When prayer isn't enough. JT Gestalt/Hiroto

[Deleted]

Gestalt had finished up his shift of dealing with yet more injured. Ever since the Hell invasion he'd been seeing more and more individuals show up. Turns out, there were hellions still hiding in the depths of the Rukongai as well as hollows and other darker individuals. Gestalt just whispered a prayer to God for the Rukongai. If even after an invasion from HELL there were still residents who wanted to do darker deeds, then he wasn't sure what would change them. Perhaps they did deserve the abyss of Hell. He couldn't say he truly believed that however and perhaps he just needed to find a way to reach them. Surely their humanity wasn't all gone, right? With a groan he shoved the thoughts to the back of his mind and took a deep breath. He had another task to go to and if he wasn't quick, he'd be late. Something even he didn't tolerate.



To make up for time lost Gestalt started running form Squad 4 to the 10th's barracks. I can only imagine this must be Miss Shindazu's idea. She comes by so frequently that I wouldn't be surprised if she's taking it upon herself to assist the 4th in her own way. Certainly, we could use some more combat training. Especially since we're mostly doctors and medics. Not exactly known for being the most combat focused, are we? He was about to lose himself in running when he swore, he heard a quiet yet ominous voice spring up in the back of his mind. "But you aren't like the rest. You know of combat. Perhaps if you embraced your past, you could assist the squad being combat capable?"



The small voice never spoke as he continued to run. However, he had to begrudgingly admit that it wasn't wrong. He did have combat experience. His body still itched for a fight, and he genuinely enjoyed it even still. But he had to be careful, he still had to atone. And his actions during the hell invasion weren't going to make him suddenly be free of his karmic debt. In fact, he actually feared he may have added more since he felt so inept during the invasion. Late to arrive. Too weak to save his superior as well as others. All he'd done was kill a few hellions, get injured, and then find himself back inside the Seireitei. At least now though, he'd managed to get a sword so that was something. He vaguely heard a voice calling to him, trying to get his attention. When he finally took note of where he was, Gestalt realized he had arrived at the barracks.



With a quick shake of his head, he focused back on those outside the entrance. One look at him and they'd already realized what squad he was from; he guessed the arm band with his squad's insignia would do that. Fast forward a few minutes and Gestalt was making his way to the training grounds, which were far bigger than he expected. He had to admit he was surprised. Inherently he understood why, they were the defense squad after all. But still, it was so much more than the training grounds at the 4th that it felt like their own was just a simple and unkept field. Instead of this where there were circles, pits, arena's all over the place. As he looked further, he didn't spot any other Squad 4 members. It honestly threw him off, wasn't that today's entire goal?



To anyone looking around Gestalt would stick out like a sore thumb. He still wore a grey stole; the cloth priests wore across their shoulders. Though his was wrapped around him like a scarf to ensure he wouldn't lose it by moving around too much. Not to mention on his right arm was a simple white band with his squad's insignia in black. It didn't help that he also wore a simple black bead necklace with a wooden cross on the end. And it was very obvious given Gestalt didn't hide his expressions that he was clearly confused. Likely searching for those participating in the group training session. All in all, very easy to spot and very obviously in need of help.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Clothing reference pictures}
Stole:





Necklace:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and skills}
Current Stats:

Strength: 50

Speed: 125

RS: 50 (25)

SPPR: 200 (300)

Instinct: 50

Senses: 50 (25)

ES: 100 (150)

HE: 0

LA: 80

DA: 20



Current Skills: (14/15)

An Zam - 2

Calm Mind - 2

Pain Tolerance - 2

Anti-Stealth - 2

Acrobatics - 2

Damage Recovery - 2

Battle Analysis - 2

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro sat in silence, cross-legged on the floor of his barracks room, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting out a sigh as he began to recite the mantra, "Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu." ("I take refuge in the Bodhisattva of Compassion.") He repeated the mantra over and over in his mind, focusing on the sound of his own voice as it echoed endlessly. He visualized the Bodhisattva of Compassion, a being who has reached enlightenment but chooses to remain in the Samsara, the Cycle of Reincarnation to help others reach enlightenment as well. The Bodhisattva of Compassion was a guiding light for Benjiro, an example that proved that his journey towards Nirvana was not fruitless, and that he could serve by upholding the duties of the Shinigami and protecting the balance of souls between the worlds. The Shinigami were agents of Samsara just as much as they were their guardians. 


Benjiro's prayers had been particularly devout today, because he felt that he had lost sight of his true purpose as a Shinigami. He had been feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the responsibility that came with being a protector of the Soul Society and he felt like he was not doing enough to help others. His lackluster ability had prevented him from contributing the way that others in Squad 10 and in every other Squad of the Gotei 13 had. He understood that he was new, a fresh graduate from the academy, but he was older than a lot of his seniors. A part of him felt dissatisfied with who he was, and the seeds of doubt flowing into his heart caused him to worry. So, once again, he closed his eyes and recited the mantra. The Bodhisattva of Compassion serves as a reminder for him to be more compassionate and selfless in his actions. By reciting this mantra and contemplating on the Bodhisattva of Compassion, he hoped to find the guidance and strength to be more compassionate and to continue to serve the Soul Society with a pure heart, as that was all he could do.



As he finished his prayer, Benjiro opened his eyes and stood up. He felt refreshed, basking in the potential that a new day would bring. Today, he was assigned to train, to prepare himself for more duties to come. Such was the life of an officer in Squad 10. He readied himself and made his way to the training grounds. This was his first official training here and he had been granted a chance to work with another Shinigami, supposedly as an Inter-squad training session with Squad 4. From what he could recall, Squad 4 was the Medical Corps of the Gotei 13, so he was unaware as to how ready they were for combat. Still, he knew that this training would be difficult due to his own lack of experience and negligible skill, but he was determined to improve and become the best Shinigami he could be, in service of the Soul Society and his own journey towards enlightenment. 

As he walked through the training grounds, Benjiro couldn't help but feel a sense of quiet determination and resolve to better himself. He knew that with these facilities and resources at his disposal, he would be able to improve his abilities and become a stronger, more capable Shinigami. Everything was well-maintained, with the pits, circles, and arenas all in good condition, ready to be used for training. He could see that a lot of care and attention had gone into building and maintaining these facilities, reminding him of the Kiyomizudera Temple and Abbot Eshin. The abbot was adamant that the way one cared for their surroundings was the way that one cared for themselves. With that in mind, he felt more at home in the halls of Squad 10 than ever before. 

It wasn't long until his irisless eyes fell upon his training partner for the day, although he was alone for some reason. In fact, there weren't many Squad 10 officers that were unoccupied either, with the few already engaged in training. This Squad 4 officer seemed to be wearing Catholic or Christian priest garments, with a matching cross around his neck. Benjiro had never truly learned about religions aside from his own, but he felt compelled to accept and understand it wholeheartedly. Since no one else in Squad 10 decided to approach him, he walked over himself, stopping nearly a few feet away from him. Standing at his full height of 7 foot 3, he towered over this priestly Shinigami, but his meek and mild-mannered posture made him seem much smaller. Soon enough, his frame matched his demeanor, as he fell into a deep bow, almost comically low with his head between his legs. "Greetings! I am Hiroto, Benjiro from Squad 10, it is an honor to meet you!" He proclaimed with a childlike eagerness. He raised his head and offered a gentle smile to his fellow Shinigami. "As a follower of the teachings of Buddhism, I welcome you and your faith. Are you here for the training session between the squads?"

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}

• Strength - 55 (68) Points
• Speed - 50 (35) Points
• Spiritual Pressure - 35 Points
• Reiatsu Strength - 60 (90) Points
• Light Aura - 75 Points
• Dark Aura - 25 Points
• Instinct - 35 Points
• Senses - 50 (37) Points
• Energy sensory - 30 Points
• Healing Expertise - 0 Points

Total SP: 315 Points


Skills/Abilities:

• Learning 1
• Calm Mind 1
• Strength of Will 1
• Weapons: Swords 1
• Pain Tolerance 1
• Bleeding Tolerance 1
• Damage Recovery 1
• Mental Incantation 1

Total Used SKP: 8/15 Points

[Deleted]

The longer Gestalt was here, the more out of sync he felt with the world around him. Namely because most of his squad was nowhere to be seen. Which likely meant they were working or otherwise taking time off for their own sake. He sighed and rubbed his face with his right hand. It made sense but he had to admit, he didn't find it terribly enjoyable to be in another squad's barracks by himself. Thankfully, a member of the 10th would find him and begin speaking. Gestalt having not seen the individual at first was caught off guard by the sizeable monster in human form and jumped a bit. When he turned to see Hiroto his eyes grew wide when he took in how actually massive this man was. His glasses slipped down his face and he blinked a few times as shock made itself cozy on his face.

What on Earth did this person eat to become this big?! God bless! He listened out of instinctual response and quickly found that this giant was . . . unusual. In multiple ways. For one thing, it wasn't just his intimidating height it was the fact this man bowed nearly completely vertically. Another feat that Gestalt had to admit, he was wondering just what gifts God gave this individual before him. Because in no uncertain terms he couldn't believe what he was watching. Even after Hiroto was done speaking Gestalt looked at him with a bit of shock but eventually relaxed, albeit forcefully so he could speak to this giant. "Good afternoon to you Hiroto. Or is it Benjiro? In my past life first names are given but many here in the Soul Society place their last names before their first. Forgive me if I use the incorrect name. That said I appreciate the warm welcome, though I can't say I've heard of Buddhism. Please be certain to let me know if I accidently impose upon your tenets."

"To answer your question though, yes. I was told Squad 4 would be training with Squad 10 today. However, it seems like most of the 4th isn't here. " Gestalt sighed and frowned as he looked around them again. He then returned a smile to Hiroto before speaking again. "I suppose it must be due to how busy things are the barracks and hospital is. I can't say I blame them, but I fear this was planned for a reason all things considered. Would you also happen to be here to train? I could use a partner, though I'll admit, I'm not certain what we are training specifically. Perhaps it's just to use our weapons more easily or to "step" around. What do you think?" Gestalt mentally smacked himself. He almost forgot to return the other's bow. He needed to be respectful, especially if this was their form of greeting.

Gestalt though flexible was nowhere near as flexible as Hiroto but managed to get to a clean 90 degrees, making him horizonal to the ground. With one arm over his chest and near his should while the other was kept to this side. As he returned to his previous stance, he was a good bit more relaxed and took a moment to look over the man before him. This was not an individual without the gift of physical power, at least if his readily apparent muscles had anything to say about it. Next to Gestalt who had minimal if any definition and looked like a string bean next to him. Certainly not in his prime like he had been in the past but even he had to admit he personally felt smaller than he was comfortable admitting. It did make a part of him wonder though; how strong the man was himself. Especially considering his mind kept trying to compare Hiroto to his former self when he was a crusader. He had to shake his thoughts away from this however as he was here to train. Not fight this man to death or let himself compare former glory to the current giant before him.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro smiled warmly as the spectacled Shinigami greeted him, though he seemed a bit confused as to whether his first name was Benjiro or Hiroto. This confusion was not unusual for Benjiro, as he had lived a relatively sheltered life, having never ventured outside of Kyoto, let alone Japan. Despite this, he was filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the diverse cultures and traditions that existed beyond his small corner of the world. He knew that the path to enlightenment and understanding was long and unending, but the mysteries and diversity of life made it all the more worth pursuing. He couldn't help but wonder where this Shinigami had come from in his past life and what experiences he had gained. He knew it would be impolite to pry too much, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue. The man continued, sparking his curiosity further as he admitted his lack of knowledge about Buddhism in its entirety. It was as if a flame was lit inside this gentle giant, one filled with the passion to speak about the Philosophy of his past and his current life.

The silver-haired Shinigami continued by answering his question, woefully admitting that a majority of Squad 4 was missing due to the influx of work at the hospital or at their own barracks. Benjiro felt a heavy weight in his chest at the thought of so much suffering in the Soul Society. He closed his eyes and recited a short prayer for guidance, "Namu Amida Butsu. Namu Amida Butsu. Namu Amida Butsu." ("I take refuge in the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life.") He whispered, offering up the plight and suffering of others to the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life for healing. He turned to the Shinigami and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to train with him, "You have done me a great service today by coming here to help me train. I will use this gift wisely and train to the best of my ability, so that nothing will be put to waste. I only hope that you and the rest of your squad are guided by the Buddha in the pursuit of administering aid to those in need." Benjiro's gentle optimism was replaced by a solemn resolve, feeling the weight of others suffering and the responsibility to help, even if it meant sacrifice on his part.

Benjiro felt a hint of embarrassment as he revealed some of his flaws and shortcomings to his training partner. "I would like to learn how to wield my Asauchi more effectively, although I prefer not to brandish it unless absolutely necessary," he said, his voice tinged with a sense of humility. He understood that conflict was a necessity in the defense of the Soul Society, especially when the threat of Hollows and the like came nearly every day, but he couldn't shake off the beliefs of his past life's philosophy. "I believe that every other option should be exhausted before resorting to violence. And, to be honest, my cardio needs work. I tire easily." Despite feeling self-conscious about admitting his weaknesses, he knew that it was through acknowledging and addressing them that he could grow stronger. The path to self-improvement was long and challenging, but he was determined to persevere through it.

With a sense of reaffirmed purpose and resolve, Benjiro made his way towards one of the training pits, his large frame dragging a rack of training weapons with him. These weapons were specifically designed for sparring, with no sharp edges or points to cause unnecessary harm during training. As he reached the pit, he paused and turned towards his training partner, a small hint of curiosity in his eyes. "If I may ask, may I know your name? I would like to address you properly during our training." He spoke with a gentle and respectful tone, his natural politeness shining through. He knew that training was an important aspect of his duties as a Shinigami, but he also believed in the importance of building personal connections and understanding with his fellow protectors of the Soul Society.

 

[Deleted]

While Gestalt didn't understand what the man was saying due to language difference, he did get an instinctual understanding. They were praying, in their own way. The cultural differences were already showing but he could respect the goodwill coming from the other. Gestalt decided to mentally speak out a small prayer for his squad mates to continue in the good work for their patients. Once done with his own prayer he listened intently Hiroto, shifting just a bit to his work mentality and going a bit more serious. It was easy to see the dedication the other had. Guess the two were similar in that regard. Still, he did have to wonder who this Buddha was. They seemed important to them, likely a god of some sort to his religion. He'd have to ask about it later as he was curious about this Buddhism.

For now, though while he followed his partner to a nearby training pit he listened to their request. Thinking about how best to assist them. Hmm. . . I can't speak much to these odd blades. Their shape, weight, and capabilities are different than what I'm used to. Unless the training weapons have something more akin to a standard longsword or a short sword, I'm going to be unable to really help him. However, cardio? Easy. In truth if he and I ran or work on controlled blows/forms/etc of our weapons we should be able to help with that stamina. Though I fear I too have lost most of my stamina. Gestalt nodded to Hiroto while walking over to the collection of training weapons. He breathed a sigh of relief as he found a wooden longsword amongst the collection. In fact, he saw more than a few weapons he recognized from his time during the crusades.

If nothing else, the Soul Society definitely was a melting pot of sorts. Picking up the training sword he felt a sense of nostalgia, for better or worse, it saved him time and again. If he had time, he'd need to spend some time using this for training on his own. When he got back to the pit, he started speaking to Hiroto. Calm, even, and surprisingly relaxed. His body, even if it was out of shape never forgot that it was first and foremost a warrior. "I'll be blunt Hiroto, I couldn't tell you how to wield your sword. These. . . Katana's? I believe that's what they classify as, are something I've never seen until I appeared here. However, this longsword? The mace? Even the dagger and rapier on the rack? Much more common from my time on Earth. I could give some general pointers for those weapons but that's about it."

"As for your stamina, the honest answer is a lot of it lies in training specifically for it. Running for example, would be immensely helpful as it will help build your stamina and make your body geared towards making better use of the air that you breathe. However, using the proper forms will also assist in that endeavor. Simply swinging a weapon with abandon will only exert unnecessary energy and will waste the power you could be putting behind it. Thus, if you can get the basics down, you will find yourself lasting longer than you may expect. Bear in mind, I speak from experience though I've only recently begun weapons training again so I may not be able to show you effectively. But I'm sure you'll see what I mean as you get used to using your weapon. In this case, I'd say we should focus on just getting used to holding the weapon and seeing both how your body reacts and moves while attacking and defending with it. From there it should point you in a good direction and assist your training with someone more capable in their use of Katanas."

"My apologies for not having given you my name sooner. My name is Father Gestalt. Or well. . . it used to be. I'm not technically a part of the Catholic Church anymore so my title and priestly duties are no longer "mandatory". Feel free to call me Gestalt. As for myself, the truth is I used to be a warrior so most of what I require is knocking off the rust. Returning to the familiar sense of fighting and like yourself, regaining my stamina to endure for more prolonged fights. As this is training, I want to make this clear. If you become exhausted let me know so we can take a break. In addition, if you get injured let me know. I can address any injuries you may receive, though that is certainly not my goal to give you one."

Gestalt dropped his training sword for a moment, allowing it to fall to the ground beside him. Then he went about cracking his knuckles, his back, and neck. Following by trying to rotate his arms, moves his fingers, and almost do squats to get his legs loose. Though it was almost immediately obvious his right leg was something of a difficult matter to "loosen up". It dropped to the ground like lead with every step, going so far as to alter Gestalt's way of walking. And it seemed to have a harder time moving its full range of motion. Or at least Gestalt appeared to have a harder time getting its full range. It still did move completely as it should, but he was noticeably slower about it. Once Gestalt was ready, he took a deep breath and then picked up his training weapon before looking Hiroto dead in the eye. With a small smile and a relaxed posture, he bent his knees down a bit and brought the sword up to the right side of his face, the blunt end pointed at Hiroto's face. The unspoken comment of "Ready when you are." held between them as Gestalt waited for Hiroto to take his stance if any and/or make the first move.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As the recently introduced Father Gestalt grabbed a longsword from the training rack and explained his experience as a warrior in his past life, Benjiro couldn't help but think of his own pat life. In particular, he remembered his fellow disciple and rival, Kazuo Nakamura. Kazuo was also a martial artist, but unlike Gestalt, he primarily fought using traditional Buddhist martial arts and his own bodily strength. Benjiro knew that Kazuo had taken up the study of Shorinji Kempo before his passing, so he could only imagine the heights Kazuo reached. Perhaps he achieved Nirvana through the temperament of his body and the discipline of his soul. Benjiro had a different path in achieving Nirvana, one that was laid with an innate curiosity and empathy towards life and morality, which caused his physical efforts to suffer relatively. In fact, it was only due to Kazuo's insistence that Benjiro sought to balance his internal wonder with his external action, and that led to his unnaturally large frame and innate yet undeveloped strength. The more he thought about Kazuo, the more he drew connections between him and Father Gestalt and his commitment to the martial aspect of life, albeit one with the use of foreign tools. Still, the main similarity he could find between Kazuo and Father Gestalt was their devotion to improvement and the betterment of their martial prowess. 

It was clear from Gestalt's words that he had a wealth of experience and knowledge to share, and Benjiro was eager to learn from him, the solemn resolve to improve being matched by the deep well of skill that was held within his training partner. He was particularly interested in the idea of focusing on holding the weapon and seeing how the body moves and reacts through the process of attacking and defending. He knew that this would serve as an intuitive guide to his mastery of the blade, something that he had always struggled with. Despite Benjiro's innate strength, Kazuo always made fun of him for his sheer lack of talent when it came with martial arts, let alone weaponry. It was as if his body constantly fought his mind when he attempted to fight, yet another reason for his distaste towards conflict. In fact, even in the Shinigami academy, this was the part he struggled with the most. He had just managed to pass after years of practice and taking the test over and over, only having the most basic understanding of the sword and its stances and forms at this point. Starting back at the basics, not of forms and stances, but of intuitive and senses, seemed like the perfect thing for him. He couldn't help but think that this was the kind of training that Kazuo would have approved of.

Gestalt's words and devotion struck a chord with Benjiro, earning the gentle giant's respect and admiration. He had not only been a warrior in his past life, but also a priest. It was clear that he had a deep understanding of both the physical and spiritual aspects of life, and he seemed to have found his own balance between his faith and his abilities. He only hoped that he could find that balance himself. He gripped the Asauchi in his hands, the katana handed out to each Academy graduate before their souls imprint themselves on the blade. It was disheartening that he had yet to fully infuse his blade with his soul despite his innate spirituality. He wasn't sure what he had to do, he had prayed with the blade in his hands for a long time, yet to no avail. Perhaps this training would help him do exactly that, so he may finally have a Zanpakuto.

Another reason why Benjiro found Gestalt's words and presence encouraging was his willingness to heal and treat any injuries that he would take. It was that dedication to neutrality, that devotion to martial combat but also the art of healing and treating wounds that made him admire this former warrior. In another life, perhaps he would have taken the path of the monk as well, he seemed to innately portray attributes of an abbot, or perhaps he would have even reached Nirvana! Once Gestalt finished, Benjiro nodded with a serene expression on his face as he took a deep breath. He filled his lungs to the brim with air, allowing his energy to properly circulate and ready himself for the battle to begin. "If it is alright with you, Gestalt, may I use my Asauchi in this battle? I'll use it sheathed so that it doesn't cut into you, but I feel like I need to learn how to use my own weapon better. If you disagree, I'll change my weapon." He asked while he brought a heavy hand to his chin and cracked his neck in both directions, releasing any tension as he rolled his head then his shoulders. As he moved on to stretch his arms, awaiting Gestalt's reply, he noticed the heaviness and stiffness in his leg. His brow furrowed in concern. "Are you injured? We can do non-confrontational training should you need time to recover." It was clear from his tone that he was concerned, but he would also respect whatever Gestalt would decide to do. 


Afterwards, whether he wielded his Asauchi or a training katana, he would watch as Gestalt got into a fighting stance. It was one that he wasn't accustomed to, with a much more relaxed posture and the blade pointed at its user's cheek. The blunt edge of the blade pointed at him, but he still felt worried. Now wasn't the time to let doubts and worries take over, so he assumed the typical Zanjutsu stance that was taught at the Academy. He brought his non-dominant leg back and bent his knees slightly, holding his blade with both hands placed right in front of him. From what he remembered, this was a balanced stance that allowed quick movement and adjustment without conforming to any strengths or defenses. Given Gestalt's firm stance, he presumed that he would take the defensive first. Benjiro's stance was quite the opposite, despite his sturdy frame and practiced form, he seemed uncomfortable and flimsy, as if a gust of wind could break his balance. Still, he took a few running steps towards Gestalt, his large legs clumsily hitting the ground far before their full extension, greatly reducing the distance he could traverse and his overall speed, before bringing his blade down for a basic and easily telegraphed overhead strike. Despite the strength he had in his body, only a fraction of it transferred to his sword swing, especially as he hadn't lined up the edge of the blade with his swing, even if it was his Asauchi in its sheath. If the strike were to connect, it would have been with the flat of the blade instead of an edge. 

[Deleted]

Gestalt noticed the change in Hiroto's expression. He was confused himself for a moment before it dawned on him that the other was concerned for his right leg. This was only confirmed once he'd spoken and Gestalt chuckled, relaxing for a moment as he watched the other prepare themselves. "While I appreciate the accommodations, there's no need. My leg is. . . deformed. Always has been, at least as far as this life is concerned. I like to think God has given me a trial in the form of this leg to remind me of my purpose in this life. But worry not, it will hinder me very little. I simply am not used to fighting actively with it. This should help with that. As for your blade, absolutely. You'll get more used to your blade the more you wield it."

With a nod from the other Gestalt returned to his previous stance, tense in form but calm, ready for what the other would do. One look at the other told him that the chosen stance was something more transformative in nature. Able to flow into offense or defense. It was a solid choice given Gestalt's offered solid defense but with the obvious threat of offense depending on what his opponent did. In this case, he'd be using offense to counter the offense of Hiroto. Namely because the other's clunky movement and decision to prepare and follow through with a overhead attack. Gestalt waited for a couple steps of movement by Hiroto and then proceeded to move closer to the giant. From the others perspective it was akin to Gestalt hopping forward.

From there he simply tightened his grip, lowered himself down and backwards, before thrusting his blade as well as his body forward. His aim was for Hiroto's upper hand, more specifically his wrist. His stance was sloppy, and he was not used to using his body in this manner so Gestalt figured that his grip may be wrong or insufficient as well. If this were true, even with a weaker strength he should manage to "impale" the others wrist and push it out the way. Assuming that occurred, Gestalt wasted no time and brought the remainder of his training sword over the wrist of the lower hand and would pull arm and sword in question down but to his side. If all went as planned, he'd have the sword sheathe hit the ground beside him. Assuming he missed the initial thrust he'd still aim to bring the blade down upon the hands of Hiroto and attempt to direct the sword in much the same way though he'd have to put more strength into the weapon and thus would likely bruise the others top wrist in the process.

"Solid attempt but your uncertain with your footing. Not to mention from how little resistance I felt in your arms, I don't think you're using your God given muscles to their fullest. I understand that you prefer alternate methods to manage an individual but had this been a true longsword, you'd have lost one if not both of your hands alongside your sword. Remember, this training is assuming that you are in fight and any form of negotiation or reasoning has failed. As you would not have drawn your weapon otherwise. It's a strange headspace to be but with some time you'll get there." Gestalt smiled up at the other and pulled his training sword back before going to his starting position again. From there he pointed to his right leg. "I'd also recommend you take advantage of my weak point. Even with the back of your blade, hitting my deformed leg should cause me to fall down. At least to one knee, if I'm not swept off my feet. Fighting is about taking any advantage you can get after all."

Gestalt was breathing a bit harder even from just a momentary clash. He could swear he heard his mind chuckle and then came the small voice again. "Now you see what I meant. Even in this moment you are training your fellow in the art of combat. Imagine how the 4th could be if you took more charge of them. It may be easier to do than you think." Gestalt waved off the thoughts mentally. He couldn't lose focus on his training partner. Returning to his previous stance, he forced himself to breathe a bit deeper. Making sure his body was able to recover somewhat given his stamina still had a long way to go. He had to wonder what the other would do this time around. Would they try the same stance, or would they attempt something else? Gestalt had a few other stances he could draw from but the real question was if he could utilize them properly. He'd likely find out soon enough.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Gestalt finished his stretches, Benjiro couldn't help but feel a sense of concern and worry for the warrior's well-being. He listened intently as Gestalt spoke about his deformed leg, and the struggles he faced in adapting to fighting with it. Despite his worries, Benjiro couldn't help but admire the sheer faith and determination that Gestalt possessed. The way he was able to shift his perspective from a negative one to a positive one was truly inspiring. He saw his deformity as a test from his God, and used it as a reminder of his purpose and a source of strength. This level of devotion and sacrifice was something that Benjiro deeply respected, and it only added to his deep admiration of his training partner. Though he had concerns, Benjiro knew that he had to respect Gestalt's decision to fight with it for now, and he was eager to learn from the warrior and support him in any way he could. "I see. I admire your faith, Father Gestalt. Although the Church may no longer recognize you, I believe that your God sees the faith you hold for Him."

Afterwards, Benjiro had asked if he could use his Asauchi instead of a training blade, sheathed of course to protect from harm, and Gestalt graciously agreed. Wielding his Asauchi, Benjiro got into his tried and true practiced stance, the traditional Zanjutsu stance. It was a balanced stance that allowed one to quickly defend from oncoming attacks, but also allows for quick and devastating offense with the right technique applied to it. Benjiro took on this balanced stance believing it to be the best fit for a warrior like him, especially since he had been taught through countless drills and demonstrations. In his mind, he had mastered the stance through years at the academy, his movements fluid and precise. However, as he began to move, his over-reliance on his mental image of the perfect stance and movements had caused him to become stiff and rigid, causing him to fumble and struggle to even execute the most basic of swings.

Benjiro didn't understand that what he was doing was wrong, especially because of everything he studied. He was hyperfocusing on each individual movement, theoretically doing things correctly. He knew the movements, which way his arms were supposed to move, the distance between his legs, the stance he needed to take as he moved, but it was a shallow understanding at best. In fact, his hyperfocus had caused him to make another mistake, one that would cost him dearly, he had missed Gestalt's approach. Benjiro was used to striking practice dummies at best, but this? Sparring with a live combatant, an experienced one at that, was an entire different skill. That lesson hit him like a truck, similar to how the point of Gestalt's training longsword jabbed into his wrist. 

Benjiro felt the sting of throbbing pain as the point of the blade collided with skin and bone, the impact knocking his hand away from the hilt of his Asauchi. If not for the grip in his other hand, the blade would have been sent flying. Thankfully, Benjiro's concentration and focus had not been interrupted from the sudden pain in his wrist, as his life was spent taking on harsh physical conditioning and building an endurance to the pain. Most of it was self inflicted of course, as a way to prepare his body to be a vessel capable of withstanding pain. From a young age, he had always been empathetic towards the suffering of others, and at one point, he felt crippled by the suffering he had seen. It was only through Abbot Eshin's efforts in training him that he managed to recover and become the man he was today. 

Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of Gestalt's assault as he quickly grabbed his other wrist and twisted it downwards, bringing his Asauchi to Gestalt's side before losing the strength in his grip, his Asauchi falling to the ground with ease. In a single fluid motion of defense into attack, Gestalt managed to completely dismantle Benjiro's fighting style and force him to drop his weapon. His stunned silence was all the response Gestalt needed before he began to teach him where exactly he went wrong, starting with his lack of certainty with his footing. Aside from that, he utterly failed to utilize his strength well, as if his apparently God given muscles hadn't lent their strength to the blade. 

That was when Gestalt explained something that never once crossed his mind in his entire life, the fact that if this was real combat, he would have lost one or both of his arms. The thought of that frightened him, not because of the pain he'd have to endure and suffer through, but for the fact that he would be rendered useless to the Soul Society should that occur. How was he to defend others should that occur? He continued by explaining that training like this was based on the assumption that every other option had already been exhausted, and that this was his time to go all out. It was a strange headspace to be in, one that required a major shift of perspective, but there was much wisdom to be gained from the experience of Gestalt. 

Gestalt returned to his stance, gesturing quickly towards his own disfigurement and telling Benjiro to take advantage of the weakness, but Benjiro wasn't sure whether that would have been alright. Despite the warrior's words, was it just and moral to take his lesson to heart and strike his opponent's bad leg for the chance to end the fight more quickly? His heart screamed no, but logically it would end the fight and cause the least amount of suffering. Why did the Buddha test him so? But... now was not the time to make that decision, as the inexperienced Shinigami had to prepare himself for another round of combat. 

He needed to learn, and he took Gestalt's words to heart. He had to act with confidence over form, as he needed a solid foundation before anything else. If he was not adept at using the blade, then he'd begin with soundness of mind and sturdiness of body. He quickly reached down and grabbed his blade, emptying his mind of all thoughts as he paced over to their starting positions. He took in a deep breath as the sheathed blade weighed heavy in his hands. He got into the same stance, correcting everything that was wrong. He widened the gap between his legs, using his large frame and long reach to his advantage. He tightened his grip on the hilt of the blade but relaxed his arms a little. He was too stiff, too tense. Benjiro had a secret, despite his genetic inclination towards strength and martial prowess, his spirituality was his true strength. "Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō." As he muttered out a prayer for guidance and strength from the Lotus Sutra, his body suddenly channeled his inner reiatsu and emboldened him. He opened his eyes, staring at Gestalt with a clear mind, reflecting the emptiness of his eyes. 

Immediately there was a difference, he pushed off of the ground with a steady and sure stance, his powerful legs being used to their full extent as he raised his Asauchi up high above his head. His mind repeated one thing over and over, and that was the lesson about efficiency in motion. In a battle, strength wasn't determined by consistent force and unending effort, but an ebb and flow of power, like a river. His movements needed to be gentle, graceful, fluid, but at the last moment he needed to burst with the force of a typhoon. Similar yet wholly different from before, Benjiro struck downward with his blade, a simple yet firm overhead strike. Of course, this strike could be seen from a mile away, but Benjiro was still learning. There was still another mistake he had yet to correct however, he was still striking with the flat of the blade. The side of the sword, were the blade unsheathed, could easily shatter should enough force impact it, and with the strength of a spiritually enriched Benjiro, it was clear that his Asauchi was at risk of permanent damage. 

[Deleted]

Gestalt thought about his stance. Surely, he could use another? Get used to how his weapon felt in his hands. He nodded to himself and shifted his form. His knee's remained bent, but he placed one hand around the bottommost handle of his blade and the other right under the guard. With his right leg forward and his left behind him, he held the sword handle down towards his crotch. The blade pointing up and towards Hiroto's neck or collarbone. Likely the former from how much larger the other was. . . . I have to wonder if this will work. He is almost 2 feet taller than myself. . . God willing, he won't break the training weapon. Too late to change it now. Gestalt took a deep breath and focused his attention on Hiroto, taking a moment to look him over.

He wasn't the same person now. Stance more solid and his expression was clear of confliction. It reminded him of his former self, sans the excitement to fight and certainty of winning. Hiroto was simply here and shifted to a "fighting" mentality. Gestalt nodded. He was almost disappointed that he tried the same attack again, an overhead chop, though he was nearly on him in just a couple steps as opposed to before where it would take several to reach him. Gestalt had to react and his best choice at this point and time was to use the blade to block. He could try to avoid it, but that might give him an opening to aim for his torso. Shifting his lower hand to just under his leading hand he brought the training weapon up and turned it to its side.

The impact was almost immediate, and he felt it through his arms and legs. Hiroto didn't have muscles for nothing. And while it wasn't so overwhelming Gestalt couldn't fight back, the other definitely had a strength advantage over him. Still the man seemed to be focused on crushing him, with the side of his own blade no less so Gestalt took the opportunity to use a little martial art he learned earlier. Given his feet were already dug into the earth he simply adjusted his posture so that all the weight would be on his right leg and threw up his left. A plethora of dirt and small debris would fly up to Hiroto's face. Unless his eyes were for show, and he was blind this was likely to hinder him with the sudden material thrown to his face.

In the meantime, Gestalt shifted the blade to have it tilt downward and to the right to direct the force behind Hiroto's blade to the side. To assist in this, he crouched a bit further to help facilitate the others downward motion. Once the other's blade would shift and move, he'd use his legs to push himself to Hiroto's left side. Effectively hopping out from under him. Once he had stable footing, which would take him a moment, Gestalt would bring the sword to his side tip pointed to the ground and with the handle and guards at his thigh. He'd then run after Hiroto's side with the intent to close the distance and "cut" him from under his left arm. Had this been a real blade, the idea would have been to come under his arm and cut the entire limb off. In this case it'd simply smack his side, hitting flesh before sliding roughly over his body and hitting bone from his ribcage along the way. This was assuming Gestalt was able to capitalize on Hiroto's momentary opening.

SPOILER: Click to show

{An Zam: Khad Taslagch (Road of Hunt, Cliff Cutter) - Class 7 version}
Class: 7, 5, 2

Technique Type: Martial

Usable By : Any Race

Technique Element: Varies

Technique Description and Effects : This technique is one that bases on the environment as opposed to the opponent. By stabbing the foot (or other limb) into the ground, the user can flex their muscles, sending a pule of force through the ground, creating fissures in the ground before sweeping the limb in an uppercut, causing a surge of rising earth (or whatever ambient material there my be) in a line. At class 7 this surge typically comes in the form of dust, dirt, and soem bits of hard, sharp debris. At class 5, this ability can cause large chunks of material and even small plates of the ground to rush upward. At class 2, this technique can cause the ground to break up to depths of dozens of feet before being shredded upward, with enough strength this cold even cause small hills (Or with very high amounts of strength (600+), small cliffs) to be formed, though this is just the base strength of the techniques, and high amounts of strength can allow even the low class version to cause large amounts of damage.

At learned this technique is restricted to being executed in a straight line. At Proficient this technique can be slightly curved up to 45 degrees. And at Mastered, there is such control with this technique that it can actually be curved to hit enemies behind them, faking out the direction they are attacking in.

How to use technique: See Description

Technique Drawbacks: Class 7 and 5 requires a 1 in Martial Arts:An Zam or Street fighting (Street Fighters can only learn up to proficcient), class 2 requires a 3. The class 7 and 5 technique have no reiatsu cost, the class 2 has a 350 reiatsu cost if the user is not a Beast Clan species that is considered subterranean (Moles, Digging insects, Burrowing Lizards, ect), in which case it has a 200 reiatsu cost.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro's mind was clear and focused, honing in on the single word that had become his mantra in moments of intense physical exertion: breathe. He had learned the art of active breathing during his time as a monk, a technique used to fully immerse oneself in their spirituality. This allowed his energy to flow freely, carried by the wind and forming a bridge between his body and his soul. This state of deep connection allowed him to move with fluidity and precision, his muscles responding instinctively to the guidance of his spirit. As he prepared to spar with Gestalt once more, he let go of the rigid and formulaic teachings of the past and allowed himself to be guided by his own intuition and inner strength. His body was firm, yet fluid, like a force of nature, as he focused on each breath and let it guide him towards victory.

Unfortunately, this inner awareness had left him completely blind to the shift in stance that Gestalt had made, not that he was skilled enough to change his stance to counter his opponent's. Instead, Benjiro focused the entirety of his being on striking down Gestalt, through the use of an extremely predictable yet forceful overhead slash once more. He had once again misaligned his slash with the flat of the blade, causing his own force to spread out through the blade and taking the brunt of his strength instead of the longsword that Gestalt had held, which also aided in Gestalt's skillful parry. Benjiro had the advantage of pure strength however, his overwhelming frame and musculature bearing down on Gestalt's blade. It almost seemed as if the inexperienced Shinigami had won this particular exchange, when suddenly a blast of dirt and debris came from below, striking him in the eyes and causing him to stumble backwards, only to be stopped by Gestalt as he tilted his blade and redirected Benjiro's own strength against him. 

In a single swift motion, Gestalt had gone from a disadvantageous position to completely dominating once more. Benjiro's Asauchi nearly fell out of his grip, but through his sheer willpower and strength he had managed to hold on. Benjiro only had his dominant right hand on the hilt of his blade at this point, the other quickly scraping the debris out of his eyes to allow a little bit of his sight to return, just in time to see the blurry visage of Gestalt as his blade came from below. All Benjiro could do to react was flex his muscle a little to absorb the impact, but the momentum and strength that Gestalt had struck with had definitely left a mark, a deep stinging pain and ache echoed throughout Benjiro's left, but he was not finished. 

Refusing to let up for even a moment, wanting to make this exchange of blades even more meaningful and insightful for the both of them, Benjiro broke any and all sword conventions he had tried to keep until this point. His left arm, while not too injured, was not able to fully utilize its strength, so Benjiro reached out with his left to attempt to grab the vestments of Gestalt, simultaneously swinging low with his right hand and bringing the Asauchi against Gestalt's left wrist. Once again he was hitting with the flat of the blade, unwittingly of course. It seemed as if he was using his sword as a hammer instead of the cutting weapon it was. 

[Deleted]

Gestalt smiled a little bit, enjoying the fact that he was able to momentarily stun Hiroto. Not to mention wriggle himself away from the giant and his blade. Though it was becoming apparent that the other wasn't focusing on how he was swinging the blade. Namely because he was using the flat as opposed to the back or cutting edge. He'd have to make note of that when they stopped again. But still he could tell that this session was going to be a bit longer as even when he hit the other, he realized that they were not only, mostly over the distraction tactic but also still held onto their blade. It wasn't exactly his goal to make Hiroto drop his weapon, but he'd sworn the other had. This momentary lapse in backing out left him in a difficult position thanks to the giant having easy access to grabbing his cloak.

"Foolish. You knew better than this." Gestalt couldn't focus on the ominous voice that was trying to distract him some. Instead, he had only a few seconds at best to try and do something to avoid being hit by the others blade again. There wasn't a good way to handle things so Gestalt did the one thing he could think of. He jumped up, pulling his legs to his torso. He didn't have much room to see just how low the other was aiming but if was at the lower part of his legs he'd be able to clear the hurdle that was the sword. From there he'd simply step on the blade and use his body weight to slam it to the ground. If not? Then it'd smack into his left legs which were tensed and curled up anyway. It'd hurt, no doubt about it, but it was better than getting hips or knee slammed into.

Regardless of what happened, since Hiroto had wanted to make the fight close quarters Gestalt felt it was only fair to do the same. He dropped his training sword grabbing both sides of Hiroto's head and slammed his own forehead into Hiroto's face. More than likely hitting his nose and mouth than. And fuck if that didn't hurt. He'd never really felt like this was a good move to use but now with his bruised and lightly bleeding forehead, he could definitively say that no, this was a last resort move because that hurt like being hit with a training sword. Ugh. . . Hiroto. . . I'm going to apologize for this afterwards. Ouch! Hopefully the headbutt was enough to get him to release his hold. If not, Gestalt would have to do something else but he was reeling from the headbutt himself so he'd need a moment before he would try something else.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro struggled to hold onto his Asauchi with just his right hand, bending in an unnatural way that caused his tendons to burn and strain, especially with the weight of the heavy blade and the force he had initially swung with, he felt a flood of emotions wash over him. Inadequacy, frustration and even a hint of defeat, as Gestalt effortlessly broke their sword clash and escaped from being overwhelmed by the spiritually-empowered giant. The dirt and debris flung up by the former crusader during their clash stung his eyes, blinding him for a few seconds. But amidst all these negative feelings, there was also a sense of awe and wonder as he realized the true breadth and depth of fighting. Gestalt utilized not just his sword, but his entire body in the fight, showing Benjiro a new perspective and opening his eyes to new possibilities in his own training. 

Benjiro could feel the searing pain in his left arm, the ache spreading through his muscles as Gestalt's strike connected. He knew it would be a bruise by the morning, but in that moment, all he could feel was gratitude. Gratitude to Buddha for helping him endure this and to Gestalt for showing him what a truly skilled warrior looked like in battle. He knew he wasn't going to win this fight, but every passing moment was an opportunity to learn and improve. He was determined to take advantage of this opportunity and push himself to the limit. He knew that learning was a victory in and of itself, and he was grateful for the chance to do so. With a deep breath, he pushed through the pain, his left arm reaching out to grab Gestalt's robes and trap him in his grasp, his mind focused on the present moment and the next move.

Utilizing everything he had, Benjiro's right arm swung his Asauchi to deliver a heavy blow to the left side of Gestalt, aiming for his wrist. Unfortunately, due to his improper technique in holding and utilizing the sword like a bat or a bludgeon, Benjiro ended up striking at Gestalt's entire forearm. The more experienced warrior was quick on his feet though, quickly jumping upwards to try and avoid what seemed like a low swing, but he hadn't jumped high enough, especially with Benjiro's grip on his robes. The heavy strike of the Asauchi had finally landed, slamming against Gestalt's left leg. It was already tensed up however, reducing the damage somewhat. Benjiro had no time to feel the satisfaction in improving to the point of actually landing a hit on the man, as Gestalt quickly returned the favor with another powerful counterattack. 

To the giant's surprise, the superior swordsman completely dropped his blade before quickly grabbing both sides of Benjiro's head and slamming their heads together.  As Gestalt's head connected with his own, Benjiro's senses were momentarily overwhelmed by the shock of the impact. His breath escaped him in a rush, and for a split second he felt like he was losing focus. His ears rang with the force of the blow, and he could feel the blood pouring down his nose, matching the stream that flowed from Gestalt's. His vision was blurred, but in that moment of disorientation, he found a renewed determination. With a rapid inhale and one last burst of energy, the last vestiges of his reiatsu flowing into his muscles, he brought his Asauchi behind Gestalt's head and grabbed the sheath with his left hand, using it as leverage to deliver a counter headbutt. If he connected, the pain would have been intense and Benjiro's vision would have gone completely dark for a moment. All the strength in his body would have left as he completely lost focus. Still, a strangely serene smile was on his face, proud of the accomplishments he had made. 

He fell to the ground, his right hand still gripping his Asauchi, although the blade was halfway out of its sheath at this point. Despite his lack of vision as his body struggled to recover, Benjiro laughed. "I did it! I managed to hit you!" He couldn't contain his excitement as the blood streaming down his face began to harden. "I think I may need a bit of healing... if you can still manage it of course. I'm sure a few minutes of rest would also do the trick hehe." As he spoke, feeling all the tension leaving his body. He was completely exhausted, his body not even wanting to move an inch, but he was happy. There was a freeing lightness to an exhausted body, one that Benjiro thoroughly enjoyed. It was as if his spirit was unbound, allowing him to truly experience the splendor of the world. Without his vision for the meanwhile, it allowed him to focus on his other senses to explore the world. The sound of wood and metal sparking of each other, the sensation of the ground vibrating from the heated sparring of other Squad 10 members in other pits, and the warmth and energy of the spiritual pressure that Gestalt exuded, it was beautiful. He was still wholly unaccustomed to feeling the pressure of others, but in this moment of sightlessness, his soul began to feel the presence of others. 

[Deleted]

Turns out despite a previous, thought to be, well calculated risk, Gestalt had underestimated his partners ability to take a hit. And he found that out when the other decided that his own head needed some reinforcement. All Gestalt could do was think one clear and troubling thought. Oh no. His head met with Hiroto's again, curtesy of the other using his own to slam into Gestalts and breaking his nose in the process. Blood gushed out from it and pain blossomed across his face as he felt it warm from the blood. Finally, though he was let go as the other felt flat on their back. Seemingly overcome himself by the self-induced trauma from his headbutt and Gestalts own. Gestalt just barely managed to hold himself upright, but God did this hurt.

It hurt so much that it reminded him of his life prior to the Gotei and Soul Society. When he was alive and killing the enemies of God. And he had to say while the pain absolutely sucked, he could feel a certain energy, a certain feeling coursing through his body. It focused him, dulled his pain, and it brought out another side of him. As well as the voice from prior again. "You see what happens when you fail to train. Your task as a shinigami is to defend others. How can you defend if you cannot fight? If you underestimate those before you. But in this moment of weakness, you must remember the feeling. The enjoyment from a fight. The determination to continue and be an unfaltering soldier of God. The pain a tool to focus yourself and move forward. Remember this Gestalt. Fighting is necessary if you intend to deliver God's glory, mercy, and punishments."

Gestalt swore he needed to figure out what in God's name that voice was. And why it kept coming back. But it had a point. Gestalt never used to let himself be this overconfident. Nor would he ever have suffered a wound like this so easily. And a part of him was mad for it. Mad at himself and mad at Hiroto. There was a part of him that wanted to have him endure more. Punish him for striking him. But as quickly as these small urges came Gestalt immediately threw them to the side. He took a few shaky breathes and looked at his Zanpakuto. He'd need to call on Zadkiel for this. For both of them. But first he needed to calm down. Do not be mad at Hiroto. Remember, this entire endeavor was to begin the process of relearning how to fight. How to control ourselves. How to be God's warrior and not cast judgement on others. I am not God's Will. I am his mercy. An extension of his desire to help and assist all his children. Hiroto, is one such child. One that needs my help as much as I need his. Calm yourself. Deep breath. In, Out. In, Out. In, Out.

It took a moment for Gestalt to calm himself but after what felt like a small eternity he did. He found himself calm again. Then he pulled out his Zanpakuto, a true longsword and whisper, albeit roughly, its name. "Defend the faithful, Zadkiel." His energy flared up almost immediately as his weapon shifted in form from a longsword to a chain whip with a sizeable mace head at the end. He could feel the occasional brief divine energies within the weapon and found himself further calmed and reassured that while he'd had a moment he was still on the right path. Life did not come without its trails after all. One of his was to become a warrior of God correctly and not a warrior of Man this time around. With his release active Gestalt walked over to Hiroto while whispering a small prayer and holding his right hand open.

By the end of said prayer a small wafer was created. Pure white, thin, and about the size of a quarter. He looked over at his still recovering partner and chuckled, despite the pain that shot through him for it. Then he kneeled down and brought the wafer to his mouth. "Eat this Hiroto. You will find yourself, renewed in a few moments after you do." Once he accepted the wafer and ate it, his body would fill with a new foreign energy, though it immediately merged with his body seamlessly. The next moment would have his body fixing itself as all the damage done to him was fading away. No bruising, no busted blood vessels, no broken bones. Instead, a light warmth from his chest would emanate throughout him. Meanwhile Gestalt watched over him for a moment just to make sure any injuries he may have sustained would be fixed. He had no doubt of God's power but as a squad 4 member he was trained to check anyway.

Once he was certain Hiroto was patched up he produced another wafer for himself. Made the sign of the cross over his chest and then ate it. The blood flowing out immediately stopped. His aches in his legs and arms would vanish. His nose fixed itself and even his teeth moved back into place. A few moments later and he could breathe normally again and had no headache or body aches to speak up. The only show that he'd been injured was the blood on his face, stole, and uniform. Assuming the other was still on the ground Gestalt would extend his hand so he could assist the other in getting back up. "Much better I presume? You certainly look much better now. And now that I can speak, yes you did. Congratulations. While that is improvement you still need to remember what I said earlier. As well as a couple other things I've noticed."

"For one, you're not swinging your sword properly. While your concentration was spot on, you still attack with the flat of the blade. You will break it if you keep that up. While these weapons are sturdier than their human counterparts, they will eventually break all the same. So, take care that you swing with either the back or the edge of the blade. In addition, you need to consider that your opponent is going to use dirty tricks. Sand, dirt, debris in general are all generally available tools. And by the look on your face when I used it, you seemed shocked and completely unprepared. The best way to be prepared is to understand where you are. The environment can always be used as a weapon. For or against you. Aside from that, you did well. You can definitely use your body well when the moment calls. Especially that thick skull of yours haha!" Gestalt pointed to his bloodied uniform as he spoke to show just how much his headbutt actually hurt him. Then before he forgot, Gestalt sealed away his swords power and replaced it within the sheathe at his side.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro began to lose consciousness from the headbutt of Gestalt, he could feel a strange sensation welling up within him. It was as if a spark had been lit deep within his soul, urging him to push one more time. The feeling was invigorating, like electricity surging through his body, pushing him to move and deliver one final blow. Despite the pain and exhaustion, he felt compelled to continue, as if something greater than himself was guiding him. It was almost like he felt heat coming from a being aside from himself, and for a moment he swore he could hear a voice, but the words were too muddled to hear. Now was not the time to examine that, especially within the heat of battle!


With one final burst of energy, Benjiro slammed his forehead against Gestalt's nose with all his might. The impact was so hard that his vision receptors shut down and blinded him as he fell to the ground, exhausted from the short exchange. But even as he lay there, unable to see, he felt a sense of triumph. He had landed a hit, and actually hurt his opponent. He heard Gestalt's nose crack and crunch under the impact of his thick skull, which meant he had finally landed a good attack. A part of him felt bad, of course, but he understood that holding back was more hurtful to a warrior's soul. He remembered how Kazuo taught him that in their sparring. Through fists and through pain, two warriors could feel each others hearts and become more whole. That was yet another reason he felt so appreciative for the opportunity to learn from and exchange blows with Gestalt, especially for the chance he had to improve and better fulfill his duty to defend the Soul Society. He knew that he still had a long way to go, but he was determined to keep training and growing stronger, and hopefully he'd be able to stand on par with Gestalt one day.

As Benjiro lay on the ground, blind, he couldn't help but feel a release of tension and a lightness wash over him. He felt more in tune with his soul than ever before. He could even feel the slight warmth that exuded from Gestalt's spiritual pressure, despite his weakness in sensing energy and relatively low spiritual pressure. Suddenly, as he heard Gestalt mutter out the words "Defend the faithful, Zadkiel", he felt a massive spike of spiritual pressure and a wave of warmth wash over him. He had never felt that much spiritual pressure before, especially not one so close to him. Logically, it felt as if he should have been scared or intimidated by the sheer force of his soul's power, but that wasn't the case at all. The heat was comforting, like the natural warmth of the sun, and it was as if the words he spoke and the warmth he felt had resonated deep within Benjiro's soul as well, one that he knew he would carry with him on his journey to become a better warrior, a better defender of the Soul Society. A protective, comforting soul. That was what Benjiro wished to have more than anything. 

In the midst of his deep thought, Gestalt said a prayer channeled through Zadkiel. Unbeknownst to Benjiro, he created a small wafer capable of healing wounds. It was only when Gestalt told him to eat did Benjiro open his mouth, and with that, he received the bread and began to feel a warmth spreading through his body, chasing away the exhaustion and pain he had been feeling. Soon enough, his vision returned to him, and he was greeted to the sight of a heavily injured and damaged Gestalt, holding a unique Chain Whip as opposed to his training longsword. With the context given, he realized that this was the true form of his Zanpakuto, Zadkiel. His heart stung with pain at seeing the damage he had caused, but before he could speak, Zadkiel created another wafer and Gestalt ate it, immediately restoring his nose and moving his teeth back in place. Benjiro's shock was visible on his face as he watched Gestalt's ability in action. For his soul to take the form of a weapon such as the Chain Whip yet also the ability to heal wounds, Gestalt truly was a unique individual. Benjiro smiled as he felt blessed to have met him.

Even then, despite the damage he had caused, Gestalt continued to show the utmost care and respect by congratulating him for managing to land a hit. Benjiro smiled, sitting up to look his training partner in the eyes. "I feel even better than I had before we met. Thank you, Father Gestalt" He couldn't help but interrupt for a moment so that he could thank his healer, but Gestalt quickly continued with a lesson on where he went wrong. Benjiro stood up at this point, feeling as energetic as he was prior to their training, but his body, mind, and soul still remembered everything it had just learned. It felt almost like cheating, since he got to train without any effect or consequence on his body. Still, the lesson was not yet over, with Gestalt explaining that he had been attacking with the wrong side of the blade, utilizing it in the way he did was a sure way to break his Asauchi, even if they were much more durable than their real world counterparts. He instead needed to focus on attacking with the edge or the back of the blade, and Benjiro nodded his head, listening intently. Finally, he imparted one last lesson, to always be prepared for dirty tricks. Being caught off guard was dangerous, as seen when Gestalt kicked up debris into his eyes, but less honorable foes would have done more for less, and if he were to defend the Soul Society, he'd need to be better prepared and more accustomed to fighting with the environment in mind. That being said, Gestalt praised him for knowing how to use his body, especially his thick skull, when the moment called for it. Benjiro blushed a little, embarrassed at receiving any praise at all, but grateful for Gestalt's lessons.

"Thank you, Father. It was only through your guidance that I was able to improve the way I did. Oh, and forgive me for only mentioning this now, but my first name is Benjiro. I chose not to correct you because you reminded me of my teacher in my previous life, Abbot Eshin. I think he would have liked you." Benjiro felt at ease with Gestalt, moreso than most people. Perhaps it was the fact that he was a man of faith as well, or maybe that he walked a similar path, striding the line between peace and war. In truth, it was more than that. Benjiro really saw his former master in Gestalt, and a part of him longed to have closure with Eshin. He spent many years in the Soul Society, worried about how Eshin felt after his sudden death, knowing that unless they died at the same time, the chances of them meeting were slim to none. In a way, he saw Gestalt as a chance to have one last meeting with his former master. "Back when I was among the living, after a long day of training, Abbot Eshin would go on a run with me. Would you... if you do not mind, I would like to request the stepping training you offered before." He bowed deeply once more, out of respect. His earnest desire contrasting heavily against his comical bow. 

[Deleted]

Gestalt smiled as he listened to Hiroto. Thankful that the other was back to his previous self, or as he said better than before. Thank you for granting Hiroto the miracle of God's healing. With his silent prayer said he continued to listen to Benjiro, since he informed him that this was his first name. Gestalt nodded and even went so far as to bring out a small notebook and jot the name down. Once written he replaced it within his uniform. He chuckled before explaining himself. "Don't mind the notebook. I find writing helps me remember important things. Names of the various individuals I meet being one of those important things to recall correctly. As for your Abbot Eshin, I'd imagine I'd have liked him as well. If nothing else, his teachings seem to have stuck with you and continue to guide your path. Perhaps I'll meet him if he appears in Soul Society someday."

"As for your request, I don't mind. I'm not the best at this "Shunpo" style. But I can help you learn the basics of it. Truth is, for a lot of this combat style and techniques developed in the Seireitei, I think your squad as well as the 11th are likely the better individuals to talk to. I'm sort of at the same starting point as you are given this is all new to me. I must ask though; do you want to train here or is there a track or some other place you'd want to train?" Gestalt looked around at the various pits in their local section of the group training area. Sure, they could do step training here, but Gestalt was mildly concerned that Benjiro would likely knock himself into someone if he wasn't careful. And considering he was asking for training? He likely wasn't super proficient in it to begin with. He just hoped he could assist the other in some meaningful way.