along the bone. Three uses within five posts will completely tear several muscles while cracking the bones, and any additional uses within that initial five posts will render the user's arms useless without proper healing. This technique can only safely be used eight times within a thread without healing.

Requirements: This requires a 2 in Hakuda to perform.

Made by: [Zeich Yajuu]

[Rafael]

The impact that occurred wasn’t something that Rafael had been expecting, he’d executed shunpo not only to increase the speed of his attack, but to generate additional force for his attack. So when his knee clashed against the body of his foe Rafael could feel the immense resistance that stood in his path. This was beyond what he had been thinking was possible, after everything that had been present during this clash he hadn’t believed that anything his foe could do would save him from the events that had just unfolded. Him coming right towards him should have left him open, giving additional force to be used against him with the knee that Rafael had just delivered. Despite all of that though he could feel that his knee hadn’t broken his foe which meant he was entirely open right now. He had to act quickly otherwise he was wide open.

In the moment that followed as his foe was preparing to unleash his attack Rafael moved two different parts of his body at once, his arm opposite the sword of his foe coming up positioned in a way that would allow him to bring it down with a heavy blow. Unlike the typical warrior though Rafael wasn’t positioning his arm to slam down onto the back of his foe, instead his elbow would descend downwards to strike the top of the shoulder most likely shattering it along with the collar bone. The other part of Rafael that moved happened to be his tail unwinding from around his waist like a spinning top. Moving at the maximum speed he could muster in order to not just unwrap from his waist, but wrap around the waist of his foe in order to keep himself from falling along with setting up his true plan.

He had to win this now otherwise he wouldn’t have another chance, he didn’t know how long this foe could keep that strange mask up, realizing now that the moment it had appeared he should have unleashed his real upper limit and not continued to enjoy the challenge. What happened over the next few moments occurred so fast that only the fastest or most perceptive of individuals would be able to follow everything. Rafael may not be able to sense reiatsu, but the knowledge that his foe was going to attack with his sword was easily disgusted by the fire that engulfed the blade. Moving his other hand up in an attempt to grab the sword hand and force it to remain back ended poorly for the pitch panther. The technique his foe unleashed sliced through his palm, forearm, muscle, bone, even his shoulder as many of the rapid flaming thrusts were contained to his arm.

Roaring in pain Rafael’s elbow ceases to be a problem as the pain washes over him. Only the reiatsu that he had began to flow into his tail managed to stay present and for an instant during the onslaught against his arm did Rafael manage to unleash his own attack. The dozen or so spots that cover Rafael's tail along with the total over a hundred across his body all shot outwards in an instant turning Rafael into the deadliest of thorn bushes. He wasn’t sure if any of the other spikes from his spots would manage to stab into his foe, but the dozen on his tail should cause immense damage to the waist of his foe. Whether or not it succeeded though Rafael could feel his stamina dwindle and knew that he didn’t have long, the pain was the only thing keeping him conscious now as his arm suffered so many wounds that it was essentially gone.

Yaseishin: 4/6

Remaining Reiatsu: 1700/3000
Spot-Spike: (Class 3) {-400}

SPOILER: Click to show

Technique Name: Spot Spike (Class 5 Mastered) (Class 3 Proficient)
Class: 5-3
Technique Type: Ferality
Usable By: Beast-Clan
Technique Element: N/A

Technique Description and Effects: A technique of Rafael's own making that like many mammal techniques utilizes his fur. The fur slightly darker in shade known as spots which dot Rafael's body are the catalyst of this technique as these spots of fur grow at an exponential rate outwards from Rafael in a straight spike like manner.

Class 5: At this stage the technique has only blossomed from concept embarking through the first level of development. It's at this point that by focusing on a single spot located on his body Rafael is able to trigger a rapid rate of growth in his fur of that singular spot. The fur at a speed of 800 grows outwards in a linear shape much like a spike. This spike of fur will reach a total length of eight feet in distance from the rest of Rafael's normal coat while impaling anything in that distance with force equal to Rafael's Strength.

Class 3: This is the true strength of this technique as at this point Rafael has learned to grow the fur of every spot across his entire body simultaneously. What this means is simple while the Class 5 version effects only a single spot making it into a long spike this version causes dozens of spikes to grow from Rafael while still impaling anything inside the range of their growth with force equal to Rafael's Strength

How to use technique: Rafael must concentrate his reiatsu into the spots dotted across his body.

Technique Drawbacks: The spikes of this technique can't penetrate through anything that has durability superior to Rafael's Strength. If they do collide with something of superior durability than the force will still be impacted on the point of collision yet the spike itself will immediately fall flat returning to normal fur.

[Beast]

Beast knew that he had next to no time left to survive this encounter. He had to end it, and he had to end it quickly. He nearly took off the Beast Clansman's arm with his Hundred fangs, but the panther was trying something tricky as he tried to wind his tail around the Wraith and elbow his collarbone. With Beast's incredibly enhanced Instincts, and his Strength that was superior by exactly 150 points, he simply blocked both attacks by flexing that part of his body. He tensed up his shoulder, resisting his side opposite his sword arm being broken. He flexed his waist and every part of him he could as the two fell and Rafael would become a thorny bush that could not pierce Beast's flesh.

Rafael had demonstrated said Spot Spike attack before in this fight, so it was not a complete surprise that he would try the same tactic again when he wound his tail around Beast. The Wraith, though, in his Facade form, was too durable. Even if he had been pierced, his strength would have just kept on trucking until the Facade ended. Which was about to happen -very- soon. All Beast could do now was keep falling, his entire body flexed and rigid. His Shikai hair, though, was free to move about the cabin. If the cabin was Rafael's throat. Beast attempted to shove his growing hair down the panther's throat as they fell. It was nine feet long now, and they were in direct contact with each other.

As Beast continued to try and choke his opponent to a hairy death, he felt his grip on the Facade start to break, and a crack appeared on the mask. If Rafael wasn't unconscious or dead when they hit the ground, Beast would be unconscious at the very least. He'd used up too much energy for "free" and was about to collide with the ground. Not like he'd feel the impact much anyways, with his body flexed the way it was. With his damage recovery mastery, pain tolerance mastery, and sheer force of stubbornness, he'd hold on as long as he could...

Remaining Reiatsu: 275/4,000 (None used this post) (700 Suspended Reiatsu Cost)
Mask Duration: 7/7
Bloeding Rand: 3/6
Oerwoud Hart: 3/6

[Rafael]

Falling to the ground with a foe that was proving he’d underestimated and enjoyed the fight just too much for once. He wasn’t fighting against someone typical which seemed to be a disadvantage to the massive Beast. Now as the battle between the two monsters was coming to an end Rafael felt that everything he could do now against this foe wouldn’t buy him the time he needed in order to gain the upper hand. All he could do now was try and focus in order to unleash his true strength and survive.

The spikes that he formed from his spots along his tail failed to puncture through the muscle armor of his foe. A fact that he was able to feel through the sensations along his tail even while in the horrible situation that was currently being forced upon him. Roaring wouldn’t do him any good at the moment as the hair was being forced down his throat. In the next few moments that passed it began less of a fight and more a battle between both physical monsters to decide which one would lose consciousness before the other.

Nearly on the ground Rafael’s vision fading as he stares up at the first person to actually get the better of him in physical combat in a long while. An exciting fact that even in this moment caused his heart to beat just a bit faster. A sign that was all he needed in order to push forward and just as the dark edges of his vision were closing in around him, he witnessed the white mask crack and break!

His teeth biting down with every bit of force he could muster would snap through the majority of the hair that his foe had been using to choke him. Although the moment that followed both of them would impact the ground knocking them away from one another. Coughing for a moment Rafael oils begin to violently vomit up the hair that’d been forced down his throat. A literal Giant cat throwing up a hairball large enough to strangle a man. . . . If the fight hadn’t been so good Rafael knew he’d be furious.

His eyes still glowing brilliant purple he’d look over and see his foe was on the ground on the verge of passing out. Walking over it would seem Rafael was about to finish off his foe. Holding out his right hand Rafael makes a fist puncturing his palm with the claw of his thumb. A single drop of purple blood descends downwards to his foe. Entering through the mouth would be all that’s needed. Rafael would wait now patiently by sitting on the ground for his foe to experience the pain of all his wounds healing before they could begin speaking to one another.

[Beast]

In some of his last moments of consciousness, Beast could see the Beast clansman surviving his attack and coughing up the hair like a cat and too much fur from grooming. His face contorted in a grimace as Rafael started walking towards him, fist clenched. This was the end, most likely, killed by a filthy beast. Suddenly there was blood in his mouth, which wasn't his, and his body started regenerating somehow. Painfully, but what was pain to the Wraith? His consciousness was maintained, and though he wouldn't be able to just jump up and start swinging again, especially with his Facade burned out, he wasn't quite sure he needed to. He had lost, yes, but his opponent had spared him.

Pitiful.

"What do you want? To gloat? If I had just seconds more of power, this would have turned out very differently..."

[Rafael]

Walking over and granting his foe certain life wasn’t something that Rafael had to think very hard on. Sure this guy was a pain in the ass and hurt quite a bit, but that’s why he was worth saving. Watching him react in pain wasn’t something that Rafael gained any sort of enjoyment from, he never did like watching this part even if facing down someone in a battle of pure strength was enjoyable simply watching them hurt was different to the Panther. It didn’t take long after he had given him some blood for speech to begin once again although this time hopefully it wouldn’t break down.

“How would I gloat when you’re the one who won?”

Rafael wasn’t sure if perhaps his healing hadn’t gotten through to this guy’s brain or not considering when he had just said. In Rafael’s eyes he had been the one that lost the battle between them. He’d made the mistakes that cost him a clean victory and only managed to continue surviving to this point because his foe ran out of time. “You’re right, which is why next time I won’t be underestimating you. So what’s a Wrath? That’s what you say you are right?”

[Beast]

Beast picked himself up off of the ground and shook the dirt from his drab grey clothes. "I sincerely hope there isn't a next time. I've had no good interactions with your kind." Beast spit on the ground. "But if you have to know, I was at one point in time a mighty Hollow formed from the soul of a majestic Gorilla. I was trapped in the body of a Shinigami, Grodd, for years and was rescued and given control of the host body by the Arrancar Kuroi Naito. I since have managed to keep the weakling chained "inside" our soul, so to speak, and am on a mission of revenge against the one who turned me into a Hollow in the first place."

Beast didn't usually get so... chummy with anyone, but there was a level of respect for the panther that hadn't been there before for any other Beast Clansman. This one didn't just try and kill him for no reason, actually spent the time to try to understand him. No matter though, they didn't have enough in common to be allies or friends, Beast decided. With having given his life story, he was bored and ready to move on... He had somewhere to be, the home of the Espada that Kuroi had belonged to. He was headed to the King to take up a position in Las Noches, an existence he was sure to have to fight tooth and nail for.

[Rafael]

Rafael, listening to the explanation, gave the former opposition most of his attention. The only thing he found himself doing while Beast was talking happened to be stretching his arms. Although his body was completely recovered by this point his ability didn’t keep him loose and after such an extensive battle of physical strength he usually was stiff. A wide grin spread across his pitch maw right away though at the remark of a future battle. While Beast spat on the ground he’d heard Rafael’s brief remark. “Oh? I don’t know that was a rather fun fight. Might even be better next time now that I know you won’t break right away.”

What Beast went on to say was rather fast moving for Rafael who had very little knowledge about the various spiritual races. Having taught himself for the most part as learning from a Shinigami or another Beast about the where with all’s, that didn’t really happen. Rafael listened intently and then would do his best to just ask for clarification and hope that his new potential sparring buddy was willing to answer. “No wonder you hit like a truck, makes sense if you were a gorilla. Hollows are creatures with white masks right? So you’ve been quite a few different things then. How did you get trapped in a Shinigami though? Is that something they can do often?”

[Beast]

Beast nodded towards the panther. "Yes, that would be a Hollow. I was not a... normal Hollow, to put it mildly. I wasn't a soul that despaired until it lost its chain of fate. I was artificially created by the Zookeeper, a man I am hunting to this day. When the Shinigami tried to purify me, they didn't do a good enough job, trapping me in the soul of the Shinigami produced by the transfer of soul to the Soul Society. It wasn't intentional, but I'm just glad to have control of the body again." Beast picked himself up off the ground and looked intent on leaving. He had places to be and was tired of talking. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be..."

[Rafael]

Rafael could still feel his throat burning although any damage that had been done to his body was since repaired, right now though his attention remained on the man who’d just given him an enjoyable battle. Although some of the things he said didn’t make much sense to Rafael. He was glad to hear that he was correct and now had confirmation that the beasts with the white bone masks were in fact the things called Hollows. He’d come across more than one of them in the wilderness and now it was just nice to have the official name attached to the figures in his head.

Making out what he did say though was a bit stranger than I’d have expected. Certain words that I didn’t know weren't the biggest issue, instead he made it sound as if someone in the human world, in the world that if grown up in, had been able to experiment on his soul so they could turn him into a Hollow. That just didn’t seem possible, although then again that had to be the part of me still human believing that. Doing things and seeing things that I would have deemed impossible was now just a day to day thing.

Just like that though it seemed this conversation was over faster than the first round of punches had been. Not sure I can blame him though, he was expecting to kill me just a minute ago. Normally they don’t handle watching all their hard work disappear. “Good luck, don’t die until after we meet again.” Getting up off the ground I watched as this guy seemingly opened up a dark hole in the air and walked through it. Again not something normal although considering I can shout loud enough to open one . . . Yeah just go with it.

Turning around I gaze across this massive decaying fort, taking my time to walk throughout it only to find myself feeling a sense of calm. After roughly ten minutes of constant gentle steps I find myself back where I’d been from the start, the front of the massive tree with the white screen of energy in the center. Although I possess no knowledge of how or why this is a portal to somewhere else I know from the entrance of that man. “Well I think I might like this more.”

[Kitai Yoru]

Beast: 44 Paragraphs, 440 TP awarded
Rafael: 57 Paragraphs, 570 TP awarded