Recruitment Day -(New Shinō Grads and Squad Reps Welcome)

[Mamenoka, Utsukushī]

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{Grading Request}
Please give me SP for the following exchange of posts. The battle starts here.

Utsukushī was unsure of what to make of this man’s claims. Was he being honest and humble, or deceitful and devious? Perhaps he wasn’t the best student, but to be a seated member of the Thirteen Court Protection Squads without so much as a whisper from his zanpakuto’s inner spirit? It happens, supposedly, though Utsukushī struggled to understand the use of having a member who can’t use a shikai. Then, the realization that this man was one of a number of people who specialized in the other combat arts: hand to hand, kidō and perhaps even base zanjutsu. The latter two possibilities resonated the most with the amethyst-haired death god.

While Utsukushī was considered a well-rounded student by fighting instructors, even he was uncomfortable with the base design of his shikai. For now at least, the weapons were at most awkward feeling in his hands, and at worst, a liability that leaves him in a more vulnerable state than does his sealed tachi, even with its shorter size. Despite this, he more than makes up for the shortcoming by balancing his physical prowess and demon arts. Doing this potentially saves on his reiatsu consumption. Why couldn’t this man be the same. And if he is the same, then perhaps he wasn’t lying. Just maybe this mock battle would be one fought without releasing the first stage. Perhaps it truly would be just a test of the technical applications of shinigami battle arts. “I think he’s being honest. This is already proving to be unbelievably different than facing a hollow.” He thought.

Utsukushī offered his opponent, as well as himself, a faint smile; for his opponent, a token of thanks for what may very well turn out to be honesty, and for himself a sincere reaction to accompany the enormous amount of relief he now felt.

Now, as Benjiro stood on the opposite side of the rink. His lavender-haired opponent watched him, slowly shifting the concentration of his jaguar-like gaze from head to toe, then from limb to limb. His raptorial focus flitted about the man’s form assessing, searching, prying, for weaknesses in the presented defense. For a moment, and only a moment, Utsukushī locked eyes with Benjiro, his eyes widening to their limit as he realized that the man was perfectly balanced. This giant of a man could perfectly defend himself from any angle that Utsukushī may try to attack. Then his eyes regained their focus and returned to their desperate search. Nearly a minute passed. It was clear that Benjiro’s patience outmatched that of his opponent as his calm and focused gazed waivered not much, quite the opposite of the purple-haired young shinigami.

“It’s just like that time.” Utsukushī quietly mumbled to himself. His whisper was strangely drowned out by the mass silence that swept over the crowd. “What are the chances that I’d think back to that time, even before fighting someone reminiscent of that monster?” He thought, returning to self-reflection.


—9.5 Years Ago—


Utsukushī was indeed being surrounded, but not by multiple hollows, but by the extensions of a grotesque main body which revealed itself only after Utsukushī was in range and likely to be caught by the multitude of teeth in any number of its many mouths. Each of them was filled with rows of several perfectly interlocking dagger-like bone-white teeth. There were a dozen mouths in total, each of them attached to thick stems grown from various parts of the hollow’s armless torso. “It’s legs? Is that what it used to herd me here?” Utsukushī thought after dodging one of several flailing whipping appendages with flash stepping. He’d been ducking, rolling, and flash stepping away for a while now. He’d not even been given the chance to draw his sword.

The creature's attacks came in waves and he discovered too little too late that the point of the attacks was to herd him towards its main body slowly crawling up from beneath the sands in the distance. His shoulders rose and fell with the expansion and deflation of his chest. He wasn’t being given enough time to properly catch his breath. This was the most relentless hollow he’d ever faced up to this point. He needed to go on the offensive, but how? Just as quickly as the thought came, he was finally grabbed. A long appendage burst forth from the ground, ensnaring his leg before throwing him into the air. It was then that he finally saw it. His eyes scanned what he could of the hollow.

Nearest he could tell it was it was also composed of a deformed humanesque bony head, long boneless neck and sharp angular shoulders. The lone torse stood atop a stump which disappeared beneath the white sands. “Is this supposed to be a Venus Flytrap or some other type of carnivorous plant? So then, those dreadfully long things are its roots or are its roots its arms? They’re highly mobile. How many are there?” His thoughts raced as he flew ever closer to the waiting jaws of the freakish plant hollow. This was before settling on the fact that it didn’t matter. Surely by destroying the main body the rest of it would disintegrate like with any other malignant spirit. He’d fight back now, and ask questions later.

Several of hollow’s jaws opened in anticipation of capturing the violet-haired boy. Of course, he’d never be caught by such a direct ploy as being thrown towards an opponent's waiting jaws. And so he began to fight back with the only physical combat art suited to one with his build. To some, it wasn’t a true martial art but a grand series of impressive tricks, an ornamental style of movement, a combination of flashy ground and aerial maneuvers more suited for escaping harm than causing it to others. In truth, his inventive form was nothing more than the merging of precisely timed acrobatics, which allowed him to minimize or avoid disadvantageous contact while positioning himself to perform the second part of this merger; well-angled offensive strikes accompanied by bursts of speed informed by his adept intuition.

A simple adjustment in the positioning of his body was cause for each mouth to miss their meaty goal. The boy skillfully began twisting and spinning with the well-coordinated motion of a practiced gymnast. Rather than being thrown into the mouths of his predator, he flew over them. He met the sands of the ground below with a powdery thud. A cloud of the grainy white granules was launched into the air, displaced by the force of his landing. Utsukushī peered back towards the deadly hollow with unyielding determination. Nothing was going to stop him from avenging his mother, not even the terrible malignant spirit now planted before him.

He drew his soul-cutter blade with such quickness it appeared as though he cut the moonlight itself. A vibrant white flash met the hollow root closest to him. A portion of it fell to the ground, calling forth a chilling wale from the spirit it was attached to. That portion twitched about before erupting into a sizzling cloud of blackened ash. He made even greater use of his speed and agility when he shuffled backwards away from the proceeding lashing roots by vanishing from sight, appearing every so often in a blink. He stopped only when he was absolutely certain he was outside the hollows reach. He watched, waited, and counted the seconds. He then counted the minutes. Then he was positive that this hollow was permanently affixed to this place.

“Your range is only a few hundred yards? You actually need to wait for prey to stumble into your territory don’t you?” Utsukushī said confidently. “What a limiting existence.” He continued, sheathing his soul-cutting sword. “If I leave you here, there’s a good chance you’ll just wither away, after all, you can’t just wait for your meals to come to you in a space as vast and as infinite as Hueco Mundo. It may be centuries until another unknowing food source falls for your trap. You'd starve before that. It appears as though you were doomed to fail since your inception.” He finished, turning from the beast and its territory. In the time of a single step forward he seemed to reconsider. This creature tried to eat him, it tried to get in the way of righteous vengeance. He’s not going to let anyone get in the way of that.

Utsukushī vanished, carried by all of the speed his current grasp of shunpo could manage. He moved faster than wind, faster than sight, but could he move faster than Benjiro? Upon his approach, he began to draw his tachi. He flew along the ground, body outstretched and vertical, like a snake in longrass on the hunt. He stood only when he reached his opponent’s side. He drew his blade only after reaching his true target, the man’s massive back. The sounds of sharpened metal leaving its protective covering echoed from Utsukushī’s sealed zanpakuto as he sought to slash Benjiro vertically all in one arc of his sword. It wasn’t his fastest attempt at an attack, but it would at least suffice to begin testing his opponent’s true technical depths. If the blow was not one Benjiro could country, at most it would leave a superficial wound.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techniques and Spiritual Pressure Remaining:}
Shunpo (cost 50 Reiatsu)
950/1000 SP remaining

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SPOILER: Click to show

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As the crowd gathered to witness the spar between Benjiro and Utsukushi, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Benjiro, standing firm and resolute, allowed the recent graduate to make the first move, an act that seemed to baffle many in the audience. A full minute passed, and to the onlookers, it felt like an eternity of inaction. Murmurs of impatience and frustration began to swell among the spectators, and some even resorted to jeering and booing, disappointed by the lack of action.

However, Benjiro remained unmoved, a statue amidst the growing storm of discontent. His stance was unwavering, and he watched with unwavering patience as Utsukushi's erratic movements failed to provoke a response. The lavender-haired student darted around, seeking openings, and yet Benjiro seemed like an impenetrable fortress of calm. After all, Benjiro was a trained monk. Sparring in this context was no different than meditation, for true meditation was oneness with the senses, free from the troubles of the mind. 

Then, a few muttered words escaped Utsukushi's lips, and with a flash step, he materialized behind Benjiro. It was a swift maneuver, and though Benjiro reacted, he was not quick enough to avoid the attack completely. He only turned part of the way. A superficial wound marred the side of his back, a testament to Utsukushi's agility and speed, but a lack of strength and cutting ability to truly make it count. Still, Benjiro was more than capable of taking much worse punishment than this.

Realization dawned on Benjiro in that moment. He acknowledged that he couldn't match Utsukushi's speed, but he possessed a strength of his own: precision and unpredictability. Instead of attempting to turn fully and swing his blade, he opted for a more unorthodox approach. Benjiro, still partly turned towards Utsukushi with only a single hand on his blade, lunged his fist forward, aiming for the sides of Utsukushi's sword guard, an attempt to disrupt his opponent's grip and control. If he was successful, the crushing strength of his massive fist would slam against the recent graduate's fingers.

The Unseated Officer was fully expecting Utsukushi to dodge the strike, his attack was fairly simplistic after all. But Benjiro had another trick up his sleeve. As he moved, he began to speak an incantation, his words carrying power and purpose. "Breathe in the smokes of ambrosia," He uttered, pushing even closer to the lavender-haired boy. "feel the mists fill your mind. Know the world, let it know you." He continued, aiming to slice down vertically with his blade. At this range, it was very hard to optimally strike, which meant Utsukushi could not only very easily dodge, but even clash or parry Benjiro's blade. 

But the blade strikes were nothing but pressure for Utsukushi. Sure, if the boy took the blows, Benjiro would have an advantage, but Benjiro's aim was not to harm in this moment. The blades were meant to push Utsukushi away and prevent more attacks from falling onto his body or breaking his concentration. "Spin to the ground like a dandelion tuft, stare at the sky and truly wonder at the nature of the stars.” He completed the incantation, still swinging wildly and loosely, albeit slowly. 

"Bakudo number sixty-four. Tousei Takai." With that, the Kido would resolve itself, and Benjiro's mouth began to hang loosely. His wild attack would draw to a close, leaving the Shinigami still once more. A red mist began to emanate from the edges of his mouth, a subtle yet ominous manifestation of his mastery over Kido, using a relatively advanced Bakudo technique despite only being an Unseated Officer. In truth, this was the first time Benjiro had used this Kido in battle, and it was quite taxing for him. 

Still, this was the best way to fight a faster fighter. If inhaled, this crimson mist would cast a disorienting veil over Utsukushi's senses, a debilitating sensation for a fighter whose strength relied on agility and precision. He only hoped he was putting on a good fight for those watching, and that the spectators wouldn't be affected by the disorienting mists. 

---

After talking with Utsukushi, we decided to use Benjiro's Class 5 Stats for a more interesting combat.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}
Strength: 100 (150)
Speed: 100 (50)
RS: 150 (225)
SPPR: 120
Instinct: 50
Senses: 50 (25)
ES: 100
HE: 0
LA: 75
DA: 25

Learning - 1
Calm Mind - 1
Strength of Will - 2
Weapons: Swords - 1
Pain Tolerance - 2
Bleeding Tolerance - 2
Damage Recovery - 2
Mental Incantation - 2
Kido Mastery - 2

Reiatsu: 1200 -150 = 1050

SPOILER: Click to show

{Technique Used}

Technique Name: Bakudō #64: Tousei Takai (Intoxication High)
Technique Class: 4 - 40 TTP
Technique Type: Kidō - Bakudō.
Usable By: Kidō-users.
Technique Element: Air.
Technique Cost: 150 Reiatsu.

Description: Tousei Takai is a flexible Bakudo, one that is used to ensnare and warp the mental abilities of the target that is caught within it. When used, this technique allows the user to release a constant fog of a red-tinted gas from their mouth until this Kido ends, which is two posts after its initial use. This fog will constantly spread wherever they go, leaving a trail behind them that will hover low to the ground, flying no higher than thirty feet above the ground at its peak. However, this cloud will remain for an extended period of time, namely a full five posts once the initial duration of this technique ends. The fact that this technique remains for such a long time, and can cover a fair area depending on how much the user moves around, makes this a very versatile and broad-spreading technique.

But what exactly does this cloud do? It fogs the mind. The victim has a hard time focusing once they are within this cloud, their vision blurring and their head spinning. This is just from the first breath, causing a fair amount of disorientation right away. But it gets worse the longer one is exposed to the cloud. After the second post of exposure, the victim loses their balance, causing them to stumble and easily collapse, making step techniques risky to use. Additionally, their vision begins to fade slightly, tinting everything a faded gray-red to further add to their blurred sight. A third post makes the victim unable to stand between the dizzying spinning sensation, their balance completely vanishing, and a sudden lack of focus that causes their mind to flit from one subject to another. Four posts, and the victim is practically a zombie, eyes drawn to the nearest shiny or pretty-colored object while they stumble around, unable to even walk thanks to their inability to balance. Battle Focus and Strength of Will can delay the effects of these symptoms, adding a single post per symptom for every 2 combined ranks in these skills (i.e. a 1 in both would cause the initial disorientation at post 2, balance and faded vision at post 3, and loss of balance at post 4, as the combined total is two ranks.)

The user is immune to this technique, as it is infused with their Reiatsu, and it can be blown away with a technique with a superiority of two classes or 25% higher Reiatsu Strength than the user's. Wind-based attacks, however, can blow this away with some ease, though the smoke is constantly being emitted, which can neutralize a single wind attack.

How to Use: Speak the incantation, and cast the spell. As long as the mouth remains open, smoke will continue to pour from it. Move around to spread the smoke over a large area.

Incantation: The smoke can be spread for an additional two posts upon use of the incantation, and the cloud's duration is doubled to ten posts after the spreading ends. (“Breathe in the mists of ambrosia, feel the mists fill your mind. Know the world, let it know you; spin to the ground like a dandelion tuft, stare at the sky and truly wonder at the nature of the stars.”)

Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost. Besides that, there are a few other drawbacks. First off, this technique is ineffective against opponents who can get above it, having a maximum height limit of thirty feet above a solid surface. Additionally, it can affect allies who are caught in the cloud, making this a double-edged sword. Finally, it takes a while for the strongest effects to kick in, meaning that the victims must be contained within the technique constantly to make full use of the effects.

Made By: Z-Wolf.

Reserved?: No.

[Mamenoka, Utsukushī]

“Is this poison?” Utsukushī thought as his chest began to feel tighter. He panted like a dog in the height of July heat. Sweat from his every pore trickled down his young frame and began to pool in his tabi socks. It was getting so hard to breathe. Blood dripped from his left hand and the cut that was its source felt as though it’d been caused by an actual blade. “Is that why breathing is becoming so difficult? Is that why my body is starting to feel so heavy?” This was stream of consciousness nine and a half years ago.

A brief high pitched whizzing sound hummed across the pristine white sands as Utsukushī cut down another one of the hollow’s lashing root-like extremities. The rate of his panting breaths escalated causing an equal level of worry to take purchase in his mind. It was so easy to cut the root-like limbs before, they were incredibly dexterous and flexible, but ultimately, they followed a pattern, and always coiled up moments before trying to touch him. They were clearly made to ensnare as opposed to cut or pierce. Their nature instilled a sense of false confidence in the violet-haired death god. He’d become so confident in his imminent victory, that he allowed himself to be caught completely unawares by the new growth before him. Long, straight, thorny pseudo branches or stems.

Now several of them rose from the sands like a stalagmite one would expect to see on a cave floor. They were nearly as hard as his soul cutting edge, but that alone isn’t what made them dangerous. It was the speed at which they shot up and grew from the ground. If the malignant spirit had used them before when it first threw Utsukushī, he’d have certainly been killed. The fact wasn’t lost on him. But why didn’t it do that? Was the creature simply overconfident before? Perhaps. Or perhaps there was more to this than was immediately apparent.

Again, the whizzing sound of the death god’s blade meeting a root-like appendage echoed throughout the desolate bone-white desert. A swooshing sound followed that as Utsukushī used a fraction of his now precious stamina to place a little more distance between himself and the hollow. It wasn’t enough to clear the creature’s territory, however it was likely enough to confuse the hollow and by the death god a little more time to think. He fell to one knee with his zanpakuto embedded into the sand to hold himself steady. It wouldn’t be long before the hollow tracked his movement and so he needed to figure out what was going on fast. Or, alternatively, he could die.

He looked out and over the battlefield, focusing on the most immediate danger and the potential threat it caused; these thorn covered brach limbs. He quickly put his analytical mind to work comparing and contrasting what was then and what is now. His eyes flitted to various patches of disturbed sands which to him were obviously the searching root limbs. His eyes then flitted next to the thorny polearms and hollow all in the same field of view. “The newly grown patch of deadly growths surround the hollow.” He thought, noting that each of these were roughly the size of a long polearm or pike. Clearly reach was an issue for them, but that still didn’t explain why they weren’t used at the start of the battle. His eyes continued their search for clues, for answers, and for questions yet unasked.

“So then…” His thoughts continued, eyes yet again focusing on moving sand mounds. His symptoms almost broke his concentration “...because these sharp growths are limited in size…” He next thought back to when he managed to cut one, after it cut his hand. A chunk of this new structure fell to the ground making its own unique sound, more akin to fallen bamboo. Unlike the root-like growths which twitched and writhed before dissipating, these just turned to ash after hitting the ground. “...they can not grow or rather be made to move about like the roots because they can not grow past what they are now. Damn it! That still doesn’t answer why now, or more importantly, how long before this poison…” His thoughts froze as his eyes fell back upon the hollow. “Is it...getting tired?”

The deformed mask of the hollow appeared to crack right where one might expect a mouth to be. It quietly heaved, straightening its posture with each inhalation before curling forward with the following exhalation. Its other fang-filled mouths opened wide as if also attempting to help the main body take in air. It was then that the young death god was met with a life altering epiphany. The monstrous spirit didn’t kill him with this new revelation previously because it was trying to conserve its resources. More importantly, this battle wasn’t just one of power and force. This battle and every other battle that he would be challenged with in the future would be one of carefully planning strategies for the effective application of resources.

He could smack himself not coming to the realization sooner. It was all so simple. The hollow was being just as overconfident as Utsukushī was. And now, Utsukushī would need to begin engaging in this battle with all of the efficacy that this hollow was. This plant-like creature would no doubt win at the battle’s current pace.

Even now, the amethyst-haired death god watched how much more effective the beast was at regathering its stamina. It had over a dozen mouths if he counted the new hole in its mask. All of them were helping it to catch its breath, yet here was the young warrior not even making proper use of his own air collection organs. This needed to be corrected before anything else could be done.

Utsukushi took note of every stage of his struggle to breathe. He was breathing quickly in through his mouth, and then out through his mouth. He would breathe in, before feeling a moment of satisfaction. And then he would breath out and feel the need to struggle for breath again. Each time he did this, a slight burning sensation found a home in his chest. He began to break this breathing process down in practice. Step one, breathe in through his mouth. This makes sense, this is how the standard human body could be made to take in the most air all at once. Step two…step two needed to be made to accommodate the work done by step one. He breathed in all that air just to quickly expel it again? He tried something different. This time, he allowed his lungs to savor the air while relieving the pressure that had built by simply breathing out of his nostrils. After only a single breath, the pain that accompanied it subsided.

He began to take another, in this very same way before he took note of a shifting pile of sand crawling towards him. “Damn, can’t you let me catch my breath?” He thought as he looked up from he steadily approaching root to the hollow off in the distance. “No, of course not. This is life and death for both of us.” As the thought formed, he felt a sudden surge of stamina build. “After only one breath?” He said, raising his free hand and stretching it out to his side. “Bakudō number twenty-six, Kyakko.” He said aloud, finally feeling as though he’d gathered enough air to do something, to do anything worthwhile. He moved his outstretched arm as one would were they closing a sliding door. An iridescent light cascaded down on him and enveloped his form. And just like that, he vanished from sight. He began reciting the incantation for the kidō Bending Light using his mind’s voice. This would increase the spell's efficacy allowing him to hide even more successfully. At least until he caught his breath.

He moved only when he felt he’d gathered enough strength to. He had ample time to gather enough of his body’s resources for that, being the root-like appendage seemed to stop in place when the hollow lost track of its would be prey. He didn’t move far, only a few dozen yards before he settled and decided to devote the remainder of the spell’s time to catching his breath. He began practicing the proper way to breathe in combat, now it was time to figure out what he could do with it. He gathered enough strength to cast an extremely useful kidō with one breath. With a few more he managed to move a body which did not have the strength to move previously. Could he figure out a way to slow the spread of this poison? If so, how?

He shifted the attention away from his breath directly. He continued this proper breathing technique, but this time, he focused his attention on his injured hand. It burned and it throbbed. “And it’s still bleeding!” The boy thought as his eyes fell upon a blood trail leading from where he was to where he is currently. “If the hollow followed that moisture with its roots, or sense of smell it’d find me immediately. Then again, if I recall, there are some hollows that can use something like radar to find a target. They’ve been known to target humans on earth using this method.” The purple-haired shinigami held his mounting anxiety close at heart, but he never let it distract him from his breathing or his focus on his hand. And thanks to that, he was able to discover the true source of pain in his hand. It wasn’t the cut itself, but an object in it. He sheathed his zanpakuto and put his efforts into removing the object. He grabbed the barely visible edge of whatever it was and pulled it out. The blood poured quickly at first, but after quickly bandaging the wound, the flow slowed.

He held the culprit in his hand. “One of the thorns?” He thought while sniffing at it. It didn’t have a smell beyond the smell of his own blood. He dried the sharp piece of hollow on his clothing before continuing his examination. There truly was no smell. No moisture of any kind was on its surface or hollowed inside. It was just a smooth, sharp-

A small mound of sand in the corner of his eye shifted ever so slightly before a root-like appendage shot out of the ground. He didn’t have enough time to react before it grabbed his leg. It whirled through the air in a clear attempt to disorient him, and it was working. He hit the ground with enough force to make him lose his breath, again. Then, he was thrown back towards the main body at speeds infinitely more impressive than when he was first launched.

Though he was out of breath again, in those few minutes of peace and focus, he’d gained enough of his stamina back for it to make a real difference. He could think clearly as he unwillingly flew towards the hollow now. Fifty yards, one-hundred yards, and then the familiar sounds of deep shifting sands met his ears. The hollow was planning to impale him on an eruption of new thorny polearms. It would not make the same mistake of letting Utsukushī make another acrobatic escape. And as it figured the young boy could avoid the growth that was already present, its best bet was to impale him with fresh random growths that would also make it more difficult to navigate through air unscathed. Close the existing gaps with deadly spikes and this boy would die here and now. Of course, Utsukushī wasn’t going to make it that easy. This hollow was underestimating the lengths to which he’d go to make sure he was strong enough to achieve his vengeance.

While it was true, the lilac-haired death god would meet his end given this new savage plan, the boy was far too stubborn to actually let the malignant spirit’s plan go off without a hitch. Though the strength with which he was thrown left little room for him to change his direction, this didn’t mean he couldn’t reorient himself. He did just that, twisting just enough to get the hollow in his sights. While doing so, a snap of his good hand summoned a vibrant blue spark which grew and straightened until he held the beginnings of “Bakudō Number Sixty-Two, Hyapporankan!”

His shout was filled with enough intent, enough power, that the brilliant rod he now held pulsated in response. He tossed the beginnings of his Hundred Steps Fence kidō with all of this force his tired body could muster, using his mind’s voice to recite the full incantation of this demon art. One rod became two, then two became five and then those became ten. While it would have divided into no more than thirty parts the further it traveled, at this distance it divided into no more than twenty rods. Most embedded themselves into the previous growths, changing the paths of some of the newly sprouting spikes and even stopping some on their upward path completely. Some even struck the spiky pikes on their way up, changing their path and even causing a few to crash into each other, shattering in the process. A single rod stood firmly in the neck of this plant-like spirit, just above its hollow hole. It stood in complete stillness, arms outstretched, unable to move.

Utsukushī finally had the opportunity to deliver the killing blow. His kidō left several openings in the armory-like garden and a few of them led directly to the temporarily defenseless hollow. The death god managed to pull off a safe landing by slowing his descent by grabbing onto the glowing rods which intersected with his previously deadly path.

As their light flickered, the shinigami lept along a safe path until he closed the distance between the hollow and himself. Raising his zanpakuto, he thought back to the most pivotal points of this short yet deadly encounter. And then he wondered “I wonder if that battle will also end with a snap of my fingers…”

Utsukushī’s eyes went wide for a moment, shocked at what had just happened. He just cut a member of the Gotei Thirteen. Even if this was just an exposition so to speak, this was his first time facing a member of the Thirteen Court Gate Squads. Did all of his time spent fighting for survival in Hueco Mundo help him build the kind of strength that outmatches even a seated officer? Or maybe, this man was telling the truth? Maybe the androgynous shinigami fledgling really was overestimating him? Regardless, it was too early to tell. For all he knew, Benjiro let him land the attack. In that case it would mean that it wasn’t just Utsukushī who was testing his opponent, Benjiro was doing the same.

The behemoth of a death god turned quickly, or what constitutes as quickly? It’s not that he was slow, it was just that the amethyst-haired new graduate was just a hair faster. That is, if he had to make an estimated guess. Perhaps like the grotesque plant-type hollow once slain, this man is just trying to be mindful of his resources? Utsukushī decided instantly that it’s better to be cautious than it is to be overly confident.

He came to the decision not a moment too soon, as the muscular shinigami instantly launched his massive fist at his smaller purple-haired opponent. “Is he trying to disarm me?” He thought, confused but ready to react to a surprise. Why his fist when he has, from what Utsukushī could tell was, a perfectly good zanpakuto? Is he uncomfortable using it? Is that why it hasn’t revealed its name to him? “So unexpected. Did he unsheath it only so that he can defend against armed strikes?” He thought leaning out of the way of the path of the fist in preparation to create a most telling opening, more so than strictly dodging.

He bent backwards, not to intentionally show off his flexibility, but showing it off nonetheless. First one foot followed the implied trail made by his head, and then the second. It was the second foot which guided Benjiro’s attempt at a punch astray. He didn’t directly meet his fist head on so to speak, but instead used his foot to guide the wrist off course just enough to create an opening over the rib cage that the arm typically protects. His first foot flew overhead and met the ground, and then his second followed the same circular course. If his melee parry was completed, it’d have used Benjiro’s own strength and momentum against him to finally cause an imbalance. And now his feet were in prime position to enable him to dash forward for another strike.

“I’ll test that theory with a direct atta-” The high pitched sound of steel slicing through the very air silenced his thoughts. Utsukushī had his answer to his dismay. He was prepared to parry one attack, but two? This man was fighting with all the relentlessness of a malignant spirit. “Wait…more than two attacks?” His thoughts speedily caught up to present events. “He’s chanting?!” Utsukushī thought while angling his own soul cutting edge in preparation to parry yet again.

Their blades clashed and the violet-haired fledgling was immediately filled with regret. He instantly became aware of just how much Benjiro outclassed him in sheer physical strength. Of course it only makes sense that he’d be stronger given such a heavily muscled body forged by hard work and dedication to it. However, to be dwarfed to this extreme by an unseated member of the organization fell completely outside of the boy’s ability to imagine.
His hand’s felt as though they’d been stung by the impact, but that only made him grip his blade even harder. His arms felt as though they’d melt away at any moment, so he borrowed strength from the rest of his body. The strain made his legs buck, but he refused to give up on this parry. At least now that he was on his knees and closer to the ground he could use it to securely angle his blade and finally parry the strike.

The sound of Benjiro’s sword edge scrapping stone snapped Utsukushī back from his shock caused by finally seeing the difference in raw power between the two. And he came back just in time to hear the resolution of his chanting. It was one the amethyst-haired death god was aware of. Most graduates were. Its name came to mind just as Benjiro uttered it marking the spell’s completion. What the hell was he going to do now against someone who was not only vastly stronger than him, but seemingly equal to or maybe even greater than him with kidō as well?

His thoughts raced. His mind flashed back once more to his fight against the mockery of a carnivorous plant back in the land of the hollows. He was caught off guard and outmatched back then too. The one thing he did that made all the difference in setting his victory was giving himself the time to think and assess. But how could he do that now? The man was standing over him now spewing a gas that would all but assure his victory in no time. If only he…

“If only he’d close his mouth and give me more time?” Utsukushī thought. The speed at which he began to take in all that was happening would have shocked even him, if he allowed himself the time to marinate on it as a respite from this battle. Instead, he stole time. He inhaled deeply and began to hold in his breath, savoring the air he’d captured before Benjiro’s lips gave way to the red tinted fog.

He positioned himself to pounce as the fog began pouring forth. It would engulf Utsukushī, but it would also obscure Utsukushī from Benjiro. And when that finally happened the shinigami fledgling pounced. Though he couldn’t see anything besides the flowing red fog, he could see the source of its flow, he could feel it as well. It flowed fastest the closer to that source; Benjiro's mouth. As the source of it was his mouth, by attacking the source, he was attacking Benjiro.

This all took seconds as feeling for the flow of the fog was the most difficult part. Once he found it, he snapped his fingers and mentally summoned one of what he considered to be one of his signature demon art spells, Bakudō number 62: Hyapporankan, better known as Hundred Steps Fence. He mentally repeated the prose that composed the demon art spell and jabbed it upwards at the source of the shifting, steadily growing gas. Benjiro's own kidō would serve as the perfect cover to hide Utsukushī's own attempt to counter.

Rather than exiting the fog right away, Utsukushī remained within it, choosing instead to wait for the feeling of resistance that would tell him he struck Benjiro, hopefully subduing him enough to cease the production of this gas. He could hold his breath for another half minute at least, unless he doesn’t have to use additional kidō, in which case he could do so for even longer.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Techniques Used}
Technique Name: Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan (Hundred Steps Fence)

Technique Class: 4 - 40 TTP

Technique Type: Kidō - Bakudō.

Usable By: Kidō-users.

Technique Element: N/A.

Technique Cost: 150 Reiatsu.

Description: A single rod of violet reiatsu is hurled at the target. On its way, it suddenly splits into several rods at once, which then pin the target to any nearby wall-like surface. Their body is then totally immobilized if this hits.

How to Use: It needs the caster to aim the casting hand at the target, not unlike any traditional Hadō.

Incantation: The number of rods is typically fifteen, but will double to thirty and will allow this to be used on up to two targets at once if incantation is used. Incantation unknown.

Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost.

Made By: Unknown.

Reserved?: No.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spiritual Pressure Bank}
800/1000

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro's reiatsu surged through his being, a tumultuous torrent within his very core. The exertion of such intense Kido, especially one as enduring as Tousei Takai, proved taxing, sapping his energy. He could not fight like this endlessly, especially with the constraints of his own spiritual reservoirs. The transformation of his innate water and wood element reiatsu into an intoxicating mist demanded immense focus and control, straining the young Shinigami. The mist, an intoxicating creation, now hung in the air, wrapping the atmosphere in an enigmatic shroud.

Utsukushi, affected by the inhaled mist, displayed signs of confusion and disorientation, momentarily lost in its ethereal embrace. Was the boy lost in thought again? Focus was needed in the midst of combat, a scattered mind often lead to mistakes. Still, this was only a friendly spar, so the dangers of such an act were not apparent. Benjiro had cast a spell that, rather than inflicting pain, left the opponent disoriented yet strangely elated. He had hoped it would be enough to conclude the spar swiftly, but Utsukushi, resilient and driven, surprised him.

The crimson mist not only hindered Utsukushi but also obscured Benjiro's vision, an unintended consequence of his own creation. However, relying on his ability to sense spiritual energy, he detected Utsukushi's movements. This was due, in large part, to the teachings that the Okami Butsu had imparted upon him. He remembered how he needed to rely on more than just his physical senses, that he needed to use his spiritual senses and sense the energy of those around him. That was why it was surprisingly easy for him to pinpoint the growing energy of his opponent.

The lavender-haired graduate initiated a formidable Kido, showcasing an impressive understanding of technique for a recent graduate. Based on the power, this was likely a Kido above the 50s, an advanced technique that even Benjiro struggled to cast. Anticipating the incoming attack, Benjiro swiftly invoked Bakudo number 39, Enkosen, a shield woven from refined reiatsu, forming a protective barrier around his body. Enkosen was a unique Bakudo, one that was instantaneous to form and required only a thought to form. The red mist of Tousei Takai was even unaffected by the sudden incantation.

The violet spark of Utsukushi's Kido collided with the orange reiatsu shield but failed to breach it. This timely defense not only preserved Benjiro's safety but also created a strategic opening. Seizing the opportunity within the mist-laden arena, Benjiro advanced, closing the gap between them with determined purpose. He lunged forward, a powerful stab directed at Utsukushi's arm, intending to disarm his opponent and conclude the spar in his favor. He had only hoped that he didn't injure Utsukushi too badly.

Reiatsu: 1050-100=950
-100 for Enkosen

[Mamenoka, Utsukushī]

The instant Utukushī felt resistance, he knew his ploy was successful. The steady yet gentle flow of reddish tinted gas stopped the moment his defensive demon art hit something hard. That could only be the muscular hard-bodied man he was sparring with.

Utsukushī instantly sprung into action, carrying himself above the foggy kidō his opponent summoned. He used the last of breath to ascend with all of the speed that his slender form could manage. It wasn’t necessarily to catch his breath though. Instead, it was to get a better vantage view of the now subdued Benjiro…only Utsukushī didn’t know his opponent had in fact avoided the Hundred Steps Fence altogether. He also didn’t know that he just missed an attack to his arm by the colossal man.

Now his eyes quickly surveyed the rink, now covered with a dense rose-colored fog. “I need to find Benjiro before he can break free from…” His thoughts were interrupted by the realization that there was a cut on the right sleeve of his kosode. “When did he do that?” He thought to himself. He quickly searched his memories on their spar from its beginning. He’d been watching the man with the discerning eyes of a top predator, there was no way he’d miss an attempt to strike his arm. “Did it happen while I was in there?” He thought, looking down at the slowly churning fog he’d existed just a moment ago. He began reassessing his opinion of Benjiro. “He’s strong, and apparently a brilliant strategist too. Though he didn’t hit me, the closest he’s come yet was after creating that smokescreen. This cut to my kosode suggests he’s got excellent sensory ability, or at least likely better than my own. So then, my kidō was just a waste of my reiatsu then?” He thought, taking a deep breath to replenish what he could of his body’s spent resources.

It was settled, there were too many advantages for Benjiro on a field in which Utsukushī could not see. His flash step carried him up as far as it could. He began his descent with a mental incantation. “God of Wind, hear my plea. Take from me my stubborn heart, take from me my weakness. Through me form the winds of change and the winds of destruction.” He extended his hand, palm outstretched and aimed at the rink. “From the four corners of the world, come to me the Eastern, the Western, the Northern, and the Southern winds and let loose upon my enemies! Hado Number Fifty-Eight, Tenran!” A terrible spiraling wind sprung from that open palm, temporarily halting his descent. The pale ruby-colored fog was disbursed instantly. It thinned and disbursed among the bodies of the crowd. They weren’t what Utsukushī was concerned with currently so if it effects any of them, he wouldn't bat an eyelash. His concern lay with Benjiro, and proving himself capable without revealing too much.

He didn't know what if any his Orchid Sky demon art had any effect at all on his opponent. He met the ground in a crouch, ready to pounce. He bolted towards his target, soul cutting edge at the ready. Once in range, his brilliant violet eyes once again searched for vital openings to target with his tachi. Not to deliver those potentially life-ending strikes, but to show that he could. This would hopefully end their battle and show that he was more than enough for any squad. "I knew you were seriously downplaying your skills." He said stoically, audible enough for those closest to the sparring pair to hear.

SPOILER: Click to show

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techniques Used}
Technique Name: Hado #58: Tenran (Orchid Sky)

Class: 4

Technique Type: Kido

Technique Element: Wind

Technique Description and Effects: Upon release, this technique releases a powerful burst of wind that is almost like a tornado in quality towards the opponent, spinning and growing outwards in an ever-widening cylinder as it engulfs the enemy in its grasp. This has the potential to pick up and throw about targets with ease.

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

Incantation and Effect: "God of Wind, hear my plea. Take from me my stubborn heart, take from me my weakness. Through me form the winds of change and the winds of destruction. From the four corners of the world, come to me the Eastern, the Western, the Northern, and the Southern winds and let loose upon my enemies!" With the incantation, this spell gets a 25% increase in Reiatsu Strength (i.e. if Reiatsu Strength is 100, this is treated as 125 with incantation).




Technique Name: Shunpo (Flash Steps)

Class: 7

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:

A movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow. The focal point that determines the basis of this technique is speed. As speed is the main point of the technique, the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from Point A to Point B in the least amount of steps. Training and skill are what determines how fast a user of Shunpo can move. Those of little skill in the technique or those who haven't used it for an extended amount of time would obviously be out of practice, causing those individuals to be considerably slower. This requires the use of more steps to move the same distance and become tired more easily in a shorter amount of time. A single step magnifies speed for that step by ten times. Shunpo uses fifty Reiatsu per step. This one is automatically learned in the academy. All Shinigami know this when created. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique:

Focus of Reishi around the feet area and launch off into a single blurring step. It is not unlike teleportation in appearance, but it is simply extremely fast movement. It is often used to gain an edge in a single moment of combat or to dodge incoming attacks.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Remaining}
600/1000

[Benjiro Hiroto]

The spar had reached its climactic conclusion within the swirling red mist that enveloped the combatants. Benjiro, utilizing his red mist and the protective barrier of Enkosen to his advantage, had lunged towards Utsukushi, aiming for a precise strike. His opponent's fluctuating spiritual aura, the result of his agility-based fighting style and Kido abilities, posed a challenge even for Benjiro's keen senses. Especially with Benjiro's target, the arm of the lavender-haired Shinigami. As his blade descended, it cut only through the fabric of Utsukushi's arm sleeve, close enough that it was impressive, as spiritual sensing was one of the lacking areas of ability in most Shinigami. 

Pulling back, Benjiro harnessed the red mist that now filled the arena to his advantage. His strategy was predicated on the assumption that Utsukushi had inhaled more of the mist, which would have made him even more disoriented. Soon enough, he would give up the fight all on his own, due to the lethargy he would have felt. All Benjiro would have to do was wait, after all, this fight was just a spar. He did not want to be ruthless or reckless, preferring caution and precision in this moment. As the lavender-haired Shinigami employed Flash Step to create distance, Benjiro readied himself for the impending counterattack.

Utsukushi, with formidable reiatsu and incantation skills, prepared a powerful Kido attack, a gathering tempest that threatened to consume everything in its path. Benjiro braced himself, poised to invoke Enkosen as a protective shield when he sensed the surging energy. It was then that he realized Utsukushi was conjuring a wind-based Kido, a calculated move to dispel the enveloping mist. The destructive tornado that he created, Tenran if he remembered the name correctly, easily dispersed Benjiro's red mist, but it was not enough to break through his shield.

The clash of reiatsu occurred as Enkosen formed, proving the strength of Benjiro's reiatsu control. While Tenran was a higher ranked ability, Benjiro's reiatsu was denser, more solid and sturdy in the face of the wind. His defense held, but the brief respite allowed Utsukushi to close the distance swiftly, his blade aimed at Benjiro's body, a clear indication that he could have inflicted harm. It was impressive, but Utsukushi said that Benjiro was impressive, as the Unseated Officer downplayed his skills. Yet, amidst the tension and prowess displayed, Benjiro wore a warm smile.

"No, you put up more than a good fight, Utsukushi," Benjiro conceded, his friendly grin unwavering. "This spar is over, I yield." He recognized the merit of his opponent's skills and respected the spirited contest they had engaged in. With a final nod of respect, he turned to Kimiko, addressing her with a gracious demeanor. "I hope that was enough of a demonstration, Miss Kimiko." With that, Benjiro sheathed his Zanpakuto and gave a smile to the spectators and Utsukushi. "With your abilities, I am sure you'll be a good fit in any squad, Utsukushi. If you have an interest in the Tenth, I can put in a good word for you, though I'll leave that decision up to you."

Reiatsu: 950-100=850
-100 for Enkosen again

[Mamenoka, Utsukushī]

Did he hear that correctly or were his ears playing tricks on him? He won? His opponent was admitting defeat? But he was so strong. Utsukushī stilled his blade and immediately sheathed it. The crystal flower earrings affixed to the hilt shimmered in the sunlight before the amethyst-haired shinigami offered a bow to show both respect and thanks to the man.

Utsukushī half expected to lose this bout. It truly could have gone either way. The moment their blades met during the amethyst-haired death god’s parry he felt the vast difference in their physical strength. He also felt that Benjiro’s spiritual pressure and overall reiatsu pool overshadowed his own. And to think he was an unseated member of the Defense Squad.

A chill found its home in Utsukushī’s lower back. He’d spent more than a decade living in the harsh conditions of Hueco Mundo, hunting and being hunted by its ferocious predator. He thought the experience and battle hardiness he earned from that experience would have given him a leg up on at least the unseated members. So to think that an unseated member could have very well defeated him…that chill crawled up his spine and settled in his subconscious mind, right where he held his personal mission. He thought he could leap up to heaven in a single go of it. This bout proved just how far he still had left to go if he wanted to harm those who harmed him by taking his mother from him.

He looked out over the crowd which was eerily silent. He tried to gauge the interest of squad representatives still in the courtyard. This battle was much shorter than the one which took place before it. Maybe that shortness left a little too much to be desired. The loud praise of one random spectator ushered in a glorious uproar of cheers from all sides. Though the previous rink spar was impressive, this one clearly overshadowed even that. That is, if the animated reaction of the crowd was any signifier.

“Thank you Benjiro-sama.” Utsukushī said in reply to the man’s invitation, hoping Kimiko didn't overhear the obvious honorific. “I hope you will give me time to consider.”

[Nakajima Kimiko]

To say that this was quite the spar was nothing short of an understatement. For many of those who had come to the Eleventh Division's booth, it was perhaps one of the greatest showcases of skills they had witnessed in a long while. The young man with the purple hair, Utsukushi, had proven himself to be a swift fighter who was able to employ quick thinking as well as shocking speed in order to overwhelm his opponent, and the tall Benjiro had instead firmly remained as the titan of patience that he had already shown himself to be from the get-go, a pillar of balance and control who resolved everything that had been thrown at him with ultimate deduction. Given that none of them were very high up in the food chain of the Gotei 13, it was needless to say that they had outperformed many of the spectators' expectations. Some of the officers of the Eleventh had even to come join those who cheered for the two, if only due to how impressed they were by it all.

But Kimiko, however, remained silent. Completely silent.

Her behavior wasn't entirely seem to be out of place. As a teacher, there were times during which it was better for her to remain silent in order to better judge her students' skills. Yet, in spite of the smile that she still maintained in that moment, her silence wasn't one of evaluation. No, it was one of complete and utter disappointment. She was baffled by what she had witnessed then. The sparring rink, the one that she and her comrades had specifically prepared for pure one-on-one encounters that emphasized the use of the blade... had been tainted by magic. Not just a little bit, but an overwhelming amount of magic. In fact, this might as well not have been a proper spar at all, but rather a plain wizard duel. Red dizzying mists, flashy methods of immobilization, mystical shields, and that massive torrent of wind... None of what had just been said was remotely physical. None of that showcased physical strength. It was just magic. Just. Magic.

The Captain had been expecting better from this spar. She had been expecting another rendition of the classic tale of David against the Goliath, where Utsukushi would have been able to perhaps topple Benjiro in a way that would have allowed them both to learn their strengths and weaknesses. It would have been a repetition of the earlier spar between the glaive-wielder and the sabre-wielder, but it would have nevertheless been impressive. Instead, what she got was something that she would have more so expected from the Kidō Corps' booth. It was flashy, yes, but that was all it was: obnoxious and blinding. There was nothing throughout that entire spar that Kimiko could really judge as being impressive. Hell, there were barely any tips that she could really give either, aside from perhaps advising Utsukushi to immediately use that wind spell next time instead of waiting for so long to dispel Benjiro's mist. Ugh... What an absolute mess.

Well... no, that was... unfair. The mist had rendered any kind of analysis much more difficult than it should have been, but Kimiko's heightened senses allowed her to make use of her impressive hearing in order to get a better understanding of what was going on behind all that red, and fortunately, there had been some sounds in there that she could consider as being related to melee combat. In other words, the men had used their blades. Not enough to her linking, mind you, but enough for her to not feel herself falling into her usual pit of magical despair. Benjiro had used his weapons rather well. He was accurate, precise, and he made sure to attune with the balance of his body in order to achieve an impressive affinity for it. All of those characteristics were commendable in their own right, in spite of the mist he had created and his refusal of moving out of it. But then, in comparison, there was the smaller and arguably-more mysterious Utsukushi. 

She wasn't sure of how to explain it, but something about his swordsmanship was oddly more advanced than the styles she had witnessed from the others who had visited the booth. His use of Shunpo, as well as how he specifically rose above in order to blast the mist away as efficiently as possible... There was something about the both of those things that Kimiko couldn't help but believe wouldn't have usually been executed by a fresh graduate. Those things could only be achieved with someone that had some form of experience in one way or another, both with the blade itself and the spells that he attempted to use against Benjiro. If her analysis was true, then... where could he have gotten that experience? Academic lessons would not have been able to cut it. To gain such experience is to participate in actual proper combat, the kind that a secure environment such as a school was never going to provide in any shape or form, except in situations outside of its control.

Much like Benjiro, the man had an affinity for the magical. That much was unfortunately obvious. Yet, somehow, to simply know that this man had supposedly found himself in a situation that forced him to do battle with something that could have killed him was enough to grasp at least a modicum of her interest. In a way, it reminded her of how she herself had to deal with a similar situation back while she was at the Academy, during that awful trip to Karakura Town. Perhaps, if she allows him to join the Eleventh Division, she could teach him to further make use of this experience and of the willpower it can provide in order to refine his fighting spirit. Perhaps, by doing so, she could allow him to perfect his swordsmanship, transform him into another being that can achieve extreme velocity, and possibly even reject magic altogether! Haha, yes! That would be splendid! Ah, haha... Haaaa... Even Captains such as herself can have dreams.

In any case, the spar was over, and with that, the crowd would slowly begin to disperse. The smile hadn't left Kimiko just yet, and her comrade Binita had just noticed that her Captain had been standing there all this time without saying a thing. Not long after Benjiro had yielded to Utsukushi, she quickly nudge the swordswoman's arm with her elbow. "Kimiko? I think it's, like, time to wake up," she would mutter lowly under her breath to make sure that the duelists would not hear her speak. As much as she understood her friend's dislike of magic, now was really not the time to find herself ranting in front of everybody else. The last thing they need right about now is the ire of every caster in this entire courtyard.

Fortunately, that was enough for the dojo master to realize what she was doing. Coming back to life after the nudge, she would swiftly jerk back to life, then blink a few times. Finally, she would take a deep breath. Right. No ranting today. No, no ranting today at all. She just needed to keep her calm, her smile, and her energy. That's it. Nothing else! "U-Uh, yeah, that was great, Benjiro! I couldn't see much in there, but you stood your ground very well! I'm sure you'll have an excellent career within the ranks of Jūbantai. You did very good work too, Utsukushi!" she would judge almost automatically. Her smile appeared almost frozen on her face and a bit forced, but man, she was doing her best. "Continue training, and I'm sure you two will become both great assets for the Soul Society!"

Her response was unfortunately generic. Frankly, it wasn't her thing to come up with lines like these which meant absolutely nothing. However, that was all that she could say for the time being in a place such as this one. Any more, and she would have gone on yet another rant about magic. As her words came to an end, though, her eyes would find themselves staring at Utsukushi again with a gaze of curiosity. She wasn't sure of where that man was going to end up; after all, he had just graduated from the Academy. Nevertheless, she believed that she was going to hear about this man a number of times in the coming years. 

Only time will tell whether these news will be positive or negative.

[ E N D ]

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

All players are awarded a social bonus of 50%.

70 paragraphs between Utsukushi and Benjiro (from where I was told to start counting) so 350 TP to be converted however you wish!