Breaking Point [Col] [JT]

[Wynne Kuchiki]

It was bleak in Hueco Mundo. Gloomy as well. It had been hours since Camila had left, and Wynne was still awaiting her return. There wasn’t much to do here in this desolate place, nothing to distract her from the boredom running rampant in her mind. Unlike the Soul Society, this place had only two colors, black and white. There was grey as well, but that was technically still white or black, depending on the shade of it. The overall color made the whole area depressing and brought her mood down. She didn’t like being alone and the longer she had to wait, the more she worried. Where had Camila gone?

Distracting herself with more idle thoughts, Wynne looked up towards the sky. At first she didn't like the ever present moon, but it was better than an ever present sun. Now that would’ve been annoying. Bright rays forever beating down on her poor flesh. Letting out an irritated huff, the nervous girl watched some of the sand near her feet roll away from her toes. If the colors weren’t bad enough, the sand here got everywhere as well! Why couldn’t this place have normal soil? Or be at least somewhat civilized? It was questions like these she asked herself as more and more time went by.

By the time the 24 hour mark went by, Wynne realized something had gone wrong. Camila shouldn’t have been gone this long. She wasn’t sure what had happened, but she wasn’t stupid either. Her friend wasn’t a saint, so there were a myriad of reasons for her delay. With none of them being good. Frowning to herself, Wynne wondered what to do. The area she was in was reasonably hidden away, but she could see forms off in the distance. Getting closer by the minute. It wasn’t that they could see her, more that they were traveling in her direction. Unlucky.

She would have to decide what to do next. Hide or flee. If she hid, was she confident enough in her stealth to hide her reiatsu from the approaching hollows? No. Not in the slightest. While she was reasonably good at hiding, the area she was in wasn’t doing her any favors. Right now she was in a good spot, but the moment they passed the set of trees she was currently hiding behind, she’d be out in the open, easy to detect. No, she’d had to move. Camila would be able to find her if she came back and found her missing. Assuming she even came back.

Picking up her bag and setting off, Wynne turned around and looked back at the set of trees she had stayed at for the past day with one last sad look. She was moving on. To where she knew not. She had no idea where she was. Only that danger lurked at every shadow. She was weak here, mere prey. This was the land of hollows. A place where they devoured each other and grew stronger. Evolved and consumed. A place she shouldn’t be. A place Camila brought her. A place where she was abandoned. A place that was looking to be her tomb.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}
Strength: 38 - 33%= 25
Speed: 25
Spiritual Pressure: 50
Reiatsu Strength: 50 + 50% = 75
Instinct: 38 - 33% = 25
Senses: 25
Energy sensory: 29 + 50% = 44
Healing Expertise: 25 - 66% = 17
Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0
Total SP: 280

Mental Incantation: 1
Charisma/Leadership: 1
Stealth: 1

[Col Arana]

Col's little foray into Las Noches hadn't been entirely useless it seemed. He'd gotten a new accounting of some of the new Espada, and at least one other new Arrancar. Of the group, I believe I could kill Arcadus if need be. Though... That Ailene. I don't know what to make of her. Sophisticated by arrancar standards at any rate. It's a pleasure. And a shame. A pity she is to be associated with Las Noches, I may actually feel sad when I have to kill her. Ultimately... of little consequence. Even if her released form is especially potent, I merely have to kill her before she releases. A knife in her sleep will do the job well enough when it comes to it. He mused, slipping back across the wastes of Hueco Mundo-- nearly missing the blip on his spiritual radar that alerted him to a most unusual presence on the white sands.

My, my.... What have we here? Col's pace quicked and his course changed as he began to approach the spiritual energy of what he could only believe to be a Shinigami. And one so feeble... What is it doing here? Col slipped along the dunes. A grove of dead, calcified trees were in the distance... No doubt that was where the Shinigami was. Col was grateful for the white cloak of Las Noches that he wore, because it camouflaged him against the white sands of the Hollow's realm, enhancing the spider's natural aptitude at stealth. He paused as he neared the top of the sand dune he was climbing, pondering the possibility of a trap laid out for him. ...No... No, he would surely detect the presence of a Shinigami potent enough to threaten him, wouldn't he? Hmm... But then.... He had failed to detect the power of Ailene at first glance as well hadn't he?

Perhaps it is worth a proper evaluation of the situation.... just in case. Col crouched and spied above the dune, his gaze piercing the grove of trees, towards where he sensed the Shinigami's reiatsu. Hmm.... I don't see anyone... The trees must be hiding them But before long, Col sensed minute fluctuations in the Shinigami's reiatsu. Beyond the ability of most to detect, Col could detect even the subtle adjustments that a sudden change in emotional state caused in one's reiatsu signature. The Shinigami seemed to be getting anxious. And Col could guess why.

Casting his gaze further away he saw a group of forms approaching the forest. Hollows, almost certainly. Not very powerful ones. To Col those creatures were little more than the equivalent of a bag of chips. Possibly flavorful, but not especially filling. He had no time for them today. Not when there was a much more interesting situation at hand. Col stood up and approached the top of the dune. If the Hollows were causing this Shinigami anxiety, it likely meant they weren't going to be prepared for someone like Col. There was a burst of static and suddenly Col was among the trees.

"Come on out little Shinigami, and you will make things easier for both of us." The arrancar spoke in a voice like silk. Scarlet eyes flickered around the trees, seeking a flash of black clothing or the glimpse of skin or hair that would betray the Shinigami's location. Col knew he was close... very close. His ability to detect reiatsu was exceptional, but it seemed this Shinigami was not unskilled in the art of stealth themselves. Col would certainly find them given a bit of time, but he did not wish to try something so tedious. "Don't be shy now... Step out into the light, and we can speak as civilized people." He purred, as he paced among the trees, keeping his wits about him and his senses sharp.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength: 300 (100)
Speed: 400
Reiatsu Strength: 400 (1400)
Spirit Pressure: 340
Light Aura: 0
Dark Aura: 100
Senses: 150
Instincts: 390 (130)
Energy Sensory: 120 (420)
Healing Expertise: 100 (33)

Total: 2200

Martial Arts: Blades: 3
Martial Arts: Wing Chun: 2
Special Skill: Climbing: 3
Stealth: 2
Battle Analysis: 3
Analysis: 2

[Wynne Kuchiki]

Things were looking up for Wynne, at least as much as they could, until they weren’t. She had gotten a head start on the hollows behind her. Making a decent bit of headway and putting some distance on them. Not much, but a decent start. And with the rate she was going, she was sure she could lose them given enough time. Unfortunately for her, she was in a wretched place. Filled with wretched creatures that seemed to sprout like weeds. And one such monstrosity was currently cutting off her only exit.

"Come on out little Shinigami, and you will make things easier for both of us.” Judging from how she had not noticed him until he had chosen to reveal himself, the power level of this creature was way above her own. Or at least its capacity to remain hidden was. That was quite worrying, to say the least. Ignoring the sweat that was dripping from her brow, Wynne kept quiet and began to move only in the shadows of the trees. Only a fool would give the creature a response. Stealth was the only thing she had going for her.

He somehow knew she was a Shinigami but he didn’t know where she was, which was curious. She doubted such a situation would last long though. Her grove of trees was ending, and after that there was only endless sand nearby. She couldn’t remain hidden forever. Currently she was merely delaying the inevitable, but there wasn’t much else she could do. None of the options available to her were great. All of them sucked actually. But she would have to make do.

"Don't be shy now... Step out into the light, and we can speak as civilized people." Was the creature speaking even considered a person? Can monsters truly be considered such? As Wynne crouched quietly next to the tree she was hiding behind, she peered out slowly to look at her pursuer. Each step he took made him come closer and closer to her position, yet the longer he took, the closer the group of hollows got as well. Perhaps they would provide a reasonable distraction? Highly unlikely, but there wasn’t much else she could rely upon.

As her hands shook nervously, Wynne patted her bag that was beside her. It wouldn’t be making this trip. Too heavy, even if it contained all of her valuables. Too weak, too useless. Just like her. Shaking her head vigorously, she ignored those traitorous thoughts before bursting out of her hiding spot and aiming her arm towards Col. "Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!" Not even looking to see if her attack hit, Wynne bolted off into the distance, aiming to gain as much space as she could from her opponent. She didn’t know his strength, but with the group of hollows arriving in a few minutes as well, the damage didn’t even matter. She needed to be gone pronto.

~~~

Reiatsu: 475/500 Remaining
Reiatsu Strength of Byakurai: 83

SPOILER: Click to show

{Byakurai}Technique Name: Hado #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning)

Class: 7

Technique Type: Kido

Technique Element: Thunder

Technique Description and Effects: The user fires a concentrated, powerful lightning bolt from their finger that pierces a target.

How to use technique: Speak the spell and point hand at the target.

Incantation and Effect: "Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!" When the incantation is spoken, the Reiatsu Strength used to determine the power of Byakurai is increased by 10%. (i.e. 100 Reiatsu Strength is treated as 110.)

[Col Arana]

Col's eyes flashed in the direction of the incantating voice. A kido spell, and one Col knew well. The arrancar smiled, almost politely at the Shinigami as she burst from hiding. "There you are..." He purred at Wynne. The Byakurai crackled through the air towards him, its light brilliant. And with a full incantation no less. Perfect for a demonstration. Col raised a hand before him, and the Byakurai crashed into his palm, colliding with his Hierro. It flashed, burned and crackled against Col's hand for a few moments, before the arrancar snapped his hand closed around the kido spell, crushing it. "But I hope you have something better than that." He chided, his voice almost sweet, if it wasn't for the condescending stare he gave as he said it.

Oh, but the Shinigami was running away. They might not have even seen his display. A pity.... Wise though, I suppose. Col considered. Unfortunately for Wynne, stealth and hiding had been her greatest ally against Col. Straight fleeing from the Arrancar was not going to aid her with the gap in their speed. Not that Wynn could have known the existence of the gap until this moment, when the sound of static emanated from Col again, and the arrancar seemed to teleport directly in front of Wynne, now practically on top of her. A pale hand lashed out with startling speed to seize Wynne by the throat and, with physical strength that dwarfed Wynne's, attempted to drive the Shinigami woman to the sandy ground of Hueco Mundo.

If successful, Col's grip on Wynne's throat loosened just a hair to allow the woman breath to speak. "What brings a Shinigami as feeble as yourself to Hueco Mundo." He asked. "Without so much as a mentor or protector?" Col's knee hit the sand as he applied pressure to keep Wynne pinned. "Not very intelligent of you. If you wish to continue struggling, by all means do so. I imagine those Hollows you were trying to flee will find it very helpful in locating you~" He teased. "It's your decision of course. I might be convinced to let you go free, but I don't know if they will be so accomodating~"

While he spoke, Col aimed to try to detect changes in Wynne's mood. Was she afraid? Angry? Or did she maybe have a plan, and was staying calm and controlled? In truth, Col did not want the other Hollows to interfere. While he could certainly dispatch them easily enough, they would be a potential distraction, and enable his prey to escape. And Col did not want to allow Wynne to flee without learning her purpose here. "Ah dear, but in my haste it seems I've forgotten to introduce myself, Shinigami. My name is Col. And who are you that I have the pleasure of hunting tonight?" He inquired.

Reiatsu Remaining: 3200/3400 (-100 for Sonido, plus another 100 from the previous post)

[Wynne Kuchiki]

Her attempt at escaping was pathetic. Futile. It happened in an instant. A mere blink. That was all it took for the creature to catch up to her. To seize her by the throat and bypass all of her defenses. His attack happened so quickly she wasn’t aware such a thing occurred until she was on the ground with coarse sand and crumbling rocks digging into her back. As Wynne struggled to remove the hand currently cutting off her oxygen supply, the arrancar began to speak, taunting her as he showed the trapped shinigami just how outclassed she truly was.

“Wynne is my name, and I ended up here by chasing a hollow through a Garganta.” The first part was true, while the latter was a lie. Although she didn’t know where Camila was, Wynne would rather die than rat out her friend, missing or not. She would take that secret to the grave. Her foe this time was stronger than her. How much so she wasn’t sure, but judging from how she didn’t even see him move, she had a feeling she wasn’t going to be making it home. Yet she wasn’t sad, just….numb. Perhaps it was the shock?

Col was the name of the creature currently on top of her and keeping her pinned to the ground. He seemed to be enjoying the situation as well which was irritating, but there wasn’t much Wynne could do about it. She was just unlucky that someone of his strength had been nearby. If she had met the hollows that were lurking nearby instead, she might’ve had a chance. As for him, no way. She didn’t see what happened with the attack she had sent his way, but there wasn’t a single scratch on him. So it probably had no effect. And that was the strongest thing in her arsenal. She was outmatched.

If only she was stronger. That was what Wynne was coming to realize. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered. Strength. The power to do whatever you desired. If she was strong, she could kill Col. If she was strong she could find Camille. If she was strong she could’ve killed those hollows instead of running. If she was strong she could do whatever she wanted. But she wasn’t. She was weak. And now she was paying the price for her weakness. If she ever got out of this situation, she would make sure to change. Still, her promises to herself didn’t really help her out now did they?

[Col Arana]

If Col knew what was going through Wynne's mind, he would have been positively delighted to encounter someone who mirrored his views on existence. Indeed... Power. Strength. That was everything. It gave you control. Lack of power put you at the mercy of those who had it. Having power made you able to exert your will on those without it. A lesson Wynne was experiencing at this very moment. Col's eyes pierced through her, glimmering with a primal hunger in the moonlight. But Wynne wouldn't sate his endless, ravenous famine tonight. Her power was too feeble to make for much of a meal. Information is all she was good for. Col might consider letting her live if she sated his curiosity at least. Might. Or perhaps he'd consider her of no value, and kill her right here, once she'd told him everything he needed to know. Her fate was in his hands, and they both knew it. As far as Col was concerned, the only thing that could keep her alive was to prove her worth to him.

"How very reckless of you." Col stated to her. He could sense the defeat in Wynne's mind. While his aptitude at energy sensory didn't give the arrancar true mind reading, surface thoughts and feelings were transparent to him. Col released Wynne's throat, but instead seized the front of her Shihakusho and stood up, hoisting Wynne roughly to her feet along with him. "A mere accident then? Unfortunate." The spider released Wynne for a moment, radiating cold, cruel confidence. He could release Wynne because he knew she couldn't escape even if he was not physically restraining her. And he expected Wynne knew that too. He believed he could trust Wynne's own psychology to keep her from fleeing, now that his power was demonstrated.

Col began to pace a circle around Wynne. "In that case, Miss Wynne..." He began, contemplating her. "You are here by sheer happenstance. Your friends in the Seireitei have no idea where you are. If you never returned, they would have no idea what happened to you, or who had done it." If Wynne was not actively turning to keep facing Col, the arrancar's pacing would have taken him behind the woman at this point. "So with that in mind..." Col leaned in close so that he was right beside Wynne's ear. "Why shouldn't I kill you right now? You are a Shinigami. My enemy, feeble as you are. What possible benefit is there to me in letting you live?" He asked. He could hear the Hollows shuffling through the forest behind him, but there was still some time before they'd arrive. Time enough to decide what to do with Wynne.

"I'm not a monster. I take no pleasure in senseless slaughter." A blatant lie, though one that Col himself had convinced himself of. "I did say I might let you go, but I will need a reason. I'm not especially picky. Is there information you can give me that might be worth your life? Or will you carry out a task for me I wonder...?" He inquired, testing the waters, intently focused on what he could tell of Wynne's emotional state. A hand clasped onto Wynne's shoulder. "Well, little Wynne? Why should I spare you?"

[Wynne Kuchiki]

Col released her throat and hoisted her up from the ground as if she weighed nothing, and judging from his strength, to him she probably did. As he began to circle around her, Wynne kept her gaze straight ahead, not even bothering to keep him in her line of sight. There was no point. If he wanted her dead, then she would be. She wouldn’t be able to see the attack coming, no matter how much she wanted too. Their power level differed that much. The less she saw of him, the better.

There was also no point in running. Not only would it be foolish, but it would be a waste of energy. Plus she didn’t feel like being choked again. Better to keep him as amiable as she could for now. If she was going to die, she would rather die as painlessly as possible. And dying facing her opponent felt better than dying with her back turned. Although it wouldn’t really matter in the end since she would be dead either way, with only Col knowing the outcome. Still, she’d feel a tad bit better in her last moments. Maybe.

“There’s none. You have nothing to gain by letting me live. I’m weak. I have no knowledge of hidden arts, no secrets to give you. Do you want me to beg for my life? To grovel like a dog? We both know the situation I’m in. We both know the outcome. I’m just a nobody. Both here and back home. My life is worth nothing. If it was worth something, I wouldn’t even be here in the first place.” Letting out a sad huff, Wynne looked down at the ground. She had nothing to give to Col. No secrets of the Soul Society to bargain with. She had only just graduated from the Academy, so she only had various class assignments stored in her brain. Useless tidbits of information. Nothing that would save her.

“As for tasks, I’m willing to do anything to spare my life, but would you even trust me to do it? What’s stopping me from just fleeing? From just going home? How do I know this isn’t a trick? Some sort of sick game you’re playing? I know what goes on in this cursed place. All you monsters do here is feed. Feed and kill. I don’t see why you would change it up for little old me.” Turning to face Col, Wynne stared the arrancar down with a frown. While she had a slim chance of living, she didn’t really believe that Col was going to let her go. It didn’t really make sense. He had nothing to gain from such a thing. Shinigami were his natural enemy. If Wynne was in his position, she’d slaughter him with no hesitation. That’s just how the world worked.

[Col Arana]

In response to Wynne's statement about begging for her life, Col smirked behind her. "It won't hurt your chances~" He stated. This was another lie. It absolutely would hurt her chances. Col was a sadistic piece of work. There was no thrill to him like watching someone debase and degrade themselves for their survival and then killing them anyways. Begging for her life would only increase Wynne's chances of dying, if for nothing else, than at least Col's amusement. But her less than stellar reveal of her nature caused Col's eyes to dull a hair, as if in disappointment. "Nothing you say?" Col finished pacing around her, to face Wynne once more. "And here I thought the Seireitei taught comradery. That it valued the lives of its Shinigami. You have my pity, little Wynne, if nothing else." He hissed at her. The arrancar paused a moment, as if examining her.

"But you are willing to perform a role for me, are you? Very well..." Col smirked slightly. "You're not mistaken about the nature of this land, but I my dear, am no Hollow. Not anymore. I am arrancar, and I am capable of civility when it benefits me. And you, weak and helpless as you are... are not worth the effort it would take to kill you. You aren't even struggling. Killing you would be nothing more than a formality, and I have no interest in an execution like that, when I can gain more from you being alive." Col stated. "If you ask me why you will not just flee and break your word, then let's add some incentive shall we? What is it that you want? What aspirations do you have?" Col asked. "Power? Prestige? Love? Comradery? Wealth?" He probed Wynne's mind further, being aware of the Hollows drawing near.

"If I cannot trust you for fear of me to carry out my task, perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. I'm sure you'd prefer that to dying here, out in the wastes. Forgotten by everyone, myself included. And I don't care enough to expend the effort unless I am certain there is nothing you can provide for me besides sustenance. So tell me who you are Wynne, and perhaps we may both leave here alive, and more fulfilled~"

[Wynne Kuchiki]

“Unfortunately I have some pride left, as little as it is. I won’t beg.” Even if it might get her killed, there were still some things even Wynne wouldn’t resort to, and begging was one of them. Especially when she still felt that Col was going to kill her anyway. No need to embarrass herself on top of that. “They also taught you not to follow hollows through Gargantas, so I already failed in their teachings. I’m not really a model student.” She’d be surprised if the Soul Society even wanted her back considering the way she left. Probably shouldn’t have burned bridges the way she did, but what was done was done.

“I currently want to live and to be stronger. That is all. No point in anything else until I attain the latter. Or else situations like this will keep cropping up. Won’t matter if I can get the things I want if they can just get taken away due to my weakness.” She used to have other goals, but did they really matter now? She viewed them from a different perspective than she used to in the past. Mastering Kido was nice, but a load of good it did her against Col. She had started to make new friends only to have them disappear. And the hole in her heart was even worse than when she didn’t know Camile at all. Truly Wynne didn’t know what she wanted anymore.

“I am just a weak Shinigami, through and through. But that is not what I will remain. I’ve come to realize now, that strength is really all that matters in the end. Unfortunate but true. I might not have anything now, but in the future I will have at least that.” Turning to face Col, Wynne shrugged her shoulders. That was all she had for the Arrancar, she didn’t know what else to say. She was weak now, but if she lived, she would remedy that. She would mold her body into something that could traverse these cursed sands. Assuming she ever came back to this wretched place.

[Col Arana]

Col's brow furrowed in a little disappointment at Wynne's stubborn, remaining pride, but he got over it quickly. "A shame then, Miss Wynne." He conceded, but the light returned to his eyes as she explained her goals. He even managed a thin smile. "You are correct my dear." He purred, now folding his arms to observe Wynne. "Strength is the only thing that matters out here, in the sands of Hueco Mundo. Though it's more than that. It's the only thing that matters anywhere, only here we Hollows and Arrancar are simply honest about it. The weak die-- preyed upon by the strong, or otherwise only allowed to live at the discretion of the strong... rather like our situation right now, as you so aptly put it." He acknowledged. "It's a respectable goal. One I can empathize with. I know the pains of being weak." He suddenly snarled. "And how weakness robs you of command of your own fate." He said, and his hands unfolded. His right hand fell across to his left hip, where the glimmering silver hilt of a sword could be seen.

Col drew out his Zanpakuto, Tarentella, the gleaming, double edged blade flashing in the moonlight. "But be cautious what you say Shinigami. Without my leave, that is very much what you will remain. Your future is dependent on my whims." Col reminded her. "But you may be in luck tonight. I'm inclined to not only spare your life, but grant you exactly that which you have been seeking. If you can withstand it." Col lowered his blade, and brought his fingertips to the very point of his sword. With a deft movement, he snapped off the end of Tarentella. A sad little shard of the blade, one that, although ruining Tarentella's aptitude at stabbing techniques, did not meaningfully detract from the blade's length at all.

"You asked how I might ensure your loyalty to me? You will carry out the task I ask of you, because if you do, I will give you the power you seek. And as proof... I'll permit you the smallest taste of my strength." Col's hand, still clutching the shard of his Zanpakuto darted forwards suddenly, at his full speed, which to Wynne's eyes might even surpass that of her Shunpo. Fingers extended, Col drove the shard of his Zanpakuto through Wynne's chest and into her heart, like a needle. But rather than killing her quite immediately, something else happened. Tendrils of dark power erupted from the shard of Col's Zanpakuto as a small fraction of the arrancar's power took root and exploded within Wynne, providing a surge of forbidden strength to the Shinigami. The might of a Hollow.

As Wynne was to experience this eruption of strength within her, the Hollows she had feared before burst out of the forest, this sudden surge of power alerting them to her presence and drawing them to her precise location.

"Go ahead then, Wynne. Try it out." Col cooed to the woman, as he stepped back to allow her to test her newfound strength.

For cinematic purposes in the thread, Col has gifted Wynne a fragment of his power; For the remainder of the thread, Wynne gains 150 SP, which she may distribute among Strength, Speed, Reiatsu Strength or Spirit Pressure as she sees fit

[Wynne Kuchiki]

Barbaric as she thought the creatures here were, Col had a point. From what she had seen and heard, Hollows and Arrancar were honest about their nature. Only strength mattered here, the weak either died or served someone stronger. That was all there was to it. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether that was the right way to go about things she knew not, and as someone of the weaker variety, she had no say regardless of the matter.

Watching Col pull out his Zanpakuto, Wynne listened to his speech. It was grating to hear him speak about her in such a way, but he had a point. Her life was in his hands. If he decided to kill her at any point in time, there wasn’t anything she could do about it. That was just the unfortunate truth of the situation she was currently in. It stung but that was just how it was. Still, the way he ended his sentence left her a little wary, as she wasn’t sure what he was about to do. And judging from his movements and the way he was currently eyeing her, she felt like some sort of lab rat about to be dissected.

Before she could move, Col’s hand was on her chest, shoving part of his Zanpakuto inside of her. Feeling her body shudder in revulsion, Wynne felt tendrils of darkness erupt from the shrapnel and spread into her body, like some sort of sickness taking root inside of her. Yet rather than making her feel weak, it instead gave her strength. Feeling her muscles twitch uncontrollably, Wynne let out a small groan as she tried to regain control of her body. To Col, the power he gave might not seem like a lot, but to her it seemed like the world. All this power at her fingertips….the things she could do.

“Thank you.” Clenching her fingers and twisting her limbs, Wynne rolled her neck and turned her eyes toward the approaching hollows. It was interesting now how mere minutes ago she feared these creatures. But now they were no longer monsters in her eyes. No, just mere hollows. With Col’s gift she was certain she could kill them now. Pulling out her Zanpakuto, Wynne leapt to the right before circling around to the hollow on the outermost edge of the approaching group. Performing a Shunpo to close the distance between the two, Wynne slashed down with her sword before the hollow could react, purifying it from this world. Once this was done, she kept up the assault and charged towards the remaining two. There would be no more retreating for her.

It was as she was fighting that she noticed the changes to her body. Her speed was the first thing she noticed. Her speed was pitiful from the beginning, but now it was slightly above average, as far as shinigami went. Her strength was where she truly noticed a difference as where before her hits were like a wet noodle, now they actually did some damage. The only thing holding her back was the fact she wasn’t used to attacking from such close range. But she wanted to learn, hence the reason she wasn’t using any Kido for this fight. For some reason, it didn’t feel right using it here. And she trusted her instinct, so she’d just use her body for this one. No matter how many extra bruises it might give her.

After a few more minutes of fighting, the battle was done and the hollows were slain. It wasn’t the most glorious of battles and Col had probably seen better, but Wynne was a long range fighter, and this had been one of her first close range fights she had ever done. But now that the physical battle was over, she needed to deal with the mental aspect of it. Although she didn’t really regret it, she had accepted a gift from an arrancar, one that was still surging through her veins. Was she still allowed to call herself a Shinigami after doing so? She was walking a dangerous path, yet it was one that gave her strength, so wasn’t this the correct decision? She just didn’t know. Placing her zanpakuto back in her sheathe, Wynne looked up into the night sky as she lost herself in thought.

~~~

New Stats
Strength: 25 -> 150 [100]
Speed: 25 -> 50

[Col Arana]

Col watched as Wynne initially struggled with the explosion of power within her, before gradually getting herself back under control. Good. It wouldn't do for her to die outright from power incontinence. Col's eyes glimmered with amusement, watching his own reiatsu mingling with Wynne's for a few moments as she sought to control the arrancar's strength. There was a certain inherent aptitude she had though. A certain... compatibility with his Hollow's reiatsu. Curious... Col mused. Perhaps Wynne would prove a more useful investment than he had initially planned. But it was time for her to show her own stuff. Wynne lunged at the Hollows and Col stood back, and observed, a predatory sharpness in his gaze. Wynne's technique was sloppy. Unrefined. Not unskilled-- no there was clear evidence of Shinigami training in her bladework, but it was clearly tinged with a certain.... aggression, that suggested unfamiliarity with this up-close and personal fighting technique.

Well. She had tried to slay Col with a kido. She may be a kido specialist then. By happenstance she seems to have channeled this strength into augmenting her physical abilities rather than her spiritual ones though. Unexpected, but not unwelcome. He considered. Col knew better than to talk and break Wynne's line of thought. She butchered the Hollows, without too much difficulty. Good. It would be a pity for him to have to save her from creatures of that level. Col let Wynne take a few moments to catch her breath. He detected uncertainty in her, and knew that he would have to choose his next words carefully. Silence might in fact be the best use here. Wynne, he expected, was being overwhelmed by the intoxicating rush of power. Not a gradual increase in strength, inching towards a higher goal, step by step, but a sudden burst all at once. That rush... the feeling like you can do anything... Col needed to let Wynne embrace that experience, and letting her do so on her own terms would be better than him pushing her into it. If Col pushed too hard, she'd dig in her heels and be useless to him. But he would need to apply a guiding hand to keep Wynne on the appropriate path, lest she stray. A delicate procedure, given how recent their acquaintance was. One that would be a challenge for Col to maintain. Ahh... but what was life without a little challenge.

Col gave Wynne several long moments following her defeat of the Hollows, as she stared into the sky, before advancing down the sand towards her. "How does it feel?" He asked. He had an idea of course, of how it felt, but he'd let Wynne answer that. He had the answers to her questions in his mind already. She was probably conflicted, because of what he was. Afterall, accepting a Hollow's power was an anathema to Shinigami. There must be a certain discomfort against how good it felt to be strong. That's fine though. Afterall. It's the strong that impose their will on the weak. Col thought. You need to come to that realization yourself. You were already partway there just a few moments ago. You possess the capacity to understand. Understand that rules don't matter if you're strong or clever enough to violate them without consequence. The question you are pondering... The answer to it is simply to possess the strength to silence those who try to claim you are in the wrong. That's all there is to it. He thought. But he couldn't say these things out loud-- or at least he wouldn't prompt it of Wynne. That would be too brazen of him. He'd let Wynne come to that realization. If she asked him questions, he would answer them, but there were no conclusions as strong as those you came to on your own.

Instead, Col asked a very different question. "...Do you want more?"

[Wynne Kuchiki]

“Different. All this power, surging through my veins. Scorching hot, nearly unpleasant yet somehow euphoric at the same time. Truly a unique sensation.” Turning to face Col, Wynne watched as the arrancar stepped beside her. The answer to the questions she had posed to herself wasn’t simple, but what was done was done. She has already accepted her forbidden fruit from the snake, so she would have to deal with the consequences. She would do what must be done to purge herself of her own weakness.

“So generous, surely there must be a price for all these gifts?” Taking a moment to glance down at her arms, Wynne twisted her forearms around. While her noodle arms were still the same size as before, she could still sense the power within. Surprisingly enough, it was still growing thanks to Col’s gift. Albeit, slower than before. A punch from her could probably break a bone if she aimed it right. If she received another such boon, how much more would her strength skyrocket? Would her body even be able to sustain such a thing?

“I’d be willing of course. But I learned long ago that nothing in this world comes for free and you still haven’t given me the task you’ve previously mentioned. What is it exactly that you want me to do Col?” At first Wynne was only going to do Col’s task because she feared for her life, but now that he had actually given her part of his power, she now felt indebted to him. She owed him that much at least, so whatever it was he wanted of her to do, she would do it. Even if it meant going against Soul Society, seeing as how she had already committed several crimes just from this whole situation involving the arrancar. If they caught wind of the things she did, she'd be executed or worse. 

[Col Arana]

Col smiled politely. "It is isn't it? That's the nature of a Hollow's power. I feel-- I felt much the same once, when I was a more bestial creature, that preyed upon others for their strength. I am well acquainted with the feeling myself of course." Col replied. As Wynne inquired about the price, Col nodded. "Naturally. Consider this first sample... an investment. Something to help you understand what I can offer. More can follow, but that does not come for free. My task for you is simple. I require eyes and ears within the Seireitei. I have walked within your Rukongai districts on occasion, but your Twelfth Division seems to have deployed sensors that make that more difficult. I need to know what Soul Society is planning. What developments in your objectives, and most importantly... Any activity involving either Las Noches or any of your Human World factions." Col informed Wynne.

"Come to me with useful information-- information I can use, and I will reward you appropriately. If you fail to bring me any, there will be no penalty, but neither shall I reward you for it. If you try to betray me..." Col left a pause for effect. "I'll have to rescind my investment in you, with interest." A euphemism that left little to the imagination. "I will return to these woods once a month for your report-- if you have nothing to tell me, or you believe that it is too risky or difficult to come out here without arousing the Thirteen Court Squads suspicion, I understand. You need not come. If you have a better place to meet in mind, I don't mind hearing you out." Col offered. The arrancar's own declaration to Shizuka came to mind then. Hmm... No, too early to ask that of Wynne. He had to gain the woman's trust first. A difficult thing given their current state of affairs, but perhaps with further encounters, Col could earn some level of trust from her.

"Ah. And I will set your mind at ease on at least one thing. You may believe you are aiding an agent of Las Noches. Perhaps your conscience struggles with this betrayal of your comrades. While I do not deny that I have killed Shinigami in the past, I do not consider Soul Society my enemy. But Las Noches? That pathetic excuse for a King who claims the throne there? That, my dear Wynne, is an enemy that the two of us share. Of that. You can be certain. If Soul Society is to make a move against Las Noches, I must know of it. Not so that I can thwart it, but so that I can assure that wretched creature's end." Col added, believing that while Wynne may not believe him, it probably wouldn't hurt his influence to say as much to her.

[Wynne Kuchiki]

Looking at Col with a complicated expression, Wynne debated on what to do. While she held no love to Soul Society there was a major difference between being a traitor and disliking the place. But how did the saying go? In for a penny, in for a pound? She had already gone this far, might as well go all the way. “I’ll see what I can do. Not much, considering my rank, but with the strength you gave me, I should be able to rise through the positions pretty quickly in my squad. Might raise a few eyebrows, but it's not the first time a shinigami has powered up through a life threatening situation.”

“As for meeting here, it might be a little difficult for me specifically. While hitching a ride with a hollow is technically possible, as a shinigami getting to Hueco Mundo is quite the formidable task. Do you know of an easier way to do so?” The way she got her previously was a one time situation, and Wynne wasn’t going to get it again. The method she told Col she did was pretty tedious, so she’d prefer only doing that if no options remained. Waiting for a hollow to open a garganta and then going through it without being noticed basically boiled down to luck, and she had been quite unlucky as of late.

“I will admit, I don’t know much of the situation concerning Los Noches. Nor much about Hueco Mundo, only that it consists of Hollows and Arrancar. I am still relatively new to all of this since I’ve been stuck in Soul Society most of my life. I’ll keep an ear out though.” This wasn’t really how she thought today was going to go, but Wynne would take it regardless. Better than being devoured at least. The betrayal of her comrades part was iffy, but she was already betraying them before Col was even in the picture. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have run away with Camile. Her decision had already been made long ago, now she just needed to stick with it.