Of Cults and Commoners

[Kitai Yoru]

Kitai stared at his fellow Saika. It wasn't one filled with disbelief, or anger, or even some mixture of everything in-between. No, it was a blank stare, one that made it impossible for Jeff to understand how the Lunatic was feeling. If he had bothered to glance over to the clone, he would find himself with a similar gaze, as the second Kitai had stopped working on the weapon entirely, having placed it down on the table, and had his hands steepled together. There was silence for a moment, before the Kitai in front of him took a deep breath, and started walking into the back room.

The second Kitai walked out from behind the counter, and gently placed his hand on the shoulder of the maskless Saika. "Heh. Jeff, buddy, did you know that I've actually met Orobas once? Not 'me' me, but the original Kitai has. The two of them fought and scarred the wastelands of the Seventh Layer that will take mountains of corpses to refill. The two of them aren't at all on good terms." He slowly explained to Jeff that he knew his 'other' mentor. "He doesn't hate him... it? When he met Orobas, it was some fish-like tentacle monster." The Lunatic waved his hand through the air, brushing aside the lack of knowledge.

"It doesn't matter. Kitai would gleefully kill any Akki should he be given the chance. And now here you are. Not only have you aligned yourself with them, you decided to join some makeshift faction of Hell. Why the Envinar decided to rebrand their name, I don't know." He rambled on, as he started walking Jeff over towards the entrance of the shop. "Why in the fuck you would join an organization where you willingly connect yourself to Hell of all places, I also don't know. But, I have an idea that will help us both with the arrancar's little game."

Having walked the Branded Saika outside, the clone maneuvered Jeff in front of him, facing away from the shop. "When you get back to Hell, grab Orobas for me, try and bring it in for a chat, and then we can see where we go from there. Until then..." The clone Kitai pulled his foot back, before swinging it forward, punting Jeff in a very unfortunate place. "GET OUT, AND STAY OUT!" The clone Kitai was different from the original Kitai in one major way. While Kitai himself was unable to unleash the full potential of the bodies he created, when he brought them back to life, they had access to their full power.

Jeff, if he wasn't immediately blasted in two from the thousand strength kick, would be sent flying straight into the sky, and would likely die the moment he landed. Either way, he would be out of Kitai's hair for awhile. The clone brushed off whatever blood might have gotten on his pants, and returned to the shop, only to see the other Kitai freaking out. "WHY WOULD SOMEONE WILLINGLY JOIN A DEMON ARMY!?" The Lunatic was pacing around the floor. It looked like he wanted to start throwing things around, only to remember that everything in here was his product.

The thought of joining Hell for whatever reason had never crossed his mind. He'd rather be destroyed in his entirety than help Hell like that. The only reason that he decided to help Jeff out was because, A he was a Saika, B he was even weirder than he was, and C that he wasn't a part of the Envinar. Kitai thought everyone would hate being in Hell. He thought that anyone and everyone would be clawing their way to escape the endless torture that was the fiery pits. But apparently not Jeff! No, he was too good to leave the bottomless abyss forever! He wanted more endless torment! In hindsight, that last one he probably should have seen coming, but he figured the masochist had some pain to pleasure threshold! How was there someone who enjoyed pain more than he did!?

The second Kitai ignored him, and went into the door leading into the backrooms. Kitai more or less lived in this shop, having made a pretty comfortable home in the basement of the building. The clone Kitai decided to start packing some stuff for this little adventure the original would be going on. He paused for a moment, before ripping his arm off, and tossing it into an important-looking room. The room had hardwood flooring, furred walls, and a big mahogany desk, along with some filing cabinets. The clone closed the door, and used a second technique to stem the bleeding as he he left the room.

The original slammed into said room a few minutes later, seemingly looking for something, before letting out a yelp as he fell into a pool of blood. The man was submerged for a good few seconds, before he broke through the surface, sputtering out curses. "WARN ME NEXT TIME!" He yelled out into the hallway, receiving only mocking laughs in return. Despite what he said, he was thankful that the other Kitai set this up. He could feel the eyes of Hell getting closer to his actual location. This would help stave them off for awhile longer.

While Jeff might have got the go ahead to leave Hell whenever he wanted, he apparently was still bound to the same times out of Hell that he was. He wondered why that was, if he decided to swear his allegiance to... Him. Kitai shuddered at the thought of that man. Sure, Leviathan was scary, but Him? He put terror in Kitai's heart. He thought he knew fear before, he thought he knew fear when Orobas showed him that eye thing that it used on him. But the thought of actually meeting that being felt like he was plunging head first into a pool of ice water. Even now, the fear made him feel cold through the boiling blood of the Blood Pool.

His clone came back a few minutes later, finding Kitai still soaking in the blood. It dipped the stump where his arm was missing into the pool, and regrew the missing limb. "So, I told Jeff to bring Orobas here." Not even mentioning how Jeff might have returned to Hell. That broke Kitai out of his funk, and earned the clone a scowl. "Great. So now we have to deal with an Akki. Just perfect." He palmed his eyes in frustration, only imagining how a second encounter with the Envinar... no, the Sanctus leader, would play out. If the Akki tried to start anything, his clone would be able to back him up, at least while he was at his shop.

"Eh, it's not all bad. Just mostly bad." The clone, ever nonchalant as he was, helpfully informed Kitai. The original could only glare some more at the clone, knowing full well it was stronger than he was. The only reason that it never did, was that they both knew that any and all clones would eventually return to Kitai once they died. While the clone was immune to anything Hell could throw at him, once he did die, he would return to Kitai. It was in his best interest to help the original, no matter how much the two bickered and argued with one another.

Kitai just sighed, as his hands slipped to his sides. "Orobas, we can handle. This Arcadius guy on the other hand... I don't want to lead a Cult of all things, while this guy is screwing with normal people for the heck of it. I don't know the first thing about interacting with normal humans, other than to scare them." The 'how' he was going to lead a cult, or assist Jeff in leading one, was left unsaid, as the two began to ponder just how they were going to beat this hollow at his own game. The bastard was charming, and he hadn't done anything to make the saika hate him just yet, so violence that would destroy the city was off the table for now.

The two pondered, as Kitai was slowly staving off the eyes of Hell with the Blood Pool. "We could turn some of them into Hollows?" The clone offered, but Kitai brushed that line of thought to the side. "No, no, hollows are ghosts, that would be the same as killing them." The clone agreed with a wave of his hand. The original gave an idea. "What if we turned some of them into Fullbringers by training them in Hueco Mundo? As, like, a reward for... something, something something." He said. The clone gave a thoughtful 'hmm'. "And we could train Jeff at the same time. Clever. We need to figure out how those people on the Black Market make such cool stuff." On that, Kitai agreed.

Eventually the clone left, going back to make a list of things Kitai might need, while Kitai finished his time in the pool. A few days after Arcadus left, and he'd kicked Jeff out, a package arrived on the doorstep of the Kitai Shop. Inside were the blueprints for a rather interesting product. "'The Speed Loader', hmm?" Kitai himself looked them over. It was to be used in conjunction with a gun, any gun, and would provide a bottomless clip for said weapon. He wondered who could have sent him such a thing, when he looked at the bottom corner of the paper. "Made by Arcadus... Oh I'll show him...!" He said in irritation, mostly having not thought of such a thing himself, and schemed on how to pay him back for this.

Out of Hell Posts: 100/100 1/3

[Jeff Franklin]

Both Kitai 1.0 and 1.1 are both currently staring at Jeff with dead eye's, almost as if he has just down something that rubbed them the wrong way, but that wasn't something Jeff believed he did that often. The Kitai double put the weapon he had in his hands down just as the Original took a deep breath and let out a long sigh before walking to the back room of the shop. Well, that was a bit odd, but it is what it is. The Kitai clone started walking over to him by this point, placing a hand on Jeff's Shoulder he began explaining Orobas and Kitai's interesting relationship.



Hearing about Kitai's attitude towards Akki, this didn't surprise Jeff too much, after all they were the true demons of Hell and Kitai, like Jeff, was a Saika, a human soul condemned to eternal punishment. Oh how the thought of being punished mad Jeff happy, almost giddy actually, but either way Jeff fully understood why he was condemned and, in fact, actually fully agreed with it. Someone needed to punish the evil adult's of the world and Jeff decided he would be the necessary evil to do so, this didn't mean after he died and was sent to Hell that he would stop offing those he believed to be bad.



Apparently the Kitai clone was shocked, which also meant Kitai himself was shocked, that Jeff would become part of the Sanctus. They don't quite grasp how the inner mechanisms of his mind work, they don't seem to understand that Jeff is using the connections and authority the Sanctus has to punish those who deserve to be punished. The clone begins moving him towards the door until they finally stand outside, directly in front of the shop. "When you get back to Hell, grab Orobas for me, try and bring it in for a chat, and then we can see where we go from there. Until then...", with these words the clone reared his foot back before slamming it upwards, into a very special place. All Jeff hears after the amazing punt was, "Get Out, And Stay Out".



Soaring into the air after surprisingly not exploding from the force of that kick, Jeff hurdles a good hundred feet up before descending at a very fast pace towards the ground. I don't wanna die like this! It will end before I really feel anything! As if summoned by his mind, a pole jutting out from the side of a building catches his shirt about twenty feet before smashing into the ground. An audible crack would be heard as the part of his shirt that was grabbed by the pole was nearby Jeff's left arm, thus snapping it like a twig and causing excruciating amounts of delightful pain. From this height his shirt slips off the pole causing him to plummet the remaining seventeen feet. Hitting the ground hard, he rolls a good five feet before standing upright.



Turning to face the door to the shop, Jeff contemplates heading back in to see if the Kitai's could possibly kill him in a more gruesome, slow way. After several Nano seconds of debate, he wanders up to the door, putting his hands up Jeff was about to push the doors open but it just wouldn't budge. That's when he heard Kitai yell out the question, "WHY WOULD SOMEONE WILLINGLY JOIN A DEMON ARMY!?" It seems Jeff would have to explain the actual reason for why he does what he does, of course he will once the stupid door opens like it's supposed to.



At this time that was Jeff struggling to push the door open, something happened due to his lack of attention towards his surroundings. A large truck smacks into him creating a loud crunch noise, the thing is even that didn't outright kill Jeff. As the truck essentially drags him multiple blocks away from the shop, the last sight he gets of it is the door opening outward thanks to the truck pulling Jeff away while he held the handle.



Sometime in the near future, Jeff pops out of the spawning pool located in the Sanctus fortress. Stretching he lets his thoughts linger on the sweet hurt he felt as the truck smacked into him and proceeded to drag his helpless body many blocks. "Ahhh, now that was some good stuff", saying this out loud gained him a few odd looks, but what did he care? Now it was time to hunt down the current leader of his legion, the one who also happens to be his second mentor, Orobas.



Walking down hall after hall, finding where Orobas might be was a difficult thing for Jeff to do. He already checked the sleeping quarters, so now he had to find the office Orobas might be using to plan future battles, invasions, or potential enemies. After searching long and hard Jeff finally found it, sticking his head into the room it looked as if his Commander was currently in the midst of going over something, whatever that was Jeff did not know. "Orobas! Glad I found you, So I was sent by someone who might be currently looking to work with you, specifically for a plan to grow a cult to fight another cult. I was initially against it but then they convinced me I could potentially punish a lot of people!"

[Arcadus]

Meanwhile in Hueco Mundo: creating the form of an angel was difficult for Arcadus. He had always styled himself as not always demonic, certainly a sort of enthralling evil, tantalizing and powerful, rather than open and welcoming. The Gigai he had.. acquired from Kitai was excellent, properly filled out, matching every detail and subtlety, far better than he could have in any amount of time short of months of work in the lab, it really was something that could only be the product of a release.

As for how to convince these mortals of his divinity, of his sure duty and promise to deliver them, and their souls, to the rapture. Well, of course, he'd have to appear not in line with their precious book, but instead the popular understanding of their God. So, white cloak, feathered wings, kind voice, radiant light, the whole nine yards. He’d have to have Maximillion make him a toga and sash, something out of a painting from Oren’s time. Though technically modeling himself off Apollo for this performance, he highly doubted that the Mortals could tell.

As for the voices, he made the effort to pass the time by communicating, albeit as much as he could stand, with Giovanni. The old mob boss was by far the most reserved voice in Arcadus’s mind, and both of them liked it that way, though Giovanni did seem to have the most control over his little spat of mindscape, evident in the desk, chair, and wine present as Arcadus opened the slit to his cell to speak, leaning against the door with his shoulder, dark void surrounding the steel gray cell.

"Ah, so you've come to me again, trapped in the walls of this prison, and for what?" The old ghost's voice, gravely from years of smoke, sawed its way through the slit. "Old connections, some kind of new persona maybe, or no, i can tell by your eyes. You," wrinkled, agespotted hand pointing up from hits position on the desk, faint outline of moisture betraying the sweat on it despite Giovanni's bravado. "You need advice. On something you can win, but you want to win easily. That's your problem kid, you want everything to be easy or look easy."

Arcadus snarled, his short and very human teeth still very sharp and the spear tip of a killer bite. This is why he hated talking to Giovanni. He could always see through him and wasted time. But he was right, he wanted this to go smoothly and easily. "What is it going to take for you to talk to me?" His tone had shifted to a more or less neutral state, despite his grimace. He needed to appeal to Giovanni's ego, which, much like his own, had a particular palette, simple praise or approval didn't work, it needed substance, legitimate advantage and gain, but he wasn't to give the caged spectre much, he couldn't afford to.

"I want you," finger shaking now at the blue eyes on boring a hole through him. "to come inside and have a chat, and stop hiding from me out there. Come in, have some wine, and sit with me and talk with me. Afford this old man some comfort in his cell." As he gestured at his desk, a small chess set, cheap brass and tin, appeared, as if by some slight of hand, though it was certainly a bit more. In this mindscape, even as a memory of a soul, he still held enough force of will and sense of self to manipulate this dreamscape. The set clattered to the table, pieces seemingly dropping out of the sleeve of the suit.

Sitting down in the chair, Arcadus looked at the board. Giovanni had made the courteous gesture of allowing him to play white. He took this opportunity. In this match, he played aggressive, moving forward constantly while trying to maintain as many pieces as possible. Every piece was backed by 2 others, every move made without an attempt at sacrifice. There was a caution and an unwillingness to commit in his moves, always leading with pawns and knights, unable to move beyond controlling the board. After he had fully controlled almost 3 quarters of the board, losing 2 of his pawns, 1 of his knights to Giovanni’s advance down the left half of the board, his play style fell apart.

Giovanni, despite having played far more chess than the young man, also knew the methodology of chess. The allegory of it. It is a kings influences, and the points in which they represent. Pawns are the men at arms, Infantry, meant to march forward, and hold ground. Knights are cavalry, the mobile units meant to encircle and work in tandem with infantry to remove important pawns to free up land to take. Rooks were your castles, your bases, in which you could use as your force extension, where as Bishops are spies, missionaries, people who can be used to slide between the ranks of soldiers, only countered directly by each other, or the last and greatest piece.

The queen, to which there was great debate over the meaning of. Some theorized it was treasure, the ability to actually keep loyalty amongst your ranks. Some theorized it as political power, and that once lost was impossible to keep. Though Giovanni subscribed to the last theory. That the queen was in fact, the most powerful force on the field, a mixture of castle and bishop, the state itself. That structure. It is what made it a king’s most powerful tool, was the very nature of feudal structure, and its mortal forms, aristocrats, vassals. This was supported by that when a pawn reaches sufficient experience, reaching the opposing side of the board, it may become any piece, including a new vassal or queen.

Giovanni also understood that it was important to sacrifice pieces, to ensure that victory was secured, not that casualties were minimized. Hence his focused aggression on the left board side, and eventual peaking through the defenses and castling Arcadus had set up. Knocking over the white king, he sat back in his cushioned chair, smirking to himself. Pouring himself the last of the wine, the withered gaze of the old mobster was met with cutting words. “I want you to say it kid. We both know why you are here, so why don’t you make it clear for all parties involved. Just so we’re on the same page.” The grin painted on the old man's face was clear as day. 

Arcadus’s snarl grew into a growl, lips curling to show his left canine. He stood up in a flash, knocking over his chair, seemingly ready to smash this old man’s head against the desk before looking at the chess board, and with a deep sigh, lowered his hand. In a shaky voice, wand what sounded like bottled rage, “I need your advice. I am looking to convince a lot of people of an enormous lie, or rather, deepen their belief and existing lie and put myself at the center of it. I am looking to fool a bunch of zealots into believing I’m divine, and seeing if their worship will enhance my spiritual abilities, as well as making a lot of money.” The rage, while still bottled, had at least ceased to boil, and the cork was no longer strained.

“You intend to dupe a lot of gullible folks out of money, and for some kind of spiritual boost. I can understand that, and why you want it to look easy.” Nodding his head, Giovanni stroked his chin, sinking deep into thought. “What you need is a gimmick, something they can latch onto because they already want to do it. Straw man or a fall guy of some kind. Figure out who they hate and get them to hate them more, even get them to act against them. It riles people up. I used to do it to the Mic’s and Scots we had working for us just to sell more guns.”

Turning to the side, Arcadus thought it over. Two sides was something he considered for furthering the experiment, but the zealotry of the two sides opposing each other was a potential way to drive belief and devotion from the start, labeling them as the vague enemy, getting more precise with the condemnations and invoking the actual actions taken against the the other as acts of justice and moral celebration. Mulling it in his head, Arcadus came to the conclusion, he already had the potential for this, and he’d be good to encourage it. That said, Jeff and Kitai didn’t seem to be exactly the leader types, so it was very likely they would get help, or at least guidance, like he was. He’d have to be on the lookout for that.

Hours later, striding out of his bedroom, stiff from meditating on the snake, Arcadus dressed himself in a comfortable red shirt and black jeans; he needed to pay Maximillian a visit. He needed an outfit, and maybe a bit of hair styling. His hair could do with a bit of straightening for this, or maybe slightly curled like that painting of Lucifer that so influenced the view of the Devil. Stepping into Maximillian’s station, the white haired Arrancar stared back at him. “Oh Master Arcadus, how wonderful of you to join me. I had just finished stitching back the ashes of your last dramatic entrance.” Maximilian threw the ashes of the outfit Arcadus had burned up in his first meeting of the Espada, in an attempt to show true loyalty by revealing his stylized Espada robes.

“Maxi, you know I got that suit for that purpose, it was your fault to make it almost too good to waste. Don’t blame me for what happened to your creation, you handed it over to me.” Arcadus’s voice was coy, but teasing, dancing its way through the room. Maximilian, sighing and rolling his eyes hard enough to tilt his head, “I know, but I can’t exactly help when my artistic flare decides to show its face. So what is it that you need this time?” Standing up, Maximilian began pawing around his work table for his tape, stopping as Arcadus spoke. “I need a sort of.. Angelic get up, something to look like Apollo or how some christians see their angels. White toga, sash, so on.”

“A toga, I could just wrap this sheet around you for that, but I guess you want something special for this event. Should I make multiple, I saw that Gigai when you came in a couple days ago, and I know they can get dirty if you’re going to be down in the human world.” The tape lay on the table as Maximillian had decided to simply go off of fit for this project, due to its loose nature. “That would be smart. What would I do without you Maxi.” Arcadus held Maximillian’s chin for a brief moment, hand brushing through the smaller man’s white hair. “You’d be off in the streets naked still coated in blood like when I found you.” The smirk across the smaller Arrancar seemed to betray the real fondness of the memory.

Taking some time to fit and try on each outfit, swishing around in his toga and sash, flexing his aura to make the appearance of angelic wings to manifest. Tailoring the aura to fit with the new outfit, his spectral wings made quite the profile, wing span making it hard to even keep all of it in frame. As for the robe and sash, white, gold and red made for a really biblical look while keeping to popular convention, definitely a good costume for this particular venture. Thanking Maximillian, Arcadus picked up his new outfits, safely packed into a case, and made his way towards the main hall. He needed to eat before he was going to tackle this experiment. Something hearty would be good.

Feast was an appropriate word for what Arcadus ordered from his chefs. An entire cage of ribs, from an amateur's power lifter in Europe. Shoulder roast from an Olympic hopeful. Thigh roast from a virgin shinigami. A full body roast from a vagabond. All of it seasoned, cooked to perfection, and delivered right on time. Downing bottle after bottle of wine, the taste began to dull as meat and tendon and bone paired with heavy sauce and dip, Bones piling on plates as trays were delivered and retrieved. Practically an entire village slaughtered for this meal, all devoured in a display to dwarf any starving animal or glutinous sinner. Standing up from his meal, the Trecera strode over, practically fainting into a couch, resounding his steps to begin his plan when he awoke.

[Jeff Franklin]

As Jeff spoke to the one he presumed to be Orobas, he finally got a good look at the person. Sure enough the one sitting in Orobas's seat was just another Akki, in fact it was an Akki he could easily beat regardless of the fact this demon was in a "higher" position than him. "You've got to be kidding me, I searched for HOURS to find Orobas and not only is that monster not here, but a pathetic weakling is in their seat?" This comes out about as disrespectful as Jeff could manage, in other words this Akki was fuming at the insolence Jeff was showing to his senor officer. So angry was this Akki that it actually stood up on its many feet to stare down at Jeff.



Looking up at the Akki towering above him, Jeff gave a chuckle, "You really think this scares me?" He would say this while slowly inching his way towards the Demon, the smirk on his face growing more sinister the closer he gets to the Akki. Finally he reaches the spot just before the 7 feet tall Demon, it's at this point Jeff decides to exert a small amount of gravitational pressure. The Akki feels this and begins slowly crouching until Jeff is the one looking down, cold sweat breaks out across the Akki's face as it keeps it's eyes on Jeff. Letting out a loud laugh Jeff turns around, "Yeah, as if I'm going to be afraid someone much weaker than me, let alone someone who doesn't know their place."



As Jeff walks back towards the door he notices a note on the desk, walking over to it he picks the piece of parchment up. This parchment was stated something about raising his (Jeff's) position within the Sanctus already, but only if he completed some training in Hueco Mundo. Well, it seems I have some work to do before I head back to Kitai, to it then! Putting the note down Jeff let's out a chuckle before looking at the Akki, "Seems as if I won't be lower than you soon, c ya." With that Jeff heads out of the office happy and basically skipping. This is what he wanted after all, he wants to rise up the ladder of command, until he can finally gain a position as a Legatus and keep as many Hellions as he can where they belong. With that Jeff heads out to do a week long training session, surving in the sands of Hueco Mundo until he has gotten stronger. Once that was done he would create a portal using his special technique Hell Door, to go back and see Kitai.

[Arcadus]

Aih say, I SAY, I am so happy to be here, a shepherd among his flock, to be humbled in the grace of God as we keep this Sabbath holy. As we gather here I would like to thank both of our new family members of the Church of Faith, for helping set up our ah,” The old man had worked up quite the sweat over these few short lines.”For helping our technical team to set up this wireless internet system.” Gesturing out to disheveled youths standing back and to the side. As one begins to speak up and lift a foot forward, the preacher turns, his right side facing the crowd, closing that eye and smiling, left side curled into a glare that could crack glass, an ice dagger hidden away, halting any momentum, physical or otherwise in the young adult.

As the withered leader gripped his podium, he coughed and belched. “Aegh, ACHew.” A murmur of “bless you’s” rings out over the crowd, the priest opens his bible to a random page, and raising his hands, lights moving to spotlight him on stage. “ Dear Father, We thank you for everyone gathered here now. Thank you that you know each of us by name and have caused us to walk with You. We say that we are dependant on You and our trust is in You completely. As we surrender ourselves in adoration we ask that You would come by Your Holy Spirit and inspire our hearts today. Come fill our lives with Your love, Fill our conversations with Your grace and truth, Fill this meeting with Your presence. We ask this for Your glory and praise. Amen.”

Turning the pages in the bible, the preacher began to look at his written notes he had made in the prior hour and had pressed into the great tome before hand. “Now brother and sisters, I come before you to speak on a great evil that plague’s our great nation, so headed by the Devil him-self.” Stating this, the Pastor, seemingly revived with new energy in his body. Strutting in his dry cleaned thousand dollar suit, those in the front row could smell his cologne, as it wreaked and wafted out across the first few rows from the stage.

As the Audience, both those in the stadium sized chapel, and those watching from around the world at home, they could see their preacher, their line to divinity, begin to speak on a new assault to the chosen people of God’s Word. This was horrible plot, by the vile game developers, to suck away children’s innocence and replace it with impudence, disobedience, and establishing a connection in these children’s daily lives with the devil himself. That their children would in time turn against God, and against them.

"This plot took the form of game, in which all players were equal except one, the Game Master, who presided as the rulekeeper and master of the events of the game. The game comprised of the players, most often children in company with older teens or even young adults, acting out dangerous endeavors, praying to heathen gods, and role playing the agressor in all forms of violence, of murder, looting, sadomasochism and torture, to name a few. Some in the Audience clung to their shawls or each other, in fear of the evil that was being revealed to them."

The preacher, seeing that he had gotten the appropriate reaction, launched into the bible verses, citing the scripture on the why these were bad and they should be afraid, why not only was this scary, but because the Big Man had said it was wrong. “Oh Brothers and Sisters, I say on to you, the Lord has laid down his word and has forewarned us now of these evils, I repeat from Him onto you from the first of Corinithians Fifteen:Thirteen, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." So to, if these methods of murder, of pillaging are the way these players advance, how could this be fit in the name of God?”

“But I say to you, no, it is not just these things, it is the Role-Playing. They envision themselves in these roles, of murder, of hording wealth, of pressing others into slavery and practicing black magic, in preperation for the real thing! In these books there are the instructions on how to play the game, and in turn, do these things, real spells from the Devil himself, being handed down by this “Game Master” who, if I may divert, masquerades himself as God! He positions himself as the Lord, having authority over all things in the game, even the player’s characters.”

“You see? It is setting up children to obey, to worship, other gods, not just with the heathen and satanic figures in this demonic, I SAY, DEMONIC, game, but with the very structure of the Game master. They are teaching these children to be subservient to a god other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, it isn’t apparent at first as I said, but its about the practice. Like how you might learn to drive a, a truck, and you start out slow, with someone guiding you to do it, and as you learn, you try it on your own. And soon enough you know enough to teach others. So I tell you bothers and sisters, this game has the potential to corrupt the whole of our great nations, and we must put a stop to it at once, for the Rapture is coming, and if this is the state our great nation is in, not a single man woman or child will be taken up into heaven, so for your sake, for the Sake of YOUR CHILDREN, keep them away from it, and anyone who does play this awful game. “

“Now, as always, you can support us with your prayers and actions, keeping our children safe, but to help us out directly, please donate, for those of you in the chairs, we are passing around the basket, and for those of you at home, you can donate online through our website, simple as punching in your credit card and the amount you want to give over to God.” Over the course of this diatribe, images of both God and Satan flashed on the screens above him, always to match his words, to hammer home the ideas he was pressing into the minds of his captive audience.

As this murmur and shuffling, of exchanging money was happening, there was a great light, a white flash that illuminated the entire stadium, and flooded through the cameras to people all over the country, and as the light faded a voice boomed out across the stadium, and through the broadcast, the entire nation. “BE NOT AFRAID”. And as the shock passed over the attendees, a huge man, clad in white robes with a red sash, flaming sword at his hip, and huge, spectral wings that glittered like glass, descended on the stage, all were in awe of the spectacle, before silence bore cheers, and from cheers, swarms of people began to do one of three things, pray, grovel, or swarm the stage.

Arcadus, in his guise, was happy with the reaction, serene smile masking his utter laughter at the situation. Remembering his lines, he turned to face the congregation, and in a voice that drowned out even the priest’s microphone, spoke. “I am the Arch Angel Gabriel, and I appear before you now, as I did before Mary and Zachariah. I am here to deliver unto you great news, and to guide you. Lo, for it is written,” Turning to the preacher, “For no man knows the day or the hour, and to speak as such is blasphemy, but the Rapture is coming, as our Lord commands. I am here to guide you chosen, to be worthy at the time of rapture, so that you may live forever in heaven. Do as my Lord commands, and you shall find eternal peace at his side.”

As dozens swarmed the stage, the preacher stumbled back, not wanting to be trampled, having taken his bible from its podium. “What, I, uh, You, You claim to be an angel, but you, ah,are not an angel, the rapture has no angels at the start of it, it, a huge number of people with vanish from the earth, those worthy to not undergo the 7 years of uh, suffering with 7 seals and the horsemen on, ah, and the final battle with Satan, there are no angels coming to-“

Looking down from his stance, Arcadus turned, slightly shifting the crowd that had gathered around him to touch, to pray, to ask, and fixed his gaze on the small man. “You dare cite scripture to the deliverer of The Father’s word? You are forgiven. However, I have a test for you, one test my Lord has asked me to deliver. Give up your possessions, your wealth, for it is as easy for rich man to get into heaven, as it it for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Relinquish them onto God.”

The priest looked like he’d been hit by a sledgehammer, almost doubled over onto his bible, and in a sputter “All my possessions are those of the children of God, they serve to let me spread the word to all of God’s children, you dare ask them for yourself? You, no you are the false prophet, he would proceed the rapture, the ANTICHRIST!” Disappointment flooded the “arch-angel’s” face, a small tilt to the side, brow lowering as if a dropped rope, and the serene smile and twisted into the smallest frown.

“You cling to your possessions, claim that the millions of days of wages, which were given onto you to spread the word of god, are well used, living in a palace, living like a king, flying with no sense to expense. Further, you mistake, nay accuse, an angel of god to be the Lord’s greatest enemy. You disappoint me pastor. I forgiv-” Arcadus jerked his head up, blond hari touching some of the closest of those clinging to him. “As you command, Lord O’ God.” With a flash, beams of light flew from the “angel’s” eyes, and the priest was turned to ash, the bible unharmed.

The crowd, seeing a man vaporized for calling this angel, messenger of God, for what was, for all intents and purposes, the first sin the public had seen him commit and recognized as a sin. Tides of emotion and ideas wracked the congregation, both physically present and those watching world wide. Fear, worry, anger, justification, and as the ash settled into a pile, acceptance of what they saw. This was an angel receiving a direct order from God, and had smote a sinner for refusal to repent.

Stepping forward, moving gracefully so as not to hurt or jab any of the surrounding worshipers, Arcadus strode a few steps to the center of the stage. His seren smile, something to convince people everything was good, and going according to plan, had returned. Looking into the eyes of those touching him, seeing the joy, the fear, the raw emotional devotion and turmoil, it enflamed him. This feeling, of being the object os so much attention by such lesser creatures. It reminded him of his time clawing his way up to being and Espada, though with less mauling.

“I am your guide, messenger of the Allmighty, and I will be your preparation for the Rapture. Follow the Word of God that I pass on, and you shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven. First, Accept the Christ Jesus, son of Joseph, as your savior. Then Repent for your Sins, not just with words, but with actions. Love they neighbor, not just in thought, but in deed. Feed them, clothe them, house them. As you shall do onto others, I shall do onto You. The residences of your preacher, who has so led you all astray, is our new home, as congregation and as family. Be to each other as Kin and as Kind.”

Arcadus’s voice reverberated, some could feel in in their very bones, those in attendance at least. For some, it was enough to drive some, those who would be labeled as weak of faith, and those that prayed were welcomed into the light. Plans were drawn up with some of the more legally informed to ensure that this wasn’t actually a murder and was actually a religious practice, transfering those assets into an estate, and in turn, giving that command over to someone under direct supervision of “Gabriel”. As days turned into weeks, the compound that had arisen around the mansion the preacher once called home was turned into a place of worship and holy living.

In these weeks, Arcadus did not stop his guise as this Arch-angel, and saw fit to reward those who had clung close to his daily sermons and word, encouraging and preaching them to be kinder, wiser people. This, while a simple task, as it wasn’t like many of them had actually read the bible, many did not seem to be the godly people they had professed themselves to be, now that a divine influence scrutinized their actions in daily life. A line that was most indicative of this time period, was, “would you have acted like this in front of the Father?” It was an interesting for Arcadus, this experience of seeing into the daily lives of people as he organized more housing and encouraged more and more to live on the site of his new church.

One day, 20 days into the experiment, Arcadus was taking notes on the behaviors and the “faith” of those involved. He had performed miracles of might and displayed the omniscience of God, through relatively simple tests. One involved flipping an massive truck, one person called an “18 wheeler” as it had careened off the road and towards one of the walls of the compound. Another, was the “conversion” of the local sheriff, who had come to investigate the migration of people and the reports of “strange activity and noise complaints” in and around the Compound, as well as unlicensed building in the area. It was honestly a simple use of high level sensory techniques, and the overwhelming charisma Arcadus wielded compared to baseline humans that let him basically rewrite people’s beliefs.

With local Authorities on his side Arcadus began the second phase, Radicalization. Stating that certain people could be reached before Rapture, and that to convert others would ensure a spot in the rapture for yourself, would serve to help expand the group. Of course, there were other reasons to join the congregation, protection, medicine, food and shelter, and a sense of community. As this happened, and people continued to do their jobs, contributing wealth and time to the compound, more people came, and as more people came, a Heirarchy was established. Three direct lines to “Gabriel” were established. Confession, which was held every other day for 6 hours, in which people would confess their sins, and would be assigned to a project for that day, done in sections of alphabetical order, going through the entire list of those present.

Second was being selected for readings during sermons, of which there were generally a dozen, give or take. These were meant to allow anyone to speak their mind on the current issues that the congregation was facing, or some new spiritual revelation delivered onto them. This also allowed Arcadus to control what was being expressed to the public, and to enforce a positive image of staying at the compound. What Arcadus gathered from this, was that these people craved a sense of security, which they called “salvation”

Thirdly, the direct managers of organization and financial matters were a way to talk to Arcadus directly, allowing him to insert a strict hierarchy of secretaries. This placing himself at the top of the heap, in conjunction with himself being the idol of worship in these sermons, a proxy in the mind of those praying to their god, did wonders for his self esteem and motivation, but he wasn’t sure if it was the “godhood” or “empowerment” he was seeking. Though, most interestingly he had noticed that the idea of belief transforming reality did seem to manifest itself, at least in forming labels and enemies of the faithful, as those who were marked as such in prayer, would inevitably take issue with them.

[Kitai Yoru]

It took Kitai several weeks, but he had finally gathered up all the necessities needed for this trip. With the creation of his Unbreakable Phone, he left the shop in the very capable hands of his doppelganger, and took off for the states. It had been a few years since he'd last visited, and the thoughts left him feeling a little nostalgic. Sure, he wasn't going to where he grew up, but he could stop by once this was all over. Kitai picked up his suitcase, and pressed his Interdimensional Doorknob against the closest wall, the item sticking the the surface like a suction cup. The Lunatic twisted and pulled, the wall opening up like a door.

On the other side was a short but clean alleyway. Stepping through the threshold, he could immediately spot several steel trashcans near the entrance of this quaint little alley. He closed the door, and twisted the doorknob once more, coming off the door with a satisfying 'pop'. "Oh, you are truly the most useful item I've come across in those stupid markets." He said, talking to the glistening hunk of golden metal. It had an ominous sheen to it, nearly glowing with a power he had yet to comprehend. Kitai grinned at the challenge. "But for now..."

Kitai walked out of the alley. It reminded him of something out of a movie. Everything felt as old as it looked, decrepit and unloved. Time had clearly took its toll on these lands. "Hehehahahaha! Oh yes! This will work perfectly!" Kitai cackled madly, as he began his search. It was the dead of night here, time-zones and all that. Even still, he could see which buildings were occupied and which weren't. He had arrived in a cozy little market square, everything looking as if it were made in the fifties, and the Saika loved it all. He was a sucker for the classics.

After what he could only guess was an hour of searching, he spotted a building that could only be a shop, based on its design. It had a big bay window to the left of a door, both boarded up. It had a second story, with all the windows similarly covered in planks of wood. The lunatic's grin grew a bit wider. "Oh aren't you beautiful~!" He spoke to himself yet again, looking around the abandoned building. It was clear this place had been unloved and unwanted for a long time, as the side was covered nearly top to bottom in graffiti. "Oh no no no, that just won't do, won't do at all~."

He continued stalking around, trying to find and entrance. As luck would have it, one of the doors was unlocked in the back. He let himself in, chuckling at the ease at which he gained access. The place was trashed, with massive holes in the walls where the wiring might have been. Signs of teenagers running amuck were aplenty, be it beers, food wrappers, or the occasional condom. Kitai waded through the mess, inspecting all the work that would need to be done. He found the entrances to the second story, as well as the basement. He chose the basement first, just to get a idea on how bad the rot had spread.

The situation was pretty bad. Many of the wood beams had collapsed, and it was a miracle that the ground floor hadn't collapsed by now. Kitai palmed his chin, rubbing it inquisitively. "Oh my. Time has not been kind to you old girl. Don't worry, Doctor Feel Good has arrived~." Kitai says with a purr in his voice. There was a shop bench in the corner of the basement. Kitai strode through the muck and the filth, walking over all of the broken wood and piles of rotting asbestos insolation, and plopped his suitcase down on the rusting metal counter. It was a sad sight to see, and one that Kitai would not stand a moment longer.

With twin clicks, the latches unlocked, popping open what had taken him several weeks to accomplish. Inside the briefcase was a portable lab, with several home renovation inventions for just the occasion. He picked up a glass vial, filled with what looked like liquid metal to the naked eye. He popped the cork, and promptly poured it onto the floor. It splattered against the mess, sinking into the rubble, before coming to life. The silvery metal started to spread, quickly absorbing all of the waste into itself.

Nanomachines, son. Specially designed for cleaning up and repairing abandoned lots like this. Right before his eyes it scrubbed everything off the ground, leaving it as clean as the day the concrete was laid. Kitai laughed at the beautiful sight, and of another invention going exactly to plan. It reached the ceiling, and consumed the rotting wood, replacing it with metal supports as it did so, maintaining structural integrity. It climbed up the walls, leaving them as clean as the floor. Kitai followed it up, watching as the rickety old stairs were turned metallic.

Escaping the basement, he saw that the metal wave was attacking any mess with a vengeful fervor, leaving anything valuable or in good enough condition in tact, while destroying anything that couldn't. The walls were repaired, the black and white checkered floor tiles were cleaned to a reflective shine. Oh it was gorgeous. Then he heard screaming coming from the second story. "Uh oh. Did I remember to program these guys not to attack people?" He mused to himself, walking over to head upstairs. He made it to the doorway that was missing a door, when a figure slammed into him.

The man was the first thing that hit him. The second was his screaming, loud enough to annoy the dead. The third was his smell. "Ah, good. They don't kill people." The man was trying to make a break for the door that he had entered through, but Kitai grabbed onto his arms. As it turned out, they were covering him, but not his skin. His clothing was being cleaned and changed into something more acceptable. A standard suit and tie for the clearly homeless man. "Calm down, you're not even dying from the machines." He was unapologetic in his tone, as the man looked probably a lot better than he had before.

"W-w-w-what the he-" Kitai slapped him, preventing him from finishing that word. "We don't use the H word here." He told him promptly. The man looked as bewildered as he looked annoyed. "What the fuck is going on here!? Who're you!? What's all dis metal shit?! Why does everythin look clean?" He fired off his questions at a rapid pace, unrelenting in wondering what was going on. Quite justifiably so, if Kitai was being honest about it. "You ask too many questions. Just know that I'm opening up a specialty shop in this humble little town, and you're my first employee. You know, if you want the job, that is." He said ominously, a smirk dancing across his lips as he held his hand out.

The hand looked at it, then at his face, repeating the process several more times, before looking at himself. He was clearly weighing his options right now. Kitai decided to sweeten the deal. "Think about it; a nice warm house to live in, clean clothes, three hot meals a day, and easily available access to showers. That and I'll be paying you." He told the man. The man was hesitant still. "And I make amazing booze." Like a snake, the man's hand shot into his own, shaking it fervently. "Good! Follow me." Kitai beckoned the man to the basement, as they descended into the once forgotten floor.

The nanites had set up his portable workshop, having given the rusted workbench a fancy new look. He didn't turn to look, but Kitai could tell the man's mouth was agape at the transformation. he strode across the floor once again, grateful for the lack of mess this time around. The various devices were laid out, nice and neat. He saw the glass vial was back in its spot, a steady stream of silver liquid flowing into it. The cork bounced and bobbed along as the steam carried it back into place, squeaking as it was twisted back into place. Kitai pressed it down with his thumb, as he admired his work.

Placing it back where it was, Kitai's fingers walked across the various vials and pieces of equipment. "Eeny meeny miny moe, catch a tiger by -ah, there it is." His fingers landed on what looked liked a tiny television with a handle. He snatched it up, and pointed it at the man. He snapped his fingers. The floor bulged up under the man, tripping him backwards, as the floor shifted into a reclining chair. "Keep calm, I'm trying to give you super powers." He said as he placed his empty hand on the person's shoulder. "What's your name by the way?" Truly his bedside manners were unparalleled.

The man was old, that much was obvious. His beard was long and stringy, clearly not getting proper the maintenance needed. Kitai could see the wrinkles covering his face. "Names Ned." He said, clearly nervous. He was looking at the devices with more than a little apprehension. "Super powers? Like Captain America?" Ned said, more than a little skepticism in his voice. Kitai's hand was on Ned's shoulder. "Yep, just like Captain America." What Ned couldn't see was that Kitai's had was glowing. Ned was spiritual unaware. He was a perfectly normal human, though clearly he's seen better days.

His body was a wreck. Liver was shot, lungs were shriveled and damaged from smoking, parasites from who knows what... Ned was a tough man to have survived this long, Kita would admit. Arcadus had decided to try and screw with the mortals. He turned this into a game, wanting to see if he could become a god through worship, or something like that. Kitai didn't care for that one bit. The Arrancar would more than likely start some deep shit once he started his plan, and would either force the Shinigami to step in, or something worse. He didn't want to imagine what 'worse' could be, but his imagination wouldn't stop paying through various scenarios.

Even before becoming a Saika, Kitai had been a believer. Going through literal Hell and back only strengthened his faith. He disapproved of the actions of Arcadus, but he wasn't going to leave the people here without defense. Kitai was using Reiatsu Transfer on this man. By giving him access to reiatsu, he hoped that he would awaken an latent spiritual powers that might be lingering beneath the surface. So far, there was no reaction, be it from Ned himself, or his monitor. He had built it to detect any spiritual potential.

The detections it was picking up were only of his own reiatsu signature. He squinted his eye in concentration. Kitai had so much reiatsu that keeping the flow to a trickle was a difficult prospect. He allowed a little more to be transferred. He got a gasp from mister Ned. His face twisted about in a mix of discomfort and shock. "Can you feel that, Ned?" He received a nod in response. Kitai pulled his hand away. "Good. Focus on it. Just focus on it. Picture what it looks like, what it feels like. Try to move the energy all over your body if you can. Whatever helps you."

An intense look of concentration crossed the man's face. For a moment, noting happened. Ned made some sounds of exertion, but nothing- "Beep." The device responded. He scrutinized it closer, and grinned. A portion of Kitai's reiatsu was converted into Ned's own reiatsu. The process was slow at first, almost painfully so, but second by second to grew faster. Need now had reiatsu to work with. "Congratulation Ned, your soul has been awakened. You now have Reiatsu to work with." Kitai's face was nearly glowing with how bright his smile was. Ned, looked amazed, as his hands were glowing a greenish hue. "Ray-at-sue?"

"We'll work on that. Keep playing around with it, work on your control. That's lesson one, making it do as you please. Like learning how to use a new limb. Get back to me when you can make your entire body glow like that." He said, turning around to get back to work. "Wait." The newly awakened Fullbringer said. Kitai turned around. "Why are you doing this?" His voice was that of a vulnerable old man who had probably given up a long time ago. "Why? How do I answer that? What answer would satisfy you? The kindness of my heart? HA!" Kitai wanted to laugh at that, but didn't. Well, more than he already had.

"A man came to me weeks ago. He wants to become a deity to the minds of the weak. He wants to open the eyes of the ignorant, and make himself the god of those he enlightens. I'm doing this to spite him. Helping people on the side? That's a benifit. I'm going to bring this town back to life, and make sure it can sustain and defend itself after I'm gone. I'm going to enlighten the common people with the truth of what's going on out there, and leave once it takes hold. I don't need your help, but I want it. I want to give you, and all of the people the ability to think for themselves, the ability to change their own destiny. The ability to rise above the horrors of this world like the warriors of old."

He gave his speech, his spiel so to speak, and turned around. He was going to return to setting up the place, when a telephone started to ring from upstairs. Ned looked surprised, knowing this building hadn't had running electricity in quite a long time. The only reason they could see down here was that they walls and floor glowed faintly. Kitai, however, knew exactly what that ringing meant. "I'll be right back. Keep working on the feeling." He instructed, as he made his way to the ground floor. The ringing was frequent enough to make finding the device easy. On a table in the back room was an old rotary phone, ringing with a nice metallic chime.

He answered it.

---

Kitai the second, or the clone Kitai, was sitting behind the counter of 'The Kitai Shop'. He was currently tinkering with the Garganta Disruptor. A fun little toy that did exactly as its name implied. It was a useful piece that was unfortunately limited in its application, since it could only applied to such a specific technique of such a specific race. He wanted to expand its uses to all forms of teleportation, not just the Garganta. That way, he could stop the Akki's ability to teleport, and could prevent Hell portals from opening up. That would force the Hellions coming after him to work for it if they wanted to attack him.

"Speaking of Hell Portals..." He mused to himself, as the sound of a rift being opened filled the shop. There he was, Jeff, the only other Saika that had the balls to take a step out of Hell. "It's about time you showed back up. I was beginning to think this little organization of yours decided to kill you off for good. It's been about two weeks, you know it takes a good long while to reform in Hell if you aren't strong enough, right?" He said, putting down the Black Market item.

[Arcadus]

Arcadus had been doing this experiment for a little under a month, they were crossin gthe 4th week very soon, and he was amazed at the results. The idea that belief could shape reality wasn't bearing itself yet, but it wasn't like it wasn't like there were other results. Among those who spent the most time around him, listening to him, doing works of charity, and present at the time in which he allowed his reiatsu had flowed out into the world, had been affected. 

It was a phenomenon Arcadus had heard about, non spiritual humans would develop into fullbringers, even in adulthood, if exposed to enough hollow reiatsu. Of the 10000 people living on the now 100 acre compound, maybe 100 had developed abilities. Taking swift action to make use of this, Arcadus had ordained them as some of those ready to ascend, after making it clear that they were to uphold those virtues he was preaching. Charity, Kindness, Compassion. 

The compound had been expanding, both in terms of land it could use, and the structures that had been built. A lot of those who had initially joined were either in construction or knew enough to be helpful, and with some planning from a commitee, Arcadus had formed a wheel-like system around the initial mansion, which itself had been turned into a public center for the now town sized compound. The spokes of the wheel had sprawled out, and allowed for foot traffic to be as effective as motor vehicles, leaving most of them to be left on the outskirts of the compound or for moving large or heavy cargo. 

The actual acreage expansion had been realtively easy, with the more affluent members buying up and converting the bordering land into space and property to live, or those that lived on it had heard the good news and converted, signing over thier lands to the commune. As well, the spiritual nature of the lifestyle created here had attracted many people as Arcadus had predicted from other cults of this form, wealthy and well educated people looking for a higher purpose. 

All these things coming together, Arcadus still faced some problems as leader, and head of this group. No one doubted his abilities, even allowing himself to be inspected by outside investigators, confirming even those not indoctrinated that he was indeed, if not a divine angel, someone who exerted supernatural abilities or abilities outside the understanding of conventional science. That said, he had been forced to explain the nature of his aura, and how it was terrifying and made people nervous and the general "dark" feeling he could give off. 

"I am a servant, an extension, of God's will. God is both terrifying and gratifying, just as I am. I am made in His will, and so are all aspects of me. Revel in this aura, for it flows from the Almighty." He had made that one up on the fly, literally, as he had been floating over the congregation as he did so, something he had taken to doing during sermons, enforcing his position and power. It was suprising to him though, how few people asked about when the rapture would come.  Perhaps vaporizing the preacher had its intended effect. 

Arcadus had made an effort to ensure his doctrine and stricture would be easily accepted, he kept them simple. That to be accepted into Heaven and recieve grace before the tribulations, was to perform and believe in the virtues expoused by Christ in the new covenant. To love they neighbor, to honor both them and your relationship to the divine, and to show compassion to all things, for all things are the Lord's creation. Love them as you love God, for they are one and the same. 

AND YET, it proves that even the simplest concepts proved difficult to understand beyond the surface. So many things filled his congregation. Discrimination, bigotry, hatred, a conceited and willful ignorance of the world at large and even of the most opaque happenings with in their own families. Sons and daughters thrown out for the factor's of their birth, those who had few of thier kind or whose roots did not spread far in the area treated as foreign agent. 

All of these things were addressed in sermon, and in private with those who had perpetrated them. "Bigotry is the crop of hatred my child, and hatred blots care and compassion from your heart. It is possible to not be close with your child, but just as they are to honor the efforts you put into raising them, you should honor their growth and courage, growing into a world so plagued with sin and vice. I will hear no more of your bigotry, and I compel you, open your heart, and the Lord shall guide you."

The tone Arcadus had developed during this time was warm, a soothing mixture of motherly and fatherly, a universal parent, as the Father was to them so to was he to they. Growing in reverence, Arcadus had learned to revel in it, something the people enjoyed seeing was his flow of power, to instill in worship the feeling of a presence beyond the physical.  That combination of his overflowing charisma and the foreboding presence of his aura allowed there to be a sort of congnitive click, like he was leveraging both a desire to be accepted and the feeling of fear that pervaded them. 

However, as more fullbringers came forward, there came and issue. Arcadus noticed he had an issue controlling these new spiritually aware humans as easily as others. They weren't outright disobeying him, but it wasn't the lockstep all the normal mortal humans seemed to be in. That was fine, but it meant he wasn't able to predict their reactions as easily and act to circumvent them. He had taken to having private prayer sessions, away from the view of the congregation, to try and overcome this by helping them bond to each other. 

"The human form is divine, molded by God. You should honor that creation, and revel in the body, and the spirit. The heights of either are delicious fruit, the bait in the trap of temptation. But to resist temptation is to prove yourself worthy of them, so rejoice my children, my chosen, for you are worthy, and you have my blessing, to receive the fruits of both. In the name of the Lord, go do good works, and spread good words. Amen."

Arcadus had noted that, while matrimony still was maintained, he had been certain to leave out certain aspects of "commitment" and "modesty", as a curiosity on if faith would fill in the gaps, or how closely they would follow the lines of his teachings and decide on those things themselves. Interestingly, people had maintained a level of marital commitment and modesty, such things seemed to take on new meanings for members, especially those betwix the youngest adult members, who could be seen forming groups of 3 to 7 on occasion. Arcadus did not mention this development in his sermons, but noted it in his research. 

Another change, was the use of the fullbrings now as preachers themselves, sometimes taking over sermons from Arcadus at his behest. They proved to do the same things as he had. Passively laud their powers as a show of their devotion and faith, and that they were the promised gifts to proceed Rapture. Arcadus always watched these privately, making sure to note their improvements or failings, and to pass things that were less than desirable to the plan as simply a misstep of words and would have them correct them selves in the sermon the following day. 

The duty he was most eager to delegate, especially as the commune grew in size, was confessions. It was a great way to induct fullbringers into some kind of duty, and was a great way to have those things dispensed off of his back. It was always "Gabriel this, I've thought about such and such and I wish to repent for my misstep in thought but not in deed" or it was Arcadus finding out about some new variety of porn that someone had discovered online. Every time he considered disconnecting the commune from the internet, Arcadus just gripped his rosary and told them to pray the rosary for every time they had "enjoyed" that content. 

Though, Arcadus mused to himself in his private quarters, that might be good for the isolation phase of this. So far they were still in the phase of gathering support and developing creed, and zealotry was sson to come, but for right now, he needed to get his hands on the supplies to begin that process. While weapon's ownership seemed to be unusually high in this region, it wasn't exactly uniform. Having a standarization would benefit the radicalization and zealotry period. 

But for now, Arcadus though, climbing to the roof, things were good. People were eating well, living their lives in virtue and care, and he was cultivating an inner group of powerful disciples, who, even after this was all over, Arcadus could likely begin teaching about the spiritual world. In fact, starting thier spiritual training now wouldn't be a poor option, since that would let him hold that secret knowledge over them, enforcing his position in the heirarchy. 

Standing ontop of the mansion, Arcadus began to flap his spiritual wings and to flex his musculature, and despite feeling the gaze of a few dozen people on him, Arcadus sent his shockwaves into the sky keeping the rain clouds over the crops they were growing to the north, and away from residential areas. Never a cloudy day in paradise, and soon, many others would learn and develop skills, hopefully one strong enoeugh to take back to Los Noches. 

Floating back down to the ground, Arcadus walked to where he sensed his secretary for organizing and maintaining his sermons and performances. "Andrew, I have a favor I need to ask of you. Can you round up the rest of those ready to be raptured for an important meeting. I have recieved new orders from our Lord, and they are to begin the next step of their training. They are going to begin to better learn and understand their god given abilities." "Of course, Gabriel, I'll go find them, and may I say, I am excited to begin to further learn the mysteries of our lord."

Arcadus stretched, looking around and senseing out those present in the compound. New faces came and went, but he had noticed that not everyone lived on site, some coming for a time and then returning after going home for a while. But there were a core group of faithful, proud, and compassionate worshippers, all who wished to do his will, do be as he was. It was a divine feeling, and one he savored until Andrew returned, the hundred some fullbringers gathered in a group behind him. 

Waving them into the mansion, Arcadus began to wonder what exactly he could teach them, but he knew that it had to be framed as spiritual training, preparing for the war of Armegeddon. That would surely seperate out some, but leave only the most devoted among them. Smiling, Arcadus brought them all into the audatorium present within the mansion, ready to take his place on the stage, and decided against it. Walking amongst them, brushing against them and breathing their air, as Christ did, Arcadus began to explain their purpose, as those chose to wield God's power. 
===================================================================================================================================

Natalia hurried down the alleyway of the rainy city. She'd been tasked with an important mission by Gabriel. The Arch Angel has made her aware of the coming aggression that would precede the rapture, and how they would need to be ready to handle it. While they were learning their spiritual powers, things that the Father had blessed them with, Gabriel was the one who had been teaching them to master them, go grow them. It would be some time before they were near his level, but for now, their spiritual duties. 

And in that mean time, Gabriel had said they would need weapons, something they weren't entirely sure on, as many people in the congregation had guns, but Gabriel had said they would need uniformity in thier forces to ensure a strong supply chain and that they would have the needed components and ammunition for those who would not be raptured, and to protect themselves while the time between now and Rapture passed, from those who would oppose or dismantle their communion with Gabriel.

Walking up to the unlit door, and furnishing the tension wrench and picks she had smuggled under her jacket, Natalia began picking the lock, and in a few tense seconds, the lock turned, and opening hte door stepped into the warehouse. "I just need to find the forklift loaded up with the drop, and we should be set, fork lift, forklift, there it is!" Moving quickly, the fullbringer brought her speed to bear, moving with gymnastic grace over the crates and pallets to hop into the driver's seat of the vehicle. 

"Thank the Lord I worked as a stocker for wally world that one time." Natalia shifted the knobs and moved the forklift to the far end of the warehouse, and got ready to use her powers to push the garage button. Upon hearing the truck backing up, playing the designated call song "Silent Night" Natalia focused. Concentrating, she envisioned a huge hand pressing in on the button, and seeing the button click, and the garage begin to raise, saw the waiting truck, Andrew running to the back of the truck to open the door. 

Loading the guns, and hopping into the passenger seat of the semi truck, Natalia and Andrew sang hymn and prayed, though their target, they noticed, were not to God, but to Gabriel. "Its not as much of an issue, we pray to saints and the Virgin Mary, so why would this be any different?" "I think its more that he's a physical presence here, and wasn't that we came here to do, to stop worshipping a person like with the preacher and devote ourselves to God?" "Maybe, but it isn't as bad, he is a real angel after all, and he speaks to God, adn is His will, so in a sense, Angels are God." "Maybe" 

The truck's arrival was under cover of night, and as the crates of arms and ammunition was moved into the mansion, so to were the full bringers. "My children, you've done a great deed for the congregation, and have executed a great step in God's plan. I thank you. I wish to speak with you both in private sometime, about the future of our congregation, and the potential of it to help bring our message to the rest of humanity. So much good has been done here in such a short amount of time, it may be time to expand." Arcadus had floated over to the pair, and clasping a hand on either's shoulder, moved them inside. 

[Jeff Franklin]

Jeff's training in Hueco Mundo is finally finished, because of that he was promoted to Eques under Orobas. With his new status in the Sanctus he finally wielded a little bit more authority, not enough to get away with everything, but certainly enough to get away with more then previously. Granted he already got away with more thanks to Orobas being the one who scouted him, but now he's actually proving why Orobas wanted him in the organization. This is a very good thing after all, Jeff isn't exactly one to stay out of trouble so he will take every advantage he can take. O f course that doesn't mean he's going to stop doing things that get him in trouble, someone has to put these sinners in their place, so far the Sanctus has just kind of been allowing them to run free if they ask for it.



Jeff also seems to have some form of power growing inside him currently, unsure of how this started he can only really guess. With his Energy Sensing capabilities being basically non existent, he probably won't find out until this power ripens to it's fullest. Letting out a sigh he remembers the important thing that needs to be attended to, I can't believe it took this long for me to finish the training and go up the ranks a little. I need to hurry back to Kitai and find out if I've missed anything important for this project we are going to be working on. It's at this point he looks over at a television set that's currently turned on in a stores electronic section, it's currently broadcasting on the World News the story of Aracadus coming out of nowhere and killing the preacher. This causes him to freeze in place, staring at the screen he finally reaches out for it with his scaly hands. Putting his face up close to the monitor he would yell out, "WHAT IS THAT MORON DOING!?!?!?!"



With that shock to the system Jeff quickly becomes motionless, completely aware he is currently in the middle of a group of people staring at him from that outburst. Clearing his throat he quickly heads over to the bathroom, entering into one of the stalls before closing and locking it. At this point there's only one thing on his mind, getting to Kitai to let him know about the mess this Arcadus fellow has made. Wrapping his wright arm and fist in his Hell chain he lets a trickle of reiatsu tickle the gate seal holding back the portion of Hell merged with his soul. With that he will vividly picture Kitai's Shop before plunging his fist into the air in front of him, thus creating a crack in the fabric of reality. This crack would illuminate the stall a dull red, with the sounds of faint screaming being heard from the power of Hell creating that fracture. With the destination already firmly in his mind, Jeff widened the tear by sticking his other hand into it and pulling in both directions making the rip wider. With one last phrase spoken, "I shouldn't have eaten that burrito", he steps through the crack.



On the other side Jeff will step onto the floor of Kitai's shop, "Hey look at that, I didn't appear in the air this time", letting the tear in the fabric of space close behind him. He only just managed to say this before who he assumes to be Kitai's clone speaks up. "It's about time you showed back up. I was beginning to think this little organization of yours decided to kill you off for good. It's been about two weeks, you know it takes a good long while to reform in Hell if you aren't strong enough, right?" The Kitai finishes saying this while he places something down at the same time. "Nah, they wouldn't kill me for good, actually I was promoted after I finished some training in Hueco Mundo, By the way I wouldn't suggest trying to make a hot spring there, the water kept disappearing into the sand." With that Jeff strode over to the nearest seat he could find, plopping himself down before turning to face Kitai with a more serious expression.



"Did you see the stunt that Arcadus pulled? It's currently being broadcast worldwide, What was he thinking?" Jeff would say this to Kitai with a straight tone, showing this wasn't a time he was playing around. "I'm worried what's going to happen because of this, in fact I'm happy we get to oppose him if he wants to do things like this. Other than that did I miss anything else of importance? Hueco Mundo doesn't really have good programs to watch and Hell only has one station, the 24 hour fireplace station." With that Jeff would wait to see what sort of information Kitai was going to give him.

[Kitai Yoru]

The clone looked at the Saika with a fair bit of confusion. Promotion? Someone promoted Jeff? What a strange Organization, though he supposed he didn't have any room to speak, giving how far he got in UE. "Desert springs are produced by underground rivers leaking up to the surface, not the other way around. Unless you're using magic bullshit, of course it would disappear." The Kitai doppelganger explained, remembering a piece of trivia he learned through a book he read. It was a pretty good read, he would easily admit, glad to have gotten the free time to do so as the one who ran the shop most days.

But then the more pressing thing just said caught his attention. "Arcadus? What stunt, what're you talking about?" Kitai didn't have a television in the store, not bothering with the affairs of the regular person and isolating himself from it for the most part. Heck, he didn't even have a phone since he died nearly six years ago, only recently changing that, and even then it was exclusively used for calls. It was a brick that could contact other people, that was all he needed, and that was all he wanted, though he had the creeping suspicion that he was going to regret that decision in a few moments.

It was such a weird thing to see this man be serious. Kitai honestly wouldn't have taken him for the type, if how he handled himself in the battle with that Colina woman was any indication. He loved pain, pain, and more pain, having gotten excited at the thought of being brutally killed convinced that this guy was less right in the head than he was. It seemed that there was more than one side to this masochist than 'hurt me more'. Kitai, or at least his clone, had no idea what Jeff was talking about, however. He walked over to the computer on the other end of the counter and started typing away.

He turned the monitor to face at an angle that the two of them could see from, and went to some video sharing website. With the help of Jeff, the time it took to find this video was less than he had hoped. The pair watched as a hack of a preacher rambled on about the usual things one does in a mega Church. Kitai hadn't even known that they made Churches that size anymore, but there it was. From the angle of the camera, it looked more like a stadium than a place of worship. Kitai felt a little disgust at the sight and the sermon.

The man looked... well, the less said about his looks the better, but he could practically smell the man from here. He was ranting about all sorts of nonsense, something about roleplaying and the devil. Kitai scoffed, as he was sure Jeff did as well. No one cared about that down there. In hindsight, you gained a lot of perspective on religion once you've actually been to and through Hell and back. The man had no idea about what was actually going on in this world, or any of the others. It was almost comedic, if you allowed yourself to forget he was teaching other people his tainted world view.

Then he was asking people to give him money? From their credit cards?! Kitai looked affronted at this, a scowl crossing his usually smiling face. And then something happened. The lights dimmed, and a voice called out to all of the panicking Churchgoers. The normally comforting words of 'BE NOT AFRAID' did quite the opposite for Kitai, as Arcadus, clad in what could only be described as angelic attire, descended down from on high. Instantly, the clone's stomach dropped like a stone through water, as the masses were whipped into a frenzy. "What the fuck!?" He said, more than a little panicked himself.

The Bastard, for what else could the arrogant prick be, started spewing so much bullshit from his mouth, Kitai was surprised that he wasn't choking on it. The preacher was clearly caught off guard, as anyone would be at such an entrance, and accurately tried to call him out, but tried to fight the Arrancar at his own game, stating on how the Rapture would happen according to the written word. Arcadus verbally backhanded the preacher, as the hypocritical man refused to give up his possessions. Kitai had the sinking suspicion on how this was going to turn out.

Arcadus was no actor, but his raw Charisma was almost enough to leave Kitai convinced that he was telling the truth. If he hadn't met the man before... But he couldn't even begin to imagine how the people were fairing, and he was astounded that the preacher himself had the stomach to cling onto anything under the raw strength of character that the false angel was exuding. And then Arcadus vaporized him with lasers from his eyes. The clone didn't even realized he had shot to his feet until after he'd done it. This was bad. This was very, very bad.

Arcadus painted a massive target on his back with the death of that man, in front of all these cameras. Uzaki Enterprises might try to shut this guy down, to say nothing of Xcution. The Shinigami would be all the more motivated to get this guy on a chopping block, even more so when they realized he was an arrancar. This might be the shot heard round the world. He tuned out the rest of his words, the sound of blood rushing in his ears overwhelmed it. The clone slumped back in his seat, rubbing his eyes with his palms. "...Fuuuuck." What more could be said than that?

Kitai had expected the man to start out small, work his way up, take some ordinary people and convert them slowly into spiritual affairs. Not... murder a man in front of thousands with his powers! "This is going to be a shitstorm the likes I haven't seen in awhile." He let out a heavy breath of air, as he spun around. Arcadus wanted a war it seems. Kitai took out the Interdimensional Doorknob from his pocket, and walked to the front of the store. "Well Jeff, it seems that we've got a lot of work to do to stop this jackass." He pressed the item against the wall, and pulled. "Go help the original. I've got my work cut out for me in the background. Good luck." He waved the Saika through.

[Arcadus]

Characters present
Arcadus, Kitai, Jeff, Andrew Lebowitskikov(NPC) Natalia Jasonson (NPC)

[Deleted]

Counted 247 Paragraphs, so that'll be 74,100 Ryo for all participants! Arcadus, your NPCs get 3,000 Ryo!