Lost and found [Celes]

[Celes Castellanos]

It seemed that the Hollow had to give it a good bit of thought. After making a suggestion to go elsewhere, the Hollow emoted to illustrate that they were thinking. As their little arms rose and crossed, Celes couldn't help it. The Shinigami chuckled ever so slightly. Nevertheless, she'd give Caballero the time they needed. Finally, after what felt like a good minute or so, the Hollow raced to Celes' side and lightly gripped her black Shihakusho. Her eyes followed Caballero as they led Celes to the snow once more.

"Hmm. Another drawing? Alright.." Kneeling closer to the ground, Celes' eyes danced over the crudely drawn depiction of Hueco Mundo. She recognized the dunes and the peculiar crescent moon. The scary faces were undoubtedly Hollows. It wasn't particularly difficult to piece together. The Shinigami brought her hand to her chin. "Well. I suppose it is an open space and devoid of any Plus. Even despite its hostile nature, it was rather ideal." There was only one problem. Getting into Hueco Mundo was difficult.

Those of the Thirteenth Division developed a special Senkaimon to delve into Hueco Mundo. Unfortunately, Celes had no such ability. The widely, more accesible way was for a Hollow to open a portal. Unfortunately, Celes was no Hollow. She might've had Hollow reiatsu due to her Inner Hollow, but she knew next to nothing about crafting a... Garganta was it? Admittedly, they did have Caballero but could the Hollow fashion the passage they needed? Thankfully it seemed that the tiny Hollow was already a step ahead of her. 

In an attempt to open up a Garganta, Cabellero brought their hands in front of them. Celes watched with anticipation. One second. Then two seconds. Finally three seconds. Nothing. Nothing had formed from the Hollows' attempt. Once more they'd try something similiar. Then again. And again. Eventually, the Hollow was simply making motions that were very uncontrolled. Not once did Celes recognize the typical spacial rift that would normally open up. Their efforts had been in vain. Almost as if realizing that, Celes watched Caballero bring their arms to the side of their mask in distress.

The Captain hummed for a moment. It was thoughtful. "This can't be that much different from opening up a Senkaimon, right? Well... maybe it's a little easier. We have an anchor and we use our Zanpakuto as a conduit." Her gaze lowered to stare at Cabellero. "They have to force it open without any assistance." To lighten the mood, Celes let out a soft chuckle. This little Hollow seemed to value the opinion of Shinigami. Perhaps it was time to offer some positive reinforcement. 

Kneeling down, she'd gently pat the robes of the Hollow. "Don't worry. We in the Tenth believe that failure is a normal thing. It should be embraced. If at first you don't succeed, try again." She smiled, shifting her eyes to the space before them. "Perhaps we can make this a little easier." Moving one of her hands to the hilt of her Zanpakutō, Celes slid it from its sheath. "We open Senkaimon using our Zanpakutō as a key, right? We allow reiatsu to flow through the blade and act as a conduit. Let's try it like that instead." 

The Captain brought her Zanpakutō before her, urging Caballero to do the same. Assuming they did so, Celes would continue with the "lesson". "Now. Think about the sands of Hueco Mundo. The moon hanging over a sky draped in endless night." She'd give the Hollow a moment. In truth? She had no idea if that was part of using Kumon. However, she knew that visualization could go a long way in learning just about anything. Nevertheless, she'd continue. "When you're ready, pour your reiatsu into your Zanpakutō and open the gate!" 

It was a tall order to expect Caballero to be able to do this alone. Even with this guidance, Celes was not sure if the tiny Hollow had what it took. Thankfully, they wouldn't have to do it alone. Thinking back to her Kidō training with Wycliff, she remembered that he helped her form a Kidō by fortifying her otherwise weak spirit. Much in the same way, Celes began to allow her reiatsu to flow through Caballero through her hand which rested upon the Hollows' garments. She might've not had the most around of reiatsu, but it wasn't all took weak for someone who dedicated themselves to strictly martial prowess. Nevertheless, Celes did her best to focus her reiatsu into Caballero. Hopefully this would give them the reinforcement that they needed.

[Deleted]

Fortunately for Caballero, Celes seemed to have taken their dismal failure in stride. She knelt down beside them, giving them a friendly pat while telling them that it was alright to fail every once in a while. Failure, after all, was the foundation of success; a master was only one because they'd failed far more times than a beginner had dared to even try. The captain then offered some bits of guidance, showing them how a Shinigami opened a Senkaimon to enter Soul Society and the Human World at their leisure. The explanation was not lengthy by any means, but it was a bit more complex than Caballero was accustomed to hearing, so they had some trouble following it. Despite this, they did mimic her gesture to take the Zanpakuto out, with them drawing their small katana instead.

If not anything else, her encouraging tone got to the Hollow, prompting them to want to try again. The Captain even offered her support, and not just in the moral sense of the word. Celes actually helped by attempting to pour her spiritual pressure into Caballero's body. However, the tiny being unconsciously rejected this act. Their body, made entirely out of their compressed black Reiatsu, rejected the donation--as long as Celes hadn't forced it upon them, of course, given the vast difference between their Reiatsu Strength.

Why? It was very simple. First, Caballero wanted the Captain to be proud of them for doing this on their own, without any training wheels. Second, and perhaps most prominently, opening a Senkaimon was in a Shinigami's domain, but a Garganta? That was something entirely different. It was not something that could be approached as a Soul Reaper. No, this called for something else, for the true nature behind Caballero, no matter how well-intentioned they were, or how much they attempted to play a heroic role befitting their delusions. The tiny being gently patted at Celes's hand with one stubby arm before slowly breaking contact with her, moving two steps forward. They looked at the humans around them, who moved up and down the street without a care in the world. Caballero's thoughts then drifted to the recently cleansed Clara, as well as her family. Other than the wish to protect the Plus and the bond developed with her, something that slumbered deep within stirred with that sight and those memories.

Hunger.

Far from enough to send Caballero into a frenzy, but definitely enough for them to notice it existed. It was the hunger that made a Hollow what they were, no matter how much it was contained by Caballero's origins, strength of will, and their delusions of wanting to be a Shinigami. This truth about themselves was one that they did not fully grasp, and probably would not do so for a time yet; however, it was one that they could definitely tap into. In fact, they had been doing so for a while now: every time they used Úlcera, every time they shot Tendón forward, every time they consumed one of their kin to protect someone else. The beast lurking within, kept in check by the tiny wannabe Soul Reaper's simple mind and good intentions.

Caballero would not use their "Zanpakuto", even though Celes had directly referred to it. After all, it was not really a Zanpakuto; no matter how much they insisted it was, their soul knew otherwise. Instead, Caballero tightened their body ever so slightly, attempting to concentrate their limited amount of Reiatsu. The tiny being felt not just their soul, but their physical being stirring with that action. Something strange coursed through their body, though it was still far too early for them to know what it was or to use it. All they knew is that they felt the energy inside them, and the rest followed a bit more instinctively.

Caballero shot Tendón forward once again, each tiny arm spreading into two tendrils that moved unabated... and then appeared to just hang onto the air, forming the four vertices of a small square. No, it was not that. Instead, the tendrils somehow pressed against the fabric of reality, as a natural extension of their own being. Caballero pressed forward thanks to Celes's encouragement, and forced themselves to push against the natural barriers of the Human World. Their tendrils slowly, but surely, began to move in opposite directions, as the tiniest rift in space could be observed between them. The young Hollow did their best, pouring their Reiatsu straight into the tendrils in order to continue forcing the space apart.

Tendón strained to continue moving, and Caballero kept focusing their Reiatsu to bend the boundaries between worlds to their will, even if on an incredibly crude manner. There was no finesse or display of skill here, this was a Hollow attempting to brute-force their way into a different realm of reality. Caballero continued their endeavor, and the fabric of space finally started to become undone, first by a few strands, then by a lot more. Like breaking rope, the threads started to snap, revealing a dark void behind them that could be potentially dangerous for anyone without knowledge of it. With Celes there, however, Caballero had no fear, and continued to stretch the boundaries until they felt the Garganta finally stabilizing. It would take time for it to heal itself, considering the crudity of the Kumon Caballero had just displayed.

A bit tired, the creature plopped to the ground, sitting there after retracting Tendón, a portal to Hueco Mundo all but open and ready to be crossed at any given time. They turned toward Celes, bringing one tiny arm out of the Shihakusho in the equivalent of a thumbs up, like they'd done with Akira before.

[Celes Castellanos]

Celes just wanted to try to do her part. She really had no idea of how to form a Kumon, but she was going to do her best to assist in whatever way she could. Unfortunately for her, it seemed that her guiding hand would actually do more harm than good. Celes was rather good at harmonizing her reiryoku with another. She had done so plenty of times with Kimiko. Surging her spiritual energy into another was a completely different story and she would see the effects of her combined lack of experience and Caballero's unconscious rejection.

After a few moments of attempting the fortification, her hand sparked. Her ears perked up and her gaze descended. "What the hell? Did I see that right?" Once more, almost seemingly on cue, a small spark arose from her hand again. She tilted her head in confusion. "Well. I guess this is nor-" Before she knew it, the energy exploded in her face. The force knocked her backwards as she skidded along the snow almost comically so. Finally coming to a stop, she'd look up and blink rapidly. "Ugh. Guess that's out of the question..." She chuckled a little, letting Caballero at least know that she was okay. 

As she rose to her feet, her muscles ached ever so slightly. She was about to walk over to Caballero to try again, but it seemed that the Hollow had its own plan in mind. It did not grip its blade as Celes asked. Instead, they seemed focused on the task at hand. Several hands suddenly formed from beneath its cloak, splitting into two. At the same time, Celes could sense an energy arise within the Hollow. It was faint, but it was at least noticeable even to someone with rather poor sensory capabilities. 

Soon, the space before Caballero and their hands became slightly distorted. Celes' eyes widened as she looked onward with anticipation. Threads slowly became undone. One by one. They were actually doing it! They were opening the spacial rift through sheer force of will! Celes couldn't help but admire the sheer determination and passion of the Hollow. She'd approach slowly, keeping an eye on the rift as it rapidly expanded. The darkness within slowly stabilized itself crudely and Caballero fell to the ground. Clearly, the young Hollow was spent. Nevertheless, they had done it!

As they turned to Celes, the Hollow offered her... their arm? Perhaps they needed guidance through the Garganta? Well. Celes wasn't going to deny them their request after all they had done! "You got it, lil buddy!" Disappearing from sight, Celes' dashed forward and picked up the Hollow effortlessly. She'd flash them a bright smile before continuing. "Okay. Lets go!" With Hollow in hand, Celes' leapt into the darkness without a second thought. Did she misinterpret the Hollow's meaning? Perhaps. Would she regret it? Absolutely!

Surrounded by darkness, Celes looked around. There was nothing, but the pitch black of the Garganta surrounded her. "Fascinating. Well, no time to waste!" The Shinigami tried to move. However, there was something wrong. She didn't feel anything beneath her. "What the hell?" It wasn't until she looked down that she realized that there was nothing but pitch-black darkness beneath her as well! She looked over at Caballero and laughed nervously as she comically hung suspended in mid-air. "W-well. I suppose I miscalculated..." 

Suddenly, Celes fell with Caballero beside her. Where would they fall to? Celes had no idea. Regardless, she wouldn't let that happen. Utilizing her training, the girl oriented herself upright as best as she could using Caballero as a frame of reference. After all, there were no landmarks to utilize. Focusing her reiatsu beneath her, the girl created discs of spiritual energy. This reishi would suddenly expand and create a platform beneath the Shinigami. She'd quickly expand it to support the tiny Hollow as well. 

The Captain scratched her head nervously. "That was a close one. Umm... remind me to look before I leap next time..." She'd look over at Caballero, trying to laugh her foley off. If nothing else, the fall certainly gave her a rush. Looking upward, she saw the quite literal light at the end of the tunnel. She nodded, focusing her reishi into steps that led upward to the gap. She'd return her gaze downward to the Hollow and grin. "Okay! Let's go!" With that, Celes began climbing up the steps to get the hell out of this space as quickly as possible. After all, it didn't have the same charm as a Senkaimon.

It would take a few minutes, but Celes would find herself at the end of the passageway, hopefully with Caballero in two. As she passed the threshold, a blinding light filled her vision and then darkened. Before she knew it, she felt sands beneath her feet. Looking upward, the sky was appropriately dark with only the shine of a crescent moon filling the otherwise bleak landscape. All was just as she remembered it. After all, she had been here once before. Nevertheless, it seems that they did it! As her eyes surveyed the White Desert, Celes directed her voice at her Hollow companion. "Excellent job!" 

As she kept surveying the area, she saw nothing but desert in sight. Hell, not even the imposing presence of Las Noches could be seen. They must've been far out. Looking downward, the girl noticed that they were on top of a large dune. Leaping off the edge, the girl laughed as she slid down the slope of the sandy elevation. Using an almost supernatural sense of balance, she'd "slalom" down the dune until she felt the sand even out. Once she found herself off the dune, Celes stretched and turned around to gaze upon Caballero. "Well, I suppose I might as well hold up my end of the bargain." Lowering her stance once more, she'd grin. "As I said before, I accept your challenge, little warrior! Show me your battle spirit!" She'd proclaim loudly, ready to do battle with her companion.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Stats n' Skills}Strength- 500 [1250]
Speed - 400 [1000]
Spiritual Pressure - 200 [150]
Reiatsu Strength - [400]
Light Aura- 100
Dark Aura - 0
Instinct - [300]
Senses - [150]
Energy Sensory - [50]
Healing Expertise - [0]

Total SP: [2000]

Pain Tolerance: 3
Bu Gei - Blessed Breath Contemplation: 3
Martial Arts - Hakuda: 3
Battle Analysis: 2
Strength of Will: 3
Weapons - Broadsword & Shield: 3
Weapons - Katana: 3

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu & Resources}
Total Reiatsu: 1500/1500
Total Blessed Breaths: 0/10

[Deleted]

Celes's spiritual energy literally blew up in her face as she attempted to transfer it to the tiny critter. Alerted by the sudden noise, Caballero tilted their head to the side, concerned somehow painted on their expressionless mask as the explosion knocked the Shinigami back. However, her chuckle all but assured the Hollow that she was perfectly fine, so they were able to concentrate on opening the rift to Hueco Mundo without worrying about her. A Hollow, worrying about a Shinigami. If any of the more traditional captains of the Gotei 13 had watched the scene, they may had had a stroke, given how asinine the idea sounded.

After the strange little Hollow was able to open up the Garganta that would lead them to Hueco Mundo, Celes approached them and took hold of their stubby little arm. Caballero had taken her words as praise because of their success in their endeavor, so they were slightly surprised when she took their arm. Still, they did not remove it. Even if they intended to just give a sort of a thumbs up, Celes's hand felt warm and caring, yet another type of positive physical contact that Caballero wasn't used to. Since the same warm, soothing feeling kindled their body, the tiny Hollow deemed this to be fine, and let her lead the way with an enthused "Okay. Lets go!".

Then, without warning, she jumped straight into the Garganta. Caballero and her remained suspended for a brief second mid-air. The Shinigami took a moment, only looking down after realizing something was wrong. Caballero mimicked her gesture, and found nothing but a pitch black void beneath them. Caballero looked at Celes, confused, and she acknowledged her miscalculation with nervous laughter. The Hollow remained none the wiser until they both began plummetting to their dooms.

Had Caballero had a mouth, this would've been the perfect moment to yell. As things stood, they could only feel themselves falling down with the Shinigami; while very resistant to fear due to reckless bravery and unfounded courage, it was still not enough to keep them from panicking in the face of death. Celes, however, was a Captain of the Gotei 13. It was only natural that she took control of the situation, quickly correcting her falling posture to turn upright. Then, she created a reishi platform beneath her feet to stand on, something that Caballero quickly took notice of. Their descent came to a gentle halt, and the platform extended to make room for the little Hollow to land safely as well.

After apologizing--which Caballero didn't understand since she'd quite literally saved their life--Celes spurred them on to go, and started moving. The tiny Hollow went right behind, since they were still joined to her by her grip on her arm if she hadn't let go during the fall. The two of them climbed the reishi 'stairs' Celes had made, and quickly made their way to the exiting point of the Garganta, leading to a vast emptiness with nothing in sight but sand dunes, a starless sky, and a crescent moon all above them.

Hueco Mundo.

The moment they set foot on the sand, the familiar contact made all of Caballero's memories about the place flash through their mind. Their awakening, being chased by monsters, hiding, struggling to survive. The tiny Hollow immediately tensed up and, forgetting for a moment who was by their side, started surveying their surroundings by quickly turning their head to one place or another. The area seemed to be completely empty and devoid of life, but given Caballero's dismal Energy Sensory, it was not out of the question that something may be hiding in the sand.

Still, their anxiety was placated by Celes's cheerful attitude and praise, saying that they'd done a good job. At that, they couldn't help but puff out their chest a little, their go-to way to express pride. She then lept off the sand dune, and slid down to the bottom while laughing. Her energy was contagious, and Caballero attempted to do the same thing. Unfortunately, neither their speed nor their body coordination could match the Shinigami, and they ended up tripping on their "Shihakusho" before taking the leap, unused to walking on sand after so long. Caballero tumbled down the sand, rolling like a snowball all the way to the bottom--to their credit, their haphazard choice of movement hadn't taken much longer than Celes's.

Getting up from the ground as best as they could without falling, they remained on a daze while the world around them kept spinning. Eventually, they shook it off, as they had more pressing matters at hand. Celes turned to the tiny Hollow, acknowledging and accepting their challenge. She entered her battle stance, and told Caballero to show her their spirit. The Shinigami wannabe lowered their oversized head again in a bow, and assumed the modified stance she'd taught them earlier. Taking their mock Zanpakuto off their back, they swung it to the side, considering their duel as underway. Normally they'd ask about the choice of weapon, but this was a captain. Such a test of might couldn't be conducted with any old stick... and even then, this was Hueco Mundo; sticks were not really a thing there.

Offered the first move, Caballero darted forward on the sand, not intending to use any techniques like Úlcera or Tendón. This was a duel between swordsmen, after all. The tiny critter followed their usual pattern: entrusting their well-being to their speed, they attempted to feint the opponent by attacking from the left first, before turning to the right and leaping forward to strike with a horizontal slash. A rather straightforward approach, maybe too honest for a real battle. The more proper stance they were using now was actually very helpful in increasing the mobility and pivoting capabilities of the Hollow, taking their speed to their current maximum with ease.

It went without saying that the tiny critter would not use the sharp edge, but the dulled side of the blade, when facing Celes. Yes, they may have been way out of their league. Yes, a Captain would most definitely not be damaged by a being with such lackluster strength. However, Caballero did not want harm to come to their new friend in any way, shape or form. How would they? After all, she had been nothing but kind to them.

OOC:

Caballero's Reiatsu: 800 - exhaustion(strain from learning and using Kumon in a brute-force way) = 500.
Maybe a bit too much, but just for flavor e.e

SPOILER: Click to show

{Caballero's stats}
Type: Soldier Version 2

Stat	SP	Type
Strength	50	35
Speed	80	80
Reiatsu Strength	80	120
Spiritual Pressure	80	80
Senses	50	50
Instinct	50	50
Energy Sensory	0	0
Healing Expertise	20	20
Light Aura	100
Dark Aura	0

[Celes Castellanos]

Now that they were in Hueco Mundo, this battle of theirs could truly begin. To start, Celes would make her preparations. Lowering her stance, she made very subtle movements. Likely meaningless to the inexperienced eye, Celes' movements actually had a purpose. She redistributed her weight, relaxed certain muscle groups, and surveyed the environment. Hueco Mundo was a deserted wasteland, but anything could be a weapon in the right hands. After her initial sweep, she focused on Caballero.

As expected, the tiny Hollow bowed to her. It was still a little surreal to see a Hollow display honor and respect. It reminded her of bouts and spars with Kimiko. Then, the Hollow swung its katana to the side as if to declare the beginning of the duel. The Captain's eyes narrowed, focusing on Caballero's initial movements. Celes could see that the Hollow had taken her advice to heart, using an appropriate stance. She couldn't help but smile. "Quick study..."

Finally, the Hollow had their move. Rushing forward, their little feet gliding along the sand, Caballero went for their first attack. Darting to the side ever so slightly, Celes' eyes merely followed the Hollow's movements. All the while, the Captain would be relaxed, almost ominously so. Sure, she had assumed a basic stance, but hadn't move otherwise. She hadn't even drawn her Zanpakutō. To an outsider, this must've seemed disrespectful, but the truth was that Celes was far more lethal without a blade.

When Caballero went for an attack on the left, Celes would briefly react by moving her hand towards the incoming blade. Then it happened. A feint! Using their newfound mobility, the Hollow shifted to the right and leapt forward for a slash. It was, by no means, a bad opening move. This was especially true for a novice. She let out a lighthearted chuckle as she moved backward at roughly 150 speed to dodge the swipe of the blade. A simple dodge, truthfully more suitable for a mere spar. This, however, was a duel. She had to respond accordingly. 

Moving a foot or so back in, Celes dropped her stance all the way to the sand. Maintaining a stable base, Celes extended her leg and tried to sweep Caballero. The maneuver was practically flawless, a tribute of Celes' martial training. It was this same sense of control that allowed the Captain to hold back quite a bit. Among the many realms, she possessed a physical prowess that far outstripped nearly anyone she had come to blows with. She could easily destroy Caballero in a mere strike. However, Celes was the type to foster strength and ability in others. Annihilating them would be counterproductive to that goal. As such, the sweep utilized strength and speed of 100 each. 

If her sweep was successful, it'd be aimed to pop the tiny Hollow into the air. This, however, wouldn't be the only strike that Celes would deal Caballero. If the Hollow was now airborne, Celes quickly shifted her weight and effortlessly rose to her feet. From here, she'd try to strike at Caballero with a basic palm strike to the chest. This, again, utilized much less force than what she was capable of. Each movement and shift in her posture was accompanied by a powerful breath. Despite being seemingly innocuous at a glance, it felt purposeful. If nothing else, the Captain had displayed proper breathing, an important skill in any martial art. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 1400/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 4/10
-100 for Blessed Breath Contemplation: Spirit Breathing

SPOILER: Click to show

{Blessed Breath Contemplation: Spirit Breating}Technique Name: Blessed Breath Contemplation -- Spirit Breathing
Class: 7, 4
Technique Type: Physical Bu Gei, Base Tier
Usable By: Any of: Berserker, Brave, Fighter v1, Prodigy v1, Runner, Weapon Master, Fighter v2, Freak, Genius (Physical), Lunatic (Physical), Roughneck, Shadow (Physical), Soldier, Soldier v2, Soul Spec v1 (Physical), Soul Spec v2, Experienced, Gadgeteer, Skilled, Kenpachi, Generalist, Entrepreneur
Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The user gains 1 stack of Breath, and can have up to 10 Breath stacks at a time. Up to once per post, the user may spend 1 stack of Breath to purge 20% of a debuff to one of their stats or spend 5 stacks of Breath to reduce the recovery time from being winded due to a stamina rule by 1 post. When used to recover more quickly from Stamina use, Spirit Breathing functions only once every 3 posts.

When this technique is Proficient, the user may trade up to 2 Breath stacks per post to purge stat debuffs. When this technique is Mastered, the user may trade up to 3 Breath stacks per post to purge stat debuffs.

How to use technique: Apply the basic concepts of proper breathing to the user's spiritual body, inspiring into the spirit and expiring into the self.

Technique Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost. Breathing takes time; this technique can be performed no more than twice per post, plus a number of times equal to the user's skill ranks in Blessed Breath Contemplation.

Made By: Ammutseba

Reserved? No

[Deleted]

The fact that Celes hadn't even taken a move when Caballero dashed at her should have immediately told the tiny Hollow the kind of 'trouble' they were in. Instead of being alert and on guard, the Captain of the Tenth was relaxed and completely at ease as she fell into a simple stance. That kind of confidence, acquired after far more battles that the tiny being had seen in their lifetime and backed by abilities that they were light years away from, never meant well for the opponent. It did not matter if it was a friendly bout or not. Of course, it would've been asinine to believe that Caballero could ever land a strike on Celes unless she willed it so... but the tiny creature didn't need to know that, right?

Either way, it initially seemed as if Celes had fallen for the strange Hollow's fake-out, as she prepared to block the incoming attack right when the Hollow kicked to the other side, propelling themselves in the opposite direction with the quick maneuver. Speed, however, was not only on the tiny being's legs, but also on the eye of the beholder. At that level, even the fastest of Caballero's steps would probably seem sluggish to her. As if to prove this, she giggled a little and backed away from the tiny Hollow's attack with a comfortable dodge. Caballero's conscious mind was not surprised, as they knew her rank. However, this opening feint had always worked before, against all their opponents. It was all but natural that their muscle memory faltered after not feeling the blade hitting their target. Just like that, they were open for a counter attack!

Celes then rushed back in, lowering her stance and delivering a sweep. Timed right when Caballero was about to land from their initial attack, the tiny creature had no options to move out of the way. They didn't know any techniques to keep themselves airborne, and they wouldn't use Tendón since this was a duel. Not that the latter would've mattered; other than onto their rival, there was nowhere to grapple in that god-forsaken, crapsack world. Thus, Caballero was launched skyward by the strike, and albeit it definitely didn't feel as strong as a Captain level Hakuda move should have, the creature's tiny size combined with their lackluster strength meant that they definitely felt it.

The only reason the blow didn't stun them was their ability to keep focused in battle, enabling them to at the very least be cognizant of what was going on. Thus, Caballero was able to see Celes's palm strike, directed straight at their chest. Of course, 'chest' encompassed far broader area for the Hollow, since they were tiny and one out of their three feet of height was their oversized mask. Caballero may have been able to see it, but their mind to body connection was not fast enough to allow them to block the strike after tiring themselves opening the gate to Hueco Mundo. Their stubby little arms were also not particularly suited to hand to hand combat, but even if they had been able to use Tendón to keep themselves protected, the strike would've just gone through with ease.

And this was Celes, keeping herself at an incredibly low level.

Caballero took the full brunt of the strike, launching them backwards. They landed on the sand, which helped break the fall--they had rolled around on sand far too much that day. Their body, far from strong, ached on the two spots Celes had stricken Caballero. It was a concentrated, yet throbbing pain, as a result of the percussive force applied to the two attacks. However, that kind of pain wouldn't be enough to keep something as stubborn as Caballero at bay for long.

The tiny being hopped back to their feet as best as they could, observing the captain. For once in their short lifespan, the tiny being didn't rush back in, but instead tightened the grip on their blade and watched their opponent. The feint hadn't worked, and her larger body meant that she would always have the range advantage. To top it all off, she had already proven faster than they were. The correct answer, of course, would be not to engage... but they knew that before issuing Celes the challenge. There was far too much to be learned from that battle to back out now that it was just beginning!

The little Hollow brandished their blade again, running toward her in a frontal assault. Sand wouldn't have the same effect as snow did in sliding, so the improvised nutmeg they had used against Akira to get him from the back would not work in that white desert. The difference in size and reach put Caballero at a greater disadvantage that they had imagined at first, since so far they had been banking on their speed to get past their opponent's guards and strike, somehow.

Getting an idea, Caballero leaped forward and up, as they turned their blade to the dull side again, as if preparing another slash. While straightforward and simple, this was actually nothing but another misdirection. Caballero barely flew an inch or two from the ground with the jump, as if it had been just another step with a bit more height. Their intention was to bring Celes's guard up, like she had done before to cover their first attack before reacting to the feint. This time, they did not make the mistake of leaving the ground for more than a fraction of a second.

If Celes didn't react--or rather, if she chose not to react--in time, Caballero would take advantage of the opening by getting closer to her left leg and deliver a slash aimed at the back of her Achilles tendon. Realistically, this attack aimed at restricting part of the opponent's mobility, which should help overcoming the difference in reach between the two of them.

Of course, all of this would be done with the dull part of the tiny blade, not with the edge.

[Celes Castellanos]

Celes' two part attack would turn out to be a resounding success. The transition between her strikes was practically flawless as she popped the Hollow into the air before delivering the palm strike to the chest. Were this any other Hollow, Celes would've likely gone for the kill here and now. This, however, was a duel. If this Hollow truly was on Soul Society's side, as strange as that sounds, then Celes would do everything in her power to help this little warrior improve. After all, she wouldn't do any less with Academy students.

Regardless, the attack hit and sent Caballero tumbling backward as their frail body hit the sand. Celes, instinctively, remained light on her feet by hopping around ever so subtly. Her body expected a counterattack shortly after, but it would take a few moments for the Hollow to recover. Laying in the sand for a brief moment, the Hollow shifted and rose to its feet. This brought a smile to Celes' lips. She thought to herself, "Good. Don't let yourself be discouraged by a difference in skill. Learn from every fall." 

Keeping her eye fixed the Hollow as, after rising to their feet, Caballero stood there and stared at her. The Captain simply nodded in response. "Size up your opponent. Make a plan." As the thought raced through her mind, she would take the time to do the same. It had become clear rather quickly that this Hollow was a swordsman. They placed much of their faith and importance into their dagger-sized blade, after all it was this Hollow's equivalent to a Zanpakutō for the moment. A weapon to call their own. Caballero had also shown themselves to be a rather quick learner. Within mere minutes of being "instructed", Caballero put it into practice. Where else did Caballero's strengths lie? That was yet to be seen.

Thankfully, it seemed that their little skirmish would continue to unfold. Just as before, Caballero made the first move. Rushing forward, the Hollow tried another cheeky ploy. Bouncing on their legs as they ran, their movement could only indicate one thing. "A leap, huh?" Watching their intentions closely, Celes brought her hands up for a basic guard. However, once more, this would be nothing more than misdirection. As the Hollow bounced up, it wouldn't be more than a few inches above the ground and still, they continued to stride forward and close the distance.

Celes was fast. Notoriously so. She could easily move out of the way or just move herself to parry the incoming attack. However, she could see the train of thought that formulated within the Hollow's mind. Celes bringing her guard up was their goal. Now that they were within swords reach, Caballero could use their smaller frame to their advantage. Actually, that was another strange factor in this bout. Height. She needed to move with extra space in mind to reach the Hollow. 

Having fallen for their misdirection, Celes would reward the Hollow. She subtly eased up her stance and relaxed her muscles. She'd grant Caballero the strike of their choosing. As the cold steel touched her ankle, she braced herself for the cut. However, there would be no such injury. In fact, Celes felt the blade glide against ankle harmlessly. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the Hollow's blade. She focused on the edge facing her and spoke with suprise. "Huh..." The flat edge had struck at her body. 

At first, the girl contemplated if this was a product of the Hollow's inexperience. Perhaps? However, this was a good-natured Hollow. Were they really aiming to hit Celes with the blunt edge all this time? It seemed so. Celes' facial expression softened, and she couldn't help but giggle. "A worthy target and a decent feint. You learn quickly, little warrior. However..." She'd pause and look down at her opponent. "I would urge you to not get into the habit of using the dull edge against an opponent, even against me. Such kindness and mercy, even in a duel, may not be rewarded." It was certainly an ominous warning.

Allowing a bit of reiatsu to spread throughout her entire body for a moment. As quickly as it had built up, though, so quickly would it be expelled with a deep breath. Erupting as a powerful gust of air, the sand and anything within 1 meter of her would be battered with a mighty shockwave. If this included Caballero, they'd likely find themselves forced to fly backward though with much broader force as it would be rippling across their entire body. Just as before, Celes would hold back significantly to avoid any permanent damage on the Hollow. 

This technique, at the end of the day however, was not merely intended to launch opponents. A variant of Shunpo, the Shunpo Eichi allowed Celes to rocket forward with blinding speed to intercept Caballero if they were launched. Turning with her back to the Hollow, she'd tense her muscles and wait. "Breathe in..." If Caballero collided with Celes, it would feel like running headfirst into a brick wall. "Breath out..." Her goal, ultimately, wouldn't be to hurt the Hollow. However, there were rules to engaging an opponent in honorable combat. She wasn't going to insult Caballero by being treating this like a game. They were going to go home with a few bruises. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 1200/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10
-150 for Shunpo Eichi
-50 for Blessed Breath Contemplation: Spirit Breathing

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shunpo Eichi - 200 STR}Technique Name: Shunpo Eichi

Class: 4

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The "exploding Shunpo" technique. This allows the user, for a cost of 150 Reiatsu, to initiate a Shunpo. This Shunpo releases far more power, so anywhere within a meter of the user will be hit with an explosive shockwave equivalent to the user's physical Strength when the Shunpo is used.

How to use technique: Stated above.

Drawback: Stamina drain. Reiatsu cost. Can only be used twice per post.

Made by: [Admin]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Blessed Breath Contemplation: Spirit Breating}Technique Name: Blessed Breath Contemplation -- Spirit Breathing
Class: 7, 4
Technique Type: Physical Bu Gei, Base Tier
Usable By: Any of: Berserker, Brave, Fighter v1, Prodigy v1, Runner, Weapon Master, Fighter v2, Freak, Genius (Physical), Lunatic (Physical), Roughneck, Shadow (Physical), Soldier, Soldier v2, Soul Spec v1 (Physical), Soul Spec v2, Experienced, Gadgeteer, Skilled, Kenpachi, Generalist, Entrepreneur
Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The user gains 1 stack of Breath, and can have up to 10 Breath stacks at a time. Up to once per post, the user may spend 1 stack of Breath to purge 20% of a debuff to one of their stats or spend 5 stacks of Breath to reduce the recovery time from being winded due to a stamina rule by 1 post. When used to recover more quickly from Stamina use, Spirit Breathing functions only once every 3 posts.

When this technique is Proficient, the user may trade up to 2 Breath stacks per post to purge stat debuffs. When this technique is Mastered, the user may trade up to 3 Breath stacks per post to purge stat debuffs.

How to use technique: Apply the basic concepts of proper breathing to the user's spiritual body, inspiring into the spirit and expiring into the self.

Technique Drawbacks: Reiatsu cost. Breathing takes time; this technique can be performed no more than twice per post, plus a number of times equal to the user's skill ranks in Blessed Breath Contemplation.

Made By: Ammutseba

Reserved? No

[Deleted]

Caballero was ecstatic to see that their expert, incredibly skilled, not rudimentary at all feint had been smart enough to catch even a Captain level Shinigami off-guard. Of course, the little critter did not know that Celes, being how she was, had only wanted to reward their effort, even if she could have killed Caballero three times in a row before their blade reached her ankle. Ignorance was bliss, and in keeping that ignorance alive, whether Celes was doing the deluded little creature a service or a disservice would remain to be seen. For the time being, Caballero had managed to slip by and hit her Achilles tendon with the dull edge of their blade, and retreated momentarily to wait for any feedback on the matter. She was a Captain, after all, so surely there was some advice that she could give them. What she said, however, was not what the little knight had been expecting. She did offer praise, which made them immediately jump a few times in happiness, but then her tone shifted to tell them the same thing that Akira did not that long ago.

"I would urge you to not get into the habit of using the dull edge against an opponent, even against me. Such kindness and mercy, even in a duel, may not be rewarded."

Caballero did not understand her words, of course. Their tilted their head to the side, big, void-like eyes looking up at her like a confused puppy. See, as friendly and strange as the little being was, they were still a Hollow at their core. No matter how much they tried to delude themselves into thinking otherwise, the instinct of those beasts lived inside them. Thus, for Caballero, any serious battle meant that the opponent would attempt to kill and eat you--and that was something that only Hollows did. In their current state of mind, even entertaining the notion that a Shinigami would do that was preposterous at best.

Of course, the same also applied for them, perhaps even on a higher scale. In their mind, it was just wrong: why would they ever try to hurt Celes? Not only was her a Captain of the Gotei 13, which was essentially akin to being Caballero's heroine, but she had also been nothing but kind toward the little creature. Their two braincells simply could not compute the fact that, at times, duels involved actually trying to hurt your opponent rather than just focusing on technique. This would be a lesson that they would learn to fail today, and that would cause grievous misunderstandings later down the line. For the time being, however, Caballero would not ignore, but try to wrap their head around Celes's words.

Not that they would have much time to do that, because the Captain would soon return to the offensive. Celes took a deep, concentrated breath, and all of a sudden the sands around Caballero were lifted up in a violent shockwave. Needless to say, Caballero, with their small frame, low weight and absolutely dismal strength, soon found themselves launched into the air on a backwards trajectory. They spun like a ragdoll, which only added to their overall confusion. The tiny knight waved their arms around as they flew, as if futilely attempting to regain balance and footing, and through one of the spins, they very briefly managed to take note of the fact that Celes was no longer standing before them. Long before they could even ponder what that meant, Caballero collided against what could only be described as a tungsten wall. Unbreaking, unbending, unyielding in any way, it was hard to tell that the little knight had just crashed into the same Shinigami that had been right in front of them up until a moment before.

The tiny bean fell to the ground, trying to recover from the impact. Since Celes had not attacked, they were still in one piece, only in quite some pain. Through Shunpo Eichi, Celes had not just managed to put Caballero at an immediate disadvantage, but also deliver quick damage without needing to actually hit them. Kneeling on the sands and forcing themselves to stand back up through sheer Strength of Will, Caballero stared at the Captain in complete awe. They didn't even know she had not even shown them a fraction of her raw power, and they were already hopelessly outclassed. That was a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard squadrons.

Wanting to continue fighting, Caballero pushed through the already receding pain. They did not know whether Celes had used Shunpo or not, because the only usage they'd seen of the technique so far did not involve the same shockwave. For all they knew, she had only moved fast toward them. As such, Caballero would still limit their already few options while facing the doting Shinigami. The feint had worked once, but the same attack would surely not be effective twice against her. They would need to get a bit more creative.

Knowing now that Celes was sturdy as a brick wall, that opened up a possibility. Caballero attempted to put some distance between them, as if resetting the battle. Then, they would run straight toward Celes, but at the midpoint, they launched Class 8 Tendón, hoping the tendrils would wrap onto her waist. If that worked, they would jump to the side and pull themselves toward her, hoping to spin around the Captain and get behind her. Since it was class 8 Tendón, Celes would not experience any hurt or pain from Tendón; if anything, it'd be like a scarf wrapped around her. If all these shenanigans worked, Caballero would attempt to attack by using, again, the dull edge of the blade to strike Celes from behind.

Needless to say, at their current speed, they might as well have been moving in slow motion for her. Caballero was far from an expert, even with their own techniques, and so that meant that a trained warrior would typically have no trouble dealing with them--let alone someone of Celes's stature. Regardless, this was a good chance for the little Hollow to learn, to experiment. And, if there was something true about them, it was that they learned fast.

[Celes Castellanos]

The Shunpo Eichi seemed to be a complete success. The shockwave battered Caballero and sent the young Hollow flying. Moving into position to essentially catch Caballero, Celes closed her eyes as she felt the Hollow collide with her. She didn't falter as the force shot into her muscles and was distributed evenly. Easing herself back to relaxation, the Captain looked down and saw the dazed Hollow laying against the white sands.

The Captain's eyes narrowed, focusing on the Hollow for a few moments. "Perhaps the point got across?" In some ways, the Captain's prior remark to the Hollow could come across as hypocritical. She wanted to foster strength within this little warrior. Celes deeply respected their determination and pure spirit. However, it was that same pure and innocent spirit that could risk getting the Hollow killed. They obviously respected and cared about others, especially Shinigami, but the opposite was not always true. All it took was a stray patrol to come across Caballero and eliminate them. 

As the Hollow rose to their feet, Celes simply grinned momentarily. Against all odds, despite understanding the gap in skill between the two of them, Caballero was not disheartened. They clearly wanted to continue this little duel of theirs. Celes could feel it. Thankfully, Caballero didn't seem any worse for wear on the surface. As they created more distance between the two of them, Celes did nothing to stop it. Perhaps it would've been a more realistic exercise, but she was curious to see in what way the Hollow would try to strike her? Better yet, would they use the bladed edge of their dagger?

Suddenly, the Hollow charged at Celes. It was simple, at least on the surface. The Captain couldn't feel any significant focus of reiatsu. They hadn't used a single ranged option thus far. No Cero. No Bala. Either they preferred melee combat, a safe assumption given their attachment to their blade, or the Hollow simply didn't know them. After all, Caballero appeared to be a fairly young and simple-minded Hollow. Nevertheless, Celes continued to focus on the little warrior. Would this be the extent of their charge? Would there be more to it.

It seemed that the Captain would have her question answered as a tendril shot out from the Hollow's body. Again, making no effort to move or defend herself, Celes felt the extension of the Hollow's body gently wrap around her waist. She tilted her head in confusion. Inquisitively wrapping her own hand around the cord, Celes tugged ever so gently. "Hmm. No real strength behind it. So, what purpose does it have, I wonder...?" Once more, as if to answer her question, Caballero darted to the side. As the cord tensed, the Hollow spun around Celes. 

This little strategy of theirs earned a pleasant hum from Celes. "Clever." As the rather soft tendril of blackened reiatsu coiled around Celes and drew the Hollow in for an attack, she gently hopped on her feet. Allowing her hand to rest upon the tendril, Celes waited until the Hollow was close enough to strike her. From here, however, Celes utilized a bit of finesse. Moving at roughly 300 speed, Celes would attempt to circle around the soaring Hollows' body as they passed by, dodging the strike to her back. However, this would not be all. This tendril around Celes was flexible almost like a bungee cord. If this was true, and they rushed past Celes, the Captain simply flicked her hand up and then downward at 250 strength. This subtle maneuver, due to its flexibility, would threaten to redirect Caballero's movements. More specifically, up before slamming into the sand. 

If this little plan of hers worked, Celes would gently place her hand on her own hip. If Caballero passed by during her initial dodge, she would've been able to see the dull edge facing her again. "Quite the clever move, little warrior. However, you are still using the dull edge against me. You don't need to be afraid of hurting me." She'd smile brightly before letting out a small sigh. At the end of the day, Caballero was a good-natured Hollow. She had a feeling that her words wouldn't get passed that thick skull-like mask. 

Perhaps there was a way though. Their admiration and even their style was deeply reminiscent of Celes' own disciple, Kimiko. After a few short moments, the Captain had a lightbulb moment. She eased her stance up her stance, her voice remaining soft as she spoke. "How about a deal." She'd pause for a moment. "Don't deny your weapon its purpose. Use the bladed edge and come at me with everything you got. In return..." For the first time, this entire duel, Celes drew her Zanpakutō. Drawing the twin blades in one hand, she cracked her neck from side to side. "I'll show you my Shikai. So... what do you say, little warrior?" Now it was just a matter of seeing if the fish would take the bait.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 1200/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10

[Deleted]

Caballero's three-dimensional maneuver using Tendón may have looked crafty in their mind, but they were still far too green, too inexperienced in battle. It was only natural that someone with decades of experience over them would find an easy way to trump that tactic, immediately finding a potential weakness and using it to counter the little bean's move. Caballero's strategy to use Tendón as a bungee cord only left them wide open as Celes not only moved her body far faster than their top speed to avoid the strike, but effectively rendered them helpless as they continued their flight. Caballero was not familiar with the mechanics of air ground, being so young, and so they did not even try to step--it wouldn't have mattered, anyway, since there was far too much Reishi in Hueco Mundo to allow for that to happen.

The end result was that Caballero would fly past the Shinigami, and then they would feel her hand on Tendón. With frightening ease, the Captain slammed Caballero down onto the sands--of course, with it being sand, the force of the impact was diminished, ensuring that the little Hollow would not take more damage than a few bruises and a blow to their pride. Once again, the little creature shook their mask and dusted themselves off, getting rid of whatever sand had landed on top of them. This had been yet another failure, and it was a damn good strategy their two brain-cells had concocted in a moment of sheer lucidity, too! Those didn't come around often for Caballero, unfortunately.

However, it seemed that their luck was about to turn. Not because they would suddenly become so strong that they would overpower Celes, of course not. It was a different kind of luck, one that involved their aspirations, their goals, and the people that they considered to be heroes. The Captain began by praising their move, but quickly went on to advise them not to hold anything back, as they should not need to be afraid of being able to hurt her, but she quickly understood that said kind of reassurance would most likely not work on someone like Caballero. Instead, she would need to get creative... and she did. Her stance suddenly relaxed, and she spoke softly before drawing her Zanpakuto.

In return from them not holding back anymore, Celes would show them her first release. All of a sudden, Caballero's very limited world came crashing down on top of them, as if lightning had struck up on the non-existent clouds of Hueco Mundo.

Oh god. Oh god oh god oh gosh. Caballero must have misunderstood her right now. They could NOT have heard what they had just heard. Surely, this must have been the trick of a cheeky Hollow, hiding in the sands and playing tricks on the tiny bean's fragile, lost mind! It was impossible that a Captain of the Gotei 13 would go as far as to show them, a lowly unseated officer, their Shikai! But alas, it seemed that there was no enemy playing any illusions on them, in an effort to get them distracted before jumping in for the kill. Since Celes seemed to wait for their response, it was clear that yes, it had been a real proposal. She would show them part of her Zanpakuto's true nature, and in return, all that Caballero had to do was use the bladed edge of their sword!

Needless to say, childish excitement completely overpowered any safety or concern that they had, as it most often happened with beings as impressionable as they were. Caballero quickly bobbed their oversized, helmet-like mask up and down, down and up, assuring that they would definitely use the bladed edge if that was the case. Funny how a Hollow, creatures that were supposed to be cunning and manipulative to be able to better consume Pluses would be so completely and easily controlled by such a simple proposition. They truly seemed to be a different breed of Hollow, although the full extent of that statement would remain to be seen in the future.

Caballero pointed at the bladed edge of their little katana, as if to make one hundred percent sure that Celes knew they were in full agreement to her proposition. Thus, the little critter gave her some space, backing off a little just in case her power would summon a firestorm, or create a tidal wave, or make her a sort of unstoppable hulk that shattered spines with hugs! But no, that probably wasn't it. Surely that was just Caballero's young mind, grasping at straws, concocting fantasies that in no way were possible, right? In any case, the little knight waited for her to release her Zanpakuto, barely able to contain their excitement in an envelop of patience and decorum befitting an Unseated Officer of the Gotei 13.

Of course, that did nothing to hide the fact that their feet were tapping lightly on the sand, clearly showing that they could not wait to witness what they were about to witness.

[Celes Castellanos]

Upon seeing the Hollows' energy change into that of excitement, Celes knew that she had gotten it across. Funny that both Kimiko and Caballero were swayed by similar offers. Then again, it made sense. Shikai and by extension, Bankai, were milestones in the careers of most Shinigami. It was a time-honored rite of passage. A show of hard work and dedication. Shikai showed that a Shinigami held some mastery of self. It was the same reason, even now, that Celes relished the opportunity to witness the Shikai, sometimes Bankai, of her peers. After all, they were usually reflections of the very soul.

After their excitement wore down do manageable levels, the Hollow created some distance between the two of them again. To further show that they'd uphold their end of the bargain, the Hollow pointed at their bladed edge a few times. In almost any other case, Celes might've waited to see if her sparring partner was sincere. Caballero, at least on the surface, was a much simpler creature than that. They did not seem to thrive on lies and deceit. At least not in a malicious manner. They were too good hearted for that.

With that in mind, her eyes drifting down every now and then to witness Caballero's tapping foot, she didn't want to keep the tiny Hollow waiting. Focusing her reiryoku, Celes allowed that same spiritual energy to flow throughout her entire body. Allowing it to settle for a moment, the Captain smiled at Caballero and spoke in a soft tone, "I trust that you will hold up your end of the deal. Now, little warrior, allow me to show you the pride of any Shinigami." She took a deep breath, a burst of spiritual energy erupting from her body. Her reiatsu, once a flickering candle, intensified in that brief moment which caused the sand to shift and rise. It seemed that she was ready to display it.

Kaigo. This key phrase was an essential component to using Shikai. The chant was usually a phrase followed by the name of the Zanpakutō. Among the few Shinigami that had enough mastery of self to attain a Bankai, however, the Kaigo was not required. These select Shinigami had effectively subjugated their Zanpakutō and thereby mastering it. Despite that, Celes would speak softly, "Walk the Earth, Yunorashi." 

Shikai was, by its very nature, a weapon-based release. Unlike her peers, however, Celes' blades glowed a white-hot red before breaking down and disappearing entirely. Instead, Celes' body became enveloped by a red aura. Beginning at her stomach, this energy wrapped around her from head-to-toe. This red aura on its own likely was not impressive, but it was far from the true power of her release. A reddened construct began to form within the shroud. Appearing similar to bone, a ribcage slowly formed around Celes before settling into place. From a glance, this appeared to be a protective shell!

From within this roughly 7 ft tall ribcage, Celes raised her arms and stretched. Upon bringing her right arm down, the Captain opened her hand. An orb of energy formed and rested in the palm of her hand. Allowing it to hover for a few moments, the Captain crushed it. As the orb elongated, Celes allowed it to fall into the sand. Beside her now rested a 4 ft blade embedded in the sand. Unlike her sealed weaponry this resembled a traditional medieval blade. With her Shikai manifested, Celes could easily go on the offensive, but she'd do no such thing. Instead, she sat upon the cold, white sand. Her eyes were trained on Caballero as she spoke. "You are looking at my Zanpakutō, Yunorashi. She is Soul Society's ultimate shield. Now... show me what you can do, little warrior." A smile arose on her lips. She was excited to see what strategies the Hollow used to overcome this. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 1050/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10
-150 for Class 4 Shikai

Total Strength of Spirit: 9/10
+10 from Shikai Overall
-1 for Arms of the Astral Soul

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}
Astral Soul Body: 1250

SPOILER: Click to show

{Honegumi Gassō Overall Ability}Astral Bastion harnesses Celes’ Qi and using herself as a conduit, focuses it to give it physical form. This results in an Astral Soul that protects Celes and grows over the course of combat. The Avatar forms at a speed equivalent to Celes' own. Upon utilizing Shikai, Celes receives 10 Strength of Spirit every post. Leftover Strength of Spirit from one post carries over to another post and there is no cap to the amount of the Strength of Spirit that Celes can accumulate. Additionally, Celes can generate Strength of Spirit out of her own reaitsu at a cost of 25 Reiatsu per Strength of Spirit. Strength of Spirit can be used in a number of ways.

Once a post, Celes can spend any amount of Strength of Spirit to restore 4% per Strength of Spirit in durability to her Astral Soul, restoring the durability to a part of Celes’ choice. Strength of Spirit spent on restoring durability can be divided among multiple parts of the Astral Soul. For example, if Celes spends 4 Strength of Spirit to repair, she can allocate 4 to one part of the Astral Soul or divide it up among multiple parts such as the arms or head. Strength of Spirit may also be spent to enhance the Astral Soul, making temporary additions that can become permanent by use of Ascendant Spirit.

The Astral Soul has durability equivalent to Celes’ OS. This durability increases by 1.5x Celes’ OS when Humanoid. The durability finally rises to 2x Celes’ OS while Armored. Each part of the Astral Soul which includes the Head, Body, and Arms has its own separate durability. No part of the Astral Soul may ever be more than one stage above the Body. Physical and Spiritual attacks can gradually deteriorate the Astral Soul. Upon clashing, the OS of the attack harms the durability. For example, if Celes has a durability of 1000 and the OS of the attack is 500, the remaining durability is 500. If the technique has a 2 Class Superiority, then it both harms the durability of the Astral Soul and pierces it, making Celes susceptible to its effects. In contrast, if the technique has a 2 Class Inferiority, then only deals 50% of its OS to the Astral Soul. If the Body of the Astral Soul were to fall to the durability of 0, the Astral Soul regresses to its previous stage. For example, Armored would regress to Humanoid.

Celes may allow others to enter her Astral Soul freely. Doing so incurs no harm to the ally. Opponents may also force their way into Celes’ Astral Soul as long the durability of the Astral Soul's body has fallen below 25%. This includes techniques that would target Celes directly, requiring opponents to wear down her defenses first. Opponents of a higher class than Celes can always force their way into the Astral Soul or target Celes through her Astral Soul no matter the durability. If the durability is repaired above 25%, any hostile currently within the Astral Soul is forcibly shunted out.

Using this Avatar comes with a primary weakness. The Avatar is a representation of Celes’ life energy; given focus and shaped into a physical form by her. This is extremely taxing and will inevitably result in extreme pain if maintained for an extended duration. Celes can utilize the first instance of Shikai with little risk, suffering no pain from using the Avatar. Once Celes refreshes her Shikai, the pain escalates. Every post thereafter, Celes suffers consistent pain which worsens every four posts. The first instance of pain requires a Pain Tolerance of 1 to withstand. This Pain Tolerance requirement grows every four posts to a maximum of 3. Meeting the Pain Tolerance requirement allows Celes to continue fighting through prolonged exposure threatens to debilitate her if she has sustained wounds. If Celes should ever not meet the Pain Tolerance requirement, she will be writhing in so much pain that her Shikai or Bankai loses its focus and dissipates, effectively ending her release.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Palms of the Astral Soul}
For 1 Strength of Spirit Celes can summon one arm, up to a maximum of four. These arms have a reach of 15 ft and have a Strength equal to Celes’ own strength. Each arm must be maintained via the upkeep of # Strength of Spirit until it is made permanent. The upkeep cost of the arms increases with each stage.

Skeletal: 1
Humanoid: 2
Armored: 3
Complete: 4

SPOILER: Click to show

{Visage of the Astral Soul}
For 2 Strength of Spirit Celes can summon the head of her Astral Soul. This head, while active, heightens Celes’ visual acuity by allowing her to see through the eyes of the Astral Soul. This allows her to treat her Speed as 25% higher for the purposes of perceiving high-speed movement. This bonus increases to 50% upon using the Complete Astral Soul. Additionally, for each stage that the Head has reached beginning at Skeletal, Celes gains 1 point in Charisma for the purposes of intimidation as it provides a menacing appearance up to a max of 3. The upkeep cost of the Head increases with each stage.

Skeletal: 2
Humanoid: 4
Armored: 6
Complete: 8

SPOILER: Click to show

{Arms of the Astral Soul}
For 1 Strength of Spirit, Celes can summon weapons wielded by the Astral Soul. These weapons are a longsword or a shield. The longsword is 25 ft in length and the shield has a diameter of 12 ft. A weapon can be summoned upon manifesting of an arm or while the Astral Soul has one free hand. All three weapons both have an OS and durability equivalent to Celes’ Strength; Bankai increases the durability to 2x Celes' OS. While these weapons are constructs, they retain the benefits of their metal counterparts, I.E blades can still carry vibrations. These weapons can be destroyed by a 2x OS superiority to durability. Once broken, Celes may spend 1 Strength of Spirit once more to resummon these weapons. As long as the weapons are not broken, Celes may dissipate the weapon from the Astral Soul’s hands. When doing so, Celes summons her own copy of the weapon in her hand that acts as her release weapon. She may transfer her copy of the weapon to the Astral Soul at will as long as it is not broken. The weapons do not have an upkeep cost.

Class 4 Shikai: 1/10

[Deleted]

It seemed Celes was convinced by the little knight's efforts to communicate that yes, they would be using the bladed part of their katana for the rest of the duel. Thus, the Captain of the Tenth squadron would give them a little smile before finally presenting them with what would be the greatest power they had seen through their incredibly short lifespan. She said she trusted them to hold their end of the deal as her Reiatsu flared, and although Caballero's energy sensory abilities were far too lackluster to even notice that, they could at least sense--in vague terms--that the already large gap between them would be growing even larger. In stark contrast to the intense burst of Reiatsu, Celes's words came out as a soft command: the words that would set off her Zanpakuto into Shikai, the first level of a Shinigami's release.

"Walk the Earth, Yunorashi."

Caballero's big, void-like eyes would've widened had they had the physical ability to do so as the Captain's sword did not change shape or turn into something else. Instead, it simply... disappeared. After glowing hotly with a reddish hue, the blade seemed to vanish, leaving naught a trace behind. Just as the little creature was about to tilt their head in confusion again, wondering what in the world was going on, Celes's body became enveloped by an aura that had just about the same color. Insinctively, the Shinigami wannabe braced for whatever was coming next, their survival instinct matching the sheer levels of hype and fanboyism that were in full display as their opponent's Shikai began taking form.

A strange construct began to grow from the aura, taking shape to protect its wielder. Caballero was not familiar enough with anatomical knowledge to be able to tell that what had just coalesced around Celes resembled a ribcage. Bones, in other words. And, if bones had grown out of nothing, something else might just follow suit later on. Alas, for the little Hollow, this bone-like armor was already cool enough on its own right, so they fully believed it to be the full extent of Celes's abilities. She was really strong, and the protection around her would keep her safe, making her more durable. Simple enough-at least, that was for what it seemed to do. The knight had no idea about the power Yunorashi would develop as their battle continued. For starters, she moved her hand from inside the 7ft tall ribcage to summon what looked like a medieval sword instead of the more classical katana.

"You are looking at my Zanpakutō, Yunorashi. She is Soul Society's ultimate shield. Now... show me what you can do, little warrior."

Again, she smiled at them, leading them to understand that it was okay for them to attack. This time, there was no excited jump, no marveling at the Captain's Shikai. Caballero bowed their head again, both in thanks for having been showed that Release, and in respect of their opponent, as the duel that was about to resume. The creature then brandished their dagger-sized katana and entered the stance that Celes herself had corrected earlier for a second, as if steeling their resolve. They had been facing the Captain before, true, but her releasing her Shikai meant that, at the very least, she had gotten a little serious. This would not be like anything they had experienced thus far. This would set a hallmark in their mind for the power that they one day would need to achieve to, perhaps, become Captain of their own squadron.

As such, Caballero dashed toward the Yunorashi-clad Celes, nothing but an unpowered class 8 Beat Stick against her class 4 Shikai, their Strength of Will, and the lack of profound intelligence for analysis of just how screwed Caballero was. At least initially, the strategy was simple. Yunorashi protected Celes. Their blade would never be able to pierce through, that much was a given. However, Celes was sitting on top of the sand... and her summoned sword was right next to her. As such, the little knight followed a throwaway approach. First, they used Class 8 Tendón in an unorthodox way: they used it to shoot their sword toward the protected Shinigami, fully confident it would not hurt her in any way. But this was only meant to be a distraction!

Caballero shot a second class 8 Tendón with their other hand, and attempted to actually take the 4ft blade Celes had conjured! Sure, it was larger than they were but given its properties, it might be doable for them to use it! If they were able to successfully wrap Tendón around the hilt of the weapon, then Caballero would attempt to hijack the sword, and use it to attack the Captain's protection--and only the protection, since they couldn't know whether Celes's blade would pierce the armor with ease or not. Given the blade should be about 1/10th of their own weight, and that they could support themselves with their level of strength, it would not be a stretch for them to be able to hold the sword. It might be a bit unwieldy because of it actually being larger than they were tall, of course.

In any case, the result of this insane strategy hinged on whether Celes would allow this in the first place. Otherwise, they did not have too many options, did they?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tendon}Tendón (Tendon)

Technique Class: Class 8-1 (paid up to class 6)

Technique Type: Hollow [Custom]

Technique Cost: 50 per Class above 7 (0 at Class 8, 350 at 1)

Description: The most basic application of Caballero's Reiatsu body, and the first technique that Caballero ever learned. Tendón manipulates the shape of any of Caballero's limbs, changing it to a set of tendrils that can reach far away from the tiny Hollow. At class 8, this technique is mostly used for moving around by grappling onto different spots: branches, ledges, crevices, so on and so forth. It can also grab things, but has no real restraining power (it's used for utility and for cinematic/narrative purposes).

At Class 7 and above, this becomes an actual offensive technique: the lower classes (7-4) will see blunt tendrils with which Caballero can slap people around, while at classes 3-1, the tendrils will become incredibly sharp and tough, being able to stab and slash at a distance. Tendón can be used to restrain a foe at any class above 8, and may deal crushing damage in this case. When used offensively, this technique uses Reiatsu Strength, since Caballero's 'body' nothing but condensed black Reiatsu.

Tendon has a range of up to 15 feet at class 8, and each class upgrade sees an increase of 5 extra feet. Maximum is 50 feet at Class 1 (roughly 15 meters).

Drawbacks: Caballero uses its actual body for this technique, so it is possible to damage him directly by winning an OS clash against Tendón.

[Celes Castellanos]

Having released her Zanpakutō, Celes' eyes focused on Caba. The tiny Hollow proceeded to bow to her and, once more, placed a smile on the Captain's lips. They were certainly among the more unique Hollow that Celes had met. Nevertheless, they were still locked in a duel and it was time to continue. As the Hollow brandished their weapon and assumed a stance, Celes continued to sit without much of any stance. It was a benefit of her Zanpakutō. Yunorashi was not the most destructive Zanpakutō within Soul Society. The Captain could not wipe out armies in a single move. However, it was by far one, if the the most defensive Zanpakutō within Soul Society. Celes held that belief with pride.

As their eyes locked for a brief moment, Celes knew that the Hollow would not back down even after seeing their Zanpakutō. In fact, she was sure that this only helped invigorate the Hollow even more. Sure enough, Caballero began to rush forward. Now, in a state of total relaxation, Celes watched the tiny Hollow's approach. What plan had they concocted in that little head of theirs? How did they plan to overcome the Captain's defense? She was excited to see the fruits of their strategizing.

As they dashed closer, Caballero's cloak rustled for a brief moment as a black tendril shot out towards Celes once more. This time, however, it held the blade that the Hollow wielded. As the tendril closed in, Celes still remained calm. This was a good chance to actually see the sharpness of the blade in action. As it thrust against the ribcage, the blade itself would meet heavy resistance. If Caballero tried to push the blade in deeper, despite being nothing more than a distraction, they would find the blade unmoving. It would be clear from that interaction that the Hollow would require heavier firepower. 

Even though she focused on the singular tendril, the Captain had made note of the second tendril which wasn't as inconspicuous as the Hollow might have thought. Understanding with full confidence that the Hollows' blade couldn't pierce her construct, her eyes drifted over to her sides to take note of any flanking tendrils. As she looked to her right, she saw the second tendril which had advanced far closer than she had anticipated. As it locked itself around the blade that Celes had dropped just beside herself, the Captain grinned. "Another clever move..."

As they lifted the blade with some difficulty given its size, Celes smirked. Opening up her left hand, the girl allowed another orb of energy to form in her hand. Morphing to become another blade, she mobilized every muscle in her body. As she brought her arm up, the Captain allowed the ribcage which surrounded her to dissipate. The red aura that surrounded her flickered around her body while the ribcage vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. While this would allow Caballero's dagger to be used against Celes if it was in position, she hardened her body to be as strong as steel. In the meantime, her other blade rose to clash with her stolen weapon. 

As the blades clashed, Celes could feel the minor struggle. The blade, despite being used by Caballero, still retained much of its sharpness. She could only come to one inescapable conclusion as she looked at Caballero. "Even now you surprise me, little warrior. Had I not dismissed my defense then it would've surely crumbled. Impressive..." As she finished giving her praise, the girl slowly rose to her feet. The blade that she was clashing against belonged to her. It was tied to very spirit. With nothing more than a thought from the Captain, the blade which Caballero had taken from her suddenly broke down into flickering embers of energy. 

Suddenly, Celes' red aura flickered brightly once more as the 7 ft tall ribcage surrounded the Captain again. It was among a few perks that the Captain had from wielding a construct. She could dismiss and allow it to emerge at any time. In fact, if any of Caballero's Tendón still sat within the confines of the ribcage, it would quickly find itself repulsed by a powerful force. It seemed that the ribcage itself was still far too strong to allow any entity that Celes did not wish inside of it. 

Celes closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As she did, the aura that surrounded her grew further. In fact, the ribcage that enveloped the Captain grew with it. Expanding outward, the ribcage slowly began to take the form of an actual torso. Accompanying this expansion were more bones which formed along the upper portion of the torso. Extending outward roughly 15 ft, the torso now possessed two skeletal arms. Finally, atop the torso itself, bone surfaces congealed into place to form a head. Its hollow orbits almost seemed to resemble Caballero's own inky black eyes. With a few more deep breaths, the spectral bones took on a brighter red. It seemed more stable. More study, if that was even possible.

Within what felt like a few moments, the ribcage had morphed right before Caballero's eyes. What now stood before the tiny Hollow was an imposing 15 ft tall skeletal humanoid. The Captain stood at the center of it almost as though she were its very heart. Within her left hand, the girl still wielded her blade as she pointed it at Caballero. Flickers of reiatsu smoldered within Celes. It was Hollow reiatsu, albeit quite faint. Was the Inner Hollow which infested her soul influencing her more and more? Even the Captain herself wasn't sure. Nevertheless, she was sure of one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt. She was enjoying this little bout!

These little one on one sessions reminded her of better times with Kimiko. Hell, even with Camila. She wanted to see this little Hollow grow strong. "Shall we go another round, little one?" There was excitement in her voice, but also a great deal of care. If Caballero obliged, Celes would opt to go on the offensive this time. Rushing forward at a speed of 100, the Captain would give a mental command to her construct. Swinging downward in an arc, the left skeletal hand would try to strike at Caballero's side with a strength and speed of 100. While it was much weaker than what Celes could muster at full strength, it would sting from the size of the arm alone if it hit. All this time Celes had been on the defensive. It was time to push Caballero and mix things up a little bit!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 1050/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10

Total Strength of Spirit: 9
+10 from Shikai Overall
-1 for Palms of the Astral Soul
-1 for Palms of the Astral Soul
-2 for Visage of the Astral Soul
-1 for Arms of the Astral Soul
-5 for Ascendant Spirit Rank I

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}
Astral Soul Body: 1175
Astral Soul Left Arm: 1250
Astral Soul Right Arm: 1250
Astral Soul Head: 1250

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ascendant Spirit Rank I}Technique Name: Ascendant Spirit

Description: Ascendant Spirit acts as a way for Celes to permanently upgrade her Astral Soul. By spending varying amounts of Strength of Spirit, Celes can permanently grant herself the superior stages of the Astral Soul. Once a stage has been unlocked permanently, Celes does not need to spend Strength of Spirit to maintain enhancements of that stage anymore. These permanent enhancements, if destroyed, allow Celes to spend Strength of Spirit equivalent to 1.5x their upkeep cost, rounded down, to restore the enhancement. When restored, the enhancement returns to the current unlocked stage of Ascendant Spirit. If the Astral Soul were to regress to a previous stage, Celes can spend Strength of Spirit equal to the most recently unlocked Stage to immediately upgrade back to it. For example, if Astral Soul reverts to Skeletal, she can spend # Strength of Spirit to enhance the Astral Soul to Humanoid once more. Activating Bankai immediately sets Ascendant Spirit to Rank IV. In Bankai, the Astral Soul can be restored to the Complete stage. Upgrading Ascendant Spirit lasts until the end of a regular thread such as a PVP/JT. In longer threads such as adventures, Ascendant Spirit resets on a "long rest". The requirements for upgrading or restoring Stages are:

Skeletal: 5 (Rank I)
Humanoid: 9 (Rank II)
Armored: 13 (Rank III)
Complete: 20 (Rank IV)

Drawbacks: Ascendant Spirit is a powerful way for Celes to retain certain benefits, but it does have several weaknesses. For another rank of Ascendant Spirit to be purchased, Celes must have at least maintained the next stage of enhancements at some point. For example, if Celes is currently using the Skeletal Astral Form, she must first purchase and maintain Humanoid Arms and Head to upgrade to rank II (Humanoid) of Ascendant Spirit. While each enhancement can be maintained individually, all enhancements must have been maintained at the next stage at least once. The only exception is Palms of the Astral Soul, which only require a minimum of two arms to be maintained to fulfill the requirement. Additionally, after upgrading Ascendant Spirit, the technique goes on cooldown for two posts before being able to upgrade again. If an enhancement is destroyed, Celes must wait 1 post before being able to restore that enhancement.

Class 4 Shikai: 2/10

[Deleted]

Caballero's own sword immediately bounced away as soon as it collided against Yunorashi's iron-clad defense, since the attack's purpose had been naught but a distraction. That was probably under the Captain's expectations, as well as Caballero's; however, when the tiny knight nicked Celes's spiritual sword and swung it against her defenses, she seemed genuinely amused at their tactic, going as far as to stand back up and meet the strike with an appropriate answer. The defenses suddenly vanished for a moment, and their own stolen blade came to strike at the original owner's. Through their stubby little arms, the little bean could feel the immense power of the weapon they were holding, and it seemed enough to at least hope to match the Captain's.

Celes did offer praise to the little Hollow again, going as far as to say that her defense would've immediately fallen if she had not dismissed it first, and so it seemed that tactic would allow Caballero to fight on even grounds in terms of offensive strength. Well, if not for one teensy-weensy but ever-so-crucial little tiny detail.

She owned that blade. It was literally made out of her own soul and her Qi.

Caballero's excitement at holding a Captain's Shikai in their stubby little arms quickly turned into surprised disappointment when the blade created by Yunorashi crumbled into nothing but spiritual dust, leaving them completely unarmed once again. Had they had a face, it would have been not unlike one of the many memes that had circulated over the human Internet over the years. However, it was not just that their best chance at fighting Yunorashi was gone, it was that they had also committed a fatal mistake, truly denoting their lack of skill for the time being: they had let go of their weapon. The moment Caballero had set sights on the spiritual blade, they had let it bounce off against Celes's armor, foregoing it in search of exploiting a potential opening. Now, they would need to recover their old sword, and them being able to do so would only be possible in the first place because of the Captain extending them that courtesy, specially when she could just blitz them with their superior speed.

Before they could even do that, however, Celes's Shikai fully formed into a complete skeleton. The little bean watched in awe, shaken by the sheer spiritual power emanating from the construct. The ribcage, now reformed, turned into a torso that sprouted two arms at least five times the size of Caballero each. The torso also formed a head--well, a skull with empty eye sockets that still seemed to stare at Caballero. It was a completely imposing sight, enough to send fear down the heart of any Hollow. All things considered, and with how they saw Celes as a superior officer, that fear got turned into an incredible respect, but also sheer amazement. The little knight jumped up and down at the sight, perhaps also blinded to danger by their lack of fear and strength of will. Celes's Shikai continued to evolve, it was not just a ribcage. Just how much bigger would that Shikai get? How would it change? What would her Bankai be like? So many questions, so little time to fanboy! They needed to focus on the actual battle, regardless of them going against a supernatural skeletal armor that seemed could cleave their head off with one strike.

Should Celes allow them to recover their weapon, they would promptly do so before starting the next round. One way or another, the Captain seemed happy, even excited, with their tiny little bout. Caballero could not really comprehend why, as they knew nothing about her story, or the students they reminded her of, but they did mirror the excitement. How could they not? They were going up against a Captain of the Gotei! Not too many Shinigami had the honor of saying that! Of course, not too many live Hollows did, either, but that was because they'd most likely than not end up dead. Not that Caballero cared about it, because they were no Hollow, of course not. That mask and that hungry itch were completely normal to have.

Once Caballero accepted the next round, this time Celes would be the one to attack. Immediately, they could only freeze at the sight. Watching a Captain get closer was scary on its own right. Watching her clad in that 15ft Yunorashi skeleton? That was an entirely different beast. Needless to say, the little bean couldn't react fast enough, and was slapped silly by the construct's humongous arm. Well, 'slapped silly' may have been a gross understatement. Celes may have calculated her attack to be much weaker, but Caballero was not an average opponent. They were small. Very, very small. So, naturally, Caballero's incredibly light build was sent flying a few meters to the side, where they bounced a few times and rolled on the sand--again, far too much sand that day!--before they stopped. The little knight's mask cracked because of the impact, and when they got up, their head was spinning. Dizzy, they wobbled from side to side, forgetting that they had--again--lost their blade! It had landed not too far from them, but still, embarrassing! They were so dizzy that they fell back on the sand, landing on their rear. They really needed to stop flying around, or better yet, stop getting smacked.

[Celes Castellanos]

Upon being given the 'okay' and allowing the tiny Hollow to retrieve their weapon, Celes decided it was time to go on the offensive. She had spent much of this duel standing and reacting, but now she needed to mix things up. Rushing forwards with her skeletal hand raised above the Avatar's head, Celes brought it down upon Caballero. As usual, she purposes held back. After all, this was not a battle to the death. There were rules to this little game of theirs.

Despite Celes' consideration, though, it seemed that she had made a critical oversight. Caballero was a young Hollow and likely had not seen much combat. They didn't have the experience to appropriately steel themselves against Celes' ghostly visage. Leaving them paralyzed, Celes' strike would crash into the Hollow. Their physique left the tiny warrior flying through the air before landing against the sand. Metal clattered subtlely against the soft sand.

Needless to say, Celes' eyes widened at the ragdoll jerking of the Hollow. As the warrior attempted to lift themselves back up, Celes saw the small crack that had formed on the Hollow's mask. She bit her tongue, only rubbing the back of her head nervously. "Well... I certainly hope that it will heal over time..." Another nervous chuckle arose from her lips before giggling as the Hollow fell back down, stars surely spinning above their eyes. The Captain closed her eyes and cleared her throat to stifle any more amusement on her part.

The girl took several dozen steps forward and walked past Caballero. If the Caballero ever touched the apparition, they wouldn't find themselves impeded by it. Quite the opposite. Caballero would become briefly shrouded by the Captain's Shikai. As she passed by, the girl knelt down and gripped Caballero's dagger-like blade. While effectively child sized to her, this weapon fit someone of Caballero's stature quite well. Celes simply brought her other hand to the tip of the blade and glided it along the edge of the blade for a moment or so. 

Drops of warm blood dripped from the palm of Celes' hand. It was a very superficial cut. It wasn't even deep enough to draw out anything more than a hum from the Captain. She looked over at Caballero and smiled. Returning to them, the Shinigami offered them their blade back. "Y'know.. I was almost worried that the cutting edge was just for show." Her eyes locked with the Hollows'. "It's a serviceable weapon, but I fear for its longevity. Though I'm sure you'll figure something out if it ever breaks." Celes was no master weaponsmith. However, she knew a thing or two about a good sword. Caballero's blade wasn't properly damaged, but its craftsmanship was poor. 

If Caballero took their blade back, the Captain took the time to create some distance between the two. First 5 ft, then 10 ft, now 15 ft. Finally, the girl stopped at about 20 or so ft. Turning around and opening her hand, Celes focused her energy. Shaping another orb, she allowed it to form itself much like the rest. Initially taking on the size of her 4 ft blade, it began to shrink down further and further. Eventually the girl would grip a much smaller weapon. It didn't seem to be any more than a little over 1 ft in length. Was she really going to fight Caballero with so small a weapon? 

No. In fact, Celes swung her hand upward and let go of the blade. As it spun in midair, the sword would eventually fall a few inches in front of Caballero. The Captain pointed her blade at the one she left for Caballero. "Pick it up." Her voice sounded dispassionate for a moment. "It might not be the exact specifications, but it would serve you well in the remainder of this duel against me. Or at least better than your own blade. I would advise against tossing yours away though-" The girl paused for a moment as she heard a familiar voice. "Quit messing around Celes. Don't restrict yourself against some Hollow. Show them the depth of our power!"

The Captain shook her head subtly and whispered to herself in a hushed tone. "Shut up..." Unfortunately, the voice had a point. If Caballero chose to wield Celes' blade, her Shikai couldn't stand up too well against it. At least not in this manner. Allowing Caballero to explore their skills took priority. The Captain took a deep breath and focused. Slowly, but surely, strands of energy from at the shoulder and top of the spectral body. These strands, not unlike tendrils, leapt across and began wrapping themselves around the limbs and even the head. Hundreds of these tendrils extended before stretching taut and hardening. These tendrils soon formed what appeared like a layer of muscle before skin grew over it. Even the spectral visage changed. A crown-like wreath extended from its head like fiery strands of hir. The once black voids filled with an eerie yellow glow. While the torso that housed Celes remained unchanged, the arms and head of the apparition appeared much more humanoid. As she slowly opened her eyes, the Captain stared at the Hollow and waited their next move with anticipation. Somewhere, in the deep recesses of her mind, was a single question that loomed. "Just how far can we take this?" 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 1050/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10

Total Strength of Spirit: 10
+10 from Shikai Overall
-2 for Palms of the Astral Soul
-2 for Palms of the Astral Soul
-4 for Visage of the Astral Soul
-1 for Arms of the Astral Soul

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}
Astral Soul Body: 1175
Astral Soul Left Arm: 1875
Astral Soul Right Arm: 1875
Astral Soul Head: 1875

Class 4 Shikai: 3/10