KILL SIX MILLION DEMONS [DE Hard Adventure]

[Deleted]

Gestalt held onto the cross he wore, grip firm and tight enough to make his knuckles white in their grip. What he could hear on the other side of the gate did nothing to prepare him for what laid beyond. The screams of men and women were akin to an incredibly fucked up symphony. A symphony he had not heard since his time in the Holy League. One that both sent a shudder up his spine but also one that gave him chills. This was not a simple fight. No skirmish. No all-out assault against a base. This wasn't even a war given what he'd seen and been apart of. This was nothing short of full sale annihilation, genocide of a species. And their enemies were the pinnacle threat against life itself, physical or spiritual. It was Hell, unleashed for all to see and witness. Gestalt though he was walking with a small group of fellow medics was scared.

Sure there was fear of fighting and losing himself. But this was Hell they were fighting. He'd fought a hellion once upon a time. And he'd lost, pathetically. He swallowed, saliva thick as he remembered the being in question. Arms shaking a bit at the memory. He hoped beyond hope that the same demon was not present. But more so, he hoped he could survive this war. God clearly had him put in this "Soul Society" for a reason. And now he was seeing why. Yet again I had not the wisdom to understand your plans for me Lord. Forgive me. But I pray, give me the strength to endure this. And not just myself but those present in the fight. Believers or no, they need your assistance God, I pray give them the power to return the devil and their armies back to Hell. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

With a deep breath Gestalt managed to put away some of his fear, though his body continued to display it with the jitters. That's when he heard the leader of their squad speak up. "Alright listen up! You're goal is simple! Get as many men and women as you can back to the gate! Line them up in front of it, we've got several members at it ready to accept them. Make no mistake you are going out into what is EASILY the worst place in the spiritual worlds! There will be some of you who do not make it. But to ensure we can minimize that save everyone you can! And that includes yourself. Do NOT die if you can help it, the other squads need you more now than ever! You will be broken up into groups of two! One to keep an eye out and Two to ensure you will be able to carry a body back to the gate. Regardless of physical strength. Pick your man and let's MOVE OUT!"

Gestalt looked around himself and quickly saw that he was being left out. It wasn't surprising given he was new to the squad and knew no healing kaido at the moment. Still with that said he managed to get found by the "leader" of their squad. The 13th seat. He looked him over and grabbed his arm while he quickly strode towards the gate. "Gestalt, I know you have no kaido. You are effectively dead weight at the moment as far as they are concerned. However you're also more physically capable than them. I'm going to need that kind of person especially since it's likely you'll be guarding me. I can carry a body and attend to them but I cannot actually fight while doing such." The leader looked back at him, eyes hard and serious. "I also need to make sure our most vulnerable members aren't COMPLETLEY thrown to the wolves. So, stick close to me and if something comes after us, let me know. Together we should be able to hinder it enough to get away. . . Prepare yourself Gestalt. Actual hell is before us."

His arm was let go as the 13th seat continued onward. He stood still for a moment as fear and worry grew within him. But still he had to move, he couldn't atone by simply standing around. Others needed him now more than ever. Slowly but surely did he catch up to the 13th's pace as the gates were opened up just a little bit to let them through. "God help us all and give me the strength to resist temptation. For I will be heading into war yet again. Grant me your wisdom and patience to not return to my old self. In Jesus's name I pray." Prayers said and done he and the 13th seat started running as they passed the gate. And the horror of the war-torn field nearly had him stop. Bodies everywhere. Fires, natural and wholly unnatural were spreading and coating buildings whole. The screams were infinitely worse and seemed to come from everywhere. And to that end, the clear sky that he'd seen prior was not filled to the brim with explosions, falling bodies, monsters, and ash.

The 13th seat wasn't kidding in the slightest. This was hell, and it's armies weren't going to wait for them to do their job. So many were already lost, a staggering amount. He had to take a page from his old mindset. Those lost could only be prayed for at this point. He needed to hope against hope they were bound for God's embrace and not the opposite. Beyond that he needed to keep up with his "leader" and keep an eye out for hellions in the meantime. But given the sheer numbers that was almost an impossibility. Which meant he needed to focus on those coming too close to them. Nothing yet thankfully but given the presence of several noteworthy shinigami around it was unlikely those that didn't see them directly were going to come after them. Sadly this train of thought lasted them all of two minutes at most. This was due to several flying bat like hellions came out of scenic nowhere and were dive bombing them. Gestalts eyes widened as they grew closer by the second. All he could do was speak out to his seated officer. "A-Above us! Two bats out of hell!





The 13th seat nodded and stopped running looking at the two swooping down. He immediately started chanting something under his breath. Gestalt knew he was trying to cast something but couldn't hear him thus he did the only thing he could. He grabbed some flaming debris and tried to wield it in both hands. One of the pair immediately noticed him and shifted to dive after him, the other continued on towards the seated officer who Gestalt could tell they were building a sizeable amount of energy in themselves. Still without much speed or mental faculties to speak of, given he was still overwhelmed by it all, Gestalt effectively froze in place as the beast landed before him with caws out stretched and about to maul him. "Hado #53 Surasorutoiera!" From his person came out a bubble of reiatsu that quickly expanded and slammed into both the bats. The one before Gestalt ramming into him while the other found itself lodged into some debris of a nearby burning building.

Gestalt took a moment to come to terms with what had happened. As did his new bedmate. The bat demon was horribly concussed and thus with a good bit of effort, able to be thrown off of him. Thats when Gestalt heard the order from the seated officer. "GESTALT SO HELP ME KILL THAT FUCKING BAT! IT WILL WAKE UP SOON IF YOU DON'T!" The officer was currently dealing with his own that was crawling out of the debris as he spoke. Meanwhile Gestalts was laying down and groaning. He quickly muttered to himself. "May God above have mercy on us both." What Gestalt did was about as simplistic as one could imagine. He beat the debris on it's head. Again. And again. And again. The first hit caused it to cry out but ultiately didn't look too harmed. Yet the concussion was clearly getting worsened. Thus each subsequent blow only furthered this. However after the third swing Gestalt started to see some damage actually forming. Blood finally started splattering out and the cries turned to screams. Gestalt could feel himself start to remember how to swing the nearly broken debris, the training he'd been through coming back. Thus for the last swing he used both hands and brought it over his head. Held it and then with all his muscles in his back and arms combined brought it down onto the bat's head. The wood broke, the hellion cried out but was not yet dead. Though there was a decent dent in it's skull.

He couldn't afford to let it live though and thus started to stomp on its chest. Like before the first couple times didn't do much. But a sickening crunch started to make itself known on the third stomp. By the 5th the beast stopped moving. Gestalt had broken several ribs and seeing how the skin was discoloring, it was without a doubt he knew several key organs were hit. The beast would die from the internal hemorrhaging. "About time Gestalt. Fuck, I've been waiting on you. We need to find you a weapon. If you see a blade on the ground just grab it. You can't take that long killing a demon again. Now c'mon I saw a few bodies that may be moving a couple blocks down, let's see if we can't save someone." Gestalt nodded and started running with the 13th seat towards their new destination. God willing they'd made it in time.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Gestalt Stats / Skills}
Current Stats:

Strength: 50

Speed: 50

RS: 50 (25)

SPPR: 50 (75)

Instinct: 25

Senses: 50 (25)

ES: 50 (75)

HE: 0


Without Sasei Oni

LA: 80

DA: 20



Current Skills: (7/15)

An Zam - 1

Calm Mind - 1

Pain Tolerance - 1

Anti-Stealth - 1

Acrobatics - 1

Damage Recovery - 1

Battle Analysis - 1

[Connor Greaves]

Connor felt a chill run up and down his spine as the beast opened its maw, filled with vile and oblivion. This unholy abomination was on an other level to Connor. The Poisoned Wave slammed against its hide with nary a scratch on it, and now Connor could feel gravity around him change direction. The mouth of the monster was like the most dangerous vacuum cleaner in the world, as everything began to fly towards the toothy abyss. Connor knew that he would die if he did not run away. He could feel the building he was on begin to ascend upwards, and took that as his que to get out of there.

He looked towards his fellow Soul Reaper, every instinct telling him to try and grab them, but knew that it would be a death sentence for her if he did. He could not afford to drop Souruejji, and if he touched her while holding it, she would be poisoned. "RUN!" He yelled out obviously, as he used Shunpo to try and get to the ground. He leapt off the edge of his house zombie, as the were hundreds of feet into the air by this point. Hundreds of houses, zombies and trees littered the air, all sailing through the sky towards this gluttonous Wyrm. In a flash of movement, he vanished.

He reappeared on another house, screeching as it was pulled from the ground. Connor ran along it, fighting against the harsh winds. He reached the edge, vanishing again, this time landing on a tree. The tree was also yelling, which disturbed him almost as much as his zombies. He hopped off, feet impacting one zombie after another in a twisted game of hopscotch. In a final burst of speed, Connor landed on the ground, burying his Bankai into the ground, using it to anchor himself down. Dozens of skeletal hands reached up from the earth, holding onto him for dear life.

The moments it took for this monstrosity to stop felt like hours, but eventually it did stop. Connor looked around at the aftermath of the attack. The world around him was barren, houses stripped from the land, zombies consumed, and trees uprooted. What was once a densely packed housing district was now an empty clearing. Hundreds of feet of naked dirt was all that remained, and Connor never felt more useless. He was without army, as little as he wanted them before, he wished he had them now. As little as they would have done to this creature, they would have at least given him some false sense of security.

Fear clutched at his heart as he looked at the beast, a smirking grin clearly visible on its lipless mouth. And it laughed at them, thanking them for the meal, as it began to vomit up lava. Fear was an emotion that could only build up so much, before it changed. Fear gave way to anger. As lava began to drip like the poison off his blade, the Vice Captain felt an emotion burning almost as hot as the blasphemous liquid that Hell-beast was spitting up. Anger gave way to rage. Connor gripped his blade so hard his knuckles were turning white. The Soul Reaper let out a primal yell, as insect wings burst from his back.

He flew backwards, flicking Souruejji forwards, another Poisoned Wave flew at the beast. Connor knew not if he could kill this thing, but he was sure going to try. "I WILL KILL YOU!" He yelled out to the laughing beast from the black abyss. "I DO NOT CARE WHAT IT TAKES TO KILL YOU! YOU WILL DIE BY MY HAND!" He vowed, perhaps foolishly. He glared daggers at it, hopping to get its attention. He was praying that his allied Soul Reaper had survived that. Connor could feel the mouth that ran up the blade of Souruejji open, as it vomited more poison, quick to refill the now hundred feet it could cover.

Shunpo x3: 75
Poisoned Wave: 150
Collected Souls: 200
Total Reiatsu Remaining: 6,975/10,000

SPOILER: Click to show

{Collected Souls}
[1. Collected Souls: This weapon is a collector of bodies, stealing and taking all that it touches, and using them for Connor, whether he wants it to or not. This power is quite the terrifying one for Connor. This is probably the only defensive ability in this blasted blade of his, though on the surface, it certainly does not seem to be that. Speaking of surfaces, the only one he can use this ability on, is himself, and it is quite painful. By activating this ability, something terrifying begins to happen. Connor starts to spawn a zombie.

Once activated, one or more of those he has slain begins to crawl out of his body, from a location of his choice. This starts slowly, taking its time to free itself from Connor, taking three posts to fully spawn from Connor. While it may look like it is coming directly from Connor, the truth is that Tamashī really likes to give a good performance, a show off if you would. When Tamashī, the blade, touches anything, the poison spreads in every direction. Including over Connor. Thankfully, Connor is immune, or he would die so very quickly.

Instead, the poison, with a little extra reiatsu put into it, starts to pool on Connor, since the poison refuses to absorb into him anyway. This makes a tiny pool for the bodies, the zombies, to start to be created from. Before they are fully transformed, fully created, Connor has full control of the body, sharing senses with it. These zombies are special. Not only can they be from any race that he has killed, but when they are reborn, they are made strong. Their physical stats are chosen depending on what Connor needs.

The souls have 500 in both of their physicals. They also share Connors sensory stats. This ability costs 200 reiatsu, and after zombie is fully spawned, it costs 100 reiatsu per post. Initial cost is multiplied by however many he chooses to create at once, max three. If Connor does not have at least a 1 in pain tolarance, he will not be able to fight while this tech is active. Can be used in both shikai and in bankai.]

Class 2 Rank 2 Stats:

Strength- 150
Speed- 400
Reiatsu Strength- 50
Spiritual Pressure- (400+100%) 800
Senses- 100
Instinct- 200
Energy Sensory- 100

[Astrid Vess]

For nearly a minute after Astrid joined the charge with Connor, albeit with a slower calvary, things were. . . calm. Unnaturally so. Though Astrid could barely hear much of anything given all the spirits she summoned were either firing off cero or bala one after another towards Erisischthon. And with a pretty sizeable volley headed his way even Astrid had to admit that perhaps Samson was right. Perhaps things were going to fair better. Namely because she'd attained this new state of power. That she had far more capable minions at her beck and call. And with the glorious amounts of new spirits now residing within her it was almost hard to believe that she'd actually lose at all. And yet it all went to utter dog shit, far more so than she could ever think possible. And it all started with the worm opening its mouth and breathing in.

Astrid's eyes widened and nearly on instinct alone she immediately willed three sigils into existence. One on the back of each hand, and another onto Samson's back. She'd find out very quickly that despite the sigils she really wasn't prepared for anything that was about to happen. First and foremost everything, and in the most literal terms EVERYTHING starting to get drawn in. The ground, the tree's, hellions, corrupted hellions, her spirits, Samson, and of course all the minions of Connor along with Connor himself were being drawn in at an increasingly high speed. Samson however, being the more . . . intelligent(?) of the two and frankly speaking on some degree of stable (at the moment) ground dug deep in an attempt to stop himself.

At first it worked well enough with Samson even doing something of a chuckle, if Astrid was seeing correctly. . . That quickly changed as he slowly but surely started to move backwards. Meanwhile Astrid and her brood of spirits did their utmost to slow down but there was nothing she nor those airborne could do. Thus in an act of self desperation Astrid immediately threw down the sigil on her right hand onto the dragon's backside and teleported away to Samson's backside. The idea. . . . Well it did as intended. She was on his back but barely had a moment to latch onto the spines on his back to attempt to secure herself. Thankfully Samson, in all his infinite wisdom, withdrew the couple of spikes necessary to give her a small seating area on his back while sprouting the remainder around her so that he could "hold" onto her.

That left the one big issue. This worm, now at full sucking capacity, was still dragging them backwards and there was shit all Astrid could do to stop it. She could burn her other sigil to try and do something but fucking frankly Astrid was too busy worrying about her new life in this things fucking stomach. And fun fact, if you went inside Erisichthon, you weren't coming back. No hellion EVER came back from this things stomach. Which is part of the reason why Astrid was currently fearful for her fucking life, fucked as it may be she much preferred the idea of living. Still Samson was not going to be able to hold on much longer as the beast behind them was genuinely a fucking god at drawing in everything around them. Moments later that actually included them as Samson's grip into the ground and the initial level of earth and dirt broke apart.

Astrid swore time slowed down for her. That things finally hit that moment where she was about to see her life flash before her eyes. And yet. . . all she felt. All she heard was her own anger. Anger at being weak, anger at being dependent on those around her, anger at herself and entirely truly pissed off at being killed off by some giant fucking worm. And that's when it hit her, well rather when Samson did to drag her out of her thoughts again. He tried to make motions regarding grabbing the earth again using something to pull them back. Astrid's eyes widened if she couldn't have him grab onto anything around them, then she'd have to use what was at her disposal. The souls of those she'd consumed, or more specifically, those oh so readily available.

Astrid turned around and let her anger fuel her desire, her need to command the spirits of those summoned. With all the spiritual force she could muster she let out a loud scream towards the flying brood. The flying brood at the moment had been practically in this things mouth with all the other junk currently being sucked in and swallowed up for lunch. Yet when Astrid let out her screaming command the spirits all began to glow brightly with a single flower blossoming out of their chests. Inside this sakura blossom was a small but condensed orb of energy. Almost as soon as it formed it detonated. As did the others. All 15 spirits and their sakura blossoms detonated in an admittedly dazzling display akin to cherry blossoms blowing in the wind. The blast engulfed all of Erisichthon's face and then some even hitting the ground around it and at it's lower body. The blast reached out a distance of 120 feet, starting inside it's mouth. And if the vacuum sound was loud this was even louder.

Still though the explosion was potent, surprisingly so as even Astrid hadn't realized she could produce such a powerful attack she was still be drawn towards the beasts body. However all the petals generated by the explosion started to fall around her and darken considerably in color. Within a moment an entire cloak had formed around her and Samson, with the connecting portion linked around his neck. The cloak itself was something to see and not for the better. It's linking looked like skeletal hands, legs, arms, and even spinal cords mixed and matched together. Meanwhile the "cloth" material of the cloak was made entirely of the various skeletal spirits and body part and it trailed all the way down Samson's spine. It wriggled and writhed constantly and given Astrid was being covered by it, she could hear their groans and moans. Most of which. . . weren't for the better. Still they were airborne and Astrid had had enough time off the ground and thus yelled out another order to the spirits that made the cloak. "GRAB EARTH!!

Within moments the cloak extended nearly 30 feet from the air to the ground below before the collection of cloth burst into various limbs and body parts. With a sudden jerk Samson and Astrid both stopped moving backwards. Another couple seconds later and the two were even being drawn forward, even more to her surprise. And eventually once an eternity had passed Astrid and Samson were safely on the ground and locked onto it by the cloak. Until Erischthon finally stopped trying to eat everything around it they would be unmoving and even their little bit of earth wasn't going to be moving given the reach of the cloak was longer than it looked. However. . . that wasn't the worst part. The worst came once the mouth, against all odds shut. The actual mother of all shockwaves made its way towards them. And yet again Astrid was damn near certain that they were going to suffer immensely for it however quite surprisingly she nor Samson suffered any effect of the shockwave.

With the vacuum gone the spirits had let go of their hold on the ground. Just in time for the shockwave to attempt to hit them. Except the cloak itself would form something Astrid would be intimately familiar with. The ungodly large head of the adult dragon hollow she'd spawned earlier. And it did nothing less than headbutt the shockwave dead on. Given all the spirits used to fuel the cloak the dragon was far more powerful than it was in its previous life and thus all but neutralized the attack. Though it did look like it took some serious damage from it given the shockwave was in fact something to write home about. Still the dragon even with it's mask cracked all over was in one piece and let out a roar loud enough for all in the nearby area to hear. Once done it simply slid back within the recesses of the cloak.

Astrid in the meantime was gripping onto Samson for dear fucking life. Though admittedly with all the ungodly loud sounds finally gone she decided it was a good idea to poke her head through the cloak and see what was going on. What she saw scared the both surprised her and concerned her. Erisichthon was still standing. Sure he was injured somewhat or at least to Astrid's eyes it looked injured from her spirits detonating. However it was not enough to knock it out. And to make matters worse it had quite literally leveled the entire battle field. There was nowhere to hide. Nothing was standing sans Connor, the beast, and surprisingly Astrid. Though Connor looked like he was going through a lot of emotions. Something she could actually understand at the moment.

Still with everything safe for the moment she patted Samson to let him know he could move. He simply nodded and released a breath from. . . somewhere. Astrid's eyes narrowed as she tried to consider how in all the circles of hell he was "holding his breath". Whatever manner was likely based off the same way she did. . . well normally. Given even her new form didn't have lungs and Samson sure as SHIT didn't have lungs either. Still. . . the sudden sounds of screams and Erisichthon speaking immediately grabbed her attention. Samson now turned around she could see the new found horror at hand. He was producing lava in volumes no living thing should be legally allowed to produce in ANY timeline. And yet here he was just existing and melting the world around him down. And for better or worse moments later decided it was there job to immediately go after it with . . . wings?

Astrid simply narrowed her eyes yet again and tilted her head. Samson had done the same thing for what Astrid assumed would be the same reason. Both were very curious and mildly concerned how Connor had suddenly sprouted wings out of his back. . . Until Astrid gasped and widened her eyes in realization. "N-not human! . . Something else. . Hmm. . . more ooze. . . Stay away Samson. . New souls. . . Come out!" Astrid wasted no time in spawning forth 10 spirits that she'd collected only a short while ago. Namely a pack of flying hason that looked like incredibly reptilian but had no eyes, horns growing on all their limbs, including one that was flexible enough to be a tail . . . or their spinal cord extended. And thank the heavens they had wings, scaly and wide, definitely heavier than they likely should be but their entire body that wasn't horns or horn like armor was thick with muscle.

Astrid just shook her head completely unconcerned about the fact she was sending in hellions to fight another. She simply pointed at the worm and growled out loudly to them all. The head of the pack, one that as notably taller and standing on two legs looked where she pointed and then back at her. For a moment it seemed like it was considering her order and if it would fight it. However, with a low growl and Astrid's energy starting to flare again it immediately nodded and yelled out to its pack to take to the skies. The rest quickly followed after it and promptly started making their way towards the worm, meanwhile Astrid and Samson followed behind them just a little bit slower so as to allow them to suffer the brunt of an attack first. Astrid's eyes never left the worm as she started to think yet again about what to do. And hoping that things might make a turn for the better.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-500 for 10 spirits summoned
-25 for reiatsu scrambler
-150 reiatsu for 3 sigils created
-25 reiatsu for teleporting
-300 reiatsu for Resentful Cultivation

Total reiatsu used: 1000

8,150 - 1,000 = 7,150 reiatsu remaining

SPOILER: Click to show

{Infernus}
Class 3

3/10 posts used

Feels like a shinigami's release

SPOILER: Click to show

{Image of hason summoned}

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hason squad info}
Total spirits in horde: 10

Strength: 450

Speed: 300

Reiatsu Strength: 0

Spiritual Pressure: 0 (immune to cutback)

Instinct: 200

Senses: 200

Energy Sensory: 150

Healing Expertise: 0

Durability: 1,200

SPOILER: Click to show

{Class 3 stats for Samson}
Strength: 700

Speed: 375

Reiatsu Strength: 0

Spiritual Pressure: 0 (Immune to cutback)

Instinct: 250

Senses: 200

Energy Sensory: 100

Healing Expertise: 0

Durability: 2,835

SPOILER: Click to show

{Cloak durability and defensive power}
Durability: 945

Defensive power: 1,500
Duration: 1/7

SPOILER: Click to show

{Resentful Cultivation}
1. Resentful Cultivation

This technique aims to defend Astrid or an individual she chooses to give it to from attacks they cannot see, don’t have a means to intercept, or simply in addition to their own defense aid them. Ultimately what it does is by sacrificing a minimum of 5 spirits from a given horde (or an entire horde if it’s only 5 minions strong) Astrid is able to make a cloak out of their bodies. The cloak covers the shoulders and is connected by branches around the collarbone of the wearer. These branches are a deep brown and if one inspects closely seem to connect with human fingers as opposed to branches. The cloak itself spans the entire length of the individual’s backside down to their ankles. It’s made of the same wispy material that the spirits are manifested as and it rolls and moves slightly on its own as though a slight breeze is present.


At its core what this cloak does is intercept an attack on behalf of the individual wearing it. A spirit will reach out and attempt to grasp or otherwise defend the user from an attack that is directed at them or that would otherwise affect them. For example it will attempt to grab a sword swung at the user just as it will attempt to block a fireball aimed at them. The OS of the cloak is equal to Astrid’s OS but the spirits that defend the user have an OS equal to 75 x spirits sacrificed. Thus making this cloak more potent the more minions are used to fuel its creation. This is still limited to the 3x OS rule and thus cannot exceed 3x Astrid’s OS. The speed at which the spirits move to intervene is 600. Lastly they have senses and energy sensory equal to 200 and can use the wearer's skill points to aid it in determining if a stealthed attack is coming towards the user.


Lastly this cloak costs 300 reiatsu to form with a 3 post duration. This duration is increased by 1 for every 5 minions sacrificed.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Death Throes}
Like all Astrid’s Infernus techniques this final one uses the spirits she summons as material for the effect to take place. However unlike all the other abilities this is a passive technique that activates upon the death of any spirit summon. This includes when Astrid sacrifices the minions for her abilities. In primus her spirits when they die just break away into petals and return to her. Now with Infernus active her summons explode violently upon death. Upon dying the spirits grow a single flower from their chest, this is a large sakura blossom that makes itself known in a horrifically dazzling manner. Literally popping out of the spirits chest and then unfurling to show off it’s bloodied beauty. From there it promptly detonates it, taking the spirit with it and directing the blast forward of it. This blast uses Astrid’s OS and unlike most explosions it doesn’t affect the other spirits around it, instead circling around them like sakura petals in the breeze. These sakura petals then return to Astrid same as they did in primus. The range of these explosions is 20 feet around them in all directions and is a force blast detonation.

There is a neat caveat however with this technique. Rarely in a horde will a singular spirit die, instead you’re likely to find several dying at once. Especially when Astrid’s techniques are involved. So with multiple explosions occurring at once there are certain effects that take place. The first is the range increases for every spirit that detonates. This additional radius is 10 feet per additional detonation capping at 120 feet. The second effect kicks in if there are 10 or more detonating at once. When 10 or more are detonating the OS of the attack increases. This increases by 25% for every 10 spirits that are being detonated. This caps at 2x Astrid’s OS.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Death Throes OS}
Total OS: 1,417

Base is 945 x 1.5 due to 20 spirits being sacrificed

[Arcadus]

Standing in the crater he had made, Arcadus simmered in his rage. Cami, someone he had so hoped would have at least served to help him, and had their own path ahead of them, had died, and now, in all likely hood, the remnants of the soul they were apart of had surfaced. They were gone. He couldn't bear it, this was something that he'd hoped, despite the things that did happend, despite the time passing, despite Kouhai's will, that they would remain friends. But that had been taken from him. 

Raising his hand, Arcadus's blood red silouhette shone across the blackened crater, robes, skin, hair, all of it painted from the blood spilled. And so much more would be cast on the ground before it was over. A red orb, glowing with a hue to match, formed in the Arrancar's hand, before whirling towards the oncoming horde of demons, its firing and path cutting through them like a scythe through grain, the explosive end of the cero blossoming to bring a another dozen squads to ash. 

Resuming his stance, Arcadus waited for the horde to reach him. He wasn't here to help shinigami, or to stop some devil's plans. Violence, he craved it as much as anyone can a thing, but he had to have them come to him. Control, he needed control, lest that thing, that spirit, rise again. It was there, tickling the back of his mind, as it was in all his doubts or his failures. That first hollow spirit that he formed from, the "core of his being as it called itself. It was a matter of control now. 

Cutting through them, Arcadus could feel his flames growing, enveloping the Rukon and searing even the fire borne hellspawn, but all the more, the land, the water, the very air that the souls that lived here breathed. He did not feel for them. Weaklings, worthless, slaves to slaves to slaves, it was an endless chain of subservience. This is the rot, the parasite he was tasked to destroy, and soon, he'd bring it all crashing down. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}
Strength 400/1000
Speed 327/327
Reiatsu Str 400/1100
Spiritual Pres 500/250
Instinct 150/100
Senses 100/100
Energy Sensory 223/502

Rietsu puhl 1200/2500
Rieatsu Tab 600 cero
Stacks 400(200 Doubled)
Ressurection rounds (3/16)
Electrica Rounds (2/6)

17/21
Charisma (5) 4
Analysis (2)
Cero (3)
God Form Art(Curved Swords), (2)
Strength of Will (2)
Crafting (3)

Item Durabilities
2000/2000 A.N.G.E.L.
1600/1600 Steel Silk
1200/1200 Colt (950 IP)
700/700 X3 Speedloaders (Colt)
2200/2200 Bleeding Edge
2400/2400 Artifical Zanpakuto
1300/1300 Liquid Blade
1450/1450 Burning Blade
1500/1500 Spiritual Steel Uchi Katana
4200/4200 Scabbard Cannon (Curved Swords)

[Akira Hinosai]

"I SAID I WAS A HOLLOW DAMMIT?!"

"Right, right, pardon my impudence, your majesty." In spite of everything going on around them, Luca smiled. There was something funny about the juxtaposition between a plushie talking nonsense and the utter carnage that surrounded them. "I only asked because I might need your help cutting through some demons on the return trip...Maybe to kill what demons have Ken'ichi pinned down also." Luca grabbed a dragonfly-like demon by the tail and shook it till it stopped moving and then dropped it. "Well, do you have any cool hollow powers, then?" Luca asked as he tore the wings off an avian demon before throwing it towards the ground. Luca wasn't sure how long this journey was going to be, but he figured it couldn't hurt to humor the little mod soul under his protection. Then again, the poetic coincidence wasn't lost on him. He was something of a hollow himself despite evidence to the contrary.

Appearances can be deceptive after all, but how exactly did a mod soul end up being a hollow? Luca didn't imagine he'd get a straight answer if he just asked. As silly as talking to a sentient fluffball made him feel, it was an adequate distraction from his own fears about all this. How much longer?!? I have to save him, I have to show him I'm worthy! "So what's a mod...I mean a hollow like yourself doing here anyway? Doesn't seem to me like you have a dog in this race." Luca asked, ignoring the fact he also seemed quite out of place here. After a bit, Luca would consider telling HONYOPYĀKO about his own hollow-esque nature. It seemed relevant, after all.

Whatever vast web of surveillance the shinigami had was probably down anyway...No, I think not. Instead, as Luca intermittently stepped towards the dusky idiot scientist, he decided to go another route to pass the time. "Well, I'm pretty interesting myself! Do you have any questions for Luca Castabella, the Blinding Star and Prince of Decay? Not sure what title I should go with... Perhaps it intrigues you as to why I'm deep behind enemy lines to save someone? It's a pretty interesting story!" Luca's babysitting skills were coming in handy. Kids liked it when you played along with them, and it just so happened Luca had a flare for the dramatic.

Beyond Luca's comprehension, the twin dragons snaked their way cross the demonic front, destroying demons as well as the land they traversed over. It was scorched earth, plain and simple. Maybe some part of Luca knew that. Even as their time drew to a close, they ate, disintegrated, and distributed as best they were able. That was their purpose, to sow terror and death wherever they went. They were unperturbed by numbers, they didn't have the capacity to understand them. They could not be disheartened by the continuing wave, or the comparatively small portion of the army they killed. Hard War, Total war, that was their purpose. All they knew and all they wanted...

Dragon (Disintegration): 4/5

Air platforms: -50

-350 for bringer light x3 (effective speed of 3000 for the first step, 3900 for the second, and 4500 for the third)
-50 air platforms


5150/7000

[Wynne Kuchiki]

Nodding her head slightly, Wynne followed Albin as he headed out towards the battlefield. As he began to speak, she tuned out the sounds of nearby fighting. That was not as important as what was about to be said. But yet the more he spoke, the more she wished she didn’t hear. Closing her eyes, Wynne felt a heavy shake reverberate through her frame as Albin finished speaking. Although she wanted to deny it, she knew what her companion said was true. It had been too long, Camila was gone. Never to return.

It seemed she was killed, trying to make Las Noches a safe place for the two of them. So it was her fault in a way, which made it even worse. The cause of it seemed to be a man by the name of Guujin Karai. Currently Wynne had no clue who he was, but that wouldn’t remain the case for long. She had to deal with this mess of a battle first of course, but after? She had a lot of studying to do. And since he was quite the notorious traitor, she could rely upon her family connections to get information. Might as well use her family name for good at least once in her life.

“Of course. Camila was a great friend. Her death will not be in vain. That I swear.” Uttering these words out at barely a whisper, Wynne felt a painful soreness in her throat. The pain of Camila’s loss now oh so very fresh and throbbing in her soul. She knew now was not the time to feel such emotions, but how could she contain such visceral pain, such aches, knowing her one true friend was gone forever? Never to return. She would forever mourn the loss of her friend. And the world would be a lesser place for it.

Reaching out and holding Albin’s hand gently, Wynne looked at the silver haired man in front of her. While revenge wouldn’t bring Camila back, it would make her feel a little bit better. An eye for an eye so to speak. If Guujin wanted to ruin her world, then she would ruin his. And the world of everyone he loved. And if Albin wanted to help, then all the better. “Anything for Camila, I would sacrifice the world for her, even in death.”

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

---

"m-m-m-m-... Majesty?!" Despite any potential sarcasm or condescension meant towards the plushie, it was evidently lost on her. Yes, in fact, all that remained on her expression was fixation - a very proud and forward stare directly in front of her, focused on a central point as though opposed to a blush. In either case and as supressed as it were, Shio was ecstatic. However, such an indignified reaction was beneath her standards, and she tried to hide it - although not well.

In the selfsame moment of such, does she look around in her surroundings and take a moment to recollect herself. Azure globes scanning the chaotic confluence of bloodshed beneath the duo. From this height, it was much easier to gather everything that was happening at once. Even on the back of Luca, she could - "Well, do you have any cool hollow powers, then?" - really take the time to examine her position and think.

Indeed, now was not a time to be slacking off. Even a moments slip of concentration or hesitation could - "So what's a mod...I mean a hollow like yourself doing here anyway?" - be a fatal mistake in such a battlefield. If only she could understand a little what stratagem Soul Society might apply for this scenario, then perhaps she could incorporate herself into it somehow and - "Doesn't seem to me like you have a dog in this race." - manage something.

That ginormous worm over there for example, was it a general of the invading army? It certainly looked to be of a hell-ish nature, that was for sure. But even the most basic of energy sensing capabilities could determine it was - "Well, I'm pretty interesting myself!" - not quite strong enough to be leading an army of this size on its own. In fact, it might be around the level of Arcadus? Kingpin. So likely just one commander of a few, that thought in her mind - the legions of hell weren't exactly organized.

No, there had to be more than just the ol' hungry caterpillar - Shio was certain. In this case, the best course of action would be to - "Do you have any questions for Luca Castabella, the Blinding Star and Prince of Decay? Not sure what title I should go with... Perhaps it intrigues you as to why I'm deep behind enemy lines to save someone?" - try and sense out what other commanders there might be, and where they might be hiding. Right! I'll just have to close my eyes... focus and - "It's a pretty interesting story!-"

"SHUT IT!" Bonk. "I'm trying to concentrate-!"

Just like that, Shio closes her eyes. Depriving herself of her other senses in an attempt to focus out any reiatsu signatures that might be stronger than the numerous, countless others on the battlefield. Given that she had already caught a glimpse of the others on the side of Soul Society, it shouldn't be too difficult to differentiate them - if she could detect them that were. Even that was a gamble, but it was worth trying.

---

NOTES:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Statistics and Skills}Strength: 25
Speed: 25

Reiatsu Strength: 180
Spiritual Pressure: 600
Reiatsu Pool: 6,000

Instinct: 100
Senses: 25
Energy Sensory: 100

Healing Expertise: 25

Damage Recovery - 2
Crafting/Forging - 2
Anti-Stealth - 2
Focused Eye - 2
War Strategy - 2
Strength of Will - 2
Acrobatics - 2

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kigen: Moddo Ne (Mod Root) - Mastered (Level 4)}Class: 8 - 1 (4)

Technique Type: Mod Soul Technique

Usable By: Mod Souls

Technique Element: N/A

Technique Description and Effects: A Mod Soul's ability to reach out with its Reiatsu and take control of a body it inhabits is something truly unique. By simply surrounding itself with material, it can reach out, and make that substance its own body, take it in and use it as if it were part of itself, and for all intents and purposes, become its surroundings.

This technique works on the basic principle of the Mod Soul's ability to take over that which is within its surroundings. By having its Reiatsu extend from the body that it is physically inhabiting and branching tiny roots of it's own Reiatsu, the user implants them into the surroundings before taking them into their body, adding the material to the body they already inhabit, making it a part of them. In its most fundamental stages, this ability can simply be used to create a shell of material around the user from surrounding materials in very thin layers. In its most powerful of forms it can integrate entire landscapes and take control of them. While this extension allows them to sense changes in the controlled environment, they do not receive pain as a result of it. Additionally, control of the environment is effected by Skills such as Battle Focus, Strength of Will, and any other mental skill that would effect their ability to concentrate on manipulating it (Having multiples increases this further, allowing extraordinary control). In addition to control, both buffs and debuffs of a Reiatsu nature can be passed to the Mod Soul through the environment that they have extended into. This control of the environment does not extend to Reiatsu attacks such as Cero or Kido unless the attack manipulates physical material such as water or fire. In these cases it can be controlled so long as the user has Superior Reiatsu Strength to the attack's power. The environment manipulated maintains its properties, and aside from the Speed at which it moves (based on the Mod Soul's Reiatsu Strength) its features such as durability and malleability are unchanged.

At Class 8-6 the user can take in dust or spirit particles in the air and make it a part of themselves. In this most simple of forms, it is as if the air surrounding them is a part of them, allowing Mod Souls to sense anything passing through this air as if it were touching them. While this does not hurt, it is a useful sensory tool that can be used to notice incoming objects. The effective range of this ability is approximately three meters, extending to four meters at Class 7 and ten meters at Class 6. This process costs 100 reiatsu to initiate and lasts four posts before it needs refreshing.

At Class 5-4 the user can, in addition to sensing and branching their Reiatsu into their surroundings, fuse these dust or spirit particles to their skin in small layers, allowing them to actually use material they are in direct contact with. This enables them to add protective layers of material to their body in order to create a surface, much like a weapon. Areas of their body that have had this layer added to them can be considered like the edge of a sword or other weapon and can be used to attack and parry incoming slashes, though reiatsu-based attacks and the like will tend to weaken the bonds and cause the layers to peel away. At Class 5 this layer can be applied to any small patch of skin no more than ten square inches in area. At class four this increases to an entire limb. This process takes 150 reiatsu to initiate and lasts for five posts at Class 5 and seven posts at Class 4.

At Class 3, the user can extend their Reiatsu into their immediate surroundings for brief moments. Anything nonliving within five meters of their body can, for a brief moment, become as though it is a part of them. They will feel anything passing through it, and they will be able to manipulate the material within as if it were a part of their body. This lasts for roughly fifteen seconds, or about one post, and costs 175 Reiatsu to initiate every time

At Class 2 The user can spread their influence, making their surroundings part of them. This allows their soul to take root in their surroundings. With this active, they can freely manipulate their surroundings within five meters of their body indefinitely, as well as any material that COMES into this range. This ability costs 500 reiatsu to activate and lasts for eight posts.

At Class 1 The user can not only influence their surroundings, but completely fuse with it. Taking in ambient materials, a Mod Soul can modify whatever body they inhabit into a weapon using surrounding materials, transforming their body and taking on a much more intimidating form. For seven posts, this form can be maintained and utilized, though it cannot be refreshed for another three posts after that as the Mod Soul takes time to recover, blocking them from any Class level of use during this time.

How to Use Technique: This uses the basic principle of a Mod Soul's ability to control a body it is placed within. To use, a Mod Soul Simply needs spread their spirit energy outside of that body in the form of tiny roots.

Technique Drawbacks: Using this technique, the Mod Soul's surroundings becomes a part of them in every way, as such any poisons or negative ailment abilities can use the affected surroundings as a means of spreading their debuff to the Mod Soul itself. This technique's TTP cost depends on the level being mastered. 5 TTP at class 8, 10 at class 7, and so on. However, one's aptitude with the technique must be "Upgraded" when learning the next highest class, paying the new ttp cost in order to upgrade the Tech, making up for the cost as if you learned at a higher class. It also cannot be used to affect Seki Seki rock.

Made By: Hebiface

Reserved? (Yes/No): Not Reserved.

5,850/6,000 Reiatsu
3 Posts (Kigen: Moddo Ne Lvl. 4(Right Leg))

[Shawn Rabuburēdo]

Shawn was working well with his fellow Squad 11 member that is Shin. What he wasn't expecting was the Hellions to continue gaining ground. Granted it should have been expect as there was outlandish numbers of Hellions every which way the eye could see, except for that spot where the Arrancar is shredding everything moving. So it really shouldn't be that surprising to witness a hoarde of Hellions slam into the gates below.

Shawn would look towards Shin questioningly, "So, do you plan on jumping into the fray now?" Shin just gave him a smirk before looking back at the crowd below, "Honestly, if I find a spot with some other Shinigami, I would probably still jump on down to help." Yeah, wether Shawn wanted to admit it or not he would probably do the same thing if Albin's quick patch worked. Griping one of the last remaining javelins in his hand, he could tell it was possible to wield the weapon without to much difficulty. It would still be painfull but it wasn't anything he wasn't prepared to deal with.

Shawn would then speak up to his current partner, "Well, better late then never, how about we join the fray?" With a grin Shin nodded before turning his attention toward the battlefield, finding a decent spot the more muscular Shinigami jumped towards it sreaming for Shawn to follow. With a shout Shawn did indeed follow his partner into the midst of the bloodshed, peircing with his javelin at any Hellion who was close enough. Focusing on the enemies before him he momentarily lost track of Shin.

"Shin? Where are you", Shawn would say before spotting his partner 10 feet ahead of him. The world moved slow as he watched a Werewolf like Hellion shove a spear through the midle of Shin's chest. Someone he finally started to become acquanted with from his own squad, sure enough it was proven yet again Shawn didn't have the power to save those around him. "Nooo!" He would let out a scream of anger while rushingat the Hellion that was currently pulling Shin's lifeless body off of its spear. 

Shawn readied his javelin to pierce it through the neck of that creature, unfortunately for him the Hason was just to fast for him. Easily avoiding the Lunge the Hason prepared for its own attack. Hopping backwards it was now ready to strike Shawn with its own attack. It was at this time Shawn understood he couldn't stop this thing let alone avoid its attack as there was no safe direction to dodge. Yet Again I prove to myself how weak I am, I need power if I want to save others, please give me power. With that silent prayer, Shawn was ready for the attack heading towards him, not ready to die but ready to fight with every breath he had.

6 Hellions killed

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

NORTH GATE

Zatoshi coughed, retching as blood sloughed from his lips. He leaned on his sword, planting it tip down into the ground as his body heaved, desperately trying to catch his breath. “You show a lot of promise, kid,” Syn said with a sigh. He flexed his hand hard, that red haze of energy forming around it as he charged a new attack.

Zatoshi picked up his head, his face twisted in a bloody expression of rage and frustration. His enemy was coming, death was near. He had to move, had to dodge this next attack, but his body felt frozen, fatigued from his injuries and the fight.

“I’ll look you up after I send you to hell, don’t worry. Talent like yours? It’d be a shame to put it to waste.” Syn said in a tone that was almost indifferent to what he was about to do. He cocked his arm back for another blast.

Zatoshi knew in that moment he had to move. Had to live! HAD TO FIGHT. HAD TO KILL. MOVE. KILL. MOVE.



KILL.

---

Zatoshi was bestial. All self-preservation was quickly leaving the picture. He darted between demons in a brutally efficient fashion hacking them apart like a tempest. Even now as his strength and speed started to ebb, he didn’t notice it. His perception was reduced to a haze of white-hot single minded determination to kill as many of his enemies as presented themselves within his reach. The fact that he was growing sloppier, slower was not perceptible to him. Even when a chain managed to slam across his jaw - a sudden blow that he hadn’t seen coming - should have awoken him to the fact that his defense was lacking, his rage instead fired into hate and spite as he swished the blood in his mouth before whipping his head around and spitting it into a flurry of shrapnel that cored out the center of his attacker’s head.



It didn’t seem as if he could be stopped, or even phased. His white academy top would be soaked with viscera were it not that every drop of blood that was shed around him quickly joined the raging storm around him that darted in torrential flows, washing through demons in wild and uncontrolled lances destroying yet more demons that had not yet entered the path of his blade.



A singular Saika strolled steadily towards the bloodbath. The sea of charging hellions seemed to part around him, allowing his walk to remain leisurely and calm. He was a tower of muscle, easily passing six and half foot tall, with anglo-saxon features and black hair cropped to his skin on the sides of his head, a messy two inches left on the top and a beard covering his scarred face. His hands were tucked into the pockets of a green parka with a fur lined hood. A steely gaze anticipated the actions of the shinigami defending this gate.



The lieutenant was devoting his power and attention to the Great Wyrm sent after the Western gate. A lesser Akki currently occupied the attention of the Captain here. So what was here that was stopping this advance? The answer surprised him. An academy student currently formed the lynchpin of the defense, and boy did he seem atypical. Even from here the saika could feel how his reiatsu sang of rage, hate and a bloodlust to make even the most demented of hell’s denizens blush. As he entered the eye of the storm, a lance of blood streamed down from the sky, targeting him at the unconscious whims of its wielder.



The saika simply raised a hand out of his jacket and a crackling arc of red energy formed around his splayed fingers. The crystalized spear of blood seemed to disintegrate with wild flashes and arcs of energy as it neared the saika’s hand. A moment after the attack had been utterly defeated, he reared his hand back, a red haze forming around his hand before he snapped his fingers forwards. A blast of crackling, lightning-like red energy ripped through the hellions in front of him towards the young academy student, vaporizing everything in its path.



It could have ended the fight all at once, and yet it didn’t. A counter-blast suddenly formed from the academy student, and impressively enough, it ripped through his own attack. That wouldn’t last for long, the saika knew. He was only utilizing his powers at their base level -- a feeling out stage for his opponent, and a measured decision as it might instill false confidence in them in their ability to ward off his attacks.



He shifted to a rooftop and then to the ground just as it was about to reach him, columns of dark energy crackling with his movement. He maintained his walk towards the academy student even as their attack tore the hellions around him apart messily. He clapped his hands slowly, his chains rattling with the motion.



“Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. My name is Cynnabue Sycamore, but you can call me Syn,” He flashed a toothy smile.



“I’ll be the one putting you in the ground today.”

---

Cynnabue ‘Syn’ Sycamore

Class 1/Rank 3

Type: Roughneck

Skills:
Judo - 3
Muay Thai - 2
Battle Analysis - 3
Strength of Will - 3
Hellion Techniques - 2

Non-Release Techniques:
Saika Techniques
Paradise Wasps (Mastered)
Bringer Dark (Mastered)
Dark Fullbring: Bioweapon (Mastered)
Dark Fullbring: Suppression (Mastered)
Dark Fullbring: Soul Decay (Mastered)
Dark Fullbring: Werebeast [Badger] (Proficient)
Mark of Sin: Wrath (Mastered)
Mark of Sin: Gluttony (Mastered)
Faustian Bargain (Mastered)
Grasp of the Dead (Mastered)
Eye of Yami (Mastered)


General Sinner Techniques
I Feel So Hollow - Class 1 [Regeneration, Extra Sensory - Seismic Vibration/Electroreception] (Proficient)
Bladed Chains (Mastered)

General Hellion Techniques
Closest to Hell (Mastered)

General Spiritual Techniques
Combat Cutback (Mastered)
Redirection (Mastered)

Soul Command and Variants
Disintegration(Mastered)

Strength	500
Speed	200
RS	25
SpR	800
Instinct	200
Senses	75
ES	100

Dark Skill Appearances:
Syn’s dark skill does not change his appearance for the most part, however the energy he manifests does change in appearance. At level 1, it appears similar to red lightning and electric arcs. At level 2 it seems to distort space around it slightly, almost as if sucking in the light around it. At level 3, his body finally shows physical signs of power. From his fingertips up to his elbows, his skin becomes molten and charred from conducting such incredible power.



Dark Skill Overall Ability:
Syn has the ability to emit reiatsu that devours reishi as well as foreign reiatsu. Anything composed of reishi or reiatsu that is unable to withstand his attacks or defense is devoured and used to fuel further attacks. When emitted, his energy can travel and strike at 800 speed. It has a maximum range of 50 meters.



Dark Skill Level 1 Property:
By channeling his reiatsu out from his hands, Syn can form electrical arcs that conduct to reishi and devour it. With all spiritual beings being composed of reishi, this effect is incredibly potent against them, but useless against enemies with physical matter bodies - like mod souls or fullbringers so long as they reside inside of a physical body. He can use this defensively or offensively -- or both at once, and there is no real distinction between the two. He might utilize the arcs to form a shield in front of his hand(s), or shoot it forward in a violent blast, but if either contact an opposing technique constructed of spirit energy or particles and his energy wins be it by virtue of OS or class, it will be devoured with half of the opposing technique’s OS being available to add to any future attacks, into a ‘banked’ instance.

By limitation, at level one a single attack can only benefit from one banked enemy technique.


Dark Skill Level 2 Property:
At level 2, Cyn can charge his body as if with a static charge buildup. Any reiatsu or reishi based attack or construct that enters a 5 meter radius around his body suffers a sudden arc flash, his energy devouring it as usual. He can apply banked techniques to this defense as well.


Dark Skill Level 3 Property:
Syn’s energy can now arc and conduct through reishi constructs in a manner akin to chain lightning. In realms entirely constructed of reishi, this means that his attacks can emit from wild and unpredictable approaches, such as firing into the ground only to travel up through a nearby wall and emerge from it. Enemies with 150 energy sensory can sense the path in which the energy is traveling. In addition, at level 3, his energy siphon becomes visually obvious, and seems to affect physical space as well as light: Near misses by attacks may still cause damage to the target as if matter has been physically ripped away, into the energy arcs. At level 3, he can also apply two banked techniques to one attack/defense.

[Taiyo]

It had been a rough going journey for Taiyo, his injuries burned but he had managed to avoid opening them thankfully. The shinigami's overall attitude had improved, but he was still reacting mostly on instinct at this point. Try as he might, he couldn't quite understand why this was all happening. He had fought countless demons now, killing and killing and killing. Endlessly they seemed to keep coming, and the more he killed the more Taiyo was waking up the fact that there was no reason beyond endless brutality. Perhaps they had a goal in mind that involved the shinigami, or perhaps they had mindlessly attacked them without remorse. It didn't matter in the end, he supposed it was not about the answer but rather that they simply dealt with the problem.

Even as they ran through the rukongai district, their foot falls not even audible over the sounds of battle. Taiyo following behind his new squad of allies, the six of them occasionally having to stop to deal with a few demons but for the most part was largely ignored. They were on civilian evacuation duty, working to preserve as much life as possible where they could. The skies were still filled with demons, and it was evident this wasn't going to end any time soon. The streets of Rukongai districts were in chaos, civilians scrambling about while his squad directed them as best he could. Even as he carried some people under his arm and fought off demons, he found himself more and more worried about his family.

After cutting one more demon down, he sat a lady down who had twisted her ankle before nodding to a squad mate. The two of them exchanging information about the situation as they tried to come up with a plan. Yet as they did so, Taiyo was surprised to hear a scream behind him. Turning just in time to see an old face having surfaced again. The long armed demon with gnarled limbs licking its maw while staring him down. Though he didn't believe it had been killed, Taiyo was still surprised to see it nonetheless so soon. Whatever the reason was that it had resurfaced didn't matter, much like many reasons, he couldn't just think on it.

Without hesitation Taiyo lunged for it, bringing his sword down like a hammer to an anvil only to strike the dirt where it stood. His eyes showing surprise but quickly focusing. As his squad got together, Taiyo turned to find the demon now standing a top a building, grinning down at Taiyo with sharp needle like fangs.

"Ho? Little mouse isn't so frightened anymore... Brought me more friends to kill yes?"

Its voice was harsh, still as grinding on his nerves as before and sounding like it was painful to speak. Taiyo gripped his sword tightly as he felt anger building in his chest. Why couldn't this thing have simply died against someone else? It seemed to delight in killing others, as evident by its already calculating eyes on who to kill next. Taiyo wasn't about to give it the chance however, quickly propelling himself at his foe, he again found his blade striking nothing. But this time, he was able to track the demon's movements. Without turning around, Taiyo lunged backwards, his vision still looking in the direction he had before. 

He had figured out already where the demon would go by past experiences. Taiyo turned at the last minute before swinging his blade, the sword narrowly missing one of his squad mates heads, cleaving some hair from the man as he swung. The blade then strike something, a solid object which howled its fury. Taiyo's eyes caught up to see the demon hobbling a few short steps only to disappear once more. Taiyo now stood in the middle of his squad, the man who just got a few hairs on his head cut off stumbling a few steps before realizing he had just been saved. Taiyo however, didn't look at his squad mate who thanked him, instead his angry expression was focused purely on the demon who now clutched a bloody arm.

"H-how?"

Was all it could ask as it stared at Taiyo's bloody sword, then back to the shinigami. Taiyo could hear his own heart in his chest, anger burning within as he watched his opponent closely. Killing countless demons, endless fighting and having faced this demon before were all compiling into experience. Taiyo had been learning the whole time he had been killing, and as much as he hated to admit it... he was getting a little good at killing now. His instincts were sharp, his senses heightened to help him focus. His burn out was fading away to reveal a rough diamond focus. He wasn't completely there yet, but Taiyo was clearly getting better at his job.

Setting his large Odachi on his shoulder, Taiyo got into a low stance as he prepared to rush the demon again. He would rinse and repeat the same strategy, this time however he was going to get him. The shinigami rushed forward, eyes focused like a predator that had caught its prey. The demon disappeared, as predicted and when Taiyo reacted, he turned to see where the demon was. Long claw like hand raised to strike a squad mate in the back. The claw however was met with a deflection of Taiyo's sword. The shinigami's eyes meeting the demon's who clearly was surprised and from what Taiyo could see a tiny bit of fear in them. 

The demon once again jumped away, but he was visible to Taiyo the whole time. So that was it... Taiyo understood the demon's technique now. It was so simple when he thought about it. Every time the demon had moved, it had always done so in such a predictable fashion... but his inexperience had not let him see it before.

"Damn you shinigami! I'll take their heads this time..."

The demon hissed its frustration, but Taiyo didn't listen. His mind was already seeing how it worked. Teleportation... It was placing itself at spots based on what it was moving towards. The reason Taiyo couldn't see it before wasn't because it was faster than him... no it was simply placing itself at the location of the target. Hence why it had managed to move behind him undetected before and kill his squad last time... The shinigami cursed his own weakness then, and gritted his teeth in frustration. If only he hadn't been so dull back then, in this few hours Taiyo could see more than he ever dreamed of. But in doing so, that experience brought more pain. If only he had been that fast before.

His squad mate he saved was just as shocked as the first, but after thanking him they realized too what was happening.

"He teleports behind people, using them as a catalyst.... You lot need to leave."

Taiyo said slowly but deliberately, sword held firmly at his side as he walked forward. A single blood vessel visible in his forehead as anger burned in his eyes. He had never wished to harm something before... but now he felt it. The urge to hurt this demon, and the urge to make it repent. His squad naturally opposed the idea, but after a harsh scold from Taiyo, they quickly began to scurry away. It was going to be a tough fight... but Taiyo felt confident in his ability to kill it now...

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Away from the Blue Stream Gate where the forces of Hell froze over in a glacial instant, further into the eastern districts ravaged by the carnage that was left behind the wake of the horde, there was a cacophony of endless, monstrous screams. The terrible noise rang loudly across the Rukongai, spanning for miles and miles so far away that even some of those who survived the first wave of this destructive attack could hear it. At first, they believed it to be the cries of powerful dark beasts that sought to eliminate all that stands within the Soul Society at all cost, and so cowered in the darkness for longer in fear of witnessing the advent of yet another being as massive as the worm who was currently directly assaulting the White Way Gate. However, as they listened to the terrible screaming for a bit longer, they would soon realize that something was amiss. These were not cries for violence and death, nor the roar of a fearsome beasts. These were screams of pain and great fear.

The lowly Hellions stood no chance against the one who referred to herself as Nakajima Kimiko, Third Seat of this "Zaraki Company" she appears to be so fond of. Despite the fearlessness they so attempt to project through their vile and repulsive actions, they would find themselves facing a being who might as well have no fear either. For every roar that came from their core, they faced a cry so loud it almost shattered their ability to hear. For every attempt to attack or defend themselves against her, they found themselves overwhelmed and cut into pieces to then be thrown onto their brethren. It was nothing short of an utter massacre to be spoken of for ages to come in the bowels of the Hell, one that painted every part of not only her very own body, but also what was meant to be but a simple and peaceful district of Rukongai in a deep shade of blood red. It is unlikely that the stains will all be cleansed by the end of this invasion.

Amidst the demonic force, there was one who stood on a nearby rooftop from afar. It was a small, almost imperceptible beast that was stricken with great ugliness upon the corruption of its soul. At a first glance, it resembled a tapir on its hind legs, with its key characteristic being its strange elongated nose. The stripped fur of its upper chest to its head was of a stark yellow while the rest was of a darker shade closer to brown, and it was long enough to give it a rather fuzzy look. Not that this made it approachable by any means, as its black beady eyes shared the soullessness of the many other demons who roamed the planes of torment behind the gates of Hell. If anything, it only gave it a rather repulsive look both for whoever it referred to as its brethren as it made look disgustingly weak, and the people that it had preyed on over the course of its time as a Hellion as it made look creepy and deceiving. All in all, he was definitely a terrible being, and perhaps it knew it too.

Yet, despite how terrible it appeared as and how awful its acts must have been as it lived as a Human within the Living World prior to its corruption, its body refused to move. Usually, during such excursions, it moved on without any real hesitation, and before this, it had been more or less much of the same. All that it had needed to worry about was the number of souls it would be able to consume to strengthen itself before it would eventually need to return to Hell in one way or another. However, this was an unprecedented development it had not foreseen when it was tasked to invade the Soul Society alongside countless of its brethren. All he saw down there in the distance was a mass of white and black "ink" which ravaged every being that dared to stand close to it. It saw many heads and limbs fly, sometimes even bodies. Even those who had the required intelligence to surrender or flee were massacred. It caused the creature to grow extremely fearful, so much so that its legs shook intensely.

Of course, someone would eventually realize that it was not moving. In a place filled to the brim with hell-spawns, its inactivity was bound to be noticed, and so it did. The being was taller than it could possibly be, mostly skeletal in nature. It stood high above the fuzzy creature wielding cloth and tissue onto its body, like a robed giant of marrow. Its skull was surprisingly Human in appearance, but the way it moved made it clear that it too had been deformed by the hellish energy that welcomes every denizens of Hell upon their initial admittance. It would stare at the tapir-like being with a deadly gaze from its empty eye sockets, then would raise one of its arms arms from the robes it wore. The way the arm cracked with every move was enough to cause the smaller one to wince. "What are you doing, fecal matter?" The one of bones spoke with a dark and rough voice, one that was grave and low. "Have you already forgotten the goal of this operation?"

"N-No, I haven't!" The tapir would cry out immediately with a very high-pitched tone in comparison. It knew who this being was supposed to be: it was a commander, one of greater strength that it could never rival. Not now, at the very least. "I... I'm simply assessing the situation! Yes! Yes, I am!"

The greater one studied the other's answer with deadly interest, then allowed some of its spiritual power to seep out of its body. This would cause the rooftop below them to wince and crack from the pressure, consequently also causing the tapir to let out a yelp as it instinctively moved away from the cracks. Naturally, the being was unimpressed by this observation. "It would seem that your assessment is almost bringing you to your knees," it would respond after the fact, then turn its attention towards the Shinigami in the distance. "Allow me to reiterate what is required of you. Your task is to be fodder. You are to assault the great gates and kill every reaper who stands in your way."  

"Yes, sir, but..."

"But what? You are a being of the planes below, a Hellion. Death has long since claimed you. You should not fear its touch any longer."

The tapir would clench its teeth behind its elongated nose, then look down below towards the female Shinigami. Even now, she was still fighting, murdering demon after demon after demon. On one hand, it did not want to go. It knew it was not going to stand a chance against her, especially not in direct combat. On the other hand, should it stay, it felt as though she was not the one who was going to slay it, but rather the being who was currently standing by its side. In the moment of silence that followed, the one of bones would let out a long sigh of disappointment, then turn its full attention towards the scarlet-eyed woman. "For the sake of our fodder, I will do battle with this one," it would declare as its arm then started cracking many times in a row. Bones would be rearranged, turned into something greater and sharper until it would from into a long black blade. "Let this demonstration be a lesson to you, fecal matter: our great lord does not reward cowardice."

And with that said, the skeletal being would find itself stepping off the roof before landing onto the ground below, just as Kimiko would finish slaughtering the last of the demons. The sound of its landing would cause her to raise her gaze towards it with a bit of a frown at first, wondering what this was about. However, upon realizing that this demon was meant to be one of greater strength, she would find herself smirking, wiping the blood of the hell-spawns she slew off her blades, and straightening herself before the one of bones. The poor fiends who had survived the massacre she had conducted against them could only bring themselves away from her in fear. "Heh... now that's a strong one," she would find herself commenting to no one in particular as she stood there panting quietly. Eventually, she would introduce herself to the being loudly enough for her voice to be heard all around her surroundings: "My name is Nakajima Kimiko, Zaraki Company, Third Seat!"

"Hmph. I am aware of your identity. I could hear your filthy voice a mile away from here," the bony being would huff before it prepared its obsidian weapon. "You stand before Dokuro, blade of Lucifer. I will remove you from this path, so that we can join our brethren near the gates of your pathetic heaven."

"We'll see about that... Come! Let us have a great fight!"

And with that, they rushed onward to cross blades under the watch of those too afraid to walk any further.

         Reiatsu: 3720/4320 | Shizukakane (1.5m) : 6 Posts Remaining | Taishokukane (2m) : 6 Posts Remaining | Light Gauge : 60% | Dark Gauge : 60%}

[Wycliff]

Wycliff took a deep breath of the cold air of his bankai. The smell of blood filled the air for a moment before being frozen over and just replaced by the cutting chill of his power. This brief moment of peace as the bodies of demons continued to freeze and shatter against the winds of his twisters. Each step he took deeper into the swarm of demons brought further and further death to the endless swarm of beings that attempted to breach the gate. It was only now that Wycliff was glad that the kido train wasn’t up and running at the moment, if it had been, he had a feeling he would have had to of destroyed it to keep the demons from using it.

In the blizzard Wycliff could sense two of his allies being assaulted by his power. Sadly he knew that there was nothing he could do to help them, his power was all range no focus. You honestly think that you fool? The sound of his Zan’s voice echoed in the back of his head. You’ve just obtained me properly and you think that you know all of my tricks just yet? How foolish you are boy, if you want to keep them safe then just will it. This is your power, this is your ability control it.

Wycliff stopped walking for a moment as he concentrated on the ally that was running away out of his bankai. Concentrating he wanted for her to be safe from his power. Around her neck a pure white snowflake charm would appear and wrap around her neck. As she was leaving the blizzard she would no longer feel any cold, the continuous onslaught of the snow and wind would now vanish from her eyes and all around she could easily see everything else as if the blizzard never existed. In the center if she looked back she would be able to see Wycliff surrounded by several twisters and countless bodies of demons all torn to shreds.

Wycliff felt something leaving his body at the same time he felt that they were no longer in any danger. Looking over to Kyomei Wycliff did the same this time the white snowflake appeared as a bracelet around Kyomei’s left wrist. The captain would no longer be cold nor would he be blinded by the snowfall. Something in the back of Kyomei’s mind would tell him that heat and liquids could be used as well now and freely till he wanted them to be frozen over.

Screams of rage and fury quickly died as more and more demons continued to charge right at Wycliff and the gate his winds destroyed those that dared to get any closer. Blood would have flown freely if it didn’t freeze the moment it left the bodies of the demons. Wycliff didn’t stop the onslaught of his twisters, sending them now further away from him to spiral around a larger area taking out more demons. While this was working to thin the numbers the truth was he was simply waiting till he could use his bankai.


Wycliff knew very well how skilled those that he sent to clear the area were, he knew it wouldn’t be much longer till most of the souls were out of range. Even in the battlefield he could see that most Shinigami had long left the gate after getting the message. There were only a few stragglers left and when it came down to it he knew that he would make the call to sacrifice those few lives to save the rest. He wouldn’t be to happy about it, but in the end he wasn’t going to value the life of a few shingami over the entirety of soul society.

-450 for keeping 3 frozen twisters up from last post -200 for 2 charms


Remaining reiatsu 9,450/12,000(boosted back SpPr RS Senses and Speed)


2/2 posts to boost back stats

Bankai 2/16

[Aramis Tezuka]

SOUTH GATE

Cut. Thrust. A demon fell to a two-part attack. Parry. Parry. Thrust. And then another. Cut. A swift flick of the wrist dispatched a third. Aramis found a new troubling dilemma entering his mind. His motions were becoming robotic. Mechanized. His rapier was slicing and piercing demons as efficiently as ever, but despite the horrifying conundrum, his mind was slipping away into monotony. What was battle but an elaborate problem after-all which could be answered by the right solutions. But-- that didn't mean that each task had the same solution. New variables would inevitably enter the calculations. A demon with resistance to piercing attacks, perhaps? A demon that could separate its body and reattach it at the moment of being cut? What about a demon that grew stronger the more injured it became? Aramis getting complacent in his bladework risked failing to account for those new variables entering the picture. And so he was forced to treat each individual demon he cut down as a new problem, rather than a different application of a previous one. Which ironically taxed his mind even more.

A development had occurred on the battlefield-- the colossal wormlike beast. However, it was quite distant from Aramis's location, and the Captain determined that there was little purpose in diverting his attention towards it. Others would dispatch it, and it would be a waste of time and energy to so drastically change his course to intercept it. While its sheer size meant that collateral damage may threaten Aramis's current location, it was unlikely to be worth more attention than that, unless the creature directly approached his location. Of equally irrelevant note were the flames of the Espada. Certainly, they would be useful to take note of for further data when engaging Las Noches, but in this exact moment, the only thing Aramis had to keep in mind, was to stay ahead of the flames, lest he be caught up in them. Which he intended to do, focusing the S.H.P.'s and his own bladework to rip through another half dozen Hellions and push forwards another several meters through the Rukongai, surging ever closer to the source of the demonic hordes.

Still, he was making headway. The portable turrets were fulfilling their role admirably in thinning the horde such that the twelfth Division Captain's bladework could allow him to penetrate their lines. By his count, the portable turrets must have killed at least a dozen Hellions with their covering fire, and wounded two dozen more-- at least to the extent they could not interfere with the Captain. Scnhnk. Another demon lost its head to Aramis's sword. Then Aramis punched forward with his left hand, piercing a hole directly through another's chest. The creature died near-instantly, but the Nakabakki was able to find new use for its body, shifting his weight to hurl the creature about as a demon shield against further attackers, leaving the carcass behind as he saw an axe bury itself in the demon's shoulder, cutting down too close to his arm for comfort. A swift kick shoved the carrion away from Aramis and bowled his assailant over, but he had little chance to finish the job, surging onwards into the fray.

Then Aramis heard a demonstrably "human" voice. Taking a fraction of his mental focus to address Seiji, the Captain made a half turn, flicking his Zanpakuto into a reverse grip to parry a chain that lashed at him from behind. One of the S.H.P's responded to the threat immediately with a flurry of shots that turned the creature into bloody swiss cheese. A green haired Shinigami like himself. Aramis took in Seiji for a moment. Mid-level abilities. Acceptable assistance. Aramis concluded in his thoughts, taking note of Seiji's spiritual pressure and the quality of his reiatsu.

"Correct." The Captain responded to Seiji, turning back to the demon hordes with a swipe of his left hand that ripped the face off an assaulting Hellion. The creature shrieked in shock and anguish, before a reverse-sweep of the same hand tore out its throat and silenced it. Revenant flew like silver lightning, Aramis nearly backpedalling as a second demon unleashed a furious assault-- he certainly leaned away from a swing of a cruel, scythe-like blade that nearly opened up the Captain's chest, before adapting to his newer assailants superior speed and strength from previous demons, first cutting at the creature's hand, and removing a pair of fingers. The creature stepped back, attempting a clumsier, less controlled sweep. Aramis ducked beneath it, and stepped inwards, next carving out the demon's calf with a low cut. Off-balanced, the beast attempted a final downward drive of its scythe, but found Aramis closing in simply too close to land a successful blow-- the last thing it saw being the point of Revenant driving through its eye.

"More advanced specimen. Inquiring as to certainty of your decision." Aramis asked Seiji looking at the Shinigami. "Creatures will grow more powerful. Intend to push deeper into their lines. Division 12 set up relay stations throughout Rukongai. Reinforced structures. Easily defensible. Intend to establish communications outpost to resist horde at earlier point. Still certain you will assist? If so, state name and rank. Will note for either stupidity or courage after battle is done." Aramis requested of Seiji. Even the Captain could barely pause for breath though amidst the demon hordes and his S.H.P. turrets were continuing to blast away the horde, killing three more, while Aramis's Zanpakuto opened up a fourth like a letter opener.

Meanwhile his new companion had just released what Aramis was reasonably certain was his Shikai. Not unexpected. Quality of reiatsu suggests subject is of at least caliber capable of releasing Shikai. Will take note of Shikai abilities for further reference. The Nakabakki determined, keeping watch on Seiji from the corner of his eye, even as he killed yet another Hellion.

Demons killed by Aramis this post: 29

-------

Meanwhile Luca's Draconic assault would be joined by Ken'ichi's dragon, the massive liquid-metal beast unleashing a torrent of mercury to dissolve many of the Hellions that may have avoided or been missed by Luca's dragons, clearing a tremendous swathe of open ground through the Rukongai, between their locations. A swathe of open ground that was already being replenished by Hellions, due to their sheer numbers, but those sheer numbers were still being whittled away, little by little. The hordes of Hell weren't truly infinite, right?

As far as Shio was concerned though, she would absolutely be able to at least detect the presence of a powerful individual up ahead, the source of the Mercury Dragon's power. Perhaps no more than one kilometer away now, amidst a number of other relatively passable, but far weaker reiatsu's. It seemed Aramis's instruction for Ken'ichi to assemble a strike team had indeed been carried out.

[Rei Takagi]

Imagine, if you will, running off of pure adrenaline. In a panic because you probably just got your ass beat. But, if nothing else it was very easy to recall the route back to the northern gate of the Seireitei by virtue of Captain Minamoto's spiritual pressure. It was...colossal. Inhuman, even, and it was sticking out more like a thumb after sparring with Miyu. As horrible a comparison as that was, Rei soon found himself skidding to a stop at the scene at the north gate. And he hadn't even had the time to take everything in before he was jumped by Hellions.

Damn.

But, from what he could tell, there were three things that anyone with a sensory stat of literally fucking anything could point out. There was an Akki engaging Captain Minamoto. There was a...something else??? engaging another Shinigami. Two biggest spiritual pressures in the area. Otherwise, the northern gate had seemed at a deadly impasse. Likely thanks to the combined efforts here. ...That man, though...

There was only one way he could feasibly try and help lock this guy down...It was a bad idea, like most everything done this day, but...He had to try. He activated Shunpo, stepping at a MUCH HIGHER SPEED of 1600 to get near Syn and try slashing him with Dokusesshi--hopefully, if that landed, the venom would be doing it's work. Nothing painful.

Just a nice case of being unable to access some of your reiatsu. A mild inconvenience...At first. Maybe. In other news, the other Shinigami Rei had came with got right to work with murdering some Hellions to keep the fights relatively uninterrupted. "DON'T LET HIM STRIKE!"

Well said.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength: 30 + 70 = 100
Speed: 60 + 100 = 160
Reiatsu Strength: 40 + 60 = 100
Spiritual Pressure: 40 + 200 = 240
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
Instinct: 40 + 35 = 75
Senses: 40 + 70 = 110
Energy Sensory: 30 + 35 = 65
Healing Expertise: 0

---

Mental:
Memory - Rank 1
Analyzing - Rank 1
Strength of Will - Rank 1
Learning - Rank 1

Battle:
Weapons (Katana/Wakizashi) - Rank 1
Battle Analysis - Rank 1
Pain Tolerance - Rank 1

Body:
Mental Incantation - Rank 1

---

Reiatsu Pool: 2000/2400-150 = 1850.

Shunpo used. GONNA TRY SLASHING BIG BOY SYN. UWU.

Shikai: 1/10.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

South gate

How stupid could he be? Aevus didn’t realize he was this dumb after all. Regardless of warning he just had to jump the gun. Today was supposed to be like all the others. He was supposed to be enjoying his midafternoon nap, not putting himself in the middle of an invasion. Hell, he was supposed to be MIA. Staying low, and not existing. Certainly not showing all of Soul Society, that he was alive and well. This wasn’t at all what he had planned. Just how long had it been since he stepped foot in Soul Society anyway? A year? Maybe two? Regardless he knew the terrain like the back of his hand.

I wonder, if I'm too late... No I can’t be too late. He sighed. He could care less about the Seireitei. The Rukongai on the other hand mattered—Inuzuri mattered especially. His mastery of Hoho carried the Vizard miles in one leap, at lightning speeds towards his destination. The former Onmitsukido Lieutenant found himself passing panicked Shinigami, and civilians, as he threw himself through the streets of the Rukongai. Hood up, he could hide his face from those who’d recognize him. While his mastery of stealth allowed him to cloak his reiatsu easily from those he passed. He could hear the shrieks of innocents, and roaring of monsters, as his shadowy cloak billowed behind him.

Aevus knew the farther he went the more carnage he would find littering the streets. He also knew there would be less Shinigami there, and more people who desperately needed his help. Inuzuri was within his sight, from just a few Shunpo. Even in his absence—he hadn’t lost his speed. His left hand would reach for his Zanpakuto, as he came upon an all too familiar scene. A shriek from a child alerted him. Darting through a fresh hole of a hovel, the Vizard didn’t even think as he moved. With a single Shunpo, and unsheathed blade—he would impale the Demon through the chest. Carrying the creature into the closest wall from the momentum of his attack alone.

Aevus’s hood would fly off from his head, and he grimaced as the Demon thrashed. Bloodied claws reached for him in a desperate attempt at gashing out his throat. Yet with a twist of his Zanpakuto he ended it swiftly. He nearly buckled under its weight, as it fell to the floorboard below. Another shriek filled his eardrums, and Aevus would turn meeting the eyes of a young girl. She couldn’t have been any older than thirteen. In her dirty trembling hands, she was holding what appeared to be a piece of splintered wood. While a young toddler hid behind her, holding the back of her shirt—mute, and clearly in shock, to the screams all around him.

Aevus glanced about, noticing the body of a woman laying headfirst on the ground, with her guts strewn out on the bloodied floorboards.
“Momma tried protecting us, but-but the monster got her.” Aevus shifted back to look at the young girl. She was trembling more than before and Aevus could see tears welling up inside those doe eyes of hers.
“She was very brave, like you-” Aevus would be cut off as he approached.
“Stay back!” The child yelled holding the wood towards the Vizard.
“Hey, hey it’s alright, i’m just here to help. You want to keep your little brother safe, right?” Aevus asked sheathing his Zanpakuto.
“Y-yes.” The girl anwsered past trembling lips.
“My names Aevus-” The Vizard continued with a smile. “What’s yours?”
“I-Isamu.”
“That’s a pretty name.” Aevus stepped closer. “Alright Isamu, do you have any more siblings? Maybe a father?”
“No, only Niko, but Papa is a Shinigami.” Isamu answered still shaking.
“Hey, i’m a Shinigami too, just like your Papa.” Aevus lied past that infamous smile. “Your Papa works with people like me.”
“Really? You dress funny though.” Isamu gave Aevus an inquisitive look, glancing him up and down.

It was true, underneath that shadow cloak Aevus wore what amounted to be human world clothing. A dark t shirt with the collar stretched and black khakis.
“Heh,that’s because I'm an undercover Shinigami, so-” Aevus proceeded to put his left index finger to his mouth. “Shhh.”
”Undercover?” Isamu would begin to lower her hand.
”Yeah undercover, I don‘t want those nasty monsters knowing who I am. They‘ll be looking for Shinigami.” Aevus smiled. ”Easier to catch them by surprise that way. Like I did him.” The Vizard would point towards the dead Demon.
“Oh okay. What do we do?” Fully lowering her guard, Isamu would ask past a trembling lip.
“Stay quiet and low, pretend to be dead if you need too. I’m gonna get their attention alright? I’ll make sure they don’t come in here. And I’ll come back for you when it’s safe.”
“Okay..”
“You can do that right Isamu? How about you Niko?” Aevus asked tenderly kneeling down as he finally broke the distance between the two, putting his hands on their small shoulders.
"I'll try." Isamu answered while Niko merely nodded past tears.
"Be brave now." Aevus felt his heart break as he rose to his feet, and he stepped back out into the carnage.

All over the Rukongai this very same scenario was happening. Families were being slaughtered. Children were losing their loved ones and even their lives. Aevus could only wish to be numb. [smear:ffd700]You can save them Dear Hunter~[/smear:ffe34d] He could hear her whispers, without her even being present. He had an inkling, that just like Lumina when she was freed, a part of that Hollow still resided within his inner world. [smear:ffd700]All you need to do is Whisper Softly~[/smear:ffe34d] No... But that was a lie, and he knew it. Aevus’s fingers brushed the handle of his Zanpakuto, and in that moment he was done hiding. He stopped cloaking his Reiatsu, no instead he allowed it to flood the square. Like sharks to blood, several Demons sensed the surge and eyed the cloaked vizard with hungering eyes. He would eye them in turn, sizing them up as they circled him like wolves. These wern’t Hollows, and yet he would treat them as such. Prey. [smear:ffd700]Easy Prey~[/smear:ffe34d]

Tearing his left hand over his face, he would don that darkly Hollow Mask. It bore a resemblance to a fox, and like a fox he would prey upon all that invaded his former home. In a moment they were upon him like vultures to carrion. Aevus had counted at least thirty alone, but he gathered there were close to fifty, and more were on their way. No matter, they wouldn’t survive this. Flexing with his left hand on the handle of his Zanpakuto, the darkly fabric of his shadow cloak erupted, as a surge of cutting Reiatsu exploded from the back of the Vizard. In turn exposing his bare torso. The Demons closest to him were torn to shreds instantly, the same as the clothing that once covered his chest— having activated Shunkō: Kyūhadō, he had become a blade itself. With Zanpakuto in hand he danced upon the dirt of Inuzuri — tearing through those who dared survive his initial wrath. The onslaught had only just begun.

[smear:#ffd700]Reiatsu: ∞

Shunkō: Kyūhadō (1/7) - 800
Shunpo: - 100 (2)
Hollow Mask (1/3)[/smear:ffe34d]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}

Aevus

Strength - 250 (150) [smear:#ffd700](300)[/smear:ffe34d]
Speed - 400 (700) [smear:#ffd700](1400)[/smear:ffe34d]
Spiritual Pressure - 400 (800) [smear:#ffd700](1600)[/smear:ffe34d]
Reiatsu Strength - 100 (50) [smear:#ffd700](100)[/smear:ffe34d]
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 300 [smear:#ffd700](600)[/smear:ffe34d]
Senses - 150 [smear:#ffd700](300)[/smear:ffe34d]
Energy Sensory - 200 [smear:#ffd700](400)[/smear:ffe34d]
Healing Expertise - 0

•[Weapon: Katana] [4]
•[Stealth] [3]
•[Battle Analysis] [3]
•[Strength of Will] [3]
•[Hoho] [3]
•[Acrobatics] [1]