Lost and found [Celes]

[Deleted]

The Captain, caring as ever, allowed Caballero to retrieve their dagger-like blade, as there would hardly be any point in showing them her Shikai otherwise. Without it, the tiny bean was completely unable to defend themselves, since they did not seem to possess any special ability or powerful attack. Well, 'powerful' might be a gross overstatement in this context, but their kin had techniques and attacks to defend themselves with. All Caballero had was Tendón... and Tendón couldn't deal much damage. If only they could create a blade out of their own spiritual energy, like Celes did! Or better yet, if only they could create an intimidating red skeleton to cover them, sending little Hollows flying with the same amount of effort it took to swat a mosquito away!

As Caballero did their best to recover from the blow, Celes walked toward Caballero, but they were still a bit too dazed to try anything. Even if they were not, her Shikai was powerful, so it was unlikely that they would've tried to touch it. Caballero watched, a little better, as the Captain picked up their sword from the white sands... and then panicked for a second when the woman sliced her palm open. Of course, the tiny Hollow had no idea that this was nothing but a superficial cut, and instead might have interpreted it as her giving them yet another handicap. She didn't even grimace or make a pained face--a light breeze could've weaved between her fingers for the same result. Their concerns were somwhat eased as she walked back to them with a smile, then handed them their little dagger back. They were very happy to receive it, but that wasn't all of it.

The Yunorashi-clad Shinigami had quickly recognized the lack of quality on the craftsmanship of the blade. She mentioned that it would probably not last for long, even if it could still be of service to the tiny knight. Normally, Caballero would've been extremely offended that someone had dared badmouth their 'Zanpakuto', but this could hardly apply for a Gotei 13 Captain. Instead, they were were a bit disappointed to hear that--a stark reminder that brought back very hazy glimpses of a past life, during which they had been denied as a Shinigami Hopeful on the grounds that they just didn't have the talent to become one in the first place. Regardless, they still picked their blade back from her. It was still their 'Zanpakuto', good or bad, poor craftsmanship or not.

The Captain then put a good amount of distance between the two of them; about six meters or so. She then created yet another orb, and from it a weapon sprang; this would be a sword like her own... only it would quickly begin to shrink, until its dimensions were similar to Caballero's own short blade. With that done, the Captain threw the weapon toward them, and it landed on the sand with ease, half its length buried in the sand. Her voice was a bit more absent as she asked them to pick the blade up. Perhaps she was getting tired of dealing with the little Hollow? Whilst Caballero busied themselves with retrieving the item, they were unaware of Celes's conversation with her Inner Hollow. With Celes's spiritual blade firmly secured, the knight was now wielding two swords instead of one.

This felt rather weird, and somewhat unnatural, so they kind of played around with them a little. They stepped in, stepped out, tried a couple of swings. Their body was as inexperienced with these as it was with just a single sword, although that might change in the future, once they gained more experience. For the time being, they quickly stopped focusing on their technique, and watched in awe as the apparition that surrounded Celes continued to evolve. It almost seemed like its power had no limit. Compared to that, Caballero was but a speck in the wind, and that speck was the part of Celes's own power that they were wielding now. Once again, she just stood there, waiting for their next strike, giving them a chance to take the initiative.

Well, they would need to do just that.

Caballero prepared to plunge into battle again. They gripped both blades, wrapping the hilts with their stubby little arms by using an incredibly short-range Tendón, and got ready. Then, without warning, they flared Reiatsu in their feet, and exited the folds of Hueco
Mundo for one split second while advancing at five times their usual speed, for a total of 250. This was Úlcera, the step technique most, if not all Hollows could use at will. Of course, Úlcera not only put so much strain on their body that they could only use it once in a short duration; it barely allowed them to move at a fraction of Celes's ordinary speed... but they could not know that, given their inexperience. As such, they launched themselves toward the skeleton, aiming to hit the ribcage with both swords following a diagonal cross shape as they re-entered that plane of reality, like an X. Needless to say, the first blade was the Captain's, aiming to break through the protection as she'd said would happen. They hoped the second one would, at the very least, reach her.

Simple? Perhaps. But they didn't have many more tricks they could exploit, after all. Technique, power, stamina, experience, mobility, dexterity... all were playing against them in this battle. And even then, they were still enjoying themselves. Witnessing a Captain's Shikai, testing their mettle against a Shinigami of that caliber... this was an experience that the vast majority of people would never have. An experience that, for better or for worse, would see the little knight growing at a frightening rate.

[Celes Castellanos]

The Captain maintained her watchful gaze and focused intently on Caballero. Just as her apparition finished binding together hundreds of tendons so had the Hollow grasped the blade that Celes' provided. Just as before, the Hollow gave this new style a test run. Swiping at the air a few times with their blades, Celes could tell that this was certainly a new experience for them. There was no doubt that their form would initially suffer, but this Hollow was a quick study. They'd adjust.

The lime-haired Shinigami continued to stand there, shrouded by a menacing apparition. She was waiting. Waiting to see what kind of attack Caballero would muster now that they wielded a blade fit for a Captain. A few moments of silence passed between the two combatants. The gentlest of breezes flowed across the white sands. In preparation, Celes already began to focus her energy on the apparition. The Hollow, meanwhile, began their advance. It was time for another exchange of blows.

The Captain allowed her energy to flow through her armor. The tendons, muscles, and skin that had formed along the avatar's arms and head spread along the torso. Once more, hundreds of tendrils latched together and began to harden into the skin. At the same time, the apparition itself became bulkier and larger, now standing 20 ft tall. This layer of skin was not just for show. It was a powerful defensive boon. At roughly the same time, Caballero focused their reiatsu and disappeared into the darkness of Hueco Mundo!

Celes simply blinked in response. Were her senses deceiving her? One moment she was face-to-face with the Hollow and they were gone in the next. Her eyes quickly darted around as she searched for the tiny warrior. Her sides? No. Above? Nope! In some ways, Celes' experience worked against her. Her mind immediately shot to step techniques, but Shunpo and even Sonido had a characteristic sound. There was nothing around her. Even though Caballero's Úlcera was brief, the brief window of confusion would be enough to get them into range.

By the time Celes returned her gaze forward, Caballero had already made it into melee range. The expression on her face was priceless. Needless to say, she was shocked. As expected, the Hollow's blades came crashing down upon Celes' Shikai armor. While Caballero's own blade wouldn't as much as scratch her armor, her own blade would. While the blow itself carried no significant physical strength, the blade had been sharpened to a razor's edge by Celes' own Qi. A large gash followed the diagonal swipe and tore into the skin. Cracks radiated outward to the bones underneath as several cracks could be heard. It was clear that it had dealt some damage!

Despite the incredible damage though... the Shikai remained. The added musculature and skin added some much-needed bulk that wouldn't be felled by one sword swing. That being said, Celes was impressed. "Did... this tiny Hollow really outsmart me?..." A lesser warrior's pride might have crumbled at the indignity, but Celes didn't see it that way. It had become a learning opportunity for the Captain. Beneath the torn muscles and cracked bones, Celes simply smiled brightly. 

In response to this attack, Celes willed the massive skeletal hand to swing inward. Moving at a speed of 500, it would most definitely be blurry if not nigh imperceptible to the Hollow. Instead of striking though, Celes simply aimed at the Hollow's mask-like helmet in an almost surgically precise fashion. Just as a master martial artist can catch a fly between their fingertips so would Celes attempt to grab the Hollow's helmet between the tips of her fingers. Despite its speed, the grab itself wouldn't be painful in the slightest if she got ahold of Caballero. In fact, it would be incredibly gentle. 

If her attempt to grab Caballero was successful, Celes would extend the skeletal arm outward so there was 5 or so ft between the Hollow and the torso they had just struck. For a moment, the woman would simply stare at Caballero. Her gaze would be blank until her expression was replaced by a massive grin and a hearty laugh. "Excellent job, little warrior! All my decades of experience and you caught me off guard. You should be proud!" As she sang her praise, the Captain allowed additional energy to flow towards the torso. She even began to draw from her limited reiatsu reserves all for one singular purpose. To repair her armor!

Ripples echoed, spreading across the length of the Astral Souls' torso. Before Caballero's void-like eyes, the gash that formed began to rejuvenate. Pulling itself together like torn threads, the cracks and fractures of the large skeletal bones mended themselves beneath the tissue that surrounded them. Granted, it wasn't perfect. Several smaller cracks and lacerations remained. Would it be able to endure another of Caballero's blows? That was yet to be seen. One thing was for sure though. This Shikai could take one hell of a punishment! 

Despite her lack of any serious injuries, an astute observer would notice that Celes' breathing became somewhat irregular. Her posture was slanting. Sweat rolled down her brow. Despite her incredible physical prowess, the girl had pathetic reiatsu reserves. She was beginning to feel the effects of spiritual exhaustion. She simply bit her lip and swallowed some spit as she focused on Caballero. If the Hollow had been caught by her earlier maneuver, Celes would set them down gently. "S-so. Shall we keep going, little one? Or have you had..." One gasped breath later, "-your fill?" 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 550/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10
-500 for Latent Spirit

Total Strength of Spirit: 8
+10 from Shikai Overall
+20 from Latent Spirit
-2 for Palms of the Astral Soul
-2 for Palms of the Astral Soul
-4 for Visage of the Astral Soul
-9 for Ascendant Spirit Rank II
-15 for Rejuvenation

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}
Astral Soul Body: 1600
Astral Soul Left Arm: 1875
Astral Soul Right Arm: 1875
Astral Soul Head: 1875

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ascendant Spirit Rank II}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: 4/10

[Deleted]

It was nothing short of a miracle that Caballero's Úlcera managed to catch Celes by surprise, who by all intents and purposes should've been leagues faster--and that was without using a step technique herself. Caballero was not aware of the fact that she had been spending some of her focus on making her Shikai continue to grow and evolve; in fact, by the time they had reappeared, the skeletal apparition had grown even more, up to 20ft, and the muscle and bone were now enveloped by a layer of skin. The little Hollow's cross slash managed not only to strike true, but to actually cause some damage to the massive Shikai. While their own blade could do absolutely nothing against the massive defenses that the apparition granted her wielder, the same could not be said for the blade that Celes had lent them. Powered by her Qi, it was at least enough to shred through the outer layers of the armor, although the incredibly bulky Yunorashi would not budge just from that attack. However, it was working! They had a chance to attack, to turn the tables, to prove themselves to a Captain! Caballero felt so good that they could fly, like they would not touch the ground!

Then, their two brain-cells finally had a spark of intelligence, and brought them to one particular thought. Shouldn't they have been falling by now?

By the time the little Hollow realized, Celes's gigantic Shikai arm had moved at ten times their maximum speed, and had comfortably picked them right by the mask. Surprised, Caballero couldn't help but to probe with the two blades, lightly tapping the ghostly hand grabbing them, their little feet kicking back and forth in the air. Once they felt the hand, since the grip was so gentle they could barely even feel it, they finally realized the situation they were in. The mask! One of their many, many weaknesses! The arm carried them a few feet away from the Captain, and, much to their surprise, she began to laugh. While it may have been possible to interpret it as scorn, Caballero and Celes both shared a particular trait: they had an overwhelmingly positive aura. They were honest, and it showed in their intentions. As such, it was very difficult for the Hollow to think of Celes's laughter as mocking or scorning. If anything, it felt good to hear her laugh.

"Excellent job, little warrior! All my decades of experience and you caught me off guard. You should be proud!

Of course they were proud! A Captain of the Gotei 13, giving wholehearted praise? That was more than they deserved, really! They would've puffed out their chest like they often did, but of course, there was no ground to hold that trademark position of theirs. Instead, the little being paid attention to the apparition surrounding Celes. As she continued to smile, the wounds on her Shikai regenerated, making their previous effort unnoticeable save for a few cuts and nicks here or there. It truly was a wonderful ability, for them not being able to break it even with the Capain's own power. But of course, Celes had said that her Zanpakuto was the shield of Soul Society. The Shikai was defensive, not offensive--and that showed after that brief but exciting contest.

Celes then proceeded to lower them gently to the ground, and Caballero was more than happy to have solid ground under their stubby little feet again. Then, the Captain asked them whether they wanted to continue fighting a little bit more. Of course, the little bean were far too dazzled by her status, her power and her Shikai to notice just how much of a toll it was taking on her to make it grow and evolve at such a rapid pace. Perhaps in the future, Caballero would become more observant, but right now they were like a child, blinded by whatever flashy thing happened to occur next to them. And a Captain of the Gotei 13 was certainly among the flashiest for them.

Before they could answer, however, cackling would be heard atop the tall dune they had descended before starting their battle. Caballero was still in their infancy as a Hollow, but they had lived long enough in that infernal place to know exactly what that meant. Perhaps they had been brought by the sight of the Kumon that had still yet to close. Perhaps it was Celes's Shikai eating away at her Reiatsu that had driven them in. Maybe they were just too young, too foolish to comprehend that a Captain-level Shinigami would make short work of them all in one fell swoop. Regardless, a pack of no less than ten Strays had rolled up like a motorbike gang on a pub in the middle of route 66. Eager to have some food, with what appeared to be prime cuts fighting right below. Perhaps the fact that Celes was at about a third of her maximum Reiatsu had made them far too confident, because they quickly headed toward them, sliding down the dunes.

Caballero hated Hueco Mundo. They hated being hunted, they hated having to run away. But things had changed now. At the very least, they were not as weak as when they had first woken up in that vast desert. And now, they were not alone either. Now, instead of being a Shinigami stranded in Hueco Mundo, they were on a joint training with one of their top superiors. How could they even fear losing against those monsters? Eagerly, the little knight pointed toward the Hollows, though Celes was bound to notice them first given her much finer senses and instinct. Hopefully she'd understand, and they could dispatch them before continuing their fight, or calling their mission complete and returning to their world.

Yes, in their mind, this somehow was a mission now. Yet another delusion to add on top of the pile? Maybe. But it worked for now.

[Celes Castellanos]

Something about the way that Caba bounced on the ground upon being let go by Celes was quite charming and adorable. This young Hollow was unlike any that they have ever met. They were childlike and pure, almost naive in a way. Granted, it didn't bother Celes in the slightest. It was rare to find such a good heart even among Shinigami. Hell, their duel was a testament to this. Even as Celes continued to beat down the Hollow, they'd rise up every time and come back for more with the same level of respect they had shown from the moment they met. It was a commendable trait.

As she took a few breaths, preparing herself for another round, it appeared that they'd find themselves interrupted. A cacophony of cackles and soft howls could be heard in the distance as nearly a dozen Hollows arrived from beyond the dunes. Beasts of all shapes and sizes, they approached and circled around the two combatants as vultures circle around dying prey. Celes clicked her tongue briefly as her eyes scanned the Hollows individually each moment they passed by. 

She could see it in their eyes. They were looking for their next meal. On any normal day, a mere Hollow would be no match for a warrior of her caliber. She was a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads! Unfortunately, the spiritual fatigue had begun taking its toll. Needless to say, she wasn't in the best of conditions. She looked down at Caballero standing close to her. She'd likely have to protect the little one. The Captain let out a puff of air and cursed just under her breath, "What a fucking day this has been..." 

Bouncing on her feet, the Captain was getting herself ready for the inevitable fight. Her breathing was still labored, and her legs quivered, but she was as ready as she could be. Before she had an opportunity to pounce on one of these Hollows, she heard a rather gentle voice, "Celes, wait!" The Captain practically stopped on a dime and hummed softly. It was the voice of her Zanpakutō Spirit, Yunorashi. "You're fatigued. Take the time to rest and let me protect you!" Celes sighed and shook her head. "What about the little one, though? I can't let them go on their own, these Hollows will pounce on them and tear them to shreds!" After a few moments of silence, Celes heard a tiny childlike laugh. "That's all? Simple fix." Celes' eyes widened to this unperturbed response. "Do me a favor and touch their head, Celes." 

"Touch their head?" It was a strange request, but the Hollows were cautious of approaching. Celes' Shikai visage and imposing size seemed to keep them at bay for the moment. What did she have to lose? Extending her hand outward, Celes placed it a top Caballero's masklike head. As she did, Yunorashi yelled at the top of her lungs, "Presto!" A burst of energy traveled into Caballero in that brief moment. The Captain questioned this series of events in almost quizzical fashion, "W- what the hell just happened?" In response, the Zanpakutō Spirit simply giggled and waited. Just what had she done to Caba?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Reiatsu Pool & Resources}
Celes' Pool: 550/1500
Celes' Blessed Breaths: 6/10

Total Strength of Spirit: 16
+10 from Shikai Overall
-2 for Majestic Armour [Skeletal]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}
Astral Soul Body: 1600
Astral Soul Left Arm: 1875
Astral Soul Right Arm: 1875
Astral Soul Head: 1875

SPOILER: Click to show

{Majestic Armour}Technique Name: Majestic Armour

Description: Majestic Armour allows Celes to effectively grant her allies a lesser copy of her own Astral Soul. By spending 2 Strength of Spirit per Stage upon touching an ally they gain their own Astral Soul except that it is one Stage lower than Celes’ current stage. For example, if Celes’ own Astral Soul is Armored, then Majestic Armour grants a Humanoid Astral Soul and costs 4 Strength of Spirit. Majestic Armour mimics the benefits granted Celes’ Astral Soul including the head and arms. Bankai allows Majestic Armour to ascend to Armoured Stage. While Celes’ own weapons for her Astral Soul are a Sword and Shield, this must not be the case for Majestic Armour. The weapon produced is up to the benefactor and benefits from any applicable weapon skills. For example, a benefactor may choose to manifest a Kanabo. The durability of Majestic Armour is equivalent to Celes’ at that stage, but the weapon produced scales off of the benefactors’ highest OS.

Drawbacks: Majestic Armour has the potential to grant impressive defense to allies, but has several limitations. Due to being one stage lower than Celes’ own Astral Soul, Majestic Armour only becomes usable upon reaching the Humanoid stage. While the weapon of a benefactors’ Astral Soul may resemble their release weapon, it does not possess any abilities inherent to the release weapon. Celes’ ability to spend Strength of Spirit to restore durability to her Astral Soul may not be used for Majestic Armour. If Majestic Armour falls to a durability of 0, the technique ends on the benefactor.

Class 4 Shikai: 5/10

[Deleted]

Celes's hand resting upon Caballero's head felt soothing for a moment, very much so. In fact, at that moment they realized they did appreciate headpats as well, not just hugs. However, as much as the little knight enjoyed the gesture and the positive contact, this was no time to do that! Sure, they were a sucker for that kind of reinforcement, but right then they needed to concentrate. The little warrior had to prepare to fend off those Hollows in the name of the Gotei 13, hoping that the captain wouldn't even have to sully her hands against such opponents. If she did, that just meant he was all that more of a failure as a Soul Reaper, and they could never allow that to happen!

However, the following instant, a sudden burst of energy was transfered to their body... and all of a sudden, an indescriptible power awakened within them! Caballero's Reiatsu body surged with Celes's Shikai, as their Qi awakened. All of a sudden, a ghostly blackness seeped out of them, not unlike what the Captain of the Tenth had displayed. The same ribcage formed around them, sprouting a set of powerful arms, each much bigger than Caballero themselves. The bone-like structure soon turned into an apparently translucid black--just like Caballero's body, except not fully opaque. Then, a head and a mask surged forth at the top, similar to Caballero's mask but with an angrier expression, perhaps due to the distaste they harbored toward Hollows. The apparition then moved a hand forward, summoning a spiritual weapon not unlike Celes's own... albeit much, much weaker. Caballero's body registered the feeling, the process, and learned from it. Perhaps they would be able to do something like this as well, even without Yunorashi's aid?

Perhaps they might be able to create their own sword?

Fully formed into the skeletal stage, the apparition let out a battle roar, which was ironic considering Caballero themselves could not speak. The Hollows that were coming toward them flinched for a moment, seemingly intimidated, but once the tiny Hollow--now clad in the gigantic apparition--began rushing toward them, it seemed they quickly switch into survival mode and decided to press their numerical advantage. However, they would not be able to dissuade Caballero, who was now fighting under the watchful gaze of a Captain. As such, they could not slack off and allow themselves to lose that easily. Perhaps that thought was what motivated them to go forth, since they still were far from powerful enough to handle such a large group under normal circumstances.

The little creature and the not so little ghost that enveloped them met the monsters half-way, and found themselves quickly surrounded by them. Frothing at the mouth and slobbering all over the sand, it seemed the creatures were starving, and starving Hollows were deadly. The first two launched themselves toward Caballero, with one taking the initiative due to their superior speed. Taking advantage of the opening, three more followed suit on an unplannned, but still effective pincer-like formation. The others would be coming soon, and so Caballero had to act quickly so as to not leave themselves as bait for those monsters.

The young Hollow would begin by unconsciously brandishing their class 8 beat stick and preparing to slice at the first incoming target. They were far too used to their usual battle style, and as such did not realize that they were not fighting by themselves anymore. Thus, they were startled when a ghostly arm followed their movement, unleashing a downward attack on the first of the Hollows that cleaved straight through the mask and bisected the monster's body. Majestic Armour inherited the durability of Celes's technique, but none of the other benefits--including the fact that a Zanpakuto should've purified the monster. Thus, the creature was not cleansed of sins and sent to Soul Society; instead, its now two-part corpse fell limp onto the sand on a pool of blood, which the white desert eagerly drank.

This display was enough to temporarily deter the second Hollow that had joined on the frontal attack, which began looking at the arms with a certain frustration, as if its attack had just been foiled by that display of might. It backed off with a leap, growling at a surprised Caballero, who still was very confused about what had just happened--but quickly began to adapt to it, owing to their natural ability to take in new information and learn from it. While the frontal attackers had been deterred for the time being, the same could not be said for those on the second part of the pincer.

Those were able to pounce onto the little knight, but were stopped dead on their tracks by their apparition's defenses--they might as well have flung themselves mask first into a concrete wall, given how resistant the Majestic Armour created by Celes's Shikai was. They were repelled by the apparition, and launched back into the sand; while they had not taken crippling damage, it seemed it had been enough to leave them stunned for a moment. Somehow, Caballero was transmitted the attacker's blows, as if they had been touched on the back and non-existent shoulders to bring their attention forth to the threat.

The little knight decided it was time to go onto the offensive again, now able to at least muster their newfound offensive capabilities directly. Sure, Majestic Armor was defensive in nature, but there was something about suddenly controlling an entity five times your own size. Caballero had been afraid of being flattened, but now they would be the one doing the flattening. The young Hollow turned toward the Hollows behind, ensuring that none of them would be able to insult them by going directly against Celes. Imagine, a Shinigami not being able to deal with a threat of this caliber! As an Unseated officer of the Gotei, it would be their greatest shame if those creatures reached the Captain. Granted, they didn't have too many regrets in life, so the spot was not difficult to fill.

One of the monsters was paralyzed as they saw Caballero dash toward them, paralyzed by fear, while the other two managed to scurry away thanks to not being directly targeted. As the Hollow knight landed yet another blow powered by their Reiatsu Strength, also killing the second out of the ten Hollows that were attacking, their other opponents circled around them, joining the remaining ones. Together, they closed the circle around Caballero, and launched themselves at the extremities of the apparition, perhaps having figured out that those arms were incredibly dangerous, meaning they had to deal with them somehow.

Four of the monsters leapt up and began gnawing away at the Majestic Armor. Caballero flailed the apparition's arms around in an attempt to shake off the Hollows, but since it lacked the offensive abilities Celes had, it was much more difficult for them to do so. The Armor's spirit sword couldn't reach them that way, either. Despite this, those creatures were more likely to turn into Vasto Lorde spontaneously than they were to break the armor just by eating away at it, tearing teeny tiny chunks of black bone away. This gave Caballero ample time to think of an easier strategy: finish the other off first.

The little knight would use one of the arms, now a bit slower due to the extra weight on it, to deliver a horizontal swing of the blade rather than try to deliver a vertical chop to each of the four beasts that remained on the ground, they chose to go with a horizontal swing instead. While not powerful enough to outright cut through all four at once, it was able to kill one of the Hollows and leave another one with a crippling laceration. The other two shifted, and attempted to attack the arms too, perhaps noticing the slow down. This, however, left them open for the second arm to slap them away--the drop in speed was noticeable, however, and allowed one of them to escape unscathed.

Realizing it was a priority to free the arms, Caballero actually decided to help the apparition. It seemed that while attacks couldn't go in, their own could go out, and as such, they brandished their dagger-sized Katana and shot class 8 Tendón forward, all while lining up the arm on his path. The sword surged forth before the tendrils, shooting toward an unaware Hollow and piercing through the back of its skull, reaching the mask with a debilitating blow that made it drop to the sands--if not kill it outright. Now with fewer pounds, the arm was able to shake fast enough to throw the other creature off balance. This one wouldn't be given a chance to recompose itself, and a spiritual slash followed not two seconds later, also ending its life.

This left one arm fully free. Repeating the strategy, Caballero shook off and killed the other beasts that were holding him back, leaving their corpses ripe for later consumption. Perhaps because of their instincts as a Hollow? In any case, the little knight had majorly cut down the enemy force thanks to the Majestic Armor. Now, all that remained was the final streak. The apparition roared yet again, intimidating the Hollows even more. After all, they had just lost over half of the original members of the pack to Caballero. As expected, the apparition kept them frozen in place through fear, and the innocent Shinigami wannabe would not lose that chance.

Using the spiritual blade since it was powered by the strength of their Reiatsu, the little creature finished off the remaining four of them: one with a diagonal slash, another by grabbing it with the other ghostly arm and pinning them in place for decapitation, and the remaining two by giving chase while they were attempting a last minute escape, knowing themselves to be at the mercy of the tiny warrior and not the other way around. The heat of battle cooled off as quickly as the temperature had risen in the first place, and the sands of the White Desert became quiet once again. All that remained was for Caballero to gather the corpses and eating away at them, with an action that their mind still blocked-off and interpreted as being totally Shinigami-like, and obviously not related to a Hollow.

While the sight was not nearly as gruesome, since they had no mouth to eat and instead their body broke them down to Reiatsu to incorporate them, perhaps Celes would be reminded that Caballero was not just an innocent little bean, eager to help whenever they could. At their core, they were still Hollow. Now the question was, would she take action after witnessing the outcome of this duel? Or, by the contrary, would they be proud of them? Needless to say, their battle intent died down after killing the last Hollow, and only the sheer positivity of their aura remained. At the very least, they also turned toward the Captain, and gave a thumbs up, which the skeletal apparition also mimicked in glorious detail.

Hopefully, that would help tilt the scales in Caballero's favor.

OOC: Consumed x10 class 8 Hollows.

[Celes Castellanos]

Celes had no idea what Yunorashi had done with Caballero, but the Shinigami would soon find an answer. Despite her own pitiful ability to sense energy, the Captain felt the surge of energy rush into Caballero. A little flickering flame within the Hollow soon roared as the energy erupted and was made manifest. Almost reflexively, Celes darted back to create a bit of distance between herself and the Hollow. Just in time to as the energy that surrounded Caballero warped and shaped itself.

A similar aura that surrounded Celes sprung to life and a skeletal construct followed. Bones twisting into place, arms flexing outward and a masklike visage finally became visible. As it let out a mighty roar, the sands quivered. Celes wouldn't have believed it if she didn't see it with her own eyes. The tiny Hollow had a construct not unlike her own. Amidst her own disbelief, a familiar voice giggled once more. "There. I'd say that this will suit them quite well. Now, take the time to rest, Celes. This little friend of ours can surely take care of it now!"

Needless to say, the Captain was speechless. Yunorashi had made it sound so easy. Could Caballero truly take on this legion of Hollows on their lonesome? Perhaps. However, the risk was too great. Brandishing her blade, the Shinigami pushed onward. She willed her body to move but just as it did, she lost control. Falling forward, she fell against the cold sand and groaned. Her body started to ache ever so slightly. Her breathing quickened and became labored. Grasping at the sand, she brought herself to her knees. "D- damn spiritual fatigue. Guess I can't intervene even if I wanted to..." 

Being left to watch Caballero, the Shinigami observed the ensuing slaughter. The Hollows, motivated by hunger and power, leapt at Caballero repeatedly. Claws, teeth, tails. None of them were a match for the powerful defenses that Yunorashi had provided Caballero. Caballero, on the other hand, manifested a blade via the Astral Soul which mercilessly cut through Hollow after Hollow. The white sands became stained by warm blood which trickled along the curves of the dunes. Not even the Hollows who turned tail and fled were spared the tiny Hollow's blade.

As the dying shriek of the last Hollow faded into the night, Celes simply stared at Caballero with a smile. She was glad that the Hollow had endured this trial even without her direct assistance. It showed how much of a quick learner this little Hollow was. How quickly they adapted to a new situation. Now... there was only the matter of the remaining bodies. Celes, again, tried to stand but to no avail. Everything still ached and she felt drained. As she contemplated when to get up to try and purify what was left of these bisected Hollows, Caballero's own instincts kicked in.

The Captain watched as the tiny Hollow approached each of the corpses. One by one, each Hollow began to break down into slivers of reishi. These slivers were all drawn together and coalesced within Caballero's tiny, pitch-black body. In truth, Celes was shocked. She had known that Hollow's devoured their kin and yet she hadn't expected this from Caballero. Each Hollow and the souls that it had devoured couldn't pass on. Instead, they'd settle within Caballero, cursed to remain in what amounted to purgatory. It was a macabre notion and one that turned Celes' stomach ever so slightly.

Despite that, she wouldn't raise her hand against the Hollow. The Captain hummed softly, instead. If Caballero could grow stronger from this, they could certainly be an asset to the efforts of Soul Society. In some ways, Soul Society needed strength more than anything else. The souls killed by demons and potentially dragged to Hell only served to bolster its armies if they decided to strike at the heart of Soul Society once more. Having these lost souls integrate into Caballero would likely have less repercussions. It was a sickeningly vile thought that raced through the Captain's mind, but it was either that or strike the tiny Hollow down. 

As the Hollow redirected its attention towards Celes, they stuck out their stubby arm. The skeletal apparition which continued to surround Caballero mimicked their movements and gave Celes a thumbs up. The Captain's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but smile. All revilement that she felt towards herself, and Caballero's actions merely washed away. She sighed and nodded. "After the damage that Hell wrought upon the cycle of souls... perhaps it is resilient enough to survive this as well." With that, Celes allowed her spiritual pressure to diminish. Layer by layer, the apparition of both her and Caballero began to dissipate. Skin and muscle melted away, bones broke, and the constructs let out a brief ghostly wail before disappearing as if they had never existed in the first place. 

Celes' twin Zanpakutō formed within their sheaths as the Captain approached Caballero. Looking down at the tiny Hollow, she knelt down and patted their head. As usual, her aura was incredibly warm and benevolent. "That was an excellent display, little warrior! I'd say this serves as a great capstone to this bout of ours." She'd look into their empty, void-like eyes for another moment before rising up to her feet. She stretched and groaned briefly. "Well... before any more unwanted visitors arrive, I think it may be time to head to the Human World. Would you be able to open a path for us again, little warrior?" 

[Deleted]

As Caballero devoured the Hollows, they didn't think twice about what they were doing. As their foes' bodies broke down into slivers of Reishi, they just thought that they had been purified, as that was what would naturally happen when any of those monsters were cut down by a Shinigami's Zanpakuto. Even as their body strengthened in power, they just thought it to be an after-effect of Celes's Shikai, another boon granted by the massive construct that was now starting to fade away into nothingness, thus easing the burden on the Captain's Reiatsu. Caballero was a bit confused about the construct vanishing, but they understood that, with the enemy gone, there was no further need for the Captain to stay on guard. Blissfully unaware of the true result of their actions, and of the thoughts that crossed Celes's mind after being reminded of their Hollow nature, Caballero also walked toward her with a certain pep in their step, and not just because they had just accomplished their mission. No, this was that they had unknowingly grown stronger through eating his kin, all but served on a silver plate thanks to Yunorashi.

Despite being slightly refreshed from consumption, there really was no need to continue fighting anymore. As the Captain celebrated their display, throwing in a pat on the head for good measure, Caballero stood proud once again. Truly, they were a sucker for positive reinforcement. Celes also mentioned that this was an excellent way to put an end to their sparring battle, although the little creature had understood as much from her letting her Shikai fade into nothingness, back to its sealed state. The little knight nodded, bobbing their oversized mask up and down, while she got back up on her feet and stared into the nothingness that was Hueco Mundo. White sand extending for miles and miles in any direction, dotted only by the cooling blood of the Hollows that had just fallen to Caballero.

She did mention that it might be a good idea to return to the human world before any other unwanted visitors could arrive. While Caballero would be eager to fend off more Hollows in service to the Gotei 13, they were not going to defy a direct suggestion from a Captain, of course. As such, the little bean took a few seconds to think about it, and then bobbed their head up and down again. Although it may have been a long shot, Caballero's natural disposition toward learning new things and absorbing information made it easier for them to burn how to do something into their mind, even if they had just figured it out minutes before. Thus, they had an inkling of an idea about how to use Kumon once again to open a gate back to Karakura Town... or the World of the Living, for that matter. An imprecise technique, it would be incredible luck if Caballero got them anywhere in Karakura Town using it. Hell, it would already be impressive if they got them somewhere near the city in the first place. Hopefully they would not end up at some weird place, like the top of a volcano, or underwater in the sea. Surely none of that could happen!

Regardless, Caballero went to work by doing the only thing a lowly Unseated like them could ever do for someone of Celes's rank and stature--quite literally, considering they were 3 foot tall. The tiny bean shot Tendón forward once again, and strained to tear through the folds of reality in a similar way Úlcera did, only far more permanent than the stepping technique. It didn't take too long for them to open up the Kumon gate, looking like the glass of reality had shattered, leaving nothing but the empty void of the Garganta behind it. Hopefully, once they jumped back in, they would remember that there was no path in there by default, and they would not fall to their possible deaths again.

This time, Caballero was not nearly as taxed when opening Kumon, perhaps owing to the power that they had obtained by murdering and eating their kin. Again, they were innocently unaware of this fact, but it was likely that someone as experienced as Celes could catch onto that fact. Whatever the case, Caballero would then turn toward the Captain and point at the gate, as if saying that everything was ready and that they could go home. They had tried to focus on their memories of Karakura Town to open the gate back to that city, but needless to say, whether they ended up there or some miles away on the road was something left in the air, all to pure chance.

They would wait to see what the Captain would do, and follow her once she jumped back into the Garganta. As Caballero had no idea how to make that Reishi stair she'd created before, they would be dependant on her for that much, but at the very least it was easy to pinpoint the exit point of the Garganta: walk toward the light, literally. Now, once they returned to the human world, wherever they ended up, it would most likely be time for the two of them to part ways. Celes's mission had long since been accomplished, and the little bean had already taken plenty of her time. They wouldn't hold her leaving against her; on the contrary, Caballero would be glad to have met her. Still, that all depended on the Captain, and so the tiny knight would wait and see.

OOC: Caballero's total consumption is x10 Class 8 Hollows.

[Celes Castellanos]

One more, the Hollow would show themselves to be preternaturally gifted. As the tiny Hollow focused upon the space before them, the waves that slowly ripped and tore space itself apart would manifest themselves much quicker. Was this a result of their feeding? Was the path to greater power really as easy as devouring your kin? The idea itself sent a powerful shiver up the Captain's spine. She simply shook her head and cast the idea aside. Such a callous act reminded her too much of the darkness that lurked within her.

Thankfully, Celes could orient her attention back to the Kumon as it opened before them. She gave the tiny Hollow a brief nod and smile before leaping into the inky-black void. Much like Caballero, the Captain learned from her mistakes and immediately focused her reishi beneath her feet. This was not a particularly difficult task given its abundance and malleable nature within the Garganta. She'd simply keep an eye out for Caballero before deciding to push on.

Should the Hollow follow her into the void, Celes step further into the darkness. She'd continue to build the bridge of light which allowed more than enough space for Caballero to walk beside her. Despite being an empty void, Celes had to admit that there was something so familiar about this space. The perpetual darkness of the interdimensional void reminded her of the Dangai. "How strange..." It was far outside her field of expertise and truthfully, more fit for the Thirteenth Division. Perhaps she could ask Shawn about it?

Before long, Celes saw a shining light in the distance. It seemed as though they didn't need to spend more time in this place than was necessary. She grinned widely and, with a pep to her step, pushed forward at a faster pace. Continuing to expand the bridge of reishi that they stood on, she looked back at Caballero and waved her hand. "Come on, tiny warrior. We're almost there!" Before Celes even knew it, her vision would be utterly consumed by the blinding light at the end of the tunnel. 

As she closed her eyes, she suddenly felt a wave of cold rush over her. Not comforting like the snow. True cold that was downright chilling to the bone. As she tried to shout, the Captain found her voice muffled. She opened her eyes and was met by.. seaweed? Fish? Sand? It took only a second before Celes practically exclaimed in shock. "Why are we on the bottom of the ocean?!!!" The girl looked over at the Hollow and, with a sense of urgency, began swimming frantically to the surface. Needless to say, she was going to go back to the Soul Society soaked and with a nasty fever...

[Deleted]

Somehow, Caballero's Kumon led them and Celes into the darkness, a darkness not as vast as the Garganta, but certainly not the light that was promised at the end of the tunnel. Funnily enough, when they got, Caballero felt cold and a little pressure, as well as a certain difficulty moving around, like they were encased in some sort of fluid. Strange, very strange. Even stranger was the fact that when they turned toward the Captain, they saw Celes panicking for a split second, her voice... muffled? Strange, very strange! Caballero had no idea what was going on, as they had never seen the ocean before, and it was not like they felt any stranger other than being cold. See, their lack of both a need and the ability to breathe, coupled with their bizarre physiology, meant that such concerns were actually beyond them. If anything, they did not feel comfortable slowly spinning around and sinking in that fluid, and so, when Celes began swimming up to the surface--using her ungodly speed to do so--, Caballero thought it might be a good idea to stay with her for a while longer.

As such, they shot Tendón forward and tightened it around Celes's leg, not really impeding her movement. Hitching a ride on the Captain, Caballero allowed themselves to be guided toward the surface once again. Both of them were unseen by the wild animals around, and it was way too dark for the little bean to notice anything either. In short, Caballero would simply be a very small added weight for Celes as she guided them back to the surface, where they would finally say their goodbyes and separate. The little bean was a bit sad to see her go, but they understood that her duties were very important. Not to worry! They would continue to keep Karakura safe on her behalf. Or, at the very least, try to.

[END THREAD]

[Kitai Yoru]

My goodness, 314 paragraphs. That's a lot. That's worth 1,570 TP, though to mister Hollow, that is worth half when converting it to Ctp. Plus an additional 500 TP for our Hollow here. Congratulations you two!