Sins of the Father, Part 1: Visitation [R, NDE (DP)]

[Skoll Koryu]

Quest Name: Sins of the Father, Part 1: Visitation

Who can participate?: Soul Society Dwellers (i.e. anyone living in SS at large, including Beast-Clansmen or other beings who might live in SS despite their race.)

Quest Time Frame: Expecting 3+ pages

Quest Setting (NDE/DE): NDE (Treated as DP)

Quest Synopsis:
After the recent invasion by Hell and the massive amount of damage that it has done to Soul Society, it is only natural that all are on guard for signs of another assault. That is why when a signal of Hell-based Reiatsu is noticed in the depths of the wilderness, a group of Shinigami is sent to investigate. Those sent have orders to survey the cause of this Reiatsu, and to assess the threat level. If possible, the originator is to be captured and taken in. If necessary, lethal force is permitted. Soul Society will not allow Hell to get another leg up on them again, not if they can help it. Others may also be drawn to the sudden feeling of Hell energy near them, and may choose to investigate as well. Whether or not they will be helpful or hindering to the Shinigami will be up to them.

Maximum Number of Participants: 3

Overall Goal:
Shinigami: Seek out the source of the Hellish Reiatsu and capture the one generating it if possible. If not, eliminate it.
Others: Find out the cause of this strange Reiatsu, and act as you feel necessary to deal with it.

Number of missions involved: 5 + 1 optional

BASIC Synopsis of each Quest mission:

Note: Objectives are hidden due to spoiler reasons, but listed for the sake of understanding difficulty.

1. Seek out the source of Hell-based Reiatsu. (Easy)
2. Unknown (Easy)
3. Unknown (Medium)
4. Unknown (Hard)
5. Unknown (Optional; Extreme)
6. Unknown (Easy)

Recommended Class for entry: Classes 5-3

[Skoll Koryu]

Skoll knew he was dreaming. It was not the first time he had suffered this dream, and it would certainly not be the last. Darkness spread in every direction, and yet a burning heat suffused the air, leaving him panting in the rising temperatures. Eyes stretched out in every direction, unseen yet felt as their gazes locked upon him. But none of those stares mattered: only one set of eyes earned his attention, and the fixed gaze made him tremble. There was a sense of presence and weight to that stare, and Skoll felt it press down upon him. Glowing red eyes would open against the backdrop of the darkness, looming over him, making the half-demon feel even more insignificant in the presence of this higher being.

Shadows seemed to manifest into long-fingered hands, entwining around his body and binding his limbs, twisting about his body and locking him in place. He had long since learned to stop struggling, lest they tighten and squeeze, leaving him in pain that felt very real despite it being a dream. Instead he let himself fall limp, supported by the shadows tying him down. He was there for hours, or seconds, all time seeming to compress in the darkness and the half-reality of a dream. But when it was long enough, the next part would begin.

Those glowing eyes were matched by a gaping maw, jagged teeth revealed as lips were drawn back into a sardonic grin. A sense of amusement and barely-restrained eagerness washed over Skoll, and the demonic wolf felt his ears tilt back, lowered in the sense of overwhelming bloodlust that seemed to crush down on him. The sense of presence seemed to come closer and closer by the moment, as though whatever smiled wickedly from beyond the shadows was but a hands-breadth away. Those eyes would examine him, analyze him, as if seeking something in particular. And then, like clockwork, Skoll knew what they would say: “Not yet.” And then, the jaws would close in, to awaken him from his nightmare—

“It is time.”

The Nakabakki’s eyes opened wide, and his heart began to beat harder in his chest at the sudden change. This was new, this was different from the nightmare. Always he would awaken after those jaws clamped down on him, their jagged lengths tearing flesh and muscle and leaving him aching in phantom pain even as he sat up in a cold sweat. This time, though, it was different. A massive hand, coated in black fur to match Skoll’s own, swept out from the shadows and grabbed the half-demon, those large fingers grasping around his throat and pinning his muzzle shut too. Skoll immediately felt the air flee his lungs under that crushing grip, and he reached up to try and pry it free. Yet as much as he struggled, he was still held by the shadowy hands that sank into his flesh, binding him in place.

“I have waited long enough. Let us see what you’ve become thus far, my progeny.” A second hand emerged from this shadow, squeezing down on Skoll’s shoulder. A hiss of steam and the smell of cooking flesh rose up as burning pain shot through the Nakabakki, though only a muffled, half-gasped scream rose from his ravaged lungs. That hand retreated as quickly as it had appeared, and the place it had grasped now showed a mark branded into the flesh beneath the fur. A simple affair, an upside-down triangle, it seemed to pulse with its own heat, possessing a beat like a heart of its own.

A sense of satisfaction washed over Skoll from that figure in the shadows, and suddenly, the grip on his face was released, letting him gasp for air. And gasp he did, as the air filling his lungs felt superheated, searing him from the inside out. It was all he could do not to cry out again, yet that only increased the sense of satisfaction that filled the air.

Once again, the figure spoke. “Now go, and show the world what I have wrought...” And with that, Skoll was dismissed, released from the shadows’ grip and left to lie in the darkness. But without the jolting fear to awaken him, all he could do was stare into the blackness for what felt like eternity…

---

Skoll’s eyes opened as he gasped for breath, the night air somehow failing to be a balm for his burning lungs. That pain wasn’t real, of course; it was a lingering phantom of his nightmare, his mind fooling his body. He was fine, there was nothing to worry about: no bruising from the hands that had clutched his body, nor injuries on his throat or muzzle. All of it had been a dream, and the realization of such was enough to drive the remaining hints of pain away. The half-demon lay across a simple bedroll, his blanket thrown aside in the struggle of his nightmares. His claws had rent gouges in his bedding, to his chagrin; he’d have to head back to the Rukongai to trade for a new one. At least he didn’t throw Kido in his sleep, Skoll mused, or there’d be more problems than a few destroyed possessions.

Trying to sit up, Skoll felt oddly dizzy, and a wave of nausea washed over him. For some reason, he felt warm, uncomfortably so; the night air should have been cool, yet the Nakabakki panted in the heat, feeling his vision swim. He felt uncommonly weak, too, and laid back down, staring at the ceiling. What was wrong with him? Was he running a fever? Though he’d been sick before, Skoll had never once felt this off. It was like his body was on fire, heat radiating off of him in waves, a sweltering aura that seemed to sap the energy from his body. After having done so the first time, the half-demon could hardly lift his head off of the pillow again. What was wrong with him?

As he lay there, though, something cut through the haze filling Skoll’s mind: a familiar presence, one filled with malevolent and hateful energy. A touch of brimstone and a flicker of hellfire tinted that energy, and Skoll shuddered. He knew that Reiatsu, or at least the type that he was sensing: it was the mark of a creature from Hell, something Skoll was uncomfortably familiar with, given his own parentage. It was all around him, surrounding him, smothering him. That crushing presence, that Hellish energy, and the feeling of eyes now watching and weighing him could only mean one thing: the realization of his nightmare. It was the last thing he thought before falling back into a wearied, feverish sleep, rolling onto his side with some difficulty.

In his haze, Skoll didn’t notice the marking that was now branded into his shoulder, an upside triangle that glowed the same orange as the lines traced intso the flesh of his arms and shoulders. Instead, one word lingered in his thoughts, a name:

“...Fenrir...”

---

An alert was put out the next morning. Sometime in the night, a signature of Hell Reiatsu had been sensed, and Seireitei was immediately put on its guard. Given the recent invasion, knowledge that another Hell being was nearby, albeit out in the wilderness, was enough to have the Gotei mobilized and organized. At the moment, it was a single signature, and its presence was minor; surely from the sense of it, the creature was no stronger than the many minions that had poured out towards Seireitei. Yet there was no guarantee it wasn’t something more, a presence muffled instead of hidden. It could be a trap just as easily as it could be a loose demon that had gotten away from the invasion and now roamed the wilds.

Unsure of the level of threat, and unwilling to commit high-ranked individuals without further information, a scouting party was put together. The group selected was small, a mere ten individuals in total, the majority of them unseated individuals. Their orders were simple: they were to investigate the source of the Hell Reiatsu, and if possible, capture the target. Barring that possibility, lethal force was permitted, should it come to combat. Further information was laid out: the Reiatsu signature was somewhere in an area that Seireitei was familiar with: a Beast-Clansman tribe had a small settlement there, a collection of tents marking their dwelling area within the territory. The Volsung pack was considered friendly, willing to trade with the Rukongai, and suggested as a point of contact. Once the briefing was over, the Shinigami squad was sent to carry out their orders. It was up to them, now.

Elsewhere, others stirred, drawn by this strange Reiatsu presence. How would they react to it? What would they do? Would they be help or hindrance to the Shinigami squad? Only time would tell.

((OOC: Intro post time! If you are a Shinigami, you will be part of the investigation squad’s ten members, with the remainder being unseated NPCs. Anyone else, feel free to investigate at your own leisure, and interfere or aid as you choose going forward!)

[Tala Selao]

Tala was one of, if not the very first person to volunteer and show up for the investigation team meant to go out to the wilderness and search for the source the Hell reiatsu signature that had been picked up. While Tala's duty as the Second Lead of the Rukongai Expeditionary team dictated that he'd have a had in this and accompany the team, he also personally wanted to go to help make sure that this didn't grow into another incident like the Hell Invasion.

After what he had personally seen during that time, he'd rather not have to go through all of that again, especially if it was another possible threat to the Rukon. So even if the signature was weak and averaged to the less creatures of Hell, Tala wouldn't be taking any chances. He makes sure his ocular lens was working, using it to scan the reiatsu signatures of the group around him and gauge all of their strengths and that his Zanpakuto was fastened tightly to his side. He'd been accompanied by one other member from his team that he knew of and while he didn't know them personally he knew that his position as Second Lead meant he was in charge and responsible for them.

It was an odd feeling, being given such a high position and greater responsibilities and he surely didn't feel like he'd been ready for it but he knew that wouldn't be an acceptable excuse for not stepping up to do his best. So this mission would serve as his first real test not only as an official representative of Squad 3 but as a Lead within his section.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}Type: Perma-Release

Strength: 150
Speed: 170
Spiritual Pressure: 400 (50% Increase) 600
Reiatsu Strength: 200
Healing Expertise: 50
Instinct: 100
Senses: 100
Energy Sensory: 50
------------------
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
------------------
Analyzing 2
Battle Analysis 2
Weapons (Pole Weapons) 1
Acrobatics 1
Heat Tolerance 2
Pain Tolerance 1
Charisma 1

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

[Using TYBW Coupon]

When Zatoshi heard of the impending danger detected in the Rukongai, he could not be stopped from answering the call. This assignment was outside of the scope of his usual duties, but they were taking volunteers. That was all that mattered to him.

When Zatoshi first arrived to the meeting point for the team, he immediately recognized Tala. Their first meeting had been on the field of battle. Zatoshi knew him to be dependable. Zatoshi greeted him with a simple nod then, and was no more talkative as they began their excursion.

His mind was elsewhere. In the wake of the invasion he had hoped that the extent of destruction was confined to the first few districts of the Rukongai. Now he felt uncertain; perhaps there were more hell beasts just outside of Squad 12's scanners, running rampant in the wilderness and through villages. The worry sent his mind home, to his siblings and he walked with that new weight of dread and anxiety dragging at him. It was crushing. He hadn't seen his siblings in months. Was it a fair assessment that he'd abandoned them?

---

Zatoshi Kizukara, Class 3/Rank 1 Shinigami
Perma-release

STRENGTH - 200
SPEED - 300
RS - 50
SPR - 600
INSTINCT - 200
SENSES - 100
ES - 50

--

Skills
MENTAL
Lack of Fear - II
Strength of Will - II

BATTLE
Martial Arts: Bogyote - II
Zanjutsu - II
Battle Focus - II
Battle Analysis - II
Pain Tolerance - II

BODY
Acrobatics - I

[Rafael]

Moving over the mountain side for the thousandth time Rafael’s massive paws address their weight onto some of the same stone that they’d met in the past. The way he moved down the side of his home always had him question whether or not he was going to fall down. Even when he and the others had first found this mountain top it’d seemed almost impossible that these stones supported his weight. Since then though he had accomplished a bulk up in size. No longer the thin but muscular beast, now a symbol of pure muscle covered in beautiful pitch fur. Early in the morning as it was though Rafael had a reason to be leaving the Outcasts in Zadora’s hands.

He wasn’t really sure what he was feeling, it was something nagging at the back of his spine. Almost like one of the pieces to his spine itself was telling him something. All he could tell though was he had to move to the South slightly. A direction that Zadora and him didn’t hunt in too often as the Volsung Pack was in that direction only a couple of miles or so. Although he hadn’t met most of the members, he did know one of them. An acquaintance known as Skoll, the only Beast that Rafael had met in his several years who could match his own fur in pitch.

Something was going on and although he wasn’t sure why he had a feeling this sensation was because of the ebony wolf.

[Skoll Koryu]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Using the TYBW Coupon for this thread.}Name: TYBW Double TP Coupon

Effect: Made to celebrate the continuation of the Bleach anime with the TYBW arc, this coupon can be used on any thread started on or after October 10th, 2022, and is valid until January 1st, 2023. When used, it will double the TP reward of the thread, up until the most recent completed page (adventures/quests) or post (other) if the thread is not finished by January 1st. This is a one-time item.

“Goddamn, this sucks...”

Skoll leaned weakly against a large boulder that sat near his tent, his head hanging down to rest on his chest. Though he’d managed to reclaim some sleep from the night before, the half-demon still felt exceptionally weary. His head was pounding, a constant and throbbing ache that left him feeling nauseous, and he definitely felt feverish, like he was wrapped in a burning haze. Worse, he felt the sickness, or whatever it was, even deep in his soul. With what little understanding he had of Reiatsu from his own experimentation and observation of Shinigami doing their thing, Skoll thought of it like a roiling sea, too unstable and wild to tame at the moment. That sucked doubly; practicing the few abilities he’d learned would at least have been nice to take is mind off of his illness, but a sickness of the body and soul made even that impossible. Fuck.

The Nakabakki’s modest senses caught the sound of footsteps approaching, and he’d look up to see Odin approaching, a look of concern on the older wolf’s face. Gray-furred to Skoll’s black, Odin stood taller than even the Nakabakki, topping just over eight feet in height. Unlike many Beast-Clansman, the alpha of the Volsung pack was built moderately, possessing narrower shoulders and a longer, narrower look to his build. Few let that fool them, however, as the leader of the pack did not claim that position by anything less than raw strength, proven again and again whenever a challenge for leadership came to him. Odin was far stronger than his appearance let on, and combined with almost a full century of experience, was considered to be exceptionally cunning as well as wise.

At the moment, though, an unusual expression was visible on Odin’s face, a mixture of concern as well as something unreadable, almost scrutinizing. “Are you feeling well, Skoll?”

Skoll gave a grunt, pushing himself to his feet with some difficulty. “It’s just some damn bug, I’m fine. Just gotta let it work itself out.” It took everything he had to keep his legs from trembling, another wave of weakness washing over him as he stood. “Look, I know you think you’re my fuckin’ keeper, but I can handle my own damn self, so leave off.” Skoll started to walk off, to head out into the wilderness to cool his head for a bit, but a powerful paw grabbed onto his shoulder, stopping him in place. A glance over his shoulder showed Odin restraining him, and that grip would not be broken no matter what Skoll tried.

“You’re unwell. Retire to your tent, and I’ll send someone with some food. Rest for now.” The words were mild, but the command behind them was obvious. Skoll thought about arguing, but another wave of dizziness and heat washed over him, and his shoulder ached for a moment. All he was going to do by heading out of the encampment was find somewhere away from his pack to pass out, and that wouldn’t do him any good. Instead, the half-demon just snarled disdainfully. “Hmph, I just didn’t want to be called a ‘lazy wastrel,’ you old fleabag. Fine, I’ll go and get some rest, but you better fucking not complain about me later.” With that, the Nakabakki stalked back off to his own tent—barely concealing the staggering exhaustion that overtook him in doing so—and disappeared inside.

Watching, Odin waited until Skoll’s tent was closed and raised his hand in a quick signal. Two more of the Volsung males, closer to Skoll in height but far more muscular, approached at his command, and listened quietly to his orders. “See to it that Skoll doesn’t leave his tent, and call the Speakers. We need to decide what to do before others show up.”

The two gave a nod of assent, and were off on their tasks. Odin continued to watch the tent where Skoll was resting, and gave a soft sigh. “I hope that this… strange feeling is not a sign of things to come...”

---

Two different groups were now making their way through the wilderness, each going for their own reasons. From Seireitei, the Shinigami scouting group would be departing in the mid-afternoon and heading towards the west. As a unit, it was to be led by Tala Selao by merit of overall position, with Zatoshi Kizukara to serve as his second and adviser thanks to his own experience as a member of Squad 3. Eight more Shinigami followed them, all unseated soldiers who would follow their command and serve as a combat unit should a need for combat arise. Notable among them were Izuchi Kana, a member of the Kido Corps, who was known for his expert use in Bakudo to bind and capture targets, and Saya Roken, a healer from Squad 4 who had been sent along to ensure the party’s health. The others were either volunteers or chosen for general combat prowess, possessing no notable abilities but still formidable enough to hold their own.

With their late departure, the Shinigami would find themselves on a course to stop overnight in the south-western wilderness, about two-thirds of the way towards the Volsung Pack’s current territory, with the intent to arrive early the next day to begin their investigation of the area, starting with a questioning of the Beast-Clansman pack involving anything they might have noticed or discovered on their own. From there, a general sweep and scouting would follow. Each Shinigami had been given a basic set of tools to work with: aside from Hell Butterflies for long-distance communications both between squad members and Seireitei, they had also been outfitted with two signal flares apiece intended to serve as a quick beacon, releasing a pulse of Reiatsu that would alert anyone within a half-mile radius once activated.

The trip itself was mostly uneventful; few beings in the wilderness wanted to bother a full group of Shinigami, and while the occasional Hollow did make its way into the areas outside of the Rukongai, they did not encounter any. The wilderness itself was not terribly different from that in the World of the Living, with dense trees and foliage requiring some work to traverse—when a Zanpaktou wasn’t re-purposed into a machete for clearing the way—and the constant background sounds of animals keeping silence from gathering. Though some of the Shinigami knew each other, they were a disparate group from numerous squads and thus most lacked any major relationships among them; conversations were hushed and infrequent, most choosing to focus on the mission.

By the time night fell, they had not only reached their intended stopping point, but had gotten there quickly enough to set up camp for the night. Tents were set up for those who chose to use them—there were at least a few who were fine sleeping under the stars, with it being a clear sky—and each attended to their own needs for food and similar. The clearing that had been chosen in advance was well-lit, the sky above open and the full moon shining down on them. A fire crackled in a firepit that showed signs of infrequent but repeated use, the pit itself slightly scorched and the stones covered by a light layer of lichen that was burned off on the inside. The sounds of insects chirruping in the night added to the feeling of comfort and relaxation, a calm night before the storm. Before bed, a guard was set, and the rest settled into their bedrolls.

In the morning, they were only nine.

No one had sensed anything in the night, no one had felt any strange Reiatsu, or heard any sounds. There were no footprints visible, or anything else that might have indicated that the environment was disturbed. Yet one of their number, the one who had taken the last shift of guard duty for the evening, was missing. Not a trace of a struggle. Something had happened in the night. Now, it was up to the remaining nine, led by the two officers, to figure out how best to proceed: did they look for their missing comrade, or continue on their mission? That feeling of Hell Reiatsu was still there, and to those who could sense it, it seemed to quiver and pulse, as if enticing them. What would they do?

---

Comparative to the Shinigami squad, Rafael was much closer to the Volsung pack’s territory, which bordered his own pack’s. Familiar with one of their clansmen—though the relationship was an interesting one, to be sure—the panther had never actually visited the clan’s encampment that served as a half-temporary settlement. Still, it was not hard to find, and as the day faded into late afternoon, he’d arrive at the edge of the encampment.

One thing notable about the Volsung clan compared to many other Beast-Clansman packs was their general level of civilization. While they weren’t on par with Seireitei and its Shinigami, the pack often traded with the outer Rukongai with the occasional supplies gathered from Squads 4 and 12 based on needs. As a result, they seemed a halfway step between the more feral Beast-Clansmen and the civilized souls of the human region. A wall of stakes that sat waist-high was thick enough to prevent anyone from simply charging in, and surrounded a large collection of tents that varied in size, set around the enclosure. Not permanent enough to be called a village, able to be packed up on a moment’s notice and relocated, the settlement was yet large enough to contain a number of families over multiple generations.

Two guards sat on their haunches before one opening in the encampment’s barrier, tossing a collection of knucklebones and dice in some game unique to the Volsung tribe. A male and a female, the former stood as tall as Rafael easily, even if he did not match the panther in bulk, and his outfit was a long fur kilt that hung past his knees, as well as a pair of leather straps that looped over his shoulders and then connected across the back, carrying a pack with a longbow secured beside it. Bands of leather were visible on each of the lupine’s wrists, and a quiver hung from a loop of leather at his waist, secured across his kilt. The female, comparatively, wore a furred but sleeveless blouse that gathered above the waist, as well as a pair of pouches at her waist in place of the male’s quiver, but otherwise she was garbed similarly to her counterpart.

The two would notice Rafael’s approach and stand quickly, the male drawing his bow from across his back and stringing it with a practiced ease, the natural strength of a Beast-Clansman enough to bend the bowstave and draw the string back casually despite the weapon’s size. The female was unarmed, by the look of it, yet one hand went to a pouch at her waist, as if ready to draw something from it. Both were ready to fight at the sight of another strange Beast-Clansman, one they didn’t known, but neither made a move to actually strike. Instead, the female called out to Rafael. “Who are you? Why come to the Volsung territory?”

[Tala Selao]

Tala had spoken very little during the first day of their trip, unless he was actually approached by any of the others and he did give Zatoshi and the others the occasional smile if their eyes ever landed on him. Some form of reassurance that he didn't totally think he was incompetent and nervous about his leading position when it came to all this. He had a sinking feeling in his gut about this whole situation, although that is not saying much as he always has a bad feeling and is constantly doubting himself. Yet he did his best to appear calm and collected for the others. He was thankful to have Zatoshi here with him, very aware of how capable the man was and especially how powerful his Shikai was, although unaware that a large-scale battle like they were in during the Hell Invasion was most favorable for Zatoshi's abilities.

With how quiet the first day of travel had been, Tala had been hoping that they'd be able to make it to their destination with no issues the entire way and that the source of the reiatsu would be nothing of real big concern, just one of the lower hellions that had managed to escape from the main battlefield the other day. Yet of course, that would was just him being a little bit too hopeful as he realizes their mistake when they woke up to find their companion was gone. A sense of dread, guilt and regret fills him as he immediately blames himself for whatever has happened to their ally. he glances around the immediate vicinity and then returns his attention to the rest of the group, knowing that they were most likely waiting for his word on how to proceed.

He wasn't going to leave this poor soul out here but he they were most likely on a time crunch here. He could have them all individually begin searching the area out to a certain radius but that would be unwise if they were to run into any trouble and of course, Captain Tsuyoshi has made it very known to all members of Squad 3 that they'd always be traveling in at least groups of two. He should have applied that same logic to night watches as well but sadly it ended up having to be a lesson learned. He sighs and then glances to Zatoshi, finally coming up with a plan, "Zatoshi, I want you to take Izuchi and Saya and begin searching this half of the clearing for any clues and I'll take these other two to search the other half. If we don't find anything then we'll take our groups and combs through the surrounding forest in a half mile radius. If we don't find anything by then, then we'll just have to hope we can find him on the way back."

As much as it hurt him to say it, he knew that if they spent anymore time searching or spread themselves out too far then there's a higher chance of something happening, either with their original mission or with whatever happened to their ally. He takes the remaining two shinigami that had volunteered and begins moving to search their half of the clearing before he stops and turns to glance at Zatoshi and his group, "Don't do anything rash. Remember what our original goal is out here and if you run into trouble, try and retreat as safely as possible as well as doing what you can to alert us." He doesn't turn away until he gets some sort of conformation from the trio, mainly Zatoshi, his fellow squad member. 

Once he had that, he nods and goes to search his half of the clearing, combing through it slowly and paying attention to each and every detail as he moves. He also makes use of his own reiatsu sensing skills along with the scanner in his lens to scan the tree lines as they move closer to them to see if he could possibly spot or sense anyone lurking out there as they moved forward.

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi had kept to himself for the day's journey. His thoughts ate at him and as they progressed ever closer to the source of the hell energy his anticipation of the worst-case scenario rose. He hardly slept, even when not on watch. In the morning the dark bags under his eyes betrayed his state, haggard and distant. That all faded when it was discovered they were missing someone from their number. The anxiety gave way to an urgent focus, a sharpness that all of that energy was swiftly absorbed in. His mind finally able to latch onto the external rather than the internal, he was required as a warrior and at once he was present and capable.

"Zatoshi, I want you to take Izuchi and Saya and begin searching this half of the clearing for any clues and I'll take these other two to search the other half. If we don't find anything then we'll take our groups and combs through the surrounding forest in a half mile radius. If we don't find anything by then, then we'll just have to hope we can find him on the way back."

"I understand. We will move out immediately." Zatoshi said, before nodding to his companions. "Izuchi, Saya. Stay abreast of me as we move but keep your spacing. Maintain a direct line of sight between me and your counterpart at all times, and shout if you see anything. You're looking for broken twigs with bright, sharp inner wood, or trampled foilage that is still green." Zatoshi had experience in being tracked. He had learned the hard way how his pursuers kept his trail. He also knew that it was important that the team spread out to cover more ground, but that maintaining accountability of the remaining team members was of the utmost importance. He turned to take his companions off from the campsite but stopped as he was addressed once more.


"Don't do anything rash. Remember what our original goal is out here and if you run into trouble, try and retreat as safely as possible as well as doing what you can to alert us."

Zatoshi digested this. He realized he couldn't make any promises and turned. "I don't know if we have time to discuss strategy, Selao, but you must reconsider. If we encounter anyone strange in this forest, an attempt has to be made to capture them. Any enemy we stumble across may have time-sensitive information on our fellow's whereabouts. If my team comes across anyone we will immediately move to apprehend them. I will find a way to signal you for aid. I would suggest you do the same, Izuchi's talents in bakudo could prove indispensable for this task."

His words were not meant to usurp Tala's authority. Zatoshi only knew that this was the best course of action in his eyes, and that allowing someone who had information about the disappearance to potentially escape could mean that their shinigami was never found. He could only offer Tala his honest counsel, and regretted that he couldn't offer it more privately, away from the other team members. He hoped that Tala could take it in stride.

[Rafael]

Getting to the Volsung area didn’t take long, only about thirty minutes of constant walking although finding the actual place the pack itself called home took a bit longer for Rafael. He’d only learned of them through his interactions with Skoll. In truth it’d been quite awhile since he’d seen the ebony wolf. Rafael had to wonder if this feeling he was still experiencing down his spine meant something bad had happened to his acquaintance. Skoll and him hadn’t been through enough yet for Rafael to consider him a friend, but he would help him all the same because he knew Skoll despite everything would have his back.

One question though was eating at him that didn’t have to do with anything other than his own appetite. “I wonder how much stronger he’s become, I wonder if others are on his level or . . . could they be on another level.” Rafael questions his eager love for combat feasting. The sight of the pack gave him a small surprise. If he didn’t know any better he’d believe it to be a small village built by souls like those that followed him. The humans fed up with the Shinigami that couldn’t live under them any longer. To think Beasts like him had built such a good encampment. Perhaps relying on the tall stone walls of his mountain wasn’t all he could do.

Walking up to the two guards that he could see Rafael stood firm believing that there didn’t need to be hostility here. They’d lived near one another for quite awhile now. Although he wasn’t certain Skoll would have told his alpha or others about him and his small pack. The two guards moved with ease although what he saw was a little surprising. The both of them appeared to rely on weapons. Something he hadn’t really seen from Beasts before with the exception of maybe those that worked as Shinigami.

The longbow wasn’t something he would have ever expected although he was certain with the size of the male matching up to his own, that the arrow would fly quite strong. The female, ravishing in appearance, had her hand in a pouch at her side. A horn or maybe some stones that she was good at throwing? The only two ideas that Rafael could think of at the moment. Once asked why he was here though Rafael turned and looked both in the eyes. “Rafael is my name. I come to see Skoll. Strange feeling since I woke up.”

[Skoll Koryu]

Yes, mold it, shape it… this pathetic creature shall never attain true strength, but at my hands, it will become more...

Clawed fingers seized flesh, tugging at it and pulling it in a manner that should have torn skin. Yet it yielded, stretching like loose putty in that black-furred grip, taking on a new appearance. Digits stretched, elongated into jagged points like fragmented stalactites, while the jaw took on a new shape, filled with many more teeth. Those teeth were made into jagged monstrosities, meant not just to pierce, but to brutalize and aggravate injuries. Limbs were lengthened, the core strengthened, a length of flesh from the tailbone made into a proper fleshy length that was coated with flesh-colored spikes that were hard as steel. Each motion brought out tortured screams, the sounds guttural and broken from a jaw that was no longer made to project speech.

Yes, excellent… this will make a worthwhile entertainment for now, I’d think... Blazing red eyes seemed to glow in the depths of the forest trees, and they slowly turned towards the encampment that was only a short distance off. And to think, all of this to mold him into something even more delicious...

“Now go, beast, and prepare to devour those who would serve as game for me!”

---

Their discussion done, Zatoshi and Tala would go their own ways, sweeping out around the edges of the clearing to search for any hints of what had befallen their comrade. Initially, there was nothing – any disturbed ground had been done so by them, and there were no markings on the trees or the outlying brush. As far as anyone could tell, the camp itself had gone completely undisturbed. There were no traces of the guard’s footprints, either; there were none indicating that he had left the track that he had been pacing in. It was as though the man had simply ceased to exist at a set moment, but it was hard to deduce specifically when that happened thanks to his footprints constantly overlapping.

However, there was one clue, in the end. As their search started to go out into the forest, one of the other Shinigami raised an alert. “Hey, over here! It’s faint, but…” He’d beckon the two officers over to one side of the clearing, and then lead them a few steps out into the forest. “Right here. I felt… something, a faint presence. A Reiatsu signature. It’s easy to miss with the other beacon nearby, especially because it’s also Hell Reiatsu.” Both officers would sense something, a faint tickle of Reiatsu; their ability to sense it was average at best, but being practically on top of it helped differentiate it from the other signature that had been the source of their investigation.

Tracing it would show it coming from above and in the direction of the clearing, and a further investigation would show very light gouges in the upper branches. Something had been up there, briefly, and had stepped so lightly it barely left a trace. Though it was tricky to follow, they were also able to determine that it had originated above the camp, started downwards… and then disappeared. It reappeared a short distance away, near the treetop where they had found the gouge mark, and then vanished into the forest. They had a trail now, faint as it was, and only by staying in close proximity could they detect it at all.

Interestingly enough, the trail led in the direction of the initial beacon, and if followed, would lead straight towards the Volsung encampment…

---

At the mention of Skoll’s name, the expression on the male wolf’s face changed to something of disdain. “Bah, that weakling. He owe you something?” His bow remained drawn, an arrow nocked at Rafael’s face, and he seemed unlikely to back down. “Leave it be. Fool causes problems everywhere. Don’t know why Odin tolerates him.” The wolf just growled at Rafael, standing taller, as if to challenge his intent to continue forward.

Comparatively, the female looked mildly curious, eyes tracing the tall panther’s form as if attempting to identify him. A shift would show some kind of yellowish powder filled the bag at her waist, but Rafael wouldn’t be able to identify it at a glance. After a moment she spoke to her companion. “Bjorn. Go inform Odin of our visitor.” Clearly better-spoken than the other wolf, there were still a few stumbles that suggested an imperfect mastery of the human tongue. “Tell him the reason this visitor is here. Exact words. Ask him what to do.” Bjorn seemed unhappy with the command, but a glare from the female got him moving. It was clear who was higher in the hierarchy here.

“While we wait, sit with me.” The female wolf offered a spot on the ground next to her. “I am Tove. You have given the name Rafael. Tell me, Rafael, how you know Skoll and what you know about him.”[/font]

[Tala Selao]

Tala had no real care for whether his "authority" was questioned by Zatoshi or not as he only wanted his fellow Shinigami to be safe and cautious as they searched for their missing companion. So while he wasn't bother by how Zatoshi's word could be seen as question his authority he was bothered and concerned by what they implied from Zatoshi. While he understood where his fellow squad mate was coming from he was more concerned about something potentially happening to them.

However Tala didn't attempt to argue any further, or at least didn't show that Zatoshi's words had bothered him for now as he simply nodded and carried on with their sweep of the clearing and of the forest. As they searched Tala had found it quite odd at the lack of any evidence of what had happened to their fellow Shinigami. Between their being no signs of any intruder stalking at the edges of the clearing and the way the guards footprints suddenly disappearing, Tala's mind was slowly starting to wrap around a theory before it was suddenly interrupted by the sounds of someone finally finding something.

Tala quickly made his way over and sure enough, as their companion had informed them he too felt the faintest hints of the Hellish Reiatsu. What's even more so interesting was the way the branches had been disturbed, which now solidified the hunch he'd been forming earlier. Whatever had come and taken their teammate in the dead of night had been moving by the trees at the very least and possibly capable of flight as well. He gives a quick glance to Zatoshi as he realizes that the signature was heading in the same direction they were and only gives Zatoshi one serious look before he takes the lead, heading towards the Volsung camp.

Whatever this was, they needed to trek even more carefully now and keep their eyes peeled for any other signs. He just hoped that they wouldn't be getting there too late to save their companion. There was also the worry that whatever this was that the Volsung might be fully aware of it and helping whatever this creature was and if that was the case then this mission may become a lot more complicated if so. There were so many worries on Tala's mind and he could only hope that his captain had chosen correctly when he put him in this position of leadership becomes it seems the time to test if that were true or not was quickly approaching.

[Rafael]

For the moment it seemed like the male wolf with his bow was going to attack, something that Rafael wasn’t here to do although the prospect of exchanging against another Beast his own size was exciting. What he said about Skoll though brought an expression of displeasure to his maw, although he wasn’t doing it intentionally it was the look a friend would have when listening to someone speak ill of them. Rafael, despite being a Beast, had grown enough that he had quite a bit more control over the emotions that swirled within his soul, enough that he kept what he wanted to say in response to this wolf within his chest. Standing tall and firm though he wouldn’t leave until seeing Skoll, the strange feeling he was getting hadn’t gone away which meant he still had to figure it out.

Rafael would truly start to seem like a Beast of few words as his colorless gray eyes stare back at the male wolf before turning to look at the female when she begins to speak. After the male by the name of Bjorn left to seek out who Rafael could only assume to be the leader of this pack, Rafael turns his attention to the female. She hadn’t really shown him any aggression as he could understand her reflex, Sitting to wait for the arrival or word from Odin was something Rafael had no issue with, although sitting next to the wolf was almost like a full grown man sitting beside a large child. Nothing he wasn’t used to though, the female wolf was a bit bigger than Zadora, but not by much and nearly as pretty. He’d have to be careful not to lose focus.

“Hello, Tova. I meet Skoll . . awhile ago. He come near my pack, we fight, talk. I think we are friends. He’s very angry, not super strong, but quick. His daggers hurt a lot more than claws.”

[Skoll Koryu]

((OOC: For the sake of keeping things moving, I’m going to go ahead and progress things on a once-per-week basis at latest. Anyone who is skipped is welcome to catch up in their next post as needed.))

As Tala considered the situation and how best to handle it, a loud crash would draw his attention. Though distant, he could see leaves scattering and dust rising off in the direction that the trail was leading them. Another crash was met with a loud, gurgling scream, one that was inhuman in nature and sounded nothing like anything the Shinigami had heard before. This time the sound was closer, as though it were approaching, and the sound of branches snapping and brush being uprooted was enough to give Tala ample warning before the thing suddenly charged into the clearing that they had camped in the night before.

It was an abomination, whatever it was. A human-like head was distorted and wrong, its jaws stretched out into a crocodile’s elongated jaw, with two rows of teeth that extended beyond the edges of its mouth. More than half of the teeth looked wrong, discolored and flesh-toned, yet glistened with sharp edges that would doubtlessly cut through flesh. Its eyes were stretched back as well into horizontally-long ovals with emerald-green pupils that seemed to constantly excrete some kind of liquid down the sides of its face. The creature had no ears, lumps of flesh forming bumpy ridges along the sides of its head.

The monster’s body was almost human, except that its proportions were nothing like a human’s; the torso was top-heavy, with extra width to the shoulders leading into incredibly distended limbs, the arms long enough to reach the ground even when it was standing at its full height. Each hand was tipped with fingers as long as a human’s forearm, and each digit ended in jagged, broken claws with multiple points. The legs were similar, bent backwards at the knee much like an animal’s, and its feet ended in leathery masses with long, taloned nails sticking out where the toes would be. Its body was draped in black, almost like fur, but that fur fluttered about like cloth as the wind whipped at its body.

Those eyes locked on the Shinigami, and for a moment the creature would freeze, staring at them, startlingly silent for a moment. That was only a moment, however, and soon it let out a loud cry. “Aaaaaaurrrrrrrrrrrssss!” One of those long limbs lashed out at a nearby tree, and the trunk splintered apart at the impact. The tree crumbled at the strike, falling over with its lower section removed, and another crash filled the air from its impact. “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaurrrrrrsssss!” Whatever this monster was, it was incredibly strong, and it seemed like it was anything but friendly.

Tala had only moments if he wanted to act before the creature struck.

Quest Objective #2 Unlocked: Defeat the Abomination (Easy).

SPOILER: Click to show

{Abomination Stats}The Abomination is a Soldier Type, Class 4, Rank 1.

Strength – [(400 x 1.5)] (600) Points

Speed – [250] (250) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [150] (150) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [100 x 0.7] (70) Points

Light Aura - [50] Points

Dark Aura - [50] Points

Instinct – [150] (150) Points

Senses – [150] (150) Points

Energy sensory – [0] (0) Points

Healing Expertise – [0] (0) Points


Total SP: 1100 Points

---

“...I see.” Odin looked thoughtful, but troubled, as Bjorn reported to him, just as he had been ordered. “This is troubling, if others are being drawn to it.” The older wolf turned to the others gathered around him, two older Beast-Clansmen who, with Odin, formed the leading council in the Volsung’s affairs. Though Odin was the alpha of the pack, he had discovered wisdom in the Shinigami ways of unified decision-making and approaching problems from multiple angles, and so had chosen his two closest rivals for leadership to provide their views. The three had been in discussion when Bjorn had entered, and none of them were pleased with the situation.

“Go tell our visitor that Skoll is unwell, and will not be receiving guests at the moment. If he insists, drive him away.” Odin’s words were firm, but he had reason; a few among the Volsung tribe could detect spiritual energy, and had since mentioned the strange, almost angry feeling coming off of Skoll, much stronger than usual, and much more dangerous. It was best to keep outsiders away while they decided what to do with the half-demon that lived among them, knowing full well the risk he created simply by being there. Maybe reaching out to the Shinigami might be a better choice, he mused. They might know what was going on, if they hadn’t already dispatched someone to the area.

Bjorn was dismissed with a wave of Odin’s paw, and the wolf quickly retreated to deliver the response.

---

“Tove, dark one. Tove.” The words were spoken with a patience tinted perhaps with amusement as the female wolf settled to the ground, not quite sitting but crouched down low, her knees nearly to the ground but her legs seemingly tensed, ready to leap up in a moment’s notice as needed. “We did not think Skoll could have friends. His temper, his… disabilities. His self-hate. As you say, he has a lot of anger. Might even deserve to have it.” Tove seemed troubled for a moment, a frown crossing her face, before responding. “Many believe he doesn’t belong here. Do you?” It was a rhetorical question, one that didn’t expect an answer, but it hung in the air between them.

A minute later, Bjorn came running out of the encampment at a steady, loping pace, having delivered his message. He stopped smoothly, his breathing even – he hadn’t rushed, but had simply done his task and returned. “Odin says weakling Skoll unwell, no guests. You leave now.” The reply given, he stood at his full height, easily matching Rafael’s, and crossed his arms in a defiant gesture. “Odin give permission to drive you off. Would not mind wringing neck.”

“Bjorn.” Tove’s voice suddenly cut in, her tone sharp. “We Volsung show respect and dignity. You shame our pack.” Bjorn lowered his ears, and remained silent, but refused to lower his head or relax his posture. His body language still spoke of confrontation. Tove shook her head at him, and then turned to Rafael. “Odin speaks for the pack, friend. No guests; you have been asked to leave. Please do not cause trouble.”

“Oh no, please do. I’d love to see what I can make of you.” The words came from behind Rafael, and both Volsung wolves turned in surprise, shocked by the new voice.

A much larger creature stood over all three of them, even taller than the two males. Lupine in form like the Volsung Beast-Clansmen, that was where all similarities ended. Dark black fur wreathed the looming monster, but flames seemed to dance across his fur and flesh in the form of angled runes. Though foreign, they seemed to speak of death, hardship, and suffering. Alchemical symbols of sulfur, arsenic, and flame spoke of fire and heat, of crucibles to burn, melt, and forge, of creation and destruction. Glowing red eyes matched those burning runes, set against sclera black as shadow. Curved horns angled upward from the wolf’s brow, curling back behind his ears like a ram’s.

Tall and long of body, the wolf possessed surprising musculature, large in form as well as height. A crude wrap of fabric was tied about his waist, hanging to his knees, leaving his upper body bare. Leather straps studded with jagged and pointed spikes bound his forearms from wrist to elbow, as well as his lower limbs from knee to ankle. A metal collar with no visible seams was bound about his neck, and from a ring on its back, a long chain hung nearly to the ground.

But it was the feeling that would draw attention. Much like the sense of wrongness, of something oppressive and dangerous that was coming from nearby, this sensation was so much stronger. There was hatred and rage and bloodlust and sadistic glee, all twisted into a hateful and malicious aura that seemed to shroud the figure. Those red eyes seemed to light up as a grin split those lupine jaws, a maddening smile of pleasure that came only with the thrill of hunting helpless prey.

Immediately Bjorn reacted, and he pulled his bow up, the powerful length bending reluctantly even to a Beast-Clansman’s strength. An arrow fired from that would be absolutely devastating! Yet even as he stepped back, the wolf-like creature had already moved, dashing past Rafael and Bjorn in a single, fluid step motion. But he had not simply moved; one large paw had grasped Bjorn by the head, and that paw seemed to have an oily, liquid sheen to it. Claws dug into the Beast-Clansman’s head, but didn’t pierce flesh; instead, they seemed to sink in, like they were digging into clay or putty. Then the monster gave a twist of its wrist, a powerful flick that caused Bjorn’s head to jerk around enough to completely face backwards.

There was no crack of bone, no tearing of flesh. The wolf didn’t even let out a sound of pain, nor did his breathing seem to alter. He gasped in surprise, even with his head literally facing backwards, neck twisted at an ugly angle, yet he stood despite that, seemingly unharmed despite what should have been a mortal wound. Bjorn dropped his bow, and reached up with both hands shaking towards his twisted head. “What… what did… what is this…?”

The monster just grinned, releasing Bjorn’s head and rubbing at its chin. “Mm, different, but hardly my most inspired work. I could have more fun with you yet. We could make a real monster out of you, puppy.” A paw would grab at Bjorn’s arm, still slicked in that oily substance, and with a yank, the wolf’s arm would be bent completely backwards, opposite his elbow’s normal direction. Yet again, there was no sound of injury or pain, just a seamless transformation of the Beast-Clansman’s limb. “Hahaha, this one might just be art, a sign of how, say backwards you wretches are!”

He was interrupted by Tove suddenly lunging at him, yet her efforts were as futile as Bjorn’s; the monstrous beast caught her out of the air with ease, and his powerful grip squeezed around the female’s throat. This hand, however, seemed completely unchanged, and the compression on Tove’s neck was the same as if Rafael had been squeezing the life out of her: brutal and merciless. Yet before she could break, the monster simply hurled the Beast-Clansman woman away, towards the encampment. “Sorry, wench, but I’ve had a taste of your kind already, and I’ve no desire for more progeny by you. You’ll have to settle for telling your leader to bring me my whelp!”

Turning as if he’d just noticed Rafael, the monster just grinned. “Unless you think you want to try and stop me, pussycat?”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Monster’s Stats}The Unknown Monster is a Freak Type, Class 1, Rank 4.

Strength – [(400 x 2.75)] (1100) Points

Speed – [300] (300) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [(350 x 0.5)] (175) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [(400 x 2.5)] (1000) Points

Light Aura - [0] Points

Dark Aura - [100] Points

Instinct – [(200 x 0.66)] (133) Points

Senses – [150] (150) Points

Energy sensory – [(100 x 2.25)] (225) Points

Healing Expertise – [0] (0) Points


Total SP: 1900 Points

[Rafael]

Talking with this female wolf was a pleasant little bit of time, it wasn’t often that Rafael came across other Beasts, especially not those that didn’t just want to try and prove themselves tougher than him. He couldn’t remember a time that he wasn’t challenged just due to his height. Now that he’d filled out, obtaining muscle mass that he would have deemed impossible or downright freakish as a human. Well challenges were something he was used to by virtually everyone now. The only exception usually came from friends or those like the souls he’d rescued and now looked to him as their guardian.

Listening to what Tove had to say though wasn’t something that pleased Rafael, the way that she spoke about Skoll was something he found to be wrong. Wrong enough that when she was finished with what she had to say about him Rafael looked her in the eyes and spoke with a tone far more serious than normal. “No, one deserves to be hated for living. Skoll angry at everything yes. Part of that is cause you treat him different. You hate him for being different? No different than Shinigami who hate us for being us.” Although Rafael didn’t know the whole story about Skoll he knew enough about him and what he’d been told about this pack to know there was little friendship between him and them. He’d only met the outside guards so far though so judging all of them would have to wait.

Bjorn getting back to the entrance was something Rafael could hear like Tove more than likely as Bjorn didn’t hide his approach at all coming back like a wandering Buffalo. Standing back up to his full height Rafael made sure not to show any signs of aggression although he could feel the opposite coming off Bjorn right away. Remaining quiet, Rafael weighed his options at the moment while Tove condemned Bjorn for his manners. “Getting through him wouldn’t be much of a challenge, Trove has something though. I don’t want to hurt her nor make an enemy of this pack. I must figure out what’s going on with Skoll though.” Rafael keeps his thoughts to himself as he remains unflinching and then as he takes a step forward with the decision in mind to passively assert himself, he experiences a cold chill climbing up his spine.

Turning at the words that were then spoken Rafael like Bjorn and Tove would witness the figure of the Beast that just spoke. Rafael though right away didn’t quite understand what he was looking at, this didn’t seem to be a Beast while at the same time appearing almost like the very wolves near him. His fur was dark like his own yet riddled with markings that held no significance to Rafael. The fire that seemed to dance off his fur brought Zadora’s Yaseishin to the forefront of his mind although how he could possess something like hers not to mention with an element like fire, well that made no sense to the panther. The horns didn’t match what Beast he seemed to be though, this one didn’t have a white mask either so it wasn’t a Hollow. “Something new?” Rafael had to question within the confines of his own mind.

Bjorn panicked though, Rafael could hear the noise of the bow bending back and in the next moment saw the movement of this creature. He moved quickly, wasting no time nor movement from what Rafael could recognize. What he saw though done to Bjorn was something from a horror story, nothing that could be done by a Beast. The manipulation of his body was something that seemed more like a power from a shinigami’s sword. The gray colorless eyes of the large panther wasted no time though watching carefully as this creature gripped and pulled at Bjorn. Noticing the strange substance that covered his hands which Rafael surmised at to be what allowed him to ignore common sense.

As for Tove, well she didn’t waste any further time seeking to attack this creature although she didn’t utilize whatever was in her pouch. Could she have nothing inside? Just seeking to play on his caution. It was possible and Rafael hated that if it were fact he fell for it. The hand around her throat was something that Rafael had trouble watching, this creature wasn’t his enemy, these wolves weren’t his allies yet Tove hadn’t done anything wrong to him. At any moment her neck could be snapped which meant he had to step in, but before he had the chance she was thrown off into the home of the wolves. Now though the creature turned to Rafael. It wasn’t often he had to look up at someone else yet Rafael was confident in himself even after witnessing how easily the two guards were taken care of.

“I’m here for same reason as you it seems. You must be Skoll’s Father, what you are though is mystery. Strange wolf with strange power with big mouth, same as Skoll.”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}
Strength: 450 (900)
Speed: 450
Spiritual Pressure: 300
Reiatsu Strength: 50 (25)
Light Aura: 75
Dark Aura: 25
Instincts: 350 (700)
Senses: 200 (100)
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0

Muay Boran: 3
Acrobatics: 2
Battle Focus: 3
Pain Tolerance: 3
Strength of Will: 3
Battle Analysis: 3

[Tala Selao]

While Tala had only but a moment to react, thanks to his ocular lens as well as the display of strength, he knew that this creature wasn't as strong spiritually as it was physically. So as he drew his Zanpakuto from it's sheathe, letting the longer katana suddenly shifting into it's released form, a double-bladed staff that was beginning to produce a rather intense heat, he quickly gave orders to the other Shinigami that were with them, "Izuchi, Rikujokoro now. Saya cover him and provide support. Zatoshi and the others are with me, we need to keep that thing busy and distracted from Izuchi." 

With the orders given, Tala meet the Abomination head-on with his heated blade, swinging out to try and carve through it's stomach, spinning to follow all the way through with the attack. As he recovers, he begins to glance around and see how everyone else was doing now before he Shunpo to get out of the way of any possible retaliation attacks as well as give the others an opening. Hopefully by this point, Izuchi had finished casting Rikujokoro which would keep the creature held in.

However should it not succeed, or Izuchi was having trouble, then Tala would move and appear next to Izuchi giving his teammate a nod before holding out his hand, keeping his eye and focus on the Abomination, and beginning his own chant to assist in the casting, "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Bakudō number sixty-one: Rikujokoro!" Six thin, wide beams of light would then appear that move to try and slam into the Abomination's midsection from all sides, paralyzing and holding it in place.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool - 5800/6000}-50 Shunpo
-150 Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bakudō #61: Rikujokoro (Six Rods Prison of Light)}Class: 4

Technique Type: Kidō - Bakudō

Usable By: Kidō-users

Technique Element: Light

Technique Cost: 150 Reiatsu

Description: Summons six thin, wide beams of light that slam into a target's midsection from all sides, holding them in place. This technique also results in total paralysis, and can even suspend targets in mid-air.

How to Use: This requires the user's eyes to be focused on the target, and their casting hand to be aimed at the target as well. The six beams will then close in, but those who are quick enough or instinctive enough will be able to dodge.

Incantation: The incantation increases the reiatsu strength of this technique by 25%. (I.E. Reiatsu strength of 100 is instead worth 125.) ("Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!")

Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost

Made By: Unknown

Reserved?: No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Zanpakuto Overall}Hestia's abilities, much like the mythical goddess of the same namesake, revolves around heat and fire and the power she has over them. She gives her wielder the same capability of tending to the heat and fires in the world and in themselves.

Her abilities very much focus on making use of pre-existing heat and fire to work although Hestia provides a constant source of heat so that the user can make use of after much practice and understanding of her abilities.She also allows the user to sense and differentiate types of heat, being more like a feeling than any other type of sensory cue.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shikai Overall} In Shikai, Hāsu's abilities are more focused on the generation, control, and manipulation of heat. To start off with, Hāsu's blades are always hot to the touch, producing enough heat to cut through metal and other materials that aren't reinforced by reiatsu and even burning flesh that it cuts through.

The user also learns how to make use of the heat that she is giving off and will continue to give off as long as she is released. Hāsu can also allow the user to control and manipulate any source of heat and fire, excluding the heat of living creatures save for their own.