Evil Never Sleeps, It Just Waits (Open-Hard-Rukongai)

[Celes Castellanos]

Celes hated every second of it. From the moment she slammed her shield into one of them to the next where she stabbed her spear through its body. The streets ran red with their blood. The Tenth Division Captain yelled out as she threw the body of one of these corrupted citizens. Her strength was great and so she would use it to practically catapult one of their own into a group. Their bodies would twist and contort from the incredible force of the throw. Each one of their bodies lay there...broken and battered. Had the adrenaline not been flowing through her veins at this point, Celes would have likely gotten sick from the display.

The bodies were beginning to pile up. Every second that they lost. Every moment that they lingered, another citizen or even a Shinigami would find themselves among the growing ranks of the undead. Celes felt pity. She wanted nothing more than to assure them that they could be saved. She wanted to assure herself that she did not need to slay them here. She did not do so for she knew that if she dared, it could spell her demise. The situation had escalated. It was no longer a rescue operation. It had become an extermination and one that Celes would do with a heavy heart. She sighed briefly, biting her lip as she felt a moment of reprieve.

It would give her a moment to collect her thoughts. A moment to realize that she could honor these lost souls by giving them a quick death. One that did not result in too much suffering. She was not sure if they even still could feel pain, loss or even misery, but it did not matter. Her duty to her Division. Her duty to Soul Society. To the Shinigami that stood beside her. Kimiko, Senshi and Tsukuyomi. That is what mattered. Her facial features sharpened as her resolve suddenly hardened. She knew that this was the right thing to do. She needed to focus. She could not give herself to the fear and doubt lest she lose herself and end up fighting those she called her comrades.

After half a minute or so, the number of infected steadily rose. The cries of combat and the smell of blood likely attracted them. Celes looked up, noticing the leering eyes upon the roof, ready to pounce like predator stalking its prey. Celes breathed calmly as she knelt. Assuming that the Infected began to pounce at her, Celes' eyes flashed with their amber glint. She'd let the force she built up loose in a very particular way. Those with incredible strength could utilize it in numerous ways. This was, but one of them. The Shinigami would leap with her full strength, upward at the descending hordes of Infected. Assuming that they tried to come close to her midair, they would be in for one hell of a surprise. 

Celes' body was shrouded in a cone of wind as she accelerated upward. This cone would likely repel most, if not all Infected. The wind would likely batter anything it came into contact with brutally as Celes held her shield up before her, ready to attempt to block any incoming attack that hoped to stand against her if it could pierce the layer of wind acting as both a spear and shield. She'd leave a pretty sizeable crater from where she leapt as she'd aim to land one of the buildings. Assuming there were more infected, she'd pick a group if it existed and would execute another maneuver like the one prior. It would likely destroy the rooftop she stood on, but house could be rebuilt. These citizens could not be saved, and Celes knew that they needed to be stopped. Any Infected who got ragdolled and survived the incredible torrent of wind, Celes trusted Senshi to take care of. At this point she was wondering...how was Kimiko doing? She'd have to check up with her soon. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}
Strength- 400 x 2.5 = 1000
Speed - 250 x 2.5 = 625
Spiritual Pressure - 400 x 0.5 = 200
Reiatsu Strength - 50 x 0.5 = 25
Light Aura- 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 200
Senses - 100
Energy Sensory - 0
Healing Expertise - 0

Total SP: [1400]

Pain Tolerance: 2
Martial Arts: Baguazang: 2
Martial Arts: Hakuda: 3
Battle Analysis: 2
Lack of Fear: 2
Weapons: Spear & Shield: 3
Weapons: Katana: 3

SPOILER: Click to show

{Strength Step}Technique Name: [Strength Step]

Class: [4]

Technique Type (Kido, Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other): [General Physical Technique]

Usable By (Technique is available to which races?): [All Races]

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect):

This, first and foremost, is not a Strength based Step Technique. It does not boost stats, and does nothing involving speed. People of high enough strength are more powerful in all aspects of their body in comparison to those who are weak. Their arms can push harder, their abs can stop punches, and they can perform feats such as jumping higher. This last one is what Strength Step uses for its effect. By crouching down and bunching up their leg muscles, strong people can push off the ground at incredible strengths, sending them soaring into the air. This can be useful in a variety of ways.

To use the base form of this technique, the character must have 400 strength. They can use that strength to propel themselves much like the Hulk is seen doing, jumping over and over again over a long distance. At higher levels of strength, they can use this technique more powerfully. While at 400 strength the ground will only bend and crack, at 600 strength the person pushing off the ground will leave a fairly large crater, measuring a few feet in diameter. At 1000 strength, the person will be able to use this technique in a much more offensive way.

By using their full strength, pushing off the ground will not only leave a good sized crater, but the air will be forced around them as they push through it, causing a cone of air to build up. This cone is not large, like a supersonic cone would be, but merely measures a foot away in all directions from the person pushing. This cone of air can push away any physical projectiles or attacks of inferior strength, and because they can already push through Reiatsu techniques, even the air can disperse reiatsu techniques if the strength is 50% superior than the offensive stat of the technique.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): [See Above]

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc) Stamina drain, muscle damage for repeated use, possible issues with falling if jumping off of a high building.

Made By: Kyomei

Bankai: 2/10

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Handling the massive swarm around her was something that not many active Shinigami would be able to pull off easily yet it seemed Celes had refined herself enough to understand what aspects suited the situation. Her bankai allowed her to eliminate a fair amount of the infected while keeping them away from her. It wouldn’t have been enough though to handle the massive surge at the tops of the buildings so the fact she began to jump upwards casting around her a constant exertion of shockwaves couldn’t have been played at a better moment. The Captain of Soul Society’s Defense was truly standing up to expectations as dozens of infected were torn apart in little more than a handful of moments. She’d have to deal with a new issue though, one brought on her by her very actions. The blood of the infected now rains down around the area painting everything in red. The shockwaves Celes conjured proved too much and reduced them to little more than marinara sauce.


Kimiko it seemed though was managing to overcome the emotional shackles that she’d been experiencing towards the infected. No longer handicapped with the belief that these entities could be returned to normal she was now free to attack them without hesitation. The child infected managed to harm her leg yet not to a large extent. Right now on both battlefields the number of infected just continued to amass almost as if they weren’t going to stop. Despite three different officers being present along with one that showed promise of the same level, would they be enough if every citizen in the district became infected? Rooftops covered, streets becoming filled, dozens turning slowly into over a hundred. Could Tsukuyomi and Kimiko handle another wave even larger than the last coming towards them?

Tsukuyomi & Kimiko: 50 Infected rushing from rooftops and streets directly in front view.

Celes & Senshi: Celes took out 25 in the last post, currently 35 remaining around in general. Celes more than a dozen are still rushing towards her.

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Keeping himself up was starting to be a struggle and one that he didn’t belief he’d been able to adapt to right away. The damage that Tsukuyomi had just inflicted upon his own right arm by choosing to unleash Zen'nō Katto was immense. The pain was insane, a terrible tremble that he could only compare to having the same portion of his body burned. He wasn’t like so many other Shinigami that experienced pain then chose to accept it only to eventually adapt. This pain was insane to him despite his suffering through the sort all the time. All he could do, especially at the moment was stick to his training and begin inhaling steadily to keep his heart rate down and his mind alert.

Looking over he could see Kimiko dispatching the child infected and knew that he’d already let her down. Just continuing to prove to everyone else that he couldn’t keep up. Knowing that the bodies around him now which he’d been able to reduce to uneven pieces almost like a puzzle, gave him time to look around. Celes and Senshi had a much larger force that was rushing them. Tsukuyomi placing Unum behind his back made up his mind. His left arm moving down his hands wraps around the hilt of his katana.

“Descend From The Abyss Onto The Battlefield, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.”

The average liking katana pulled forward immediately transforming into a silver crescent blade shining brighter than the surface of the moon. A zanpakuto of true beauty that one would normally expect to be wielded by a maiden of equal prestige. The noble male held her outright instead turning back to the source of the incoming noise. His ears guiding his actions once again as they had his entire life, more of the infected were coming, more than he could have expected, more than perhaps he could handle now that he couldn’t unleash Honshitsu in unison. All he could feel from Mikoto had the thought though was a glare telling him she was more than enough and he knew how to use her to stop all of this from continuing.

When Mikoto had been released spheres of reiatsu had been formed around Tsukuyomi simultaneously which now rotated around him. Three spheres of pure white that shined just like Mikoto’s form. Kimiko was already getting ready yet he wouldn’t accept the dishonor of what she was preparing to do. Instead choosing to make perhaps his last chance of honor worthy of a noble a reality and standing beside her. “Don’t count me out yet, it’s time I stop holding back so much.” Waving Mikoto forward, Tsukuyomi sent two white spheres forward towards the infected converging on the street almost fifty feet away.

“Shingetsu . . . Warui Tsuki . . Bokujō Monogatari!”

Going from a whisper to a full blown shout as he unleashes Mikoto’s techniques one after another, Tsukuyomi prepares for the movements of the infected to seal their own fates. Shingetsu was the first technique which happened to be the simplest of everything Mikoto had to offer, producing two additional white spheres that resembled moons. Flying towards the infected at a speed of 500 while nearly putting Tsukuyomi at his limit of control with five of them present at once. Warui Tsuki took effect on two of the moons currently present, one rotating around Tsukuyomi and the other rushing towards the infected. These two white moons would immediately change turning pitch black and cracking in a sinister manner detailing a face across the surface. These two would both slow in movement although not by much as they continue at 400.

Lastly Bokujō Monogatari set to the other moon soaring towards the infected turned the moon a brilliant green. The two moons set to be just over five feet apart from one another as everything within that same range of the green moon began to die. Cuts appearing across everything the ground, walls, buildings and the infected once they got within range would be cut apart by dozens of slashes every moment should the green moon not be destroyed. “Stay close, none of them will hurt you if the black one pulls just fight around it, they should be pulled towards it as well.”

Tsukuyomi told Kimiko having no time to actually give her a rundown of his zanpakuto abilities. Warui Tsuki the black moon with the red smile possessed the gravitational pull on those with a dark heart containing anything with more dark than good inside them to its area. Immediately this felt like a mistake as now he’d effectively shut off Kimiko’s option to execute shunpo or run away should she need to. Trapping the infected to Warui Tsuki though was his best bet of eliminating as many as possible. So he’d use it like a shield for those that got close to them, moving it between and then keeping them just far enough away they wouldn’t be able to touch him. The ones down by the sheet would be forced near Warui Tsuki while Bokujo ripped them apart like meat in a blender.

Shikai: 1/7

Remaining Reiatsu: 6000/6000
Shingetsu: (-150)
Warui Tsuki: (-200)
Bokujō Monogatari: (-200)

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength: 75 (56)
Speed: 400 (600)
Spiritual Pressure: 400 (600)
Reiatsu Strength: 40(30)
Light Aura: 50 Points
Dark Aura: 50 Points
Instinct: 315
Senses: 150
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0

Movement: (2)
Calm Mind: (2)
Acrobatics: (2)
Battle Focus: (2)
Lack Of Fear: (2)
Battle Analysis: (2)
Weapon*Swords: (2)

[Nakajima Kimiko]

This was a disaster. What was once meant to be nothing more than a swift cleansing of an unknown threat against the denizens of the Soul Society was rapidly turning into a catastrophic event the likes of which were most likely going to affect those related to the victims for years to come. The vast populace of Rukongai was being used as a weapon against the soldiers of Seireitei, with each of the souls having the misfortune to meet an infected very quickly transformed into bloodthirsty monsters who might as well be nothing more than mindless Hollows. It was like dealing with a full-fledged zombie apocalypse picked straight off of a basic horror flick you would find in the cinemas. The only difference between these works of fiction and this terrible reality was that these zombies were all shockingly energetic, inhumanly powerful, and seemingly capable of taking enough damage to not perish from even the most fatal of wounds.

Kimiko still was not quite sure of what to think about all of it. This zombie apocalypse, that is. On one hand, she was grateful that whatever this supernatural disease was supposed to be had already disposed of the souls which it has infected. She personally wouldn't have to deal with the fact that she could not save anyone she would have the displeasure to fight against from now on, and the sordid horror of having to cut down children who might have had a potential chance to survive. In other words, she could fight to her heart's content without having to deal with the psychological consequences which that may entail. Well, that, and these people also probably are not suffering in these corpse-eating shells. That was a good thing too, even if the Shinigami herself still could not find the will in her heart to really care about that particular matter, as selfish as this may sound to those that are more caring for the victims of this infection. 

On the other hand, the monsters that were left behind in their wake were so absurdly strong that it was clear no one in the Soul Society that isn't a Captain will be able to deal with them very well. The scarlet-eyed warrior had notable swordsmanship. That much, she at least had to concede. However, after witnessing these monsters outspeed her and even actually provide her a wound, she had to admit that her confidence in this swordsmanship of hers was progressively starting to fade away. She was no Captain, no Vice-Captain, not even a Third Seat or anything that could be deemed important. She was only a Fifth Seat, a much common and less impressive position. If she could fight those beasts on their own, she would have been able to cut them down. The task would evidently be difficult, but she could eventually do it, as proven by those she has so far cut down. However, they were not alone: they all attacked as one massive group that surrounded her from all directions. It is needless to say that, together, these monsters vastly overpower her and would end her in seconds if they ever catch her off-guard all at once.

Considering this, she was extremely outgunned, and if things continue as they are now, the fear of death that looms over her mind is only going to become more powerful and prompt her to flee. Though she has personally never fled from battle until its absolute completion, she has felt that fear a few times in the past, and each one of those experiences had been so woeful that it left her almost cowering like a terrified animal longing for immediate survival. Still, she didn't want to run. Not now. She truly wanted to get the one thing responsible for this mess out of the way so that the Soul Society could return to a state of normalcy, all the while proving to Celes and Tsukuyomi that she was not a coward. It was why she still stood there in front of the aforementioned Vice-Captain, ready to defend him from what comes next. It was why her legs refused to bring her away from this infected mess of a district and instead towards the safety of Seireitei.

That was not to say that things were necessarily going well regardless. Even if she ignores the weaknesses she must face to brave the horde, Kimiko had to admit that the group wasn't really in a better shape either. Celes looked to be just as downtrodden as she was regarding the matter and so did the other Captain - not to mention that they are both currently using their Bankai to severely reduce the number of infected they are currently facing - all the while Tsukuyomi was still in a bad shape. Now that she was closer to him, the swordswoman could see that his right arm was finished for the time being. It was truly a terrible wound that he had inflicted upon himself solely to get her out of harm's way, and it is definitely not going to help him nor them fight the beasts. Quite frankly, Kimiko could not believe that the young man hadn't blacked out from the pain alone. If she would have been in his place... Well, she couldn't even imagine how painful such a wound would be.

Even so, before she would start considering him as being part of the officers could not fight anymore, he shockingly held on. In fact, not only did he hold on to consciousness, but he also had something up his sleeve. Curious, Kimiko would frown as he watched him remove the wrapping around the hilt of one of his Zanpakuto. However, as she started to understand what was happening, she would take a few steps away from him before watching the scene unfold over her shoulder. In an instant, what was a simple sword turned into something much greater, the so-called "Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto". The weapon's appearance alone took Kimiko by surprise. Already, though she knew she would never have the right to wield it, she could tell that the blade was powerful. Her own instincts were informing her of this fact, prompting her to be wary of the blade and the ability it possesses... or, rather, whatever ability it may possess; after all, those moon-like orbs it generated didn't allude to much.

The Vice-Captain's declaration about his continued presence in this fight was noted, though what happened next was what brought a bit more confidence in Kimiko's mind. Shortly after his blade was released, Tsukuyomi would generate more orbs. One stood near him while the others were thrown towards the incoming horde to visibly do two things to it: pull it towards them and then cut them apart. It was a very impressive display of strength. Magical strength, that is. "Projectiles, huh...?" The Fifth Seat remarked with a comical tinge of disappointment, as though she had been expecting something else than ranged combat from Tsukuyomi's Shikai. Though she had never seen it before and it was an honor to see it now, she had believed it would have been a physical type or at least a type that only worked in melee range. Oh well. There were better things to worry about. After the moment has passed, she would let out a sigh before preparing herself. "Shizukakane is already getting more powerful... I'll see if I can reduce their numbers fast enough."

And with that, she waited for the incoming horde to reach them. As to be expected, though the orbs made sure to kill or maim several of the infected that dared cross their path, there were a few who were able to pass through. Some were wounded by the orbs, with even a number of them showing signs of clear dismemberment, but there were quite a few who had passed by them unscathed. Kimiko was glad that there were a few who were fine. Despite the fact that she still believed herself to be slightly overwhelmed by these creatures, she still wanted a semblance of a fair fight against them, or at least a battle she would somewhat remember positively in spite of everything these monsters represented. So, with her lengthened weapon, she would take a deep breath, slam her right foot forward, then let out a war cry before pushing herself forward towards the flesh-eating fray. Needless to say, Tsukuyomi did not last for much longer within the "inky" radius once she did so, allowing him to be ridden of the progressive muting effect that was surrounding him.

With the aid of the orbs, the woman would then go on to slash as many of the beasts as possible. There were many of them, as to be expected, though Tsukuyomi's involvement were already helping her quite extensively. Those who were wounded by the many slashes of the green orb were delivered rapid cuts to the neck that were delivered for rapid decapitation, while those who instead were simply pulled would face Shizukakane's extended reach head-on without the proper means to dodge it. Indeed, while there were many who would try to dodge the incoming blade so as to attempt to better feed onto their target, the pulling towards the black orbs would leave them unable to properly accomplish what they set out to do, leaving them wide open. Kimiko wasn't keen on fighting these beasts in such a way, but given the circumstances which they all faced, she was ready to use the effects of her Vice-Captain's moons without much regret. In her head, it was either her or them, and given that they were already gone... she might as well will try to save her own life.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}

Statistics

Physical	Spiritual		Sensory	Miscellaneous
Strength: 87 (115-28) Speed: 378 (280+98)	Reiatsu Strength: 30 (40-10) Spiritual Pressure: 405 (300+105)		Instincts: 190 Senses: 150 Energy Sensory: 25	Light Aura: 60 Dark Aura: 40 Healing Expertise: 0

Skills

Mental	Battle		Body	Utility
Analyzing: 2 Strength of Will: 2       Learning: 1	Iaijutsu: 2 Martial Art - Hohō: 2 Battle Analysis: 2 Martial Art - Hakuda: 1 Battle Focus: 1		N/A	N/A

          Reiatsu: 3700/4050 | Shizukakane (1.5m) : 7 Posts Remaining | Light Gauge : 45%

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

For the redheaded reaper, the greatest issue was not the swiftness of the monsters, or the fact that they were numerous. It was their relentless, feral, beast like mentality, and the idea of how fast they spread. They could not be everywhere at once, and what was worse was that it seemed every one that was turned was just as dangerous and hostile as the last. The redheaded Senshi's extended blades easily stretched, bent, and expanded. Growing ever more numerous like the branches of trees.

They acted as her barrier, as well as her greatest offense. As if acting independently of their wielder. They slashed infected after infected, impaling them, and with it, drawing their reiatsu into her person. However, focusing, and one of the most powerful of the Shinigami present with Shonin Joka Shimazu, she made her way to study and investigate the source of this foul disease. Or if not that, the root of the infection.

She looked to head deeper. Deeper where the infected had seemingly originated from, down the alleys and tight corners, looking to pinpoint what might have been guiding them. As she walked, her blades had grown so tightly and numerous that there was no feasible way for the dead to assault her in tight corners without being impaled, pricked, or slashed by the numerous wrapping swords. That, and for Senshi's blade?

To be attacked in any such a manner was death. 

"Shindazu Taicho. I leave this area to you!" She announces, and with it, the small redhead looked to split, and further find signs of this corruption on her lonesome. All the while, Senshi felt a sense of guilt. Yes, at slashing down the cretures that once were good souls. Those that sought to live a peaceful, if not menial existence in Soul Society. However, she put the feeling behind her, at least for now. For she fought to save the lives of many more souls. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Reiatsu Remaining: 2400/3000

-300 Eden

[Celes Castellanos]

Leaping up, the air around Celes changed. It would become a weapon. An extension of herself as it shrouded her body as she sped up, shooting upward like a bullet. The surrounding flooring crumbled and shattered from the significant force exerted upon it by Celes. If this did sudden crumbling floor didn't harm nearby infected, then the cone of air that surrounded her body surely would. It rose violently and battered anyone daring to approach. On top of that, it allowed the Shinigami to get off the ground and begin taking her adversaries on in a more open field. Looking around, she saw more groups of Infected and performed the powerful step once more. 

As the flooring of the rood teared itself asunder. As the wind continued to batter Infected, her shield crashing against their flesh and her spear ran them though, Celes expression became a grimace. She was disgusted by the necessity. Bodies lay strewn across the ground the rooftops and blood seeped everywhere around the Shinigami Captain. She gritted her teeth at the sight. The mangled and discolored bodies of people she was tasked to defend. Whoever chose to use the Rukongai citizens for this attack was utterly despicable in the captain's eyes. To attack the Seireitei was one thing. To involve the innocents of the Rukongai was an entirely different matter.

Finally, amidst the distant scurrying, sounds of crushing bone and the scarlet rain, Celes would have a moment of reprieve. In those few moments she heard a voice upon the wind. It was that of her fellow Captain, Senshi. It could not be clearer. "Shindazu Taicho. I leave this area to you!" Celes closed her eyes and sighed. She was sure that Senshi had her reasons. A different objective as the other three Shinigami on site tore through each of the constantly growing numbers of Infected. In some ways though, Celes had wished that Senshi had stayed to fight by her side. Then atleast there could be some joy in this work. "Well...I guess beggars can be choosers..." 

Opening her eyes once more, she saw them clear as day. More groups approaching. She sighed and steeled herself. Her shield remained ready to intercept any headfirst blows, the spear prepared to skewer any who draw too close and her armor which granted her a powerful last line of defense. Before it came to what, however, Celes would unleash another shockwave. Rearing back her spear and swiping it before herself in a sweeping motion, Celes would utilize her full strength as she conjured an impressive and concussive blast of wind that raced towards the incoming infected. The goal? To scatter them and knock them away like a set of bowling pins. 

The Captain of the Tenth Division was prepared through if one slipped through the cracks or got into close range. Assuming that one would draw nearer and approach within 10 or so feet, Celes would move swiftly. This would not be Hoho. No. Instead, it was a Hakuda ability that would allow the Shinigami to create a hazy afterimage. If she was struck in that time, the afterimage would shift and vanish into thin air. It would be as though the Infected had swiped at nothing. This impressive Hakuda technique was known as Shukuchi-Ho and Celes would use it to its fullest to prepare for infighting. Assuming she was now within range and to the side of one of the infected, she'd perform a similar prior maneuver.

Using her spear, she'd attempt to puncture the body of the nearest Infected. If she was successful, the display would be short and brutal as she utterly impaled it with her spear. Using the broken body, she'd swiftly swing her spear around to knock all other of these creatures away. If they were at a distance, Celes would instead toss the skewered Infected at them like a ragdoll akin to how she just previously lobbed a shockwave at the former group. If they hit, the Infected would be slammed with a body traveling at an incredible speed. More blood would soak the area. Celes would grimace once more at the sight. The mangled bodies would never become pleasant to look at. At the same time, Celes own form was deteriorating. Not only the use of her Bankai, but the Hakuda as well began to take its toll. Her breathing was becoming quicker, her muscles were starting to hurt. This was no easy feat and yet she had to endure. She had to persevere. 

It was just then that it sounded in the back of her mind. A familiar voice that made Celes click her tongue with annoyance. "I see that its beginning to take its toll on you. I am glad to see that you aren't treating these...creatures with any mercy. Remember. If you die, I die. So I'd rather you don't be devoured alive due to your naive sentimental nonsense." Celes gritted her teeth. "Shut it. I didn't ask. I'm doing fine. I can keep going. Now go away." Shortly afterwards, Celes heart sank. He was threatening to come out again. The Hollow that resided in her soul. It didn't matter though. Celes would do whatever she could to not let him out. For now, she'd focus on any more groups that may be trying to rush her down. She'd need her full concentration on this as for as much as she hated to admit it, he was right about on thing. She couldn't be sentimental with these mindless Infected. After all, they'd offer her no quarter.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shukuchi-Ho}Technique Name: Shukuchi-Ho (Reduced Earth Steps)

Class: 3

Technique Type: Hakuda

Technique Element: None.

Description: The user makes use of his innate speed to move flawlessly. From a standing stance, or from any resting position, the first step that the user does becomes an illusion, moving quickly than the eye can see. This technique gives the user a short burst of speed to move and invade an opponent's personal space, and engage in hand to hand combat, or to weave in and out of an opponent's attack. This move triples normal speed for each step, and uses no reiatsu.

How to use: The user simply channels reiatsu around his feet instead of gathering spirit particles as what Shunpo or Sonido does.

Drawback(s): Shukuchi-Ho requires its user to have at least a base SPEED of 400 points, and is versed in Hakuda (meaning the character must be very knowledgeable in the shinigami art of hand-to-hand fighting). Also, the technique can only be used if the opponent is within 10 meters of the user. If the opponent is too far, the technique cannot be used. A maximum of 2 steps per post can only be done using Shukuchi-Ho, nothing more, nothing less. Note that Shukuchi-Ho is by no means superior to Shunpo or Sonido.

Made By: Kousaru Mugenryu

Reserved: [Captains and Zero Division Shinigami Only]

Bankai: 3/10

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Moving through the streets in order to enclose on the subjects that proved to be more difficult than everything else they’d come across so far, was proving to be fruitless. The largest waves of infected had just in unison rushed not only the two Captains, but the Vice Captain and Seated Office only a small distance away and yet despite having both groups outnumbered by a large degree, victory wasn’t accomplished. The infected found themselves cut apart the moment they got anywhere even close to the strange green orb while being pulled into close proximity to the black orb. The infected, lacking the mental processing power and speed to formulate a countermeasure, found themselves rushed by the Seated Office who wasted no time in cutting them down with her zanpakuto. The infected had gone from obtaining the upper hand against the two of them to being cut down with virtually no issue the moment that the battlefield became hostile towards them.

As for the Captains, neither one of them would have any real trouble with cutting through the infected, both possessing zanpakuto sharp enough that it posed no more difficulty than getting through hot butter. Celes would through the use of her footwork find herself suffering from nothing beyond the strain of her muscles. Senshi distancing herself from the others would be able to pick up the reiatsu signature of something off in the distance that was starting to spike. Whatever was in the distance was focusing their reiatsu in order to do something much more deliberate. Both battlefields would take about two more minutes before the infected littered the streets blood pooling like water after a thunderstorm, limbs scattered throughout the areas as the shinigami would have to question whether it was over now.

They’d get about thirty seconds in order to rest or perhaps even converge with one another before the limbs, bodies and blood began to converge in spots scattered throughout the streets. Over the course of the next few moments the pieces of the infection would roll onto one another merging like clay, rising upwards while forming into something new. Standing across the area would be ten massively muscular green monstrosities, over eight feet in height, easily a few hundred pounds of what looked like nothing more than muscle. These things weren’t the same as the others and now were looking at the shinigami like prey.

Berserkers Rank 1
Strength: 400 (1000)
Speed: 350 (175)
Instincts: 250
Senses: 200 (100)

(Senshi has 1 by her, Celes there are 5 by you, Tsukuyomi and Kimiko have the other 4. Posting order is available to everyone freely this round. Please decide if you'll be staying apart of grouping together.)

[Nakajima Kimiko]

With Tsukuyomi's ability now deployed onto the battlefield, Kimiko felt a new sense of control over the rooftops that she once believed to be increasingly more dangerous by the second. Whereas a few moments ago, she believed herself and her Vice-Captain to be on the verge of being completely overrun by the undead forces they are presently facing, she now instead was starting to believe in the contrary. She still wasn't keen with the fact that Tsukuyomi's ability was not quite an ability that she believed to be respectful of the Eleventh Division's melee mantra, and she also wasn't quite satisfied by the fact that she was presently took weak to face all of these creatures head-on. However, considering that Tsukuyomi was already wounded and that the number of enemies was constantly growing, it was either tolerating the existence of that ability, getting absolutely torn to shreds, or worse, converted into one of those things. She'd rather go with the first option.

She moved forward at a rapid pace, following behind the moons to the best of her ability. Though they were naturally faster than Kimiko's natural speed, their conjoined cutting and pulling effects at least permitted her to finish off those who survived their passing. Unsurprisingly, it was at first rather difficult for her to continue cutting down the infected. Even though the retreating Captain had told them that what initially inhabited the creatures was now forever gone, there was still that sliver of hope within her that kept her believing that there might have been another way to save them. It gave her suggestions, fed her ideas. Maybe if the Captain of the Fourth was here, they could have used a complex healing spell that would have brought the infected back to normal. Maybe if the people of the Twelfth Division were here, they could have concocted some kind of ultimate chemical or an intricate machine that would have been able to rid them of their corrupted energy.

However, after she cut infected after infected and further covered herself in their blood, that sliver slowly started to fade away. Progressively, the wish she held of saving these people, of accomplishing a job well-done, was extinguished. A part of it was gently pushed aside by Shizukakane who, in his wisdom, reinforced that there was nothing more that could be done about them and that they were better off occupying a grave than remaining as is. Even now, she could hear his voice comforting her, reassuring her. Meanwhile... the other part of that wish was being torn apart by something else, something more bestial, bloodthirsty. They're already dead, it would tell her, nothing more different than the typical Hollow wandering around Karakura Town. In fact, they are less than that, just a bunch of monsters feeding off the weak. So, why should she care about them? Why should she even bother giving them the benefit of the doubt and assume that there's still something in there?

As time went on and she eliminated more of them, she would find herself wondering about these questions further. At first, they were nothing more than what they were, though soon, they changed. They became less interrogative, less inquisitive. After a time, Kimiko even found them dubious, as though they were not questions of her own creation. Nevertheless, she would eventually find herself giving credence to them. Indeed, why should she care about these people? Why should she bother thinking about their fate and how to reverse it? That wasn't her job. She wasn't a member of the Fifth or the Twelfth whose task was to potentially find a way to heal those people, even if it now appeared as though it was going to be an impossible task. No, her task here was to do battle with them, to beat them, to exterminate them. Why not just focus on the task at hand, then? Why not just... enjoy herself in the process, and have a good old time slaughtering zombies?

Yes... that seemed about right.

After she reached her conclusion, a smidgen of darkness could be perceived within Kimiko's spiritual energy by those who had the ability to do so. Celes, with her experience in the matter, might even recognize it despite possessing no skill of her own to detect energy. It was small at first, barely noticeable, though it was becoming bigger and bigger, forcing the red aura she sported to take on a darker shade over the course of time. Her face, previously so bothered and concerned by the fate of her current enemies, had twisted itself into an expression of utter excitement like the one she wore countless times before. Her eyes were wide opened, almost painfully so, and her mouth was almost widening into a full-blown smirk. Enough distress, enough worry. She didn't need those two pesky things anymore. What she needed now was to fight and she was going to enjoy that fight! That's what's going to push her forward through this damned mess! That's what's going to make her find the bastard responsible for this! That's what's going to bring her and her comrades back to Seireitei in one piece by the end of the day!

And with that, the Shinigami rushed forward with a sharp rise of her spiritual pressure, and screamed a war cry that resonated throughout the area louder than ever. The remaining infected that survived the moons, in their ignorance, almost seemed taken aback by the sudden bestial temper of the one they were facing before they were swiftly cut down. Limbs and cut off corpses flew into the streets below, blown away by the spiritual strength showcased by the girl's blade, and blood followed them close. At that point, even with the white "ink" surrounding her and her blade, it was hard not to discern the red that covered them both. For all an onlooker would know, she appeared she had gone and slew a whole army by herself. "COME ON! COME HERE!" She let out, letting her quiet, passive shell she always sports so naturally out of battle completely shatter into a thousand pieces. "I'M HERE! COME AND TRY TO EAT ME!!!" 

Should one have calculated the time it took for Celes' spear-and-shield mastery, Kimiko's swordsmanship, and Tsukuyomi's moons to take down the many infected that so desperately tried to rush them down, it would have taken them about two minutes. For Kimiko, it felt like hours, grand portion of times in which she felt absolutely invincible. The adrenaline was fueling her to such a degree that she lost all sense of time, leading her to feel as though there would be no end to what she swiftly began to consider as a wonderful battle. But all things come to an end, and like all things, this battle did too. All so suddenly, the infected stopped coming, and the three warriors were allowed a moment of respite. Noticing that there were no more beasts coming in the moment, the blood-drenched officer would gaze at her surroundings with her wide scarlet eyes, awaiting the arrival of other enemies. She stood still in this moment, panting lightly and wincing a bit from her earlier leg injury. Then... she saw the blood converge.

In a sickening display of grotesque horror, the parts scattered about the place which once formed the infected would converge towards specific locations. Bones could be heard cracking sickeningly from the process, muscles could be seen being stretched unnaturally to accommodate for a greater size, and skin would be torn so many times over to cover it all that it would turn into a different color altogether. Eventually, the process was completed, and its results were revealed to the Shinigami. What once were multiple dozens, if not hundreds of infected had been merged and transformed into ten green-skinned beings that towered over them all. They were taller than them, larger than them, and much more defined than them. It was a disgusting display, and for all sense and purposes, their existence proved without a shadow of a doubt that the infection was no disease, but rather someone's ability, more specifically the ability of someone from Hollowkind.

To Kimiko, however, they were just new targets to slaughter.

Upon their formation, the Fifth Seat of the Eleventh Division would stare intently at the four beings who stood not far from her and Tsukuyomi's position on the rooftops. By that point, her spiritual energy had risen to its maximum potential, causing the roof she stood on to be pressed slightly downward, enough so that it caused the creation of small cracks in their foundation. She would await their approach almost quietly, continuing to give them her bloodthirsty gaze before she called: "LET'S GO, CELES, FUKUTAICHO!" Her voice was as loud as ever, resonating in the area once again. It was almost inspirational, if not a bit insane, which was quite reminiscent of many soldiers of the Eleventh. "ONWARD!!" And with that, she dashed towards the closest of the literal hulks, and attempted to deliver a swift Iaijutsu slash to its eyes, clearly attempting to cut half of its head off in the process while it would be busy with Tsukuyomi's moons.

          Reiatsu: 3700/4050 | Shizukakane (1.5m) : 6 Posts Remaining | Light Gauge : 60%

[Celes Castellanos]

The moment of reprieve that she was granted allowed Celes to give all that had happened some thought even as she was covered in the blood of those she had sworn to protect. Senshi was gone. Run off to find the one responsible for causing this infection to flourish among the citizens of the Rukongai. Kimiko and Tsukuyomi were elsewhere, likely tearing through hordes of the raised dead. The Shinigami bit her lip as she fell to her knees for a moment, the strain upon her muscles was going to get worse and worse if she continued. "Will I be enough? Can I and two others hold off these hordes? Will my body give out if I keep going..." These questions and more raced through her mind as she looked upon the faces of corpses that lie around her.

Each one carried with it the face of anguish. Celes eyed them more closely. Her heart nearly stopped upon looking closer. These weren't just contortions brought about by a violent death. They were tortured expressions. Fear permeated around them. Celes gritted her teeth at the realization. She shook her head. "What am I talking about...we have to be enough. There's nobody else here, but us three. Kimiko, Tsukuyomi and I. We can repel this threat!" As she reassured herself, Celes did not initially see the blood move or bodies crawl. They were converging out of the corner of her eye. Great masses of flesh and bone emerged from numerous corpses. 

The Captain was stirred the noises just as they were at their apex. Just as they finished. She groaned as lumbering hulks of dead flesh arose. Five arose near the Captain, still attempting to sense the environment around them like newborns. As this gut-wrenching display continued, Celes took note of something else. She whipped her head around as a new feeling arose. Celes had pathetic energy sensing capabilities, but she knew well the feeling of her disciple well. She could sense her upon the wind and yet something seemed off. A touch of shadow rested upon her. Celes' brow furrowed as she bit her lip. "What the hell...?" The feeling was somewhat familiar and yet unknown to her.

Soon, however, Celes would have much bigger trouble on her plate. She began to hear the approaching of lumbering footsteps. As she turned her head, she saw one of the renewed zombies had already closed the distance. Arm raised and ready to slam down, Celes quickly used Shukuchi-Ho from her kneeling position to not only raise herself, but also create a distance of thirty feet. Using her incredible strength, she launched herself to another roof as the sluggish arm came down upon the flickering afterimage. The result was devastating and alarming to the Captain as with one blow, a cloud of dust arose from the roof. Splinters launched in every direction as the smokescreen obfuscated the view. Its strength was incredible despite its speed. Celes launched a shockwave to clear the smoke faster and as it did, her suspicion was correct. The roof lay in shambles, the mounds of flesh peeing at her as a predator does prey. 

Celes gritted her teeth, steeling herself. It was then that she heard a voice upon the wind. "LET'S GO, CELES, FUKUTAICHO!" Celes recognized it immediately. Her voice burned with passion. "ONWARD!!" She understood what it was. A rallying cry. The Captain grinned. "Yes Kimiko. You're absolutely right!" Celes began by peering at the five lumbering giants that had their eyes set upon her and the Captain bellowed loudly as she slammed her spear into he shield. CLANG. BANG. "Come on! I'm over here! Gaze upon the bringer of your end!" As she finished speaking, she would begin making her way over to Kimiko and Tsukuyomi's location. If they were to fail, then they should at least stand together. Celes' plan for her adversaries was simple. To lead them over to their group staying just out of reach. Moving at a speed of 200, she'd try to ferry them over to where Tsukuyomi and Kimiko were located, likely taking a few minutes to do so.

If she was successful in looking upon Kimiko and Tsukuyomi while leading the remaining giants with her, Celes would begin her plan. Accelerating to a speed of 500, nearly triple their speed, Celes attempted to slam her shield into one of them. Should she have been successful, Celes would allow her reiatsu to run into the giant and disperse wildly. Suddenly, thick chains would across the giant's body, immobilizing him. All the struggling in the world would do him no good. In fact, the chains would grow tighter. If successful with the first, Celes would repeat this action with the nearest other one, attempting to replicate the chains that hopefully assaulted the first. Assuming that both were now immobilized, Celes called over. "I've restrained two of them! Show them what happens when they oppose the sword and shield of the Soul Society!" In the meantime, Celes would dart at two more, focusing reiatsu through her Zanpakutou. A light-blue flame, nearly invisible to the eye, shrouded the tip of the spear. This Hakuda technique, Spirit Fang, was inteded to weaken the strong and bring them to her knees. Celes would attempt to spear one of the unrestrained giants, the reiatsu flowing through it and potentially assaulting its very soul. If successful with the first, she'd attempt it with another, the reiatsu hopefully once again flowing through its body if her spear aimed true.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu & Resources}

Bound by Chains - 8
Disciple of War + 1

Total Reiatsu: 1450/2000
Total Marks of War: 3/10
Total Symbols of Peace: 8/10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shukuchi-Ho}Technique Name: Shukuchi-Ho (Reduced Earth Steps)

Class: 3

Technique Type: Hakuda

Technique Element: None.

Description: The user makes use of his innate speed to move flawlessly. From a standing stance, or from any resting position, the first step that the user does becomes an illusion, moving quickly than the eye can see. This technique gives the user a short burst of speed to move and invade an opponent's personal space, and engage in hand to hand combat, or to weave in and out of an opponent's attack. This move triples normal speed for each step, and uses no reiatsu.

How to use: The user simply channels reiatsu around his feet instead of gathering spirit particles as what Shunpo or Sonido does.

Drawback(s): Shukuchi-Ho requires its user to have at least a base SPEED of 400 points, and is versed in Hakuda (meaning the character must be very knowledgeable in the shinigami art of hand-to-hand fighting). Also, the technique can only be used if the opponent is within 10 meters of the user. If the opponent is too far, the technique cannot be used. A maximum of 2 steps per post can only be done using Shukuchi-Ho, nothing more, nothing less. Note that Shukuchi-Ho is by no means superior to Shunpo or Sonido.

Made By: Kousaru Mugenryu

Reserved: [Captains and Zero Division Shinigami Only]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Strength Step}Technique Name: [Strength Step]

Class: [4]

Technique Type (Kido, Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other): [General Physical Technique]

Usable By (Technique is available to which races?): [All Races]

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect):

This, first and foremost, is not a Strength based Step Technique. It does not boost stats, and does nothing involving speed. People of high enough strength are more powerful in all aspects of their body in comparison to those who are weak. Their arms can push harder, their abs can stop punches, and they can perform feats such as jumping higher. This last one is what Strength Step uses for its effect. By crouching down and bunching up their leg muscles, strong people can push off the ground at incredible strengths, sending them soaring into the air. This can be useful in a variety of ways.

To use the base form of this technique, the character must have 400 strength. They can use that strength to propel themselves much like the Hulk is seen doing, jumping over and over again over a long distance. At higher levels of strength, they can use this technique more powerfully. While at 400 strength the ground will only bend and crack, at 600 strength the person pushing off the ground will leave a fairly large crater, measuring a few feet in diameter. At 1000 strength, the person will be able to use this technique in a much more offensive way.

By using their full strength, pushing off the ground will not only leave a good sized crater, but the air will be forced around them as they push through it, causing a cone of air to build up. This cone is not large, like a supersonic cone would be, but merely measures a foot away in all directions from the person pushing. This cone of air can push away any physical projectiles or attacks of inferior strength, and because they can already push through Reiatsu techniques, even the air can disperse reiatsu techniques if the strength is 50% superior than the offensive stat of the technique.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): [See Above]

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc) Stamina drain, muscle damage for repeated use, possible issues with falling if jumping off of a high building.

Made By: Kyomei

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bound By Chains - 1000 Durability}Technique Name: Bound by Chains

Technique Type: [Physical]

Usable By: Shinigami

Technique Element: [None]

Technique Description and Effects: Bound by Chains represents the aftermath of war. The anguish that follows in every opponent once they lose their will to fight and are quite literally bound by chains. To use this technique Celes needs to make contact with her opponent. This can be with her release weapon or Celes physically touching her opponent, just as long as there is some contact between herself and her opponent. Once this occurs, Celes spends a portion of her own strength to manifest chains on the opponents' body. The ratio is 1:5 to determine the durability of these chains. If Celes spends 100 strength to manifest these chains have a durability of 500. The chains upon creation spread around the victims entire body and leave them helpless and at the mercy of the user. These chains also respond to resistance. The chains punish those that refuse to submit. If force is applied to the chains that does not outright break then, the chains tighten and the victim suffers a loss of breath that becomes worse as more resistance is given. The durability of the chains can only be increased to a max of 1.5x Celes OS. If Celes has a Strength of 1000, she can only make the chains have a maximum durability of 1500 and it requires her to give up 300 strength which effectively temporarily sets her Strength to 700.


1 - 4 Marks of War - Spending 1 to 4 Marks of War allows Celes to substitute part of the strength she would be sacrificing into the chains. Each Mark of War spent increased the OS of the chains by 25% of Celes' OS. For example, if Celes spends 3 marks and has 1000 strength, the OS of the chains would be 750. Celes can donate her own strength just like normally to increase the remaining OS to a maximum of 1.5x her OS.

5 Marks of War - Spending 5 Marks of War does not allow Celes to substitute her strength sealing with Marks, but instead performs something much more sinister. The chains are intended to cause its victim to lose hope and any chance of escape. If this property is invoked by spending 5 Marks, the victim becomes incapable of using reiatsu while they are bound. Much like Kurapika in Hunter x Hunter with his chain prison which enforces Zetsu, Celes' Bound in Chains will prevent the usage of reiatsu for as long as the victim is bound. To clarify, if the OS of the victim is RS or SpPr, they can still break the chains if it exceeds the OS of the chains. The inability to use reiatsu is intended to stop the victim from using techniques to "phase" or otherwise easily escape from the chains if they do not meet the appropriate OS requirement.

Technique Drawbacks: Bound by Chains while a terrifying ability does have a number of drawbacks. First and foremost is the strength sealing requirement. These chains are not purely spiritual chains. They are spiritual links made up of Celes' own strength. Since she is sacrificing strength to form these chains, she is also bulking down her physical ability. If this strength sealing would cause Celes to drop below strength thresholds, she cannot use those abilities associated with strength until she regains it. I.E if Celes dropped below 600 strength due to this technique, she could no longer generate shockwaves until her strength returns to 600 or above. If the chains were to be broken, Celes' does not immediately regain the sealed strength. Instead, she regains the sealed strength after 2 posts. A superior OS or Class Superiority to Celes will serve to immediately break the chains with minimal effort. However, 2 posts of continuous struggles can also break the chain. The victim will feel the chains tighten, but can ignore it with enough mental fortitude. After breaking free due to the struggling, the victim will need to rest for one post due to loss of breath.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Greater Wild Arts: Spirit Fang}Technique Name: Taibu Gigei Mikon: Konjou Shikon [Greater Wild Arts: Spirit Fang]

Class: 2

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:

“There is always someone stronger” is a saying that few take to heart, but from that understanding came a technique that would weaken those who are strong and bring them down to the user's level. The Soul Fang literally delves into the target’s soul, no longer just tearing at it but ripping it apart and weakening the foe. This is a slight alteration to standard Reiatsu, a thinned-out and distilled version that passes through and does not damage solid matter. However, when these fangs tear into a target, it is easy to tell; weakness and dizziness overcome a target on the first hit, and subsequent hits only make it worse.

This technique, on a successful hit, lowers the target’s stats by 10% of their original amount after Type changes. 5% is recovered every three posts, or after an extended rest. This effect also stacks with itself.

How to use technique: The user surrounds the weapon or limb that they are using to strike with Reiatsu, but then allow that Reiatsu to disperse and thin out. Then they attack physically, striking at the opponent’s body, letting the Reiatsu tear through their spirit.

Drawback: This technique can only be used twice per post, successful or not. It can also be blocked by defending against the attacking weapon or limb; though the Reiatsu that is used to bite into the enemy's spirit is insubstantial, the weapon or limb is not.

Requirements: This requires a 3 in Hakuda along with a 3 in any weapon that the user chooses to make use of with this technique.

Made by: [Zeich Yajuu]

Bankai: 4/10

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Looking on in disbelief that was the only way he would be able to explain it to anyone that wasn’t actually here to experience it. Tsukuyomi was standing with Mikoto in his hand while Honshitsu sat on his hip. This was a battlefield that he couldn’t really compare to any other he’d been through in his time as a Shinigami. These things didn’t seem to care about what his moons could do nor what they were doing to the others around them. Normally when a Harvest Moon was employed on the battlefield Tsukuyomi watched his foes dance around the green orb of reiatsu doing everything they can to keep themselves at a safe distance. These things though they just kept rushing in ignoring the visual scenes of limbs being cut off, bodies being cut through, others dropping whether it took a couple of seconds or instant, they didn’t process it.

Tsukuyomi, dumbfounded by what he was watching, almost couldn’t believe it to the point that Kimiko’s bloodthirst was overlooked up to the point that her reiatsu started to flare like crazy. Snapping him out of the sort of trance that he had inadvertently fallen into Tsukuyomi reallocated himself t on the situation focusing his reiatsu in order to send out two additional new moons knowing that a steady stream of them would be necessary in order to emerge from this battle alive. What he was seeing right now brought only a single thought to his mind that he didn’t realize until afterwards he’d spoken out loud. “I wonder if all Kimiko’s fight like beasts.” The aimless question brought on while witnessing his Fifth Seat fighting with a series of war cries.

After what seemed like several minutes of constant surveying the situation, moving Mikoto and focusing his reiatsu Tsukuyomi laid his vision on the literal stream of blood that had been formed not just by Mikoto, but Kimiko as well. A sight that made the Vice Captain question if he was really the right one to be handling this, someone had to clean this up afterwards. A nightmarish task that Tsukuyomi couldn’t push onto anyone else.

“Don’t worry after it’s all finished, I’ll just burn everything.”

Tsukuyomi heard the voice coming from within, acknowledging it immediately as Honshitsu with her high pitched joyous voice. “Right, thank you.” Tsukuyomi spoke in a low manner yet still haunted by what he’d done. Almost as if responding to his own negative emotions an image flashed through his mind, more so a memory of buildings engulfed in flames, screams surrounding him while everything else felt heavy. Although it was like a flash gone in an instant, Tsukuyomi felt a chill knowing that his past was plaguing him even now with the memory of that Black Hell.

The movement of the flesh, blood, bones all an image that Tsukuyomi quite frankly couldn’t handle at the moment his usually calm trained mind was running wild from his guilt. Inching forward Tsukuyomi begins to take a step forward only for him to feel a grasp on his left hand. A heavy hold yet soft and comforting even on his wounded form. Looking down, the Vice Captain can see the image of Mikoto’s hand overlapping his own signaling that like always she was there with him.

From that point on Tsukuyomi would do what he could, hearing Captain of the Ten coming over towards them while Kimiko fought on. Tsukuyomi turning one of the new white moons into another black bad moon and positioning it over towards one of these giant green monsters. If they were like the other infected they wouldn’t be able to overcome the gravity of the bad moons and overwhelm Kimiko. Two of them keep on lock down while Kimiko rushes another and Tsukuyomi positions two more moons. This time both staying just at the edge of their influence green in brilliant color as everything around them is cut to ribbons. He’d unleash a constant blender like effect on the three brutes with one moon affecting the two on lock down and of course the other by its lonesome.

Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto: 2/7

Bad Moons: 2
Harvest Moon: 2
New Moon: 2
Moons: 6/6

Remaining Reiatsu: 4750/6000
Shingetsu: (-150)
Warui Tsuki: (-200)
Bokujō Monogatari: (-200)

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

The small group of Shinigami wasted no time in their efforts to handle the strange muscle bound jade colored foes that had been formed on the field of war. Moving almost as if they were able to actually see one another with a bird’s eye view. Each one of them moving in tandem. Sadly though they’d find that these ones weren’t so easily brought down like the infected that they’d been dealing with up to this point. While the others had been remarkably fast and fairly strong physically these things were exceptionally strong. The muscles that littered their bodies like an infection itself proved to be quite an advantage to them while a pain in the ass to the Shinigami methods of combat. Something that Tsukuyomi and Kimiko would learn before even Celes.

Slashing at the eyes of the hulking monster in front of her wasn’t a bad choice of action yet Kimiko would feel her zanpakuto met with unbridled resistance as it’s edge stopped immediately against the jade skin of the monster almost like it possessed Heirro yet no sparks flew from the impact. Vibrations through her hand and up her arm would tell Kimiko the force of her swing hadn’t been absorbed nor negated yet it had been stopped all the same. While the Harvest Moons were close by cutting apart the ground beneath them no such wounds apparatus on the green foes. Standing there feeling the pull of the black moons the two under the effects turned recognizing what was happening.

In the moment that followed Kimiko would have to evade a wide arm swing from her left side meant to knock her off her feet through the air with enough force to break most of her upper body if full contact was made. As for Tsukuyomi, well he’d have to worry about the giants smacking his black moons, managing to shatter them in an instant while the one free had taken notice of him. Jumping through the air with a shockwave just like Celes had been doing with every intention of bringing his arms downwards to eliminate the Vice Captain in a single blow.

Celes would find a bit more success as she smacked her shield against two of these monsters bringing forth chains to bind them that actually seemed potent enough to keep them at bay. Dropping down to the ground while struggling against the chains the brutes began to scream in a rage as the ground under them cracked in several directions like a plate being dropped on the floor. As Celes took her attention away from the two that she bound with chains to move over to the next two they’d begin to glow a bright green while getting louder. Celes wouldn’t have time to execute Spirit Fang so easily though as she began the technique one of the brute rushes inwards with Strength Step attempting to slam into her with a frontal tackle. The other stepped forward at a speed one wouldn’t expect in order to arrive behind Celes to punch her downwards to the ground right after being slammed into. These things could use Shunpo!

2 restrained, glowing bright green while screaming
1 attacking Tsukuyomi
1 attacking Kimiko
2 attacking bad moons

1 going after Senshi

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The strength of Kimiko's monstrous will had risen all around her into a showcase of mystical might. It oozed with great energy that boomed all around her position with such power that it caused the rooftops below her to crack ever-so-slightly. The windows that allowed sunlight to pour inside of the buildings she stood on would shake tremendously as though they were about to crack, the furniture inside would tremble and whine from the rising pressure, and a few tools lying about would fall and be pressed against the floor. To see the Fifth Seat's innate power have such an effect on her environment wasn't really that surprising; after all, even when she was nothing more than a student of the Academy, she had already been noticed as someone with a very generous spiritual reservoir. However, it had never grown to such an extent. She was a Fifth Seat, someone whose energy should not have such power, and yet it almost seemed as though she could already affect gravity itself like the officers above her rank. It would be impressive if it was not so dark and intimidating.

Kimiko herself was barely acknowledging the spiritual strength that she was presenting to both Celes and Tsukuyomi. To her mind so filled with adrenaline and blood-thirst, it was nothing more than a simple detail of the battlefield that she could ignore to her heart's content, nothing more, nothing less. Hell, she barely even registered what Tsukuyomi said about her fighting style. What was more important to her at this point in time were the new targets that had arisen from the fallen. Like the infected which they were made of, they appeared to only possess one goal in this new life they were granted, and it was to kill everything in their way. At the very least, that is what their hungered gazes subconsciously told to Kimiko. They were mounds of unintelligent flesh, muscled monsters who only want to destroy the homes of the innocent and then consume those which have the misfortune to inhabit them. They were beasts that required cleansing, detritus, something that needed to be killed before they would go on killing.

She had no idea how long a battle against them was going to last. There were ten of these hulks in total, and all of them looked sturdy enough to survive against even the strongest of hits more than once. Maybe fighting them was going to take a disappointingly-short couple of seconds. They could, after all, only look strong. Maybe it was instead going to take a couple of hours until the following dawn. Hell, maybe it was going to last forever, or at least appear as though it was going to do so much like how her brief battle with the remaining infected had been moments prior. Either way, she was going to fight these things to the end if need be, and she wasn't going to let that pesky fear of death that was still dwelling there in the corners of her mind ruin it all for her. "MY NAME IS NAKAJIMA KIMIKO, ZARAKI COMPANY, FIFTH SEAT!" She would shout towards the large ones with wide eyes as she rushed onward alongside Tsukuyomi's moons and Celes not far behind. "I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A GREAT FIGHT!!!"

Of course, her shouting would not actually intimidate the beasts. Unlike the infected from before who still had a semblance of humanity within them, these were monsters and monsters only. Case in point, the one that she confronted showed no emotional reaction to her emotional and spiritual outburst. In fact, it didn't even initially show a physical reaction to the blade she had directed straight for its eyes. Instead, it kept on staring at her, and given what would happen next in this encounter... perhaps it had the right to not react to her in such a way. In fact, it appeared to have a very legitimate reason to not do so. Rather than receiving a direct cut to its eyes, the green monster would seemingly not even be wounded by the attack, as its impenetrable muscles and toxic skin would do the blocking for him. It was a very odd way to defend one's self, as those two things didn't push the blade or negated its attack, but rather instead stopped it shortly after impact. 

A normal person would have immediately been discouraged by this development. It was not normal for something to just outright stop an attack like that, after all, and come out of it completely unscathed. However, the bloodthirsty swordswoman gave absolutely no care about its defense. Instead of being distraught by its capabilities, she almost grew more excited, causing her aura to burst yet again as she crouched under the swinging of the beast's arm. This caused the "ink" that surrounded her to head downward, as though dragged by her very body; however, what was happening around them appeared to be more pressing. The more Kimiko remained on this particular rooftop, the more it kept cracking. The forming cracks were becoming so overwhelming that it was creating a small-scaled cacophony. In fact, for a moment, it almost seemed as though this was going to lead to a complete collapse of the structure below. Of course, that didn't happen. Its structure wasn't going to be defeated by the spiritual pressure of a mere Fifth Seat... hopefully.

Not that that was an issue for Kimiko. Again, she wasn't going to preoccupy herself with such things. Rather than doing so, she would focus onto her current target. Shortly after she dodged the attack, she would raise her eyes and give it a good stare that stared deeper into its ravenous glare. Her gaze was visibly bloodthirsty and aching for violence, as though her soul was quite literally burning in anticipation for what would follow the beginning of this fight between herself and this beast. If that wasn't enough, her clenched teeth had by then already started turning into a full-blown grin, and her aura continued growing ever-so-slightly darker. With her gaze maintained onto the creature's, she would return her lengthened blade to its scabbard, then crouch down in front of it with great speed. "You're slow." Her grin opened to let out what was akin to a cruel taunt. Before the beast could reply in any fashion, be it physically or somehow vocally, she would then scream once again: "DON'T WASTE MY TIME! FIGHT ME WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT!!"

What followed was what could only be described as a violent torrent of Iaijutsu slices each directed towards the creature's eyes. This time around, Kimiko did nod thrown all of her strength against the beast's head to accomplish her goal. Instead of doing so, she aimed to strike it with the tip of her blade so as the weapon slide against its face. She did so multiple times from opposite directions with wild speed, planning to reduce its face to ribbons and rid it of its sight forever while dodging incoming attacks. It was nothing short of a bestial display of power and confidence... and somehow, it did not seem like she was becoming any more exhausted from this.

          Reiatsu: 3700/4050 | Shizukakane (2m) : 5 Posts Remaining | Light Gauge : 75%

[Celes Castellanos]

Slamming her shield into the hulking beasts certainly seemed to pay off as two of the zombies were far too slow to react. Chains began to form at their torso, slithering up their limbs and restraining them with no concern for comfort or mercy. It seemed that it did not matter anyway. The hulking masses of flesh attempted to tear through the chains, but to no avail. They'd roar and tug at the hardened chains, but no amount of strength could help them escape in that moment. They needed to keep struggling and Celes had a feeling that they would do just that. These zombies held no concern for fatigue. They were brutal and ruthless. Relentless. Thankfully, Tsukuyomi would see to it that they took advantage of the chains.

Moon rocketed forth and attempted to assault the restrained hulks. Roars would emerge from them as their eyes glowed and their flesh took on a shining emerald. In any other circumstance, Celes was fascinated to see just what they could do. Unfortunately for her, this was not that time. The Rukongai lay under siege and its inhabitants were being slaughtered and changed into this by the thousands. It was far from ideal for the Captain of the Tenth. Regardless, she knew that she needed to push forward. Allowing reiatsu to flow through her spear and surround the tip with a sparkling sheen of reiatsu, Celes was ready to continue her assault. At least, that's what she thought.

Looking at one of other hulking beasts, his stance looked incredibly familiar. Without much warning, hulking masses lunged forward, similar to how a wild boar prepared to tackle its prey. Celes' warrior instict kicked in almost immediately as she concentrated her focus unto her shield, kneeling and doffing her shield at an impressive speed, she slammed the large shield into the stone below. Digging it into the ground, she focused and allowed her reiatsu to flow into the weapon which was lodged into the ground. From it, a barrier 20 ft in width and 10 ft tall would emerge which looked to block the charging giant as it were slamming into a steel wall. If it rammed into it, it would find it to be incredibly study as Celes left the shield lodged into the ground. While she'd be left without a shield for the moment, she knew that one of her blindspots now possessed an incredible barrier.

It seemed that the other giant had other plans as he vanished from sight just as the other beast hopefully ran into the barrier. For it to suddenly vanish from sight despite its crippling speed, Celes had a few ideas. Alarms began to ring in her mind as she widened her eyes. Suddenly, a familiar sound of wind met her ears. This confirmed all she needed to know. "Shunpo?!" Her head whipped around violently as a hulking shadow shrouded her. Its fist raised and ready to attack, Celes' eyes narrowed, moving towards the descending fist with her superior speed of 625, Celes hand rose to match it as her spear fell to the ground, clattering against the stone floor.

To anyone else, this would likely look like suicide, but Celes had a plan. Assuming that the beast continued to attempt to strike at Celes and the Shinigami was successful at making contact with the mass of flesh that made up its arm, the Shinigami would begin loosening up her body. The shock and force of the blow began to run through her arm and she'd attempt to channel it through her very body. Sliding forward and using her free hand, Celes curled it into a fist and shot her fist forward like a rocket. This usage of Hakuda, known as Ichinen, aimed to use the power of an opponent against them in a vicious counterattack. In this case, if Celes' fist came to blows with the masses' chest, she'd tear into it with a combined force of 2000 Strength. This would be above anything that Celes could output on her own. 

Assuming she was successful, her arm ached as it was in a short moment still subject to incredible strain from intercepting the hulking zombies' strike. She could not stop here. Even if it cost her body and her very life. She had to keep pushing. Assuming that the other giant was still on the other side of the barrier, Celes utilized another Shukuchi-Ho. Using a heightened speed of 1875 while leaving a hazy afterimage, Celes could aim to arrive in front of the zombie that used the Strength Step. Hopefully in position, the Shinigami allowed reiatsu to now flow through the muscles, hardening them against the strain they were about to undergo. In the blink of an eye, a flurry of erupted from Celes. Her arms seemed to blur to anyone near her. In reality, Celes delivered a set of 25 pinpoint strike at an incredible speed of 1250. Each strike carried with it a force greater than whatever these giants could likely muster, assaulting the midline of the zombie. After the display of the Wild Arts, if the zombie was still moving, Celes would attempt to deliver a spinning kick towards its head, aiming to rip it off with one powerful sweep. 

It was in that moment, coming down from the high of combat, that Celes would feel something chill her soul. A voice accompanied it, filled with passion and anger. "DON'T WASTE MY TIME! FIGHT ME WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT!!" It was the voice of her disciple, Kimiko. Her energy felt off. There was a passion to it, but it felt so cold...almost as though she sensed the dark intentions of murder. Celes could not help, but gaze in wonder as her disciple attempted to execute a set of Iaijutsu strikes at blazing speeds. Her own pride aside, Celes felt that something was wrong. She'd give it attention later, but for now, they had to hold off more of these hulking beasts. Assuming that she had promptly executed both of her targets, Celes would retreat behind her barrier. Clipping the spear to her back, Celes dislodged the shield as the barrier began to flicker and retreat. Sliding it onto her back and securing it, she still had her durable armor as a lasting defense. In that moment, however, Celes fell to one knee as she brought her hand to her mouth. She coughed violently and looked at her blood-stained hand. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. "Damn...I must be pushing myself too hard. This feeling. The throbbing of muscles...my labored breath...the taste of iron in my mouth. How I missed it..." She was utterly enthralled even if her body was not sharing in the excitement.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu & Other Resources}

Aegis Assault - 4
Disicple of War + 1

Total Reiatsu: 1450/2000
Total Marks of War: 4/10
Symbols of Peace: 4/10

SPOILER: Click to show

{Aegis Assault - 2000 Durability}Technique Name: Aegis Assault

Technique Type: [Physical]

Usable By: Shinigami

Technique Element: [None]

Technique Description and Effects: As a vanguard of the weak blessed by Athena, Celes is able to create a wide frontal shield that serves to protect Celes and offer respite to those under her care. Simultaneously, Celes is able to rapidly retaliate against any opposition that dares cross close to her defense. Using her shield as the central conduit, Celes is able to create a physical barrier in front of her by bending her knees and raising her shield. This barrier is 20 ft in width and 10 ft in height with Celes as the bottom center. While erecting this formidable defense, Celes can also rapidly execute numerous thrusts with her spear that are able to penetrate the shield. These spear strikes are numerous and relentless, striking with her OS with a speed equal to Celes'. Over the course of a post, Celes can unleash 25 spear strikes. She can at maximum, keep this aegis up for 2 posts which equate to 50 strikes with her spear in a short amount of time. This barrier only clashes with physical techniques.

4 Symbols of Peace - By spending 4 Symbols of Peace, Celes loses the ability to move while this technique is active, but with it, she gains incredible fortitude. By activating this property, Celes drops to one knee and is only able to maintain the Aegis for one post instead of 2. She also loses the ability to retaliate with rapid spear strikes. Instead, any attack that is physical or reiatsu-based will clash against this barrier if it hits. For the purposes of clashing, Celes' barrier will have an OS of 2x making it an extremely powerful, but immobile defensive tool.

Technique Drawbacks: Despite the useful defense of this powerful technique, it carries with it a few concerning drawbacks. First of all, the spear strikes that Celes can execute are very tiring. She can keep the rapid strikes up for 1 post pretty consistently, but if she decides to initiate the next set of spear strikes, Celes will find herself drained of stamina rather quickly. In fact, if Celes maintains the barrier for the full 2 posts, she will require one post of rest. As this barrier is a physical barrier erected by Celes' iron will and strength, it rapidly drains her stamina while using it even while not executing spear strikes. Additionally, outside of using the amplified variant, Celes can only block attacks from the front and even then, only physical attacks. Additionally, she moves at half her normal speed while this barrier is erected. While using the regular version of Aegis Assault, she can still rotate in a circle at half of her speed.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ichinen}Technique Name: [Ichinen]

Class: [3]

Technique Type: [Kido]

Technique Element: [None]

Technique Description and Effects:

This powerful Hakuda technique is used by many Hakuda specialists. This takes the retaliation concept of Wing-Chun and applies it to Hakuda. When the enemy launches a physical attack, the user grabs a hold of their attack, and loosens up the body, becoming a single, fluid motion of instant retaliation. This is a difficult technique to respond to because of the fluidity, requiring a minimum of 100 in instinct/senses to react to.

Once this happens, the user redirects that force into a forward punch into the enemy's body. This punch has the strength of both the user and enemy layered on top of one another for extra damage due to the absorption of force.

How to use technique:

Requires at least a 3 in Hakuda to be used. Also requires at least a 1 in any one of the following martial arts: Wing Chun, Jiujitsu, Karatedo, Kung Fu, TKD, Keysi, Hapkido, or Shotokan. Class 3+ characters only.

Drawback:

Physical strain of the body.

Made by: [Admin]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shukuchi-Ho}Technique Name: Shukuchi-Ho (Reduced Earth Steps)

Class: 3

Technique Type: Hakuda

Technique Element: None.

Description: The user makes use of his innate speed to move flawlessly. From a standing stance, or from any resting position, the first step that the user does becomes an illusion, moving quickly than the eye can see. This technique gives the user a short burst of speed to move and invade an opponent's personal space, and engage in hand to hand combat, or to weave in and out of an opponent's attack. This move triples normal speed for each step, and uses no reiatsu.

How to use: The user simply channels reiatsu around his feet instead of gathering spirit particles as what Shunpo or Sonido does.

Drawback(s): Shukuchi-Ho requires its user to have at least a base SPEED of 400 points, and is versed in Hakuda (meaning the character must be very knowledgeable in the shinigami art of hand-to-hand fighting). Also, the technique can only be used if the opponent is within 10 meters of the user. If the opponent is too far, the technique cannot be used. A maximum of 2 steps per post can only be done using Shukuchi-Ho, nothing more, nothing less. Note that Shukuchi-Ho is by no means superior to Shunpo or Sonido.

Made By: Kousaru Mugenryu

Reserved: [Captains and Zero Division Shinigami Only]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Wild Arts: Hundred Fangs - 1625 OS}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]

Bankai: 5/10

[Senshi Odayakama (Crimson.)]

When engaged with her singular green monstrosity, as there was the grotesque formation and melding of limbs and blood, she had crossed her hands together and looked onwards. Without a single word, she showed her mastery of Shonin Joka. For with  single swing of her blade, all of the extending whip like branches became incredibly thin. So thin that they were no larger than wires in a sense. Manipulating her sword. The incredibly thin wire shaped blades look to sink into and rip the monstrosity into hundreds of small pieces. 

Though. She could feel something else. Something more powerful and malevolent than the monstrosities she had faced. Taking to the rooftops, she dashes with fast speed, her blade having reformed to a singular state, the katana it was, as she then filled herself with the energy of the foes she had felled with her blade. The redheaded reaper advanced ahead, and with it, as she did, she raised her right hand into the sky.

A crimson ball forms at her fingertip and flies up into the air, exploding in a brilliant sparkle and crackle, to catch the attention of Celes, Kimiko, and Tsukuyomi as she neare closer and closer to the potential danger that was the origin. Shakkaho. The brilliant red flame scattered in the sky, dying, and dissipating as the redheaded reaper proceeded with extr caution, looking at the prospect of death closing in. 

her senses were sharp, and she found herself wondering what else might be in store. 

[Tsukuyomi Kawada]

Witnessing what was happening now that these mounds of muscle had started to move on them, Tsukiuyomi was thankful that he could aid his allies. Kimiko and Celes were both the sort that seemed to rush headlong into a fight and hit their foes until they fell to the ground like a certain other Shinigami that he knew all too well. At the moment though, while he was more than able to match the speed of his allies which meant leaving these things in the dust he felt Mikoto was better suited to helping them. His calm method of thinking was back in control and now he had to think in order to succeed. One thing that really stood out to him right now was the simple fact that these things kept coming and now something more dangerous was here, so what were they going to do if dozens of these green giants started to show up?

Tsukuyomi watched as Kimiko rushed in one the giant closest to her yet when her zanpakuto was left unable to even cut into the enemy Tsukuyomi had to do a double take quickly gazing over all of the others and realizing that the giant nearest the Harvest Moon was fine. The aura of the moon that cut everything around it like a blender . . . was useless. “How these things can’t be Arrancar so what’s protecting their skin?” Tsukuyomi didn’t have any time to figure out an answer though as the two other giants shattered at his Bad Moons, shattering them right away in order to free themselves. His attention had been diverted and now it’d cost him yet it was contained once again right away as the giant nearest the harvest rushed in on him.

Stepping backwards, turning to the side and pulling out Unum once again from his back, Tsukuyomi’s movements precise almost like a dancer moving in the same sequenced steps for the thousandth time. While the others could match his speed none present could move with the same grace as the Vice Captain of the Eleventh. The short straight sword moving directly forward with a smooth thrust. Tsukuyomi knew he was taking a risk yet with his speed advantage he was certain he’d be able to pierce through the eye of this giant before its arm could make its way down to him. In order to make sure of his success a faint burst of reiatsu rushed along Unum’s blade activating its ability to push away everything near its blade which in this case was hopefully the brain of this monster.

Whether successful or not though he’d hear Kimiko begin to scream, taking notice of her reiatsu and a cold sensation up his spine. What he was feeling from her was eerily similar to how he felt when . . . No she couldn’t be like him. Either way though she was being reckless and if she didn’t start to get control over herself she ran the risk of leaving herself wide open. Tsukuyomi hadn’t noticed Celes in the area quite yet, but could see Kimiko unleashing a flurry of slashes that would be difficult for even him to survive yet he had a feeling these monsters were vastly more durable. Waving Mikoto forward a new moon of pure white the size of a basketball flew through the air at 500 speed set to either slam into the head of the monster should it survive Kimiko’s assault or protect her should one of the others rush her.

Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto: 3/7

Bad Moons: 0
Harvest Moon: 2
New Moon: 3
Moons: 5/6

Remaining Reiatsu: 4625/6000
Unum: (-50)
Shingetsu: (-75)