A Tale of Six Trillion Years And A Night [DE PvP]

[Deleted]

Thread Title: A Tale of Six Trillion Years And A Night
Participants: Albin Landry vs. Nuala Byrne
World: Human World
Death Setting: Death Enabled.
Rating: R
Location: Karakura Park.
Special Conditions: N/A.
Circumstances: Currently struggling to keep his composure, Albin stumbles upon a Dragon Witch. Violence ensues.

[Deleted]

Karakura Park. Being a place he visited so very often, Albin found it to be rather soothing, all things considered. Even despite the tremendous number of fights he'd had here in the last year alone! Go figure. Nonetheless, he found himself in the park once more, and once again on one of his days off. If nothing else, he was going to do what he could in order to try to enjoy his time off. If nothing else, he felt he deserved that time to himself, at least. Even if he was currently dealing with a splitting fucking headache.

Gripping at his forehead as he'd become so used to doing in recent times, Albin continued to walk forward through the park and just take in the scenery; much like Camila had done quite a number of times before. A small smile rising to his own cheeks as he found himself lost in thought over the matter, Albin glanced back toward where he'd come from; back toward the nearby apartment complexes. He'd probably have to plan a trip back over there a bit later. Just to reminisce. Perhaps there'd be time for that later?

As he glanced back, Albin noticed almost immediately that one of the apartment buildings had a severely cracked window, with very evident damage around the window itself. Almost immediately, he'd recognized the damage caused; damage that somehow still hadn't found itself cleaned up, despite almost a year passing. Gods, he thought to himself, seems as though these apartments really weren't anything special like she'd thought.

Laughing to himself, Albin turned his attention back toward the park itself, and continued to walk through as he saw fit. He was going to spend the day relaxing if he had the opportunity to do so; even if this area was quickly starting to bring back some rather not great memories of Camila, and her time with Celes. Sighing softly to himself, he simply forced himself to press on, shaking his head gently into the wind. He really needed to stop putting himself in situations like this. He was only going to wear himself down mentally over her; over himself.

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{Albin's Stats & Skills}
Type: Support

Strength: 350 [525]
Speed: 100 [100]
Spiritual Pressure: 400 [600]
Reiatsu Strength: 50 [25]
Instinct: 100 [100]
Senses: 100 [50]
Energy Sensory: [0]
Healing Expertise: [0]

Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0

------------------

Weapons - Kōsei Kādo: 2
Strength of Will: 2
Battle Analysis: 2
Pain Tolerance:2
Martial Arts - Hakuda: 2

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{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 5,900/6,000
Hollow Reiatsu Pool: 100/6,000 - 1.667%
100 reiatsu converted into Hollow Reiatsu.

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{Fachada del Falso Rey (Façade of the False King)}Technique Name: Fachada del Falso Rey [Façade of the False King]

Class: 6, 3, 1 (Class 6 TTP cost. Learning grants all Classes, but scales with the user's Class.)

Technique Type: General Shinigami

Usable By: Hollow-Tainted Shinigami

Technique Element: Hollow

Technique Description and Effects: Albin's circumstances are nothing short of unique. An inner-hollow turned Shinigami isn't exactly something that happens very often within the ranks of the Seireitei. Though, it's because of these extraordinary circumstances, that Albin, and the exceptionally few in number that share a similar circumstance are able to take advantage of the latent Hollow reiatsu still permeating within their soul; untouched potential, simply waiting to be tapped into. Enter Fachada del Falso Rey.

Upon activation of Fachada del Falso Rey, the user is given the option to “Hollowfy” their own reiatsu, converting - but not spending - a minimum of 50 reiatsu into Hollow Reiatsu. This Hollow pool is denoted separately from their normal reiatsu pool, but kept track of together. Hollow Reiatsu cannot be spent on anything other than this technique, and normal reiatsu cannot be used to fuel this technique.

While the user has any Hollow Reiatsu still in their system, their entire reiatsu signature will show up as Hollow to anyone with ES. Depending on how much of their current Reiatsu pool is converted into Hollow Reiatsu, four different stages of hollowfication will occur.

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{Half-Mask}While at least 25% of the user’s current reiatsu is converted into Hollow reiatsu, the user manifests a “half-mask” of sorts. Very akin to a normal Hollow Mask, though far less elegant, a bonelike structure forms across the user’s face, design chosen upon taking the technique. While this half-mask stage is active, stamina consumption (not including from type drawbacks) is effectively halved, making continuous fighting much easier. Their perceptive capabilities are also increased, allowing them to perceive movement of Speeds equal to their fastest Step technique. Assuming they don’t have the instinct to react to this otherwise, they’ll still find themselves unable to do so, but this makes reading movements a bit easier.

Maintaining control in this Half-Mask state is dubious at Learned. While maintaining control isn’t unheard of, it’s not likely. Proficient and beyond allows the user to maintain full control over themselves while this stage is active.

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{Full-Mask}While at least 50% of the user’s current reiatsu is converted into Hollow reiatsu, this half-mask grows into a full. While Learned this mask will appear as though it’s effectively ever-growing and taking over the user’s face, while Proficient and beyond will appear as a flat, moveable mask akin to that of a normal Hollow Mask. The appearance of this mask is like that of a fuller version of their half-mask, as one would expect. While a full-mask is manifested, the user’s blood is quickly put under dominion of their hollow energies. When a wound is left on the user, the resulting blood from the injury immediately expands and calcifies upon leaving their body, resulting in a substance attached to them very much like the same bony material that makes up a hollow mask. Such substance defends from attacks equal to the user’s Offensive Stat, being a full-extension of both spiritual and physical capabilities. Much like most skin-defenses, these can be broken instantly and bypassed from final stages releases, and those with a higher OS than the user’s. This ability, much like other skin-defenses, is permanently at Class 3 at its highest point, despite the technique being equal in Class to the Class of the user. Calcifying their blood costs 75 Hollow Reiatsu to do, and calcifies at a speed equal to the user’s own. Given the circumstances, these calcifications could absolutely be used as a viable defense, all things considered.

Maintaining control in this Full-Mask state is incredibly unlikely at Learned, leaving the user in more of a “berserker state” instead of maintaining their autonomy. Proficient and beyond allows the user to maintain control in this state, and even opt into not calcifying their own blood.

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{Half-Hollow}While at least 75% of the user’s current reiatsu is converted into Hollow reiatsu, about half of the user’s body will be covered in the same white, chitinous material that makes up their mask and the calcification effects from the previous stage. Though, unlike being solid and unmoving like the previous stage, this chitinous material is more akin to skin, moving with the user as one would expect from a normal Hierro. Despite this, the defensive ability from before is still treated as Class 3 at its highest. As an extension of this ability, those in this Half-Hollow state are given the option to manipulate their own calcified blood as they see fit, moving it at their own speed and striking with their own OS. Most notably, this ability takes hold as a slew of worm-like shapes with nothing more than a mouth, acting as appendages and whatnot. Only half the normal amount of blood is lost in this circumstance, and the lost blood is calcified in order to form this worm-like appendage. Creating this worm costs 250 Hollow reiatsu, reduced by 50 for every point in Bleeding Tolerance the user has, and can travel as far as 20 feet on its own, plus an additional 15 feet for every Bleeding Tolerance Rank the user has.

Maintaining control over this state is impossible unless this technique is Mastered. Unless this technique is mastered, users in the Half-Hollow state will be reduced to a berserker-like state of mind, simply attacking friend and foe alike no matter the circumstances. Mastery makes this stage controllable to a degree; violent tendencies and urges will still remain.

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{Full-Hollow}When 100% of the user’s current reiatsu is converted into Hollow reiatsu, the user’s full body is coated in this Hierro coating, providing a full-body version of the partial defense from the previous stage, and the user reaches a level of “full-ascension”; to anybody looking toward them, they’re all but indistinguishable from an actual Vasto Lorde in physical appearance. It’s in this state that, on top of maintaining everything from the lower ranks, the user gains access to the ability to fire off Cero. This is Cero in its most basic form, functioning at Class 4 and costing 200 Hollow reiatsu, but relying on the user’s highest Spiritual stat instead of just RS, given it serves as a spiritual extension of their soul, instead of just a normal attack; much like the rest of the technique. Utilizing Spiritual Pressure increases this cost to 400 Hollow reiatsu.

Maintaining control over this state is impossible unless this technique is Mastered. Unless this technique is mastered, users in the Full-Hollow state will be reduced to a berserker-like state of mind, simply attacking friend and foe alike no matter the circumstances. Mastery makes this stage controllable to a degree; violent tendencies and urges will still remain.

How to use technique: Channel reiatsu into your palm, while positioning your palm in front of your face. Manifest a mask, reap the benefits, and pray you don't leave it active for too long.

Technique Drawbacks: While notably powerful, much like any standard Hollow mask, this technique comes with far more drawbacks than its counterpart. For one, the user is forced to convert 100 (50 at Proficient, 0 at Mastered) normal reiatsu into Hollow reiatsu every single post this technique remains active. This technique is treated as an extension of the user's release, given it originates from a core part of their soul, and as such cannot be used alongside effects that do not allow for a release to be used (i.e. Shunko). Moreover, if an individual learns this technique, they are permanently barred from ever learning Soulbind, Soul Resonance, or Soul Release; even if they forget this technique down the line. Those with the aforementioned techniques cannot learn Fachada del Falso Rey until they forget them. Types that bolster the user's release (Fighter v2, Soul Specialist, etc.) and types that do not have a release (Kenpachi and Technique Master) are unable to take this technique.

Fachada del Falso Rey follows a non-standard path for mastering this technique. Upon spending the TTP to learn the technique, an individual will always have this technique Learned, no matter what Class they are. In order to gain Proficiency, this technique must be used in five different threads, the user must be at minimum Class 3, and costs a Class 3 TTP cost to gain Proficiency. Mastery requires ten different threads total, requires the user to be at minimum Class 1, and costs a Class 1 TTP cost to Master. For Vizards or Hollow Wraiths that have undergone their Inner Hollow fight, this requirement to use this technique multiple times is waved.

Depending on the Class of the user, while transformations will take place, when a user is not at a certain Class they won't get certain benefits. Half-Mask requires Class 6 to gain the mechanical benefits of. Full-Mask requires Class 4 to gain the mechanical benefits of. Half-Hollow requires Class 2 to gain the mechanical benefits of. Full-Hollow requires Class 1 to gain the mechanical benefits of. While not at these requisite Classes, these transformations will still take place, and likely result in a loss of control, but will not grant the benefits of each stage.

When the user is struck, they’ll automatically lose 200 (100 with Proficient, 50 with Mastered) Hollow reiatsu with that hit as their hollow form is weakened, unless they calcify their blood through the Full-Mask benefit. If the user is reduced to 0 Hollow reiatsu - whether through overspending, or being struck one too many times - and they still have normal reiatsu remaining, they'll be rendered exceptionally exhausted, as all of the stamina that wasn't originally burned from the duration of this technique will catch up to them, and then some. More often than not, if this technique was maintained for a notable amount of time, this can very well cause someone to lose consciousness. At any point, the user can opt to purge any hollow reiatsu from their body, provided they have control over themselves, removing all Hollow reiatsu from their body, but giving them the stamina drop listed above.

If the user is reduced to 0 Hollow reiatsu, and is left with 0 normal reiatsu, the Hollow energies within the user's soul will overwhelm their body and tear them apart at the seams, killing the user in a DE thread, or requiring one/two recovery-focused Solo Trainings in the case of NDE/DP, respectively. These threads must be at least 40 paragraphs in length, and TP rewards for these threads are halved.

Made By: Albin Landry

Reserved?: Yes, though it can be taught to those in exceptional circumstances. Unreserved for full-Vizards & Hollow Wraiths, but Mastery must be gained while training with someone who has also Mastered the technique if Learned without a teacher.

[Nuala Byrne]

Karakura Park. While not in the confines of the underground Nonessentia complex, Nuala liked to use this place as a testing bed for new fish and other devices. It was a popular venue for violence and hunting; many Shinigami used the location as a place to konso Pluses on to the afterlife, and many more creatures than that used it as a place to hold bouts of strength. Pluses often came here, which meant Hollows often came here, which meant Nuala was often needed here.

Shinigami were usually falling down on the job, concerning Hollows. Something about being stretched too thin, she was sure. For as numerous as the shinigami were, those who were strong enough to deal with a few Hollows and their evolutions were few and far between. All in all, it was a disappointing prospect. These self-proclaimed guardians of the natural cycle of souls, failing en masse to guard the natural cycle of souls, and yet it was only their swords that had the capacity to send Pluses to the afterlife and purify Hollows and the souls trapped inside them.

This evening, she was dressed in the raiment of Nonessentia, featuring the prototype uniform and its signature armor with breastplate and greatcoat. A sculpted steel dragon sat on her left shoulder, its tail descending down the middle of her back until it terminated around her ankles. There was no elixir in the tail at this time, but Nuala personally felt it would be important to be accustomed to wearing one by the time Monroe got a model of one working for her use. What was functioning was her Grim Desolation-- the pair of gunmetal grey gauntlets she wore with their furry green trim. Her first choice of weapon against enemies and targets.

She was flanked by her invisible coral inventory, in which she had brought most of her fish: her personal squid blade, whale shark, a piranha, a placodermus, and a troop of four lime moon jellyfish. It was going to be a Hollow hunting night. And speaking of Hollows, there happened to be one nearby. She stopped for a few moments to get a "feel" for its soul signature.

So far as Hollows were concerned, it was a strong one. Most likely an Adjuchas. Significantly less spiritual pressure than herself, but strong for an Adjuchas nonetheless. A pathetically weak reiatsu strength, its aura had a light, almost bubbly, and naïve identifier mark. So much so that it would be immune to the darkness she shed. There went her first advantage. No matter. Unless something went terribly awry, this should be over quickly.

He was likely here to hunt Pluses. Nuala approached the Hollow... she walked briskly, keeping one eye on her surroundings and one eye in front of her. No sense in being caught unawares by an accomplice with less imposing pressure. When she arrived, he was laughing to himself. Memories of violence and other, more random thoughts, flickered through his mind. "Go home," she said out loud, announcing her presence to him and without any preamble. "If you stay, I'll be forced to eliminate you. In fact, my mercy may even expire with my patience, which is already short." It was a bold start, but Hollows respected little else except power and fear.

She had stopped a good distance away from him. Far enough to be outside of quick reflex range, in case he attacked, but near enough to get a look at him and to be heard. She made no effort to hide her spiritual pressure, and the krill in her pocket shed their powerful, ultra-dense signature that could be read even by those who were normally without energy senses.

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{Nuala's Stats, Skills and Items}Type: Genius
Stats
Physical Strength: 75 [x0.67] (50)
Speed: 200
Reiatsu Strength: 300 [x2.5] (750)
Spiritual Pressure: 300 [x2.5] (750)
Light Aura: 0
Dark Aura: 100
Instinct: 150
Senses: 100
Energy Sensory: 200 [x2.5] (500)
Healing Expertise: 75 [x0.67] (50)

Skills
Mental
Memory: 2
Analysis: 2
Learning: 2
Multitasking: 3

Battle
Pain Tolerance: 1
Weapon [Soul Dew]: 2

Utility
Crafting: 3

Items
• Moss Whale Shark (Class 2)
• Grim Desolation, the Storm under the Viridian Eclipse (Class 2)
• Power Cartridge Type 1 (Class 2, x6)
• Piercer Cartridge Type 1 (Class 2, x6)
• Speed Cartridge Type 1 (Class 2, x6)
• Spirit Cartridge Type 1 (Class 2, x6)
• Midnight Coral Inventory (Class 1)
• Harlequin Piranha (Class 1)
• Peacock Placodermus (Class 1)
• Crimson Pygmy Irukandji (Class 5, x3)
• Miniature Cherry Shrimp (Class 5, x3)
• Lime Moon Jellyfish (Class 4, x4)
• Forest Squid Katars (Class 1)
• Hunter Killer-Bee Krill (Class 1, x3)
• Spirit Drill Spirulina (Class 5, x3)

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{Reiatsu Pool and Techniques Used}Reiatsu Pool: 7,500/7,500

[Deleted]

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{Dice Roll}_UNMqlC21-6

"Go home."

Ripped almost directly from his thoughts, Albin turned his head immediately to meet the new voice in the area; one he hadn't recognized, but that immediately concerned him. "If you stay, I'll be forced to eliminate you. In fact, my mercy may even expire with my patience, which is already short." Taking another glance around the area, Albin performed a quick survey over the area in an attempt to figure out just who she was talking to. Though, upon finding nobody, Albin turned his attention back to her.

"I'm... I'm sorry?" he asked, going on the defensive, "Are you sure you don't have the wrong person?" As he finished speaking, his headache flared once more. Wincing from the rather uncomfortable feelings behind it, Albin did what he could to steel through the pain. Thankfully, it wasn't anything too bad, but if this was going to turn into a confrontation? He wasn't so sure. Nonetheless, if she was already threatening him, he'd need to prepare. And quickly, at that.

"I can assure you I'm not looking to fight," he spoke, keeping his hands hovering around his sheathed blades, "But if you're going to make a threat like that, I'm not going to stand down." Eyeing her carefully, and taking in as much information as he could process, Albin realized rather quickly that he could sense... something. Something rather odd. Something... fishy? Furrowing his brow upon picking it up, Albin began to question why he was able to pick that up. Just what was this woman all about?

Similarly, she made no effort to disguise her own signature. Almost as though she'd been looking to use her own spiritual pressure as an intimidation tactic? While unable to pick anything from her reiatsu signature, he realized quite well that entering a fight like this? Probably wasn't going to be the best idea. Though, who was he to turn down a fight like that? Especially from someone that had made such a blatant threat on his own life. Softly sighing, and realizing his best - albeit somewhat clouded - course of action, Albin drew his Zanpakuto.

Holding the blades into the air, and speaking a very specific "Draw, Kosei Kādo," Albin allowed his own reiatsu to pour into the air above him, centered on his sword's edge. Starting small, and quickly expanding outward, a light-show of sorts not unlike that of a starry night began to spiral out, growing ever larger and taking new shapes toward the center; swirls akin to those of galaxies, starry patterns lighting up like constellations, and a notable inky blackness like that of space presented themselves.

As quickly as they'd appeared, both patterns began to condense once more, moving south down along the weapon and resting toward his Zanpakuto's guard. As it continued to shrink down to a notably smaller size, it'd become apparent to those that could see him that his weapon had changed shape. Instead of a standard sword, Albin's Zanpakuto now took the shape of a rapier. In his other hand, an almost decorative globe floated with upward of eighty different cards circling slowly around the center.

Slowly lowering his sword, and pointing the weapon toward Nuala, Albin spoke once more. "My name is Albin Landry; Seated Third amongst my peers in the Thirteenth of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. I ask that you stand down before we continue with the senseless violence, else my hand will be forced otherwise. Let's not have this escalate, please." Continuing to glare toward her, Albin started to shift on his feet, bouncing from foot to foot in order to kick off a rhythm for himself, and drew a singular card from around the globe.

Rhythm Beat Speed: 150

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{Release Information}Shikai Duration: 1/10.
Current Stance: Reversed.
Reversed Stance Shielding: N/A OS.
Active Card: N/A. Duration N/A.
Stored Card: The Chariot.
Stored Alignments: N/A, N/A, N/A. 0 Galactic Alignments.

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{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 5,400/6,000
Hollow Reiatsu Pool: 200/5,600 - 3.571%
100 reiatsu converted into Hollow Reiatsu.
-400 for Shikai Release.

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{Overall Ability}
Kōsei Kādo as a release focuses around the concept of Tarot. From utilizing, invoking, and manifesting the Major Arcana, Albin is able to provide himself and allies with powerful boons to allow them to continue through a fight much easier than one would normally be able to do. Before getting into drawing cards, however, Kōsei Kādo does provide Albin with some fairly basic supportive abilities. By spending 100 reiatsu, Albin enters one of two "stances" of his choice; that of Upright Stance, and that of Reversed Stance. Depending on his stance, this ability will change slightly. Upright Stance allows for an injury to be healed every post for the next three posts, so long as that injury was caused by 75% of Albin's OS or less, with each injury being healed over the course of a full post. Reversed Stance, instead of healing over time, provides a shield of light for three posts, protecting the target with a durability equal to 150% of Albin's Spiritual OS.

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{Shikai Overall Ability}
It's through Kōsei Kādo that Albin has the ability to draw tarot cards, and make use of them in the midst of a fight. Once per post, at no cost to him, Albin can draw one singular tarot card, randomly determined by a dice roll, range 1-6, and applying an effect based on the cards listed below, following numerical ascending order. Depending on what said roll is, he'll draw one of six different cards, each providing a small effect when used. When drawn, a card lasts until it is used via his Overall Ability, shuffled back into his deck via Reinterpretation, or activated through Invocation. Activating a card via his Overall Ability cost no reiatsu to do, but do incur a cost of 100 reiatsu for every post the effect remains active for, up to a maximum of 3 posts. Cards can still be drawn while maintaining an effect, but said drawn cards cannot be used through the Overall Ability without first deactivating the currently active effect.

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{Cards & Effects}
Strength: Strength stands for inner power, determination, and well, strength. When drawn and used, this manifests as a boost to the Class of a technique the beneficiary decides to make use of. Once per post, the beneficiary can increase the Class of one technique they use by 1, up to a maximum of Class 1. When used, Strength grants Albin a Solar Alignment.

The Hanged Man: The Hanged Man stands for resistance, stalling, and indecision. When drawn and used, this manifests as a cut to the Class of a technique used against the beneficiary. Once per post, the beneficiary can decrease the Class of one technique striking against them, or that they actively clash with by 1 Class, down to a minimum of Class 6. When used, The Hanged Man grants Albin a Lunar Alignment.

The Tower: The Tower stands for sudden change, upheaval, and awakening. When drawn and used, this manifests as a sudden increase to the speed at which the beneficiary can comfortably move at. While under the effects of The Tower, the speed at which the beneficiary can comfortably move at is increased by 100 points, up from 300, stacking with other effects or types that do the same. When used, The Tower grants Albin a Celestial Alignment.

Temperance: Temperance stands for balance, patience, and purpose. When drawn and used, this manifests as a burst of physical durability to the beneficiary. While under the effects of Temperance (for the duration of the Overall Ability), the beneficiary is granted one rank in a Defensive Skill of Albin's choice. Valid choices include, but are not limited to, Strength of Will, Pain Tolerance, Bleeding Tolerance, Poison Resist, and Damage Recovery. When used, Temperance grants Albin a Solar Alignment.

The Star: The Star stands for Hope, Faith, and Spirituality. When drawn and used, this manifests as a blessing of spiritual energy, granting the beneficiary cheaper costs for the duration. While under the effects of The Star, the beneficiary is granted a reiatsu cost reduction of 20% to one technique per post, applying to any and every reiatsu cost or tax the beneficiary might experience. When used, The Star grants Albin a Lunar Alignment.

The Chariot: The Chariot stands for Control, Willpower, and Determination. When drawn and used, this manifests as a blessing of physical energy, granting the beneficiary a second wind. While under the effects of The Chariot, the beneficiary loses Stamina 20% slower than normal. Once per card draw, The Chariot is also capable of restoring one post of Stamina to types with Stamina drawbacks. When used, The Chariot grants Albin a Celestial Alignment.

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{Rhythm Beat}
Technique Name: Rhythm Beat

Class: 6

Technique Type: Hakuda

Usable By: Shinigami, Beast-Clan, Escudo

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: A stance-type technique, this one requires the user to slip into a state of automatic combat. Automatic combat is a mental state in which the user continues at the exact same pacing of their previous blows, creating a rhythmic pattern that allows them to fight without focusing on it. During this, the user becomes accustomed to their own movements, flowing into the same speed and rhythm of attacks until it's no longer required to think about it. That's when this technique truly begins to shine; upon that point, the user can speed up or slow down that rhythm suddenly, creating a pattern of attacks that suddenly alters in speed. Slowing in speed takes no effort, merely the conscious decision to hold back a blow, but speeding up is another story.

When speeding up, the user must do so gradually; as they become accustomed to their movements at a set pace beyond their normal limit, they can slowly push themselves further and further. With each post of consecutive rhythmic attacks, the user can adapt and push their muscles so that they move an additional 50 speed faster with their consistent attacks. This can be continued up until the maximum of the 3x limit on speed boosts. However, if speed is dropped at all, it caps at the speed dropped to or the user's maximum speed, whichever is higher, and can only regain 50 speed per post. Example, if the user has 300 Speed, after one post they can have 350, and after two their attacks come at 400 speed. However, if they drop down to 300 for a slowed move to surprise a foe, they cannot just go back up to 400 speed, and instead have to work up at 50 per post again. If they dropped down to 200, however, they could immediately make the next blow 300, as that is their natural cap.

How to use technique: Begin striking in a consistent, consecutive rhythm of blows, adapting to it over time and adjusting speed as able.

Technique Drawbacks: Stamina. Aside from that, the biggest drawback to this technique is its predictability; the user does have to build up a rhythm of strikes, and because they are fighting almost off-handedly, even if they have control over how they strike, there is a pattern in the motions that can be countered by an analytical foe. Note that this counts as a long-term buff if used for more than two posts (i.e. after the first post of increased speed); otherwise, it is counted as a short-term buff. Requires at least a 1 in Martial Arts: Hakuda.

1-6

[Nuala Byrne]

At first, he didn't know who she was talking to. He looked around, searching for the target of her lack of introduction. He said something about not wanting to fight and then drew his zanpakuto anyway. So, he wasn't quite a Hollow. Her mind spun with the different possibilities as her eyes narrowed. Was he a Hollow who had navigated the political structures of the afterlife and become an honorary shinigami? Had he merely acquired a shinigami's sword? Perhaps he was an arrancar with the peculiar ability to unseal the zanpakuto without entering resurrección. Like a sort of... throwback arrancar. Maybe he was an Adjuchas who ate a shinigami and what was in front of Nuala was more like an imprint of him. She hmmed out loud as he introduced himself.

"No," she said at last. "You're either lying or delusional. There are a few logical fallacies with your claims. Firstly, your reiatsu signature reads as Hollow. Not Shinigami, not Arrancar, and not Vizard. You're not even half-Akki. You're a Hollow. Second, if you were a Shinigami, you'd be hunting down Hollows, yourself, not languishing out in the park. Unless wasting time is a pastime for the Shinigami, which admittedly to their dismal failure in protecting humans, is a possibility..."

While she spoke, Nuala retrieved some fish food supplements from the pockets of her messenger bag. The Quincy bangle on her left arm shone and twinkled in the evening light, and she shook out the bottles to her left and right, seeding one dose of all the fish foods she had on her into the coral inventory. "Most importantly, however, is the third fallacy: you claimed to be a Third Seat among the Shinigami, which is a position of no small power and prowess. You clearly have neither, which leads me to believe that you're stalling for time while preparing an assault. Case in point, you've already unsealed that stolen weapon. So in summary, I'll be following through now, and taking Kosei Kado for my research. Prepare to die, Albin," she concluded.

Nuala raised her right hand toward the imposter, and revealed the green lens in her palm. As she expected "Albin" to dodge, she also held her other hand at her side, ready to fire wherever he stopped after dodging. Wordlessly, she flexed her reiatsu, firing a single Dry shot at her opponent. A brilliant green bolt blazed out of her palm. At the same time, she prepared to fire another shot, but the second time? It wouldn't be a dryfire. She was planning to fire a volley of four hydra-style shots from a spirit cartridge.

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{Grim Desolation, Items Used}Name: Grim Desolation, the Storm under the Viridian Eclipse
Description: A pair of sleek dark grey molded metal gauntlets, which extend from the fingertips to just after the bend of the wearer's elbow. The inner layer of the gauntlets is a soft, intentionally padded glove, whereas the outer layer is metal and spiritual mechanisms. In the palm of each gauntlet is a durable, dark green crystal lens. Along the lateral side of each gauntlet is a series of six ports, where ammunition cartridges may be attached by a secure mechanical action. Colored furry trim is optional.
Class: 2
Item Type: Armor & Weapon
Item Power (IP): 600
Offense Type: Spiritual
Durability: 1200
Bonuses: The gauntlets provide armor to the user's hands and arms up to the elbow and are constructed to accept ammunition cartridges crafted by a station in Nuala's basement. When prompted by the expenditure of reiatsu from the wielder, an ammunition cartridge delivers a charge of encoded spiritual energy to the focusing lens located in the palm of one of the gauntlets, where it is fired in the form of an iridescent green bolt. Bolts fired from the gauntlets move at 700 Speed and operate at a range of up to 300 feet unless the ammo cartridge notes otherwise. The gauntlets have 2 modes of fire: Dry and Hydra.

In Dry mode, the gauntlet does not require an ammo cartridge to be used and fires a bolt with 200 OS. Each gauntlet may be fired dry once per post, and then requires the following post to cool down before safety mechanisms will allow the gauntlet to be fired again. Overriding this safety protocol is not built into the gauntlet, but if it is somehow accomplished, then firing a gauntlet a second time within the post causes first degree burns to the wearer's hand and arm and burns out the gauntlet's ability to fire bolts until it is repaired with significant downtime and the replacement of the lens. To fire a gauntlet dry, the wielder must spend 25 reiatsu.

In Hydra mode, a gauntlet requires an ammo cartridge to be expended for the cost of 25, 75, 150, or 300 reiatsu and fires one, two, three, or four bolts, respectively, with a piercing power equal to the gauntlets' Item Power plus the Item Power of the ammo cartridge used. Any other effects are noted in the cartridge itself. A single gauntlet can have up to six cartridges loaded at one time.
Drawbacks: The gauntlets require a spiritual stat of at least 500 to operate. Other drawbacks are listed above.
Cost: 24,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Crafting 3
Donated to Urahara's: No


Name: Spirit Cartridge Type 1
Description: A small black and green cartridge resembling a 12-gauge shotgun shell with a mechanical port on one end. When discharged, the green depletes out of the cartridge.
Class: 2
Item Type: Ammunition
Item Power (IP): 100
Offense Type: Spiritual
Durability: 200
Bonuses: Punches right in the soul. Rather than causing normal damage, a spirit cartridge causes extreme pain in the target and depletes an amount of reiatsu from them equal to 5% of their maximum.
Drawbacks: Expended on use, even in an NDE thread.
Cost: 800 Ryo
Crafting Skills: Crafting 3
Donated to Urahara's: No


Name: Crimson Pygmy Irukandji
Description: Most likely the smallest jellyfish in the world, it takes no less than eight crimson pygmy irukandji to fill a single cubic centimeter. A simple box jelly with a dozen tiny floss-like tentacles, they inhabit coral reefs for their protection and food, where they also act as a food source for other fish.
Type of Item: Consumable
Class: 5
Item Power (IP): 600
Offense Type: Poison
Durability: 300
Bonuses: Unlike the irukandji from which they were developed, the crimson pygmy's venom is harmless to both the spiritually inactive and to most fishes and other sea creatures. Instead, its effectiveness is concentrated and matched specifically to spiritually active non-sea life creatures. If a crimson pygmy irukandji jelly were to sting a victim directly, it would deliver a dose of poison to their body, but this is not the primary purpose of the jelly. Instead, they are seeded by the hundreds into midnight coral reefs and outcroppings, wherein their further-shrunken state, they act as an insidious food source for the other occupants of that coral. When seeded into a coral body, the irukandji disseminate and feed its other occupants over the course of one post, modifying those fish such that their bites each deliver a dose of the crimson pygmy's venom. One dose of the poison limits the Strength of its victim by 5% (maximum 75% decrease) for 6 posts and inflicts terrible, nerve-wracking electric pain that shoots up and down the victim's body, limiting the actions they can take to short, sporadic things not requiring significant focus to achieve.

While seeded into coral, crimson pygmy irukandji jellies use the durability of the coral they are seeded in before they use their own, as it effectively covers them during this time.

Drawbacks: All used seeds of crimson pygmy irukandji jellies are consumed by fish and coral over the course of one thread, regardless of whether the venom is successfully employed. Each point of poison resist a character has decreases the duration of the venom by 2 posts (minimum 0, rendering characters with poison resist 3 or greater immune). Pain resist 1 will limit the pain of the venom, allowing the victim to "focus" on up to one task per post, and pain resist 2 will negate the effects of the pain from the venom.
Costs: 4,000 Ryo
Crafting: Crafting 3
Donated to Urahara: No

Name: Miniature Cherry Shrimp
Description: A brilliantly colored morph of the cherry shrimp, which is also several times smaller than the cherry shrimp occurring in nature. Adults are only a quarter-inch long, but make up for their lack of size with lurid and vivid color morphs. These tiny life forms serve as a functional food source for larger fish.
Type of Item: Consumable
Class: 5
Item Power (IP): 300
Offense Type: None
Durability: 150
Bonuses: Miniature cherry shrimp are seeded by the hundreds into midnight coral reefs and outcroppings, wherein their further-shrunken state, they act as a useful food source for the other occupants of that coral. When seeded into a coral body, the shrimp disseminate and feed its other occupants over the course of one post, modifying the fish stored in that coral such that their bodies become resistant to injury and shock. Modified fish remain so for the duration of the thread, counting as having additional durability equal to the item power of the shrimp. Additionally, these fish are highly resistant to the damaging effects of shockwaves, reducing durability damage they would suffer from shockwave sources by 75%.

While seeded into coral, miniature cherry shrimp use the durability of the coral they are seeded in before they use their own, as it effectively covers them during this time.

Drawbacks: All used seeds of miniature cherry shrimp are consumed by fish and coral over the course of one thread, regardless of whether the fortification is successfully employed.
Costs: 3,000 Ryo
Crafting: Crafting 3
Donated to Urahara: No

Name: Hunter Killer-Bee Krill
Description: These tiny crustaceans are a rich, hunter green color. Often compared to shrimp, the two animals actually belong to entirely different classes. Krill school by the hundreds to thousands, feeding all manner of other sea life, thanks to their diminutive size. The shell of a killer-bee krill contains extremely dense spiritual particles, which are transferred to the fish that consume them.
Class: 3-1
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): 50 at Class 3, + 25 per Class
Offense Type: None
Durability: x3 Item Power
Bonuses: Hunter killer-bee krill are typically seeded by the hundreds into midnight coral reefs, where they feed all of the fish occupying that coral over the course of one post. This modifies those fish for the remainder of the thread, adding the krill's Item Power to their own Item Power and massively increasing the spiritual density of their attacks. Fish benefiting from hunter killer-bee krill partially bypass skin and flex defenses, inflicting 20% of their Offensive Stat's damage regardless of the presence of these defenses, plus 10% for each Class over 3.

While seeded into coral, hunter killer-bee krill use the durability of the coral they are seeded in before they use their own, as it effectively covers them during this time.
Drawbacks: Ryo cost. Due to the extreme density of the spiritual particles in the killer-bee krill and fish that have fed on them, characters and other energy sensors detect their presence and highly unique spiritual signature as though they had an additional 100 Energy Sensory. All used seeds of hunter killer-bee krill are consumed by fish and coral over the course of one thread.
Cost: 5,000 Ryo at Class 3, + 5,000 Ryo per Class
Crafting Skills: Crafting 2-3
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Spirit Drill Spirulina
Description: Spirulina is a blue-green alga, and is believed to be one of the oldest life forms on Earth. First used by the Aztecs as an endurance booster, spirulina is considered a superfood — an all-in-one source of nutrients including protein levels comparable to eggs. Spirit drill spirulina is a variety with a bred-in poison for protection from over-harvesting in the wild, ensuring that it can propagate widely.
Class: 5
Item Type: Consumable
Item Power (IP): 40
Offense Type: Poison
Durability: 300
Bonuses: When seeded into a coral body, the spirulina disseminates and feeds its other occupants over the course of one post, modifying those fish for the remainder of the thread, such that their attacks each deliver a dose of the spirulina's poison. One dose of the poison limits the Reiatsu Strength of its victim by 5% (maximum 75% decrease) for 6 posts and inflicts terrible, head-spinning disorientation whenever they perform a technique that costs reiatsu, diminishing two Mental skills of the victim's choice by 1 rank for the poison's duration.

While seeded into coral, spirit drill spirulina uses the durability of the coral it is seeded in before it uses its own, as it effectively covers it during this time.
Drawbacks: All used seeds of spirit drill spirulina are consumed by fish and coral over the course of one thread, regardless of whether the poison is successfully employed. Each point of poison resist a character has decreases the duration of the poison by 2 posts (minimum 0, rendering characters with poison resist 3 or greater immune). Battle Focus 1 will limit the disorientation, halving its effectiveness. Battle Focus 2 will negate the effects of the disorientation from the poison.
Cost: 4,000 Ryo
Crafting Skills:
Donated to Urahara's: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool and Battle Data}Reiatsu Pool: 7,475/7,500
Genius Stamina: 1/6 to half-fatigued

[Deleted]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Dice Roll}tcKZJ9JX1-6

"You're either lying or delusional." Albin felt his blood begin to boil. Listening carefully to these truthfully quite wild claims as Nuala continued to speak, Albin felt himself growing more frustrated by the second. As his anger began to grow, hearing her completely disregard everything he'd accomplished thus far, all of his hardships, his reiatsu began to flare. The deep blue shade of his own spiritual energies continued to wave over the immediate area around him, almost showing the girl his own emotions.

Little did he know, that was likely exactly what he'd been doing. Making key immediate note of her actions - and that bangle - as she began to sprinkle something into some contraption behind her, he squinted his eyes just a bit as he watched, the card he'd drawn previously floating steadily by him. As she finished up her thoughts, with a very curt "Prepare to die, Albin," he'd immediately planned to go on the offensive. He wasn't going to just sit around while she talked down to him like that!

Though, as he prepared to make an attack of his own, he made immediate note of Nuala's own actions; watching as she held her palm out toward him, Albin darted to his left via Shunpo, looking to get out of the direct line of fire. As he moved, Albin coated himself in a shield of stardust, a light shining taking hold over his entire body. Noticing that no attack had been fired when he stepped, the Shinigami quickly began to charge Nuala.

Before he could even move his body, however, it seemed she was one step ahead of him. As her aim was repositioned with his own movements, Albin realized quite quickly that a round was being fired toward him; one he truthfully had little chance of being able to see. As the shot collided almost immediately with his recently-formed barrier, Albin found himself taking a step back, taking the recoil from the blow that nearly collided with him. Making a mental note of the attack, he realized quite quickly that he was going to need to be careful around this woman. She wasn't exactly the type to play around, he'd suspected.

Shortly after the first round had been fired, another set of rounds had been prepped to follow not long thereafter. Though, these rounds had been much, much more powerful than the first. As the first shot had collided with his barrier, it held up absolutely no support as it shattered the shields, and barreling into Albin's own body with a powerful force behind it. The second, third, and fourth followed shortly thereafter, each colliding painfully and quickly with the Shinigami.

Letting out a pained grunt, and being forced to take more steps back, Albin took deep breaths in an attempt to steel himself; to push through. Assessing the damage quickly, he'd made note of where he'd been struck; two rounds found themselves against his upper left shoulder, one midway down his left arm, and the other striking closer to his waist. Shifting about his body ever so slightly, and feeling pain - but not nearly as much as he'd expected - he came to the quick conclusion that nothing ended up broken, thankfully. While sure, everything stung like hell, nothing was severe enough to warrant a retreat by any means.

"Tch," he scoffed, "that the best you got?" Giving the girl a smile, while simultaneously glaring daggers toward her, Albin prepared an attack of his own; letting go of the card he'd previously drawn, and allowing it to float just in front of him, he held his rapier pointed toward the girl, and channeled his reiatsu into the card itself.

As he did, the card quickly dissolved into a deep blue flame, but not before firing off an elemental burst; a crystalline lance of ice launched itself from where the card had been, slinging directly through the air straight toward Nuala at a speed of 800. Taking the opportunity to capitalize on the opening coming from his attack, Albin drew yet another card, and immediately threw it into the air, causing it to burst into a display of stardust and sparks. As these sparks rained down over him, he readied his blade in preparation for another attack - well, as much as he could with that headache of his worsening more than he could handle.

Rhythm Beat Speed: 200

SPOILER: Click to show

{Release Information}Shikai Duration: 2/10.
Current Stance: Reversed.
Reversed Stance Shielding: N/A OS.
Active Card: Strength. Duration 1/3.
Stored Card: N/A.
Stored Alignments: Celestial Alignment, Solar Alignment, N/A. 0 Galactic Alignments.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 2,950/6,000
Hollow Reiatsu Pool: 400/4,150 - 9.639%
1,000 reiatsu converted into Hollow Reiatsu.
-800 Hollow Reiatsu from x4 hits.
-50 for Shunpo.
-1,200 for Grim Desolation.
-200 for Invocation of The Chariot.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Invocation}
There comes a time where a simple tarot reading isn't quite enough to win a fight. In those situations, Albin may channel his reiatsu through his tarot, in order to invoke effects through those Tarot; hence the name of the effect. These Invocations are Albin's sole offensive ability, and manifest however he'd like them to in that specific situation. Whether as a simple bolt effect, or appearing as an animal of sorts, the appearance is up to him. That said, these Invocations always follow these same rules; if only moving in a straight line, an Invocation can move at 800 Speed. If it has the option to change its path, it will always move at 600. Depending on the Tarot used for this Invocation, said invocation will have a different elemental affinity, and utilize a different Stat of Albin's. Invocation costs 200 Reiatsu to use, and lasts until the Invocation connects with a foe or for three posts; whichever is shorter. Cinematically, these Invocations can last indefinitely.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tarot Affinities}
Strength: Fire-Aligned, and uses Spiritual OS.
The Hanged Man: Earth-Aligned, and uses Physical OS.
The Tower: Water-Aligned, and uses Spiritual OS.
Temperance: Wind-Aligned, and uses Physical OS.
The Star: Lightning-Aligned, and uses Spiritual OS.
The Chariot: Ice-Aligned, and uses Physical OS.

1-6

[Nuala Byrne]

No, it was distinctly not the best she had. Her opening volley had landed-- all five hits, but it looked like Albin was prepared for a real fight. He began to move reiatsu from his core into the card: he was planning an attack, and it would be a fast one. She responded in kind, pouring reiatsu into one of the occupants of the midnight coral inventory. In reaction, a forest green and pale green shape shot out of the coral and grabbed her by the shoulders, sliding tentacles down either of her arms. It moved at high speed, like a cero, but had notably little distance to travel. This might have been easier if she had decided to release Eclipse of Conscience, but the smell of the soul dew would only entice more Hollows to join the fight...

She moved her body, adjusting her stance to block the icy lance while the forest squid wrapped its tentacles around her arms. It wasn't going to be fast enough, however, and she could see that well in advance. Damn, she thought, making me play my hand already! More reiatsu went into to coral's occupants, and an armored fish emerged from the coral on her left side at a speed of 1000, moving its body to block the blow. Ice and fish collided in a spray of shards and a few scales, but no real damage to the fish could be seen. "Tch," Nuala scoffed. "Is that the best you've got? Let's get this over with."

Using the placodermus as an intelligent shield, Nuala pressed her fists together in front of her solar plexus, concentrating the soul energy within her middle into revolutions of four carefully pressured and controlled cores. As they began to spin, a rippling deep blue reiatsu flared outward from her heart chakra, indicating the revolutions per minute of the engine her soul formed. Idling in Neutral at 900 RPM for only a moment, she practically disappeared as water-like green light flicked off her heels in her wake.

Nuala reappeared only briefly, firing another volley of four spirit cartridge shots as she came to a stop somewhere on Albin's left, and then stepped again, leaving behind a column of light from under her feet before coming to a rest somewhere to the right of where Albin had been standing. Pure white katar blades slid out of the tentacles...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Items, Reiatsu Pool and Battle Data}

SPOILER: Click to show

{Items}Name: Forest Squid Blade, aka, "the Squord"
Description: This squid's mantle is much shorter than most squids', with large, wide, and dexterous stabilizing fins. It has eight arms and two tentacles and has a short beak hidden between its limbs. The average forest squid is pale green and forest green, with a spiral of alternating colors that leads up its mantle, but each arm or leg is only one of these colors. When commissioned, the forest squid is designed with the ability to extrude a blade of any design up to 50cm in length, which can be dispensed from either or both of its tentacles.
Class: 5-1
Item Type: Weapon & Armor
Item Power (IP): 200 at class 5, + 200 per class (max 1000)
Offense Type: Physical
Durability: x2.5 Item Power
Bonuses: A forest squid normally rests on its bearer's shoulders, but can extend tentacles down either or both of their arms and extrude its blade in front of their hand(s) on command or when needed. Extending the blade moves at a Speed equal to the squid's Item Power, but this speed can be doubled for one post at the cost of 100 reiatsu. The bearer's shoulders (and when employed, their arm and hand) are covered by the squid's armoring quality.

For the cost of 250 reiatsu, the forest squid blade can disperse a spiritual "ink" into its surrounding area, dampening both spiritual presences and energy sensory inside a 30-foot radius at Class 5, plus 30 feet per Class. This causes detecting spiritual presences through extranormal means to become harshly difficult; spiritual presences detect at half their normal strength inside the area, with the added side effect of hiding the spiritual race of any ink-masked individuals. Furthermore, energy sensory performs at half its normal effectiveness, with the added side effect of displacement, making each signature inside the area detect as though it were 10 feet away from its actual location. By expending 50 reiatsu at Class 5, and an extra 50 reiatsu per Class greater, an energy sensor can function at full effectiveness and ignore the displacement effect for 1 post.

As a variety of spiritual "fish," a forest squid blade can benefit from consumable fish foods, such as (but not limited to) the Crimson Pygmy Irukandji and Miniature Cherry Shrimp.

Drawbacks: A Class 5-2 forest squid blade requires combined spiritual stats of at least 600 to wield. A Class 1 forest squid blade requires combined spiritual stats of at least 800 to wield.
Cost: 7,500 ryo at class 5, +7,500 ryo per class up to class 2; 40,000 ryo at class 1
Crafting Skills: Crafting 2-3
Donated to Urahara's: No

Name: Peacock Placodermus
Description: Imagine Nuala's surprise when she discovered a descendent of the antediluvian placodermi fish in her mentor's tank. Using her fullbring over the course of generations, she developed this, the deep blue-green armored peacock placodermus. Five feet long and a descendent of what is possibly the world's first vertebrate superpredator, the peacock placodermus has bullet-shaped head and torso armor with articulation at the base of the neck and a strong lower jaw. It has real teeth, with defined pulp cavities, bone and dentine growth. The remainder of its body is thickly scaled with sage green color, armoring it from attacks on all sides. It has a long, heterocercal tail fin.
Type of Item: Weapon & Armor
Class: 5-1
Item Power (IP): 600 at Class 5 + 150 per Class (max 1200)
Offense Type: Physical
Durability: x2.5 Item Power
Bonuses: The peacock placodermus flies within 100 feet of its bearer, anchored to their orbit. It moves when and where they move, otherwise moving at a speed of 300, plus 50 per Class over 5, within the confines of this area. Once per post, the fish's bearer may pay 200 reiatsu to double the speed of the fish for that post. The placodermus can be detached from its bearer for free, whereupon it will fly within about 200 feet of the location it was deposited in. Additionally, the fish can be attached to a new bearer at the cost of 300 reiatsu, if it is not in the possession of a current bearer. The peacock placodermus attacks by biting or ramming into its targets, and uses its body to shield them from attacks.
Drawbacks: The peacock placodermus requires combined spiritual stats and energy sensory of at least 500 to attach to one's self.
Costs: 9,000 Ryo at Class 5 + 3,000 per Class
Crafting: Crafting 3
Donated to Urahara: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool and Battle Data}
Hydra 4-shot: 300 reiatsu
Speedy Placodermus: 200 reiatsu
Engine Core: Tomoe-4: 600 reiatsu
Bringer Light: 50 reiatsu
Hydra 4-shot: 300 reiatsu
Bringer Light: 100 reiatsu

Genius Stamina: 2/6 to half fatigued
Engine Core: 1900 RPM, Neutral Gear
Reiatsu Pool: 5,925/7,500

[Deleted]

As his lance of ice fired straight toward the Dragon Witch, and he proceeded to draw into Strength, Albin took a moment to catch a breather as his lance was intercepted rather quickly from Nuala's own movements. Or, so he thought; watching as what looked to be a squid emerged from that same contraption on her back, followed by another fish, primed to intercept his lance? Albin found himself dumbfounded, to say the least. Never in his life - Unlife? Second life? - Did he expect to find someone wielding fish to her heart's content in the midst of a fight, much like she was currently doing.

As she spoke, and subsequently mocked him, Albin smiled once more. "If you insist. Had no idea Quincy were capable of wielding fish. Met a fair few in my time; each one of 'em used bows. Mind telling me what's up with that?" Part of him figured it was some kind of release ability the girl had, but he had no way of knowing for sure. Though, even for a Quincy, it seemed... odd. Nonetheless, it was going to make for an interesting story when he made his way back to Seireitei. Only time would tell if he was going to learn the full extent of this woman's abilities.

As she slammed her fists together, Albin wasted absolutely no time making his next draw; he wasn't going to get caught off-guard from her again if he could help it. Though, instead of leaving his own fate up to the stars, Albin decided he was going to tip the scales a bit into his favor. Willing a card into existence, and once again drawing from the deck spinning around his "sidearm", Albin threw the card he'd drawn straight into the air once more; this time, The Star.

Once again, the card burst forth into stardust, showering him and once again bolstering his own capabilities. With the card he'd drawn this time, Albin's own spiritual prowess received a bit of a bolstering. One he so very much needed. As that showering had been happening, he coated his own legs in reiatsu, mentally calling upon the name of his Zanpakuto Spirit. Kosei, he called in his own mind, could really use your help right now!

As if on queue, Albin's own legs exploded with reiatsu as Nuala disappeared, leaving the Shinigami rushing to clear some distance between himself an the "Quincy". As the two's steps crossed each other, Albin's own speed exploding outward, twenty five times faster than he'd normally be able to move, he found himself coming to a halt not thirty meters away from Nuala and where she'd been. If she continued to fire her shots where she'd originally intended, she was sure to end up missing her mark given his repositioning.

Taking a deep breath to account for the movement at which he'd just forced upon his body, Albin continued to ready his weapon. Pointing his blade toward the ground, and causing the ground beneath his feet to light like the starry sky, another burst of light shot from the ground, coating him in an array of colors and - more importantly - effects.

For one, residual spiritual energy from the area began to circulate through him, working quite quickly to revitalize his reserves after the attacks Nuala had made against him. At the same time, the world around him began to almost slow; everything around him became ever so slightly easer to see; to keep track of. Exhaling softly, he raised his blade back up, and kept his eyes toward Nuala. "Gonna have to try a bit harder than that," he spoke, "you'll find I'm not going to give up nearly that easily."

Rhythm Beat Speed: 250.
Roku: Tenka Step Speed: 6,250.
Speed after Step: 225. 10% cut. 2 posts remaining.
Planetary Conjunction: 1/3
Fortune Forced: The Hanged Man is a dead-draw.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Release Information}Shikai Duration: 3/10.
Current Stance: Reversed.
Reversed Stance Shielding: N/A OS.
Active Card:The Star. Duration 1/3.
Stored Card: N/A.
Stored Alignments: N/A, N/A, N/A. 1 Galactic Alignments.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 2,580/6,000
Hollow Reiatsu Pool: 500/3,080 - 16.234%
100 reiatsu converted into Hollow Reiatsu.
-200 for Roku (Reduced from The Star).
-300 for Roku: Tenka.
-50 for Shunpo.
-200 for Planetary Conjunction.
+480 Reiatsu for Planetary Conjunction.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Forcing Fortune}
Even more rarely, there are times where one may need to 'stack the deck' in order to convince someone of a desired outcome ringing true. In those situations where Albin requires a very specific effect, Forcing Fortune is the go-to option. What this technique does is allow Albin to bypass the dice roll for drawing a card altogether; instead, he simply thinks of a card, and will draw into that card of his choice. Though, playing with forces of fate like this aren't without cost; instead of incurring a reiatsu cost for this technique, Albin instead suffers something potentially much more disastrous; he must choose one of his cards. On the chance that he draws that card, sometime within the next three posts after using this technique, that card will do absolutely nothing when played, no matter the technique or Overall Ability used. Unlike his other techniques, this one does not have a cooldown. Instead, every time he uses this technique, if a duration still exists on this technique, a different card must be chosen. All durations of this technique are then reset back to three posts. This means that it's very possible for Albin to end up unable to use any of his cards for a period of three straight posts, should he Force his Fortune too often. Additionally, Forcing Fortune cannot be used while a card effect is currently active through Albin's Overall Abilities. Maintaining an effect that has had it's Fortune Forced costs 300 reiatsu a post, instead of the standard 100.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Roku (Six)}
Technique Name: Roku (Six)

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other

Usable By: Shinigami, Vizard

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:

Roku, known also as 'Stepping', is the sixth technique of 'Numbers'. This is an odd technique, as it technically requires another technique, Shunpo, to be learned and mastered. Activating this technique causes a blurry aura colored based on users Reiatsu to appear around the user's legs, but otherwise does nothing else. This aura lasts for around three posts. Once Shunpo is used while Roku is activated, however, the aura spreads to the entire body. This technique, when used with Shunpo, allows for two things. One, the user is able to instantly change direction mid-Shunpo with another Shunpo, if they need to. Two, it boosts one of the two Shunpo up to 15x, instead of 10x. It can be used for either the starting Shunpo, or the mid-way Shunpo.

This technique, effectively, has the Zanpakuto Spirit Shunpo with the user, both increasing the speed of Shunpo, and allowing the user an extra 'jump' if they need it.

How to use technique: Communicate with Zanpakuto Spirit, work in tandem with them.

Technique Drawbacks:

Though a class four technique, this technique has a 250 Reiatsu cost. Depending on the Spirit, the relationship they have with their wielder, and their nature, the spirit in question may not choose to lend aid to the wielder. Physical and spiritual fatigue if they do help. This technique places strain on the user's legs, reducing speed by 5% for at least two posts. Consecutive uses will stack 5% more on top of it, to a maximum of 20%. It is impossible to use this technique more than four posts in a row, as the muscles in the user's legs would be shredded. Must wait at least two posts for the strain to fade away, double that during combat.

Requires Shunpo Mastery to learn.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Roku: Tenka (Six: Addition)}
Technique Name: Roku: Tenka (Six: Addition)

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other.

Usable By: Shinigami, Vizard.

Technique Element: None.

Technique Description and Effects:

Roku: Tenka serves as the sixth of seven advanced “numbers” techniques developed by Albin Landry, designed around the teachings of Taien Hadohou. Each technique is designed around use alongside the original, hence the “Addition” portion of the name. Roku: Tenka was developed to push the user’s capabilities even further, at the cost of more potential damage to the user’s body.

While Roku: Tenka is active, a much more potent aura of the Zanpakuto Spirit’s reiatsu now perpetually coats the user’s entire body, taking on the color of the Zanpakuto Spirit’s reiatsu, should it differ from the user. While active, Roku: Tenka pushes both Shunpo used through standard Roku up to 15x speed. By spending an additional 100 reiatsu during one of the Shunpo used, the user can force this Shunpo to reach x25 speed, mimicking the speed of Utsusemi.

How to use technique: Commune with the Zanpakuto Spirit, and ask for an even greater push for speed.

Technique Drawbacks:

Instead of the standard Class four cost, this technique costs 200 reiatsu every post, on top of the 250 that Roku costs every post. Unlike the standard technique, utilization of this technique requires harmony between the user and Zanpakuto Spirit; if a Zanpakuto Spirit would not be always willing to perform this maneuver, this technique cannot be learned. Physical and spiritual fatigue will follow when the Zanpakuto Spirit assists. Every post this technique remains active reduces the user’s Speed by an additional 5% for two posts, totaling to 10% with the normal drawbacks of Roku. Instead of capping at 20%, the Speed reductions from this technique cap at 75%. Upon Roku ending, the user must wait at least four posts for the strain to fade away, double that during combat, before Roku: Tenka can be used again alongside it. Requires Roku to be Mastered and active to use.

Made By: Albin Landry.

Reserved?: Yes.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Planetary Conjunction}
Once every so often, each of the planets will align perfectly with one another. It's through Planetary Conjunction that Albin seeks to replicate this phenomenon through his own cards, drawing on the nature of the Alignments each card possesses. As listed in his Shikai Overall Ability, each card possesses an alignment; either that of Solar Alignment, Lunar Alignment, or Celestial Alignment. Every time a card is played through an Overall Ability, or through Invocation, that card's Alignment is saved on a First-In, First-Out basis. At any point, and for the cost of 200 reiatsu, Planetary Conjunction can be cast, spending all saved Alignments, and granting effects to all nearby allies based on the number of different Alignments spent in the cast. Effects of Planetary Conjunction last for 3 posts.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Alignments}
One Alignment: All allies begin to perceive the world around them slower than it's actually moving, treating their speed as 50% higher for the purposes of seeing opponents moving at high speeds only.
Two Alignments: Status Effects and Alterations placed on all allies from an OS equal to or less than Albin's current OS are cleansed for the duration, but return after Planetary Conjunction expires, at the same severity it was suspended at.
Three Alignments: All allies regain 8% of their maximum reiatsu every post while under the effects of Planetary Conjunction, up to their maximum, and grants Albin one Galactic Alignment.

[Nuala Byrne]

"Try harder, you say?" Nuala asked. She had to concede, he'd lasted longer than she'd originally given him credit for. "Fine." Taking a centering breath, she shifted the flow of spiritual energy inside herself, favoring volume over intensity. Her capacity for reiatsu blossomed and nearly doubled, while its strength dwindled away to nearly nothing from what it had been a moment ago.

She didn't need to attack, at the moment. Now was the time to focus on defense. Albin was fast, far faster than she could keep up with. She might have known a good trick for eliminating that issue, but would it be worth the gamble? It would have to be. She did three things at once. On one side of her awareness, she injected raw reiatsu into her engine core, causing its revolutions per minute to accelerate massively. On another, she folded a secret into her hand and whispered that secret out onto the wind.

The air around them expanded and contracted at the same time. The world entertained a new notion, and the atmosphere grew heavy. It was like they were coated in heavy sand from top to bottom, but no such sand was present. "You have me confused for some lesser creature," Nuala explained. "I am no Quincy." Simultaneously, she pumped and primed the Engine Core three times, and new glows emanated from her lower abdomen as the flare in her heart began to wane away into a steadier coruscation. One was a rich crimson, and the other was a healthy carnelian-orange.

"Regardless," she explained, "You should have taken that opportunity to attack, rather than prepare. This is all about to get much more difficult for you." She settled herself into a defensive posture, ready for him to make a move.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool and Battle Data}RS to SpPr conversion: 300 reiatsu: 250 pre-type RS to SpPr; now 125 RS, 1375 SpPr
Pouring It On: 25 reiatsu, -2000 reiatsu: +8,100 RPM
Waxing Flood-Tide: 600 reiatsu, +900 RPM
Flappy-Paddle: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM, -2000 RPM (1st Gear)
Flappy-Paddle: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM, -2000 RPM (2nd Gear)
Flappy-Paddle: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM, -2000 RPM (3rd Gear)
Muladhara Drive: 25 reiatsu, +100 RPM. Reduce attacks by 600 OS
Svadisthana Drive: 50 reiatsu, +150 RPM. -15% tech OS, +7.5% reiatsu regen.
Engine Core: 6,400 RPM, 3rd Gear
Genius Stamina: 4/6 posts to half-fatigued
Reiatsu regained from Svadisthana: 1,031
Reiatsu Pool: 4,106/13,750

[Deleted]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Dice Roll}QoGsI8ca1-6

Making evident note of the explosive reiatsu taking over the area as something began to pulse through the area. Unfortunately for him, he had no reasonable idea what was going on. Listening to what Nuala had to say, Albin smirked once more. "You should have taken that opportunity to attack, rather than prepare. This is all about to get much more difficult for you." Chuckling, the Shinigami simply shrugged. "More difficult? I don't think so."

As he finished speaking, Albin once again decided to launch himself toward toward Nuala as quickly as he could, once again moving at absolutely astronomical speeds in order to do so. Or, so he thought he was going to do. As he looked to move, and felt as though he'd collided with solid steel, Albin immediately dropped to the ground in agonizing pain as his body was left wracked thoroughly with broken bones, substantial amounts of damaged flesh, and quite an amount of bruising. Rolling out and tumbling along the concrete, Albin sprawled out against the pavement as he came to an abrupt halt.

Taking a few seconds to himself just to catch his breath, Albin moved his blade in an attempt to prop himself up as much as he could. Forcing himself to a stand after dealing with an impact like that, Albin gritted his teeth as he forced himself back to his feet. If nothing else, at least his headache was finally gone. Smiling to himself over that fact, He once again glared directly toward Nuala, using his blade almost like that of a cane for the time. "What..." he started, speaking in between breaths, "...what the hell was that?"

If Nuala continued to focus her own energy sensory capabilities toward Albin, it was likely going to be made apparent that the Hollow reiatsu that once permeated over Albin was now gone. Instead, he was left with his traditional reiatsu signature, without anything out of the ordinary; to pretty much everybody, Albin would read no differently than a Shinigami once more.

Continuing to take a moment to catch his breath as best he could, he allowed the reiatsu around his legs to fade. He knew almost immediately that he'd need some kind of plan in order to deal with this girl. It seemed that moving at ludicrous speeds was very much out of the question. If he wasn't going to be able to do that, then what were his options? Before coming to a conclusion on that, he'd have to wait to see just what this woman's offensive options were going to be. Coating his entire body with reiatsu, Albin drew a card and switched his stance, his wounds slowly began to heal themselves.

Rhythm Beat Speed: 300
Speed after Step: 240. 20% cut. 2 posts remaining.
Planetary Conjunction: 2/3
Fortune Forced: The Hanged Man 1/3.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Release Information}Shikai Duration: 4/10.
Current Stance: Upright.
Reversed Stance Shielding: N/A OS.
Active Card: The Star. Duration 2/3.
Stored Card: Strength.
Stored Alignments: N/A, N/A, N/A. 1 Galactic Alignments.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 2,110/6,000
-300 for maintaining The Star.
-200 for Roku (Reduced from The Star).
-300 for Roku: Tenka.
-50 for Shunpo.
-100 to switch to Upright Stance.
+480 for Planetary Conjunction.

1-6

[Nuala Byrne]

"That was some of the difficulty I mentioned," Nuala explained simply. "Your movement, pressing against the air, which now believes that as force increases, viscosity also increases." Without any bringer light, she stepped toward Albin, moving at a much slower speed than before, now just barely on the cusp of the limited space around the two of them. He was in pain, reeling, but slowly regenerating. Despite the situation, he was pressing on. Nuala had to respect that if nothing else.

That release was going to be a pain, she just knew it. It would be best to put a stop to that. Her mouth pressed into a line. She was no longer worried about how he might retaliate-- her Muladhara and Svadisthana Drives, combined with her forest squid, would likely take care of any offense he might muster by this point. She might be surprised, but that would be a surprise.

She threw two punches, both enhanced by the katars she wielded. One heavy left cross, which she expected he would deflect, and one quick right jab at his defending arm. She would only need to hit with either of them. At the same time, she switched on the Anahata Drive and poured more reiatsu into her engine core, increasing the revolutions per minute up to the engine's vaunted Power Band. Jade light flared to life in her heart chakra, and a cool feeling filled her limbs, keeping her exhaustion at bay. Finally, she Gear Shifted another time.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool and Battle Data}Movement: 25 reiatsu, +500 RPM.
Anahata Drive: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM.
Pouring It On: 25 reiatsu, +625 reiatsu, +2600 RPM
Anahata Drive: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM. Healing per post. Power Band: Stamina use suspended.
Flappy-Paddle: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM, -2000 RPM (4th Gear)
Muladhara Drive: 200 reiatsu, reduce attacks by 800 OS. Power Band: No knockback.
Svadistahana Drive: 200 reiatsu, -20% tech OS, +10% reiatsu regen. Power Band: Class 6, 200 Durability gained with 125 RS effectiveness
Waxing Flood-Tide duration: 2/5 posts
Engine Core: 8,500 RPM, 4th Gear
Genius Stamina: 5/6 posts to half-fatigued
Reiatsu regained from Svadisthana: 1375
Reiatsu Pool: 3,956/13,750

SPOILER: Click to show

{Items in Question}Forest Squid Katars, 2 attacks at 1000 IP with 200 Speed each
Crimson Pygmy Irukandji: 5% Strength debuff per post for 6 posts
Spirit Drill Spirulina: 5% Reiatsu Strength debuff per post for 6 posts

[Deleted]

As Nuala found herself quickly upon Albin despite the rather hellish reiatsu landscape that she'd put up in the area, Albin knew immediately that he was going to have to fight rather decisively, given his injured state. He found himself with a rather notable amount of energy that he'd lost thus far. Just how long he was going to be able to keep a fight going was beyond him. One thing he did know, though, was that given his condition? Given the strain she'd forced upon him, not only from that previous tactic, but from their entire fight? One more strike against him was likely going to put him down. He couldn't let that happen. He wasn't going to let that happen.

The moment she was upon him - notably a lot slower than she'd moved before - Albin's own reiatsu flared around him as Kosei Kādo seemed to almost "manifest". A translucent copy of Albin's Zanpakuto spirit made himself present immediately, as Albin's own rapier began to coat in reiatsu itself. It was now or never; and given he was able to divert his attention thanks to his Zanpakuto Spirit, in combination with his own analytical skills? He wasn't going to go down without a fight, that was for sure.

As Nuala went in for her left cross, Kosei - practically stepping from Albin, almost overlapped over him initially, made the first strike. Given the ever-so-slightly faster speed, they banked on the chance that Albin's own Zanpakuto Spirit was going to be able to retaliate with a piercing strike directly through the girls' forearm with the thin blade; forcing the spectral copy of Albin's own weapon to weave directly between her left radius and ulna. Despite whether or not this strategy was going to work on its own, Albin went in for his own strike against the other blow poised to strike toward him.

With Nuala's second strike, Albin's intentions were to parry the blow with his rapier, utilizing his Strength advantage over the girl, and the sheer advantage in weapon Skill he had over her. If this attempt was successful, and the second of the blades were moved from out of the way, Albin was going to try for a rather decisive strike of his own. If she was put into a reeling state, Albin looked to cleave his blade as forcefully as he could across her abdomen, starting at the left of her waist, and looking to swing directly upward toward the throat, if he could manage it. Any grace behind the movements he once had were gone; he was going to walk away alive if he could help it.

Rhythm Beat Speed: 300
Speed after Step: 240. 20% cut. 2 posts remaining.
Planetary Conjunction: 3/3
Fortune Forced: The Hanged Man 2/3.
Ichi: 1/5 Duration. Striking Strength; 1,050.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Release Information}Shikai Duration: 5/10.
Current Stance: Upright.
Reversed Stance Shielding: N/A OS.
Active Card: The Star. Duration 3/3.
Stored Card: Strength.
Stored Alignments: N/A, N/A, N/A. 0 Galactic Alignments.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 2,140/6,000
-150 for Ichi.
-150 for Go.
-150 for Go: Tenka.
+480 for Planetary Conjunction.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ichi (One)}
Technique Name: Ichi (One)

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other.

Usable By: Shinigami.

Technique Element: None.

Technique Description and Effects:

Aptly named, Ichi, also known as "Strike", is the first of the Numbers technique line. Working with their Zanpakuto Spirit, the Shinigami manifests an aura around their Zanpakuto, a ghostly, translucent aura that flickers and fades in and out. This lasts for five posts, and grants the Zanpakuto a special power for the duration of the technique. For the duration of the technique, either the striking speed doubles, or the striking strength doubles.

Additionally, while using this technique, the user is able to perceive their Spirit holding the Zanpakuto with the user, as a faded out image. No one else can perceive their Spirit, unless they have the required Energy Sensory to normally see one. Essentially, the Spirit wields the blade along with the technique user.

How to use technique: Communicate with Spirit, work in tandem with it.

Technique Drawbacks:

Class Four Reiatsu cost. Depending on the Spirit, the relationship they have with their wielder, and their nature, the spirit in question may not choose to lend aid to the wielder. Physical and spiritual fatigue if they do help. Damage to the users arms, due to either the increased speed or increased strength, in the form of strained or sprained muscles, as well as possible overextending. Mastery of this technique lessens the damage done, as well as overextending, due to the user knowing how much strength/speed they have and are able to handle.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Go (Five)}
Technique Name: Go (Five)

Class: 5

Technique Type: Other

Usable By: Shinigami, Vizard

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: Go, also called "Addition", is the fifth of the Numbers. This technique allows the Zanpakuto Spirit to interact with the physical world as an attack of sorts. This technique creates a ghostly aura around the Zanpakuto, much like Ichi. Unlike Ichi, this aura is more solid, more 'real' so to speak. This technique lasts for one strike, one swing of the Zanpakuto, or simply one motion of the blade. Effectively, this technique allows the user and Zanpakuto Spirit to strike an additional time. The user of this technique can choose whether it be as soon as they attack, utilizing two attacks at once, a second before, or a second behind their original attack.

The real power, and versatility, of this technique comes from the fact that whatever effect is on the Zanpakuto, or user, at the time is copied on to the strike. (I.E, the Zanpakuto is coated with an ice-effect, the Zanpakuto the Spirit uses will also be coated with ice.). As this is a blade made of Reiatsu, it naturally bypasses the Cutback Effect.

Synergizes well with Ichi and Ni.

How to use technique: Communicate with Spirit, work in tandem with it.

Technique Drawbacks: Class Five Reiatsu cost. Depending on the Spirit, the relationship they have with their wielder, and their nature, the spirit in question may not choose to lend aid to the wielder. Small amounts of Physical and spiritual fatigue if they do help. Depends heavily on the user's own skill and sword technique to make useful. Must be within the range of the original slash or attack, I.E, you can't teleport the slash behind someone if you have no possible way of getting over there with your original strike. Shunpo does not count.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Go: Tenka (Five: Addition)}
Technique Name: Go: Tenka (Five: Addition)

Class: 5

Technique Type: Other.

Usable By: Shinigami, Vizard.

Technique Element: None.

Technique Description and Effects:

Go: Tenka serves as the fifth of seven advanced “numbers” techniques developed by Albin Landry, designed around the teachings of Taien Hadohou. Each technique is designed around use alongside the original, hence the “Addition” portion of the name. Go: Tenka was developed in order to give the user more defensive options in the midst of combat without having to change up their fighting style.

Upon activating Go: Tenka, the aura surrounding the user’s blade from Go will continue to persist for the next five posts, instead of expiring after one action, and will maintain the same timing chosen from Go for the full duration. During this duration, though, the user’s Zanpakuto Spirit will actively seek to defend the user. While the option to mimic the user’s actions is there, the Zanpakuto Spirit is also capable of making their own actions while mimicking the user.

Actions the Zanpakuto Spirit can take on their own are defensive in nature, and will actively look to protect the user. When acting on their own, outside of the previously restrictive timing, the Zanpakuto Spirit must only take actions to defend the user; retaliation attacks or otherwise active offensively will still be limited to mimicry of the user. These defensive, actions, however, cost 50 reiatsu every time they're used in addition to the activation cost of Go: Tenka.

How to use technique: Commune with the Zanpakuto Spirit and ask for additional defense.

Technique Drawbacks:

Class five reiatsu cost. Unlike the standard technique, utilization of this technique requires harmony between the user and Zanpakuto Spirit; if a Zanpakuto Spirit would not be always willing to perform this maneuver, this technique cannot be learned. Physical and spiritual fatigue will follow when the Zanpakuto Spirit assists. Autonomous movements the Zanpakuto Spirit takes cannot place them more than one second away from the user at any time; if an action would take them more than one second to realign with the user, it cannot be taken. Requires Go to be Mastered and active to use.

Made By: Albin Landry.

Reserved?: Yes.

[Nuala Byrne]

Nuala's first bladed punch went wide; though her opponent's rapier could not pierce the tentacle that armored her arm, he was more than strong enough to divert her strike. Likewise, it looked like her second strike was destined to fail. Albin was much stronger and much faster than she was in this state. Her face twisted into a scowl of annoyance when he swept her katar blade to the side with a counterattack, for which she had at first been entirely open.

But then, her peacock placodermus swept into her rescue, taking Albin's counterattack on the armor of its body. Again, no damage to the fish. It was a true monster. His blade swept upward, nicking her on the waist before the placodermus interrupted the swing. She winced in pain and backed off suddenly, using movement to create distance between the two of them. "Tch," she scoffed. "You could have made this easy on yourself, but no. You had to struggle. You want to go down swinging, fine. Let's make that happen. You defend yourself, and I'll overwhelm you," she instructed him, making it sound like the agency in the matter was hers, and not his.

She poured reiatsu onto her engine core, increasing its revolutions per minute only modestly, but then shifted up another Gear. She turned part of her attention to the moon jellies in her invisible coral. When she did, they reported back to her on the nature of the current engagement. From their position of safety, they had been able to observe the fight until this point, evaluate, postulate and come to a conclusion. They had analyzed Albin's fighting tactics, his use of reiatsu-based techniques, and his familiarity with his zanpakuto so far. And on that subject, they had some unfortunate news for Nuala.

"Check his soul signature again," one of the jellies prompted Nuala mentally. She did and then reported back to the jellies. 100% Shinigami, and 100% different from the Hollow energy she had detected at the beginning of their encounter. While she tried to figure out why, the convening jellies had already come to the proper conclusion. Nuala had jumped the gun. Regardless of how he'd detected at the beginning of the fight, this was in fact a real Shinigami that she had just beat up. Not a good look for her. Telepathically, their group mind told her as much. They had also deduced a brilliant strategy that should lead to stopping the conflict with the least extra bloodshed. And all it would require from Nuala was an apology and a little cessation of aggressions.

"Shit," Nuala swore, speaking entirely out of left field. If he was a Shinigami, then odds were he was also a Third Seat, just as he had told her. She looked to the side, not letting her guard down, but expressing frustration to herself. "Pfff," she exhaled. "Since when is a Third Seat this weak?" It was a rhetorical question, of course, and asked entirely out of her frustration with the situation she was in.

Her pride demanded this and that, but then again, her pride demanded a lot of things. It was best that it seldom got its way. "I... ugh. Your spiritual signature said you were a Hollow. Entirely Hollow," she explained. She put up her hands in front of her, on either side of her chest while she cast her gaze somewhat downward in chagrin. "It looks like I owe you an apology. So, I apologize for not believing you, Shinigami. And for mopping the grass up with your face."

She hadn't dropped her Engine Core just yet, of course. The viridian glow from her chest repaired the slice in her waist, and she waited for a response from her opponent. Nuala was now prepared to accept the laurels of peace, but that didn't mean her opposite's wounded pride would let him go down without committing to this fight to the end, by now.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool and Battle Data}
Movement: 25 reiatsu, +500 RPM.
Pouring It On: 25 reiatsu, +225 reiatsu, +1000 RPM
Flappy-Paddle: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM, -2000 RPM (5th Gear)
Muladhara Drive: 200 reiatsu, reduce attacks by 1000 OS. Power Band: No knockback.
Svadistahana Drive: 200 reiatsu, -25% tech OS, +12.5% reiatsu regen. Power Band: Class 6, 250 Durability gained with 125 RS effectiveness
Anahata Drive: 200 reiatsu. Healing per post. Power Band: Stamina use suspended.
Waxing Flood-Tide duration: 3/5 posts
Engine Core: 8,500 RPM, 5th Gear
Genius Stamina: 5/6 posts to half-fatigued
Reiatsu regained from Svadisthana: 0
Reiatsu Pool: 2,931/13,750

[Deleted]

As Albin and Kosei Kādo worked to counter Nuala's own blows as best they could, relying almost exclusively on Albin's own drive to survive, he went in for a potentially decisive counterattack against Nuala, looking to finish things before they grew any more problematic. Throwing his sword into her side, and looking to rake upward, the Shinigami found himself unpleasantly surprised as one of those damned fish flew from around her, and intercepted the blow made against her almost perfectly.

Grunting to himself as she cleared some distance between the two of them, Albin took the time to grab the card floating around him, and to throw it into the air, causing it to burst forth into crimson flames. As the card began to spew fire, it remolded and reshaped itself into that of a humanoid construct - a knight, roughly the same height and build as Albin himself. As flames continued to smolder and burn, both Albin and the knight he'd just created assumed similar stances, primed to strike at the girl where necessary.

"You could have made this easy on yourself, but no. You had to struggle. You want to go down swinging, fine. Let's make that happen. You defend yourself, and I'll overwhelm you." Gripping his blade ever tighter, Albin was more than ready to keep up the assault if he needed to. So long as his blood remained in his body, he was not going to stop. Such tenacity was to be expected, given his origins. Nonetheless, he was prepared at a moment's notice to strike. "Don't think for a second I'm going to fall here," he spoke, his voice as calm as he could manage, given his current condition, "I'll fight until my own body falls apart before I extend my own neck like that."

As the two found themselves in a stalemate of sorts, Albin drew two additional cards - two draws pre-planned by himself - and cast them into the air, those two cards being The Tower and the Star. As stardust once again coated over him with the following burst of the cards, Albin took a deep breath and prepared for continual combat. Truth be told, he had no way of making this an easy fight. For every advance he made, it seemed she just pushed him one step back, unwilling to give even a semblance of-

"Shit," she'd said, prompting Albin to tighten his own defenses. Had she made a mistake? Given him an amount of room to continue to fight? It seemed not, as she continued to speak. "Since when is a Third Seat this weak?" Putting two and two together, Albin exhaled softly as his guard lowered. Not enough to be ready to drop the fight altogether, but enough to stop tensing and start relaxing from his own injuries. If need be, he'd be ready to strike again at a moment's notice.

"I... ugh. Your spiritual signature said you were a Hollow. Entirely Hollow." Nodding softly to himself, Albin wordlessly agreed. Seems she wasn't the only person to notice such a problem. Though, what had changed? Something seemed to let up on that, whether he realized it or not. "It looks like I owe you an apology. So, I apologize for not believing you, Shinigami. And for mopping the grass up with your face." That was all he needed to hear. With a soft chuckle, Albin held his sword high toward the sky.

Beneath the both of their feet, a pattern akin to that of the starry night sky once again appeared, albeit briefly, before shining, releasing a wave of purifying reiatsu, and fading away just as quickly as it had appeared. Though, instead of simply affecting only Albin, this same wave washed over Nuala, provided she was willing, and aimed to not only purify her body, mind, and soul of any undesirable complications, but to also restore a fragment of her own spiritual reserves over time.

Giving Nuala a somewhat serene smile, despite the combat that had just occurred, Albin began to speak. "No worries," he spoke, still breathing heavy but not nearly as tense as he was a moment ago, "misunderstandings happen. If nothing else, I'm glad we're both willing to set aside our arms and resolve this peacefully." Much like he'd said, his sword now hung low, his guard nonexistent. If she wanted to capitalize and strike, he likely wasn't going to be able to stop her. Though, he'd wholeheartedly believed her apology.

With a sharp exhaling, Albin dropped down to a crouching position. Given a seat at the moment wasn't exactly something he had easy access to, he was more than willing to just sit down on the ground if it meant he'd be able to take a moment to catch his breath. As he did, and his weapon fell to his side, Albin placed his elbows on his knees, and simply let his arms drape downward.

"Well," he started, "seeing as we're not looking to tear each other apart anymore, I think now is as good a time as ever to talk, no?" Chuckling softly, Albin looked back up toward Nuala. "You already have my name, so if you don't mind, I'd like to ask for yours in turn." Truth be told, he was rather interested in the girl. She seemed to put up one hell of a fight; especially when it came to taking the defensive approach.

Forcing Fortune: The Hanged Man, The Chariot, & Temperance are dead-draws.
Ichi: 2/5.
Planetary Conjunction: 1/3.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Release Information}Shikai Duration: 6/10.
Current Stance: Reversed or Upright.
Reversed Stance Shielding: N/A OS.
Active Cards: The Star & The Tower. Duration 1/3.
Stored Card: N/A.
Stored Alignments: N/A, N/A, N/A. 2 Galactic Alignments.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Normal Reiatsu Pool: 2,260/6,000
-200 for Invocation of Strength.
-160 for Planetary Conjunction.
+480 from Planetary Conjunction.

[Nuala Byrne]

He was willing to parley and cease aggressions. To call a truce and start talking. Nuala took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh of relief, turning off her Muladhara Drive, letting the crimson glow at her root dwindle away into nothing but transparent ripples, and then into nothing. She kept Svadisthana and Anahata active. Not for the heart chakra's healing properties, but because she needed that one going to keep the other going, too. The all-important chakra of creative energy, Svadisthana. A thin, flexible layer of spirit particles continued to form over her body and armor her, and her reiatsu reserves blossomed from the inside.

Taking a few moments to appraise her opposite, Nuala smiled wryly and had a little chuckle to herself, shaking her head. "That was a great fight you put in for, Albin Landry," she admitted. "Toward the end you really had me thinking about how to press for an advantage. I think if we'd gone on much longer, I probably would have had to use one or both of my releases just to get the job done. So y'know, good on you, Third Seat."

She patted her placodermus on the side and her squid on the mantle. "Okay guys, you did good work," she complimented them. "Time to rest for a while, we still have more to do later." The forest green squid slid its blades back into its tentacles and retreated from her shoulders and the armored superpredator swam through the air; both retreated back into the coral horseshoe that floated behind her. Nuala took a few moments to look over Albin, examining him via her sight and energy sense for signs of lingering injury. "Ricardo, you're up!" she exclaimed authoritatively. "We've got battle damage out here."

Another "fish" emerged from the deep green coral inventory. And emerged, and emerged. Fully forty feet long and moss green over his topside, Ricardo the Whale Shark revealed himself to Albin. He flew up above the park and began collecting ambient reiatsu. The woman cleared her throat. "Name's Nuala. Nuala Byrne. I own a tea shop over that way," she explained, jerking her thumb in the direction of the Nonessentia property. "You're the injured party here. I've got some questions, but let's cover yours, first. What do you want to know, Shinigami?"

She took another centering breath and exhaled again, pouring yet more reiatsu onto her Engine Core. This time not for combat, but for a more efficient recovery. She Gear Shifted once more with Flappy Paddle and began to near her peak efficiency for spiritual torque. The new reiatsu pouring outward from her sacral chakra was practically palpable, even for a non-sensor like Albin.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Battle Data}Pouring It On: 25 reiatsu, +500 reiatsu, +2100 RPM
Flappy-Paddle: 150 reiatsu, +500 RPM, -2000 RPM (6th Gear)
Svadistahana Drive: 200 reiatsu, -30% tech OS, +15% reiatsu regen. Power Band: Class 6, 550 Durability gained with 125 RS effectiveness
Anahata Drive: 200 reiatsu. Healing per post. Power Band: Stamina use suspended.
Waxing Flood-Tide duration: 4/5 posts
Engine Core: 9,100 RPM, 6th Gear
Genius Stamina: 5/6 posts to half-fatigued
Reiatsu regained from Svadisthana: 2,062
Reiatsu regained from the Star: 1,100
Reiatsu Pool: 5,018/13,750
Moss Whale Shark reiatsu: 200