This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race [NDE PVP]

[Celes Castellanos]

Having finally manifested himself, Yukito found his legs being swallowed up by the ground itself. No doubt the efforts of the Fullbringer he was now fighting. Not only did Shizuka take full advantage of the lapse of control while the Inner Hollow was possessing the Captain, but it seemed as though Shizuka was expecting him. "My favorite demon daddy! I was wondering when you'd come out to play with me.", His gold iris shifted to look at Shizuka. Was this girl just brave... or fucking stupid? Yukito wasn't really sure at a glance, but her destructive power couldn't be denied. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.

After looking down at the ground which trapped his leg, Yukito cracked his knuckles and flexed his muscles. With his legs as hard as steel, Yukito pushed against the ground. The ground shuddered, cracking from the force, as Yukito practically bounced into the air. With the added resilience of his muscles, the Inner Hollow found that his legs were not sheared from the friction. Landing on the ground gracefully, the Inner Hollow looked at Shizuka. Well... not bad, but you're gonna have to try a lot harder than that, Shizuka. His voice now sounded fully like Yukito's, no longer like a fusion.

Almost as if to deliver on that promise, the dragons began to stir before roaring. As they soared towards the Inner Hollow with another mighty roar, Yukito merely smirked.

Bankai.

Energy rapidly twisted around the Inner Hollow as the giant avatar that surrounded him changed once more. The Astral Soul swiftly became clad in a cloth and robes. The scarlet energy rose towards the Astral Soul's head, encasing it as the two yellow orbits eerily pierced the dark veil. Robes finished forming around the arms and torso of the Astral Soul, indicating another successful evolution, however, this was far from over. The energy shifted, rearranging itself, as the cloth became encased by what appeared to be a Japanese hakama. The helmet that once encased the avatar's head suddenly split and revealed a mask, a tengu-like nose, and fiery hair. The Inner Hollow rose into the air as his release formed legs, standing proudly. The coup de grace of this transformation was a pair of mighty wings that flapped once, releasing a mighty gust all around it. Yukito was now piloting a massive tengu avatar, standing at 40 ft tall.

This transformation occurred far quicker than the eye could see and even quicker than Shizuka's dragons could move. If one of the dragons still attempted to coil around Yukito, the Avatar's hand would swiftly descend upon it. Grabbing the dragon around the tail and effortlessly pulling it off of its body, Yukito whipped it around and flung it into the distance with all the strength he could muster. Then, a blast of electrified flame struck the Avatar. Tearing the cloth and sending cracks along the body of the Astral Soul, it clearly did some damage. It seemed that the other dragon would simply breathe flames upon him from afar.

As another blast erupted from the dragon's maw, the tengu suddenly moved, disappearing from sight. A large shadow formed as Yukito hovered over the beast. Raising his arms, the beast had its head severed in one clean cut by the longsword that Yukito wielded. As it began to fall, slain by the Inner Hollow, its body began to shimmer. The volatile construct of reiatsu suddenly burst, forming a massive pillar of electricity that stretched into the sky. Consuming the Astral Soul within it, the electricity battered the scarlet tengu. Needless to say, this might've spelled doom for an ordinary warrior. Thankfully, Yukito was no ordinary foe.

Floating outward from the pillar of electricity as it began to fade away, the tengu looked rather beaten up. Shizuka had certainly done some damage, but the Inner Hollow was quite alive and well. However, the threads and clothing of the tengu began to shift once more. Almost appearing as though they were stitching themselves together, the Astral Soul was mending itself thanks to Yukito. Staring down at the Fullbringer, who was protected by a dragon that coiled around her, Yukito suddenly had an idea. Perhaps the dragon could be used against the woman. After all, he owed her for that blast.

Sheathing the blade along the tengu's hip, the massive avatar disappeared from sight once more, soaring towards Shizuka and the dragon at a speed of 2000. Mid-flight, the tengu gripped the blade and released it from its sheath. Using the classic iaijutsu slash, Yukito delivered a cut towards the dragon's head at 3000 Speed, attempting to slay it as he flew by. If successful, the Inner Hollow was counting on the explosion occuring though this time it'd likely be centered upon the Fullbringer woman herself. Needless to say, such a blast of electricity would spell ill news for Shizuka if ended up caught in it. In the meantime, Yukito would swoop around to watch the show.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Pool & Resources}
Current Reiatsu: 1075/3000
Total Reiatsu After Takeover: 625/3000
Blessed Breaths: 0/10

-450 for Class 1 Bankai
-------------------------------------------------
Strength of Spirit: 14

+10 from Shikai Overall
-10 for Astral Body: Restoration

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kōgōshī Sōkō Gassō Overall Ability}Heavenly Sentinel is the pinnacle of Celes’ Astral Soul which bestows upon her several benefits. First and foremost, the durability of Celes’ Astral Soul rises to 3x her OS making it the bulkiest stage out of all of her options. Additionally, Celes generates an additional 5 Strength of Spirit for a total of 15 per post to utilize on techniques or restoration of her Astral Soul. Unlike the other stages where Celes was limited to the ground, Heavenly Sentinel grants the Astral Soul legs as Celes rises into its stomach, making it much more difficult to hit her. This also increases the overall height of the Astral Soul to an imposing 40 ft. Additionally, while Bankai is active, Celes suffers less stamina drain from high-intensity movement. First, Celes' "comfortable" movement speed is set to up to ½ of her maximum Speed. Additionally, instead of suffering progressively higher stamina drain every 100 speed, this is increased to every 200 speed. Heavenly Sentinel also grants the Astral Soul wings, allowing it to take to the skies and fly at a speed equal to Celes’ speed which gives it aerial superiority. The wings produced by Heavenly Sentinel have separate durability of 3x Celes’ OS. If the wings are reduced to 0, Celes’ cannot take flight until she uses 25 Strength of Spirit to restore them. The legs and is considered part of the body’s durability. Additionally, having perfected the Avatar in Bankai, the four-post pain escalation increases to 7 posts.

Unlike most, Celes' Bankai has a notable restriction. Celes’ Shikai focuses her very life energy into an Avatar and Bankai sharpens that focus to push her Avatar to new heights. While her Shikai normally allows her to acclimate to the increasing pain, her Bankai does not offer her the same grace. Bankai has a starting Pain Tolerance of 4 with a max of 4 that needs to be met. Each rank of Ascendant Spirit in Shikai will reduce the starting Pain Tolerance by 1. For example, if Celes activates Bankai without Shikai or upgrading Ascendant Spirit, the Pain Tolerance requirement will be 4. If Celes has Ascendant Spirit Rank I, the starting Pain Tolerance is 3 and caps at 4. At Rank II, the starting Pain Tolerance is 2 and caps at 4. At Rank III, the starting Pain Tolerance is 1 and caps at 3 similar to her Shikai. It should be noted that if Celes met a Pain Tolerance milestone in Shikai, it carries over to when she activates Bankai.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}
Astral Soul Head: 2500
Astral Soul Left Arm: 2500
Astral Soul Right Arm: 2500
Astral Soul Body: 2750
Astral Soul Wings: 2500

SPOILER: Click to show

{Iaijutsu}Technique Name: Iaijutsu (Sudden Strike Technique)

Class: 4

Technique Type: General Physical Technique

Usable By: Any

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The user of this technique draws their sword and strikes with one fluid, lightning-fast motion. This technique can easily catch an unprepared opponent off-guard. This attack is made at 2x the user's Speed, or at a speed of 600 (whichever is faster). Due to the sudden nature of this attack, characters with less than 200 Instinct are caught completely flat-footed and unable to react to this attack, unless they meet one of the alternative requirements (see drawbacks below).

Except where noted, this is otherwise an ordinary melee strike and has no reiatsu cost. Proficiency with this technique allows the user to immediately sheathe their weapon after making their attack.

Mastery of this technique allows for it to be combined with Shunpo to draw, strike, and sheathe the weapon in the blink of an eye. This variant costs 50 reiatsu to perform, and gains the benefits of a 3x Speed Boost (instead of the usual 2x). This variant is imperceptible to characters with less than 200 Senses. Characters with 200+ Senses detect a blur of movement from the user but may not be able to react to the attack unless they have 200+ Instinct and/or one of the benefits listed in drawbacks below.

How to use technique: Simply draw your weapon and strike in a single fluid motion.

Technique Drawbacks: This technique rarely works more than once per thread, as any opponent who witnesses this technique being used can react to it normally (regardless of Instinct). Even against aware opponents, this attack retains its speed however and should not be underestimated.

In addition, characters who know this technique or have Battle Analysis of 2 (or above) can easily identify the ready stances used in this technique and predict the user's intent. Such characters are never caught off-guard by this attack but will still need to react to its incredible speed.

This technique can only be used with a sheathed sword. In order to use this technique more than once during a single thread, the user must sheathe their weapon prior to using this technique again. This technique requires 2 SKP in Weapons (Sword) in order to be used, and 3 SKP to be mastered.

Made By: Kerrigan

Reserved? No

Class 1 Bankai: 1/9

Hollowfication: 1/3

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Well... not bad, but you're gonna have to try a lot harder than that, Shizuka."

The woman clicked her tongue and scowled. Her plan didn't work, but she shouldn't be surprised. Celes' Inner Hollow was stronger than Celes, after all. Shizuka's stomach sank as she felt her anxiety grow. Yukito wasn't going to be as forgiving as the Shinigami who hosted him and this caused a lot of fear to well up inside the blonde's body. Each rise in cortisol and adrenaline was like torture as she stood in place, waiting for her opportunity, hoping she'd have a single chance to do something that would help her come out on top. Unfortunately, life didn't work that way. Her hope was shattered almost immediately upon hearing Yukito say the single word she did not want to ever come out of his mouth.

"Bankai."

"Son of a bitch."

Too much. Too much was happening at once and Shizuka couldn't keep up. Her dragons couldn't keep up. She was stuck with a useless arm, no easy way to get to her bucket to heal herself, and she was running out of time. To make matters worse, all she could do was stand there and watch as Yukito used the avatar to grab one of her dragons and promptly rip its tail off, destroying the body. He sacrificed himself, sort of, to fight off the additional combatants that Shizuka had created and succeeded without any effort. Unfortunately for him, a massive burst of energy exploded from where the dragon was located, damaging the body of the avatar with what looked like pure success.

Shizuka couldn't celebrate, though. Even as Yukito destroyed the second dragon, suffering the same fate as the first one, none of that mattered. The avatar repaired itself, causing her to mentally curse this Inner Hollow. Was she seriously going to struggle that much? She was having a tough enough time keeping up with someone so much faster and stronger than she was. It was when she was a teenager all over again, just discovering her powers for the first time with no control. Weak. Helpless. Not the version of herself she knew she could be.

Then he met her gaze for a split second, but Shizuka caught on to his movements. He was coming for her. She would only be able to escape if she was quicker, and there was only one way to make that happen. Even the flex of his muscles told Shizuka that he was going to move, and she was highly observant. She knew what people looked like when they were about to step towards her but he didn't exert any excess strain, so the likelihood that he was going to move faster than his typical full speed was low. Fine. She wouldn't be able to block him if she stayed and that would end the fight here, but she had a trick.

He moved, and so did she. Leaving the dragon, Shizuka used Bringer Light to move at 3000 speed, bestowing one final gift upon Yukito before she ended up just a little over a thousand feet away. With Soul Command, as Yukito moved towards her to strike, she lit the ANNM from a small spark in her step when she used her technique to move away from his attack. Being as reactive as it is, the ANNM would explode without fail at its freshest speed of 20,000 feet per second while being restrained somewhat in place. Because only 50 gallons of fluid existed on the ground, the explosions would reach quite a bit up into the sky with incredible power but ultimately blew up only about 150 feet in any direction from the center of the circle Shizuka had created earlier.

This explosion, mixed with the massive blast from the destroyed dragon, would be impossible for anyone without incredibly excessive speeds to avoid since it is so instantaneous. Yukito, along with the avatar, would inevitably get caught up in the blast and experience its harshness. Unfortunately, so would Shizuka. Even with Bringer Light, she wouldn't be able to avoid it. So what she had to do was flex her own spiritual energy - her Reiatsu strength - to avoid getting too greatly injured by her own power. She didn't come out unscathed and in fact had several burns across her body, but only at the second degree, and her clothes were very tattered and torn. She wouldn't be able to patch these the way she had patched Celes' clothes before.

The second her first Bringer Light ended, Shizuka tensed her body. She felt the combination of her powers take shape as her own soul projected itself outwards until a 30-foot structure extended itself outwards, entirely encompassing her physical form. With a final earth-shattering pulse of energy, the feline construct held itself at an attack-ready stance before roaring with so much power that even the ground beneath it shook. Ghost-like and somewhat sky blue in color, the massive cat moved with Shizuka as she used Bringer Light again and brought herself back to where Yukito and the avatar waited for her.

"You think this is trying hard enough?"

Shizuka cried out, the fun in her voice gone and instead replaced with a rigid, vengeful spirit. Her pupils had become slits as Inner Power consumed her mind and body for the second time in her life. Shizuka, moving herself in unison with the construct she'd created around her, formed five massive ball-like projectiles that held their place in a semi-circle around the cat who growled viciously at Yukito. Shizuka held her place on the opposite side of the crater that had formed from the explosive she'd shot on the ground. The construct bellowed another roar at the Inner Hollow, the effect of intimidation radiating out from the sound. Shizuka's brows furrowed as the smile she'd once worn was nowhere to be seen.

"Let go of Celes."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bringer Light (Mastered: - 80 TTP)}

Technique Name: Bringer Light

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
This is the stepping technique for humans. It increases their speed for a single step by 10 times for 50 Reiatsu. It leaves a column of flickering light in the place where the user previously occupied. Unlike other steps, this one can be used to build speed. If used in succession, the speed and cost go up with each additional step. The second step is a 13x increase, and costs 100 Reiatsu. The third step is a 15x increase, and costs 200 Reiatsu. From there, the cost doubles with each additional step, and the speed increase goes up by 1 time. Meaning the fourth step is 16x and 400 Reiatsu, the fifth is 17x and 800 Reiatsu, etc. Though at first the column of light is visible where the user was, once the third step is reached, the column of light is no longer there. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique: To work, this technique manipulates the soul in whatever the user is standing on, allowing for feats such as high jumping, or the step which increases speed.

Drawback: None

SPOILER: Click to show

{Energy Generate: Inner Power (Mastered: - 750 TTP)}

Technique Name: Energy Generate: Inner Power

Class: 1

Technique Type: Energy Generate

Usable By: Human World Dwellers

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
Although Inner Power falls under the category of an Energy Generate technique, it is more than that. This technique relies on amplifying the very power of Martial Discipline: Ken. For this reason, the user must know Ken in order to learn Energy Generate: Inner Power. This technique is only to be called upon at the end of a battle if the user has no other options. It is a last resort technique that will leave the user completely drained, but in exchange, they are briefly granted immense power.

This technique appears much like Ken. The user flexes their spiritual power to release a layer of reiatsu from their body, extending outward in every direction. However, that extension does not end. It will continue until it forms a 30 foot creature similar to the Susanoo of the Uchiha from Naruto. The appearance of this creature differs from individual to individual. However, it will retain the intimidation effects of Ken. Furthermore, its durability will be determined by the sum of the user’s reiatsu strength, spiritual pressure, and strength, much like Ken but more powerful. It is important to note that Willpower and other abilities that increase stats cannot combo with Inner Power.

While Inner Power is active, the user may no longer activate any more non-release techniques other than step-techniques, which come free of cost. However, they are limited to two step techniques per post. While they cannot cast any more non-release techniques, those that are already active may be renewed by repaying the reiatsu cost. The user’s release is still available to them.

Instead of relying on other abilities, the user may take advantage of Inner Power’s properties. Firstly, the reiatsu armor around them has a similar property to Ken. If the user takes the offensive, their physical attacks will strike with a force equal to the sum of all their offensive stats. Furthermore, by paying 100 reiatsu, the user can release a projectile from Inner Power. This projectile may take the form of a shakkah-sized arrow or a ball, and it is fired from Inner Power’s hand. It will also hit with an impact or piercing power equal to the sum of the user’s offensive stats.

How to use technique: Same as Ken except more energy is channeled for a longer time to extend the size of the Ken and shape it into a powerful spiritual form.

Drawback: The user must pay 600 reiatsu to activate Inner Power. Once activated, it will last for four posts before the user exhausts and loses consciousness. For this reason, Inner Power may not be refreshed. When it ends, the user’s remaining reiatsu will automatically fade. Because stamina cost is not lifted while Inner Power is active, the user may extend the duration of Inner Power by one post for each point in Strength of Will the user possesses.

Made By: Marcus Cole

Reserved?: No

Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 5,650 (-50 for Bringer Light [zero cost during Inner Power], -600 for Inner Power, -500 for projectiles)
Fullbring Level Two (Class 1): 4/15
Liquid Types: ANNM, Liquid Nitrogen
Cartridge Gallons Remaining: 25/30 (Liquid Nitrogen)
Bucket Gallons Remaining: 50/100 (ANNM)
Inner Power Duration: 1/7 (2,450 durability/power from combined stats)

[Celes Castellanos]

Rushing forward at incredible speeds, it didn't take long for the Inner Hollow to descend upon the dragon, but unfortunately, Shizuka had other plans. Even though Yukito boasted unnaturally physical speed, he was still slower than the Fullbringer and her Bringer Light. His eyes swiftly darted around, attempting to track the Fullbringer, but it would be too late. Before Yukito even knew what hit him, his vision was filled with white flame. The tendrils of the explosive blast licked at the avatar that surrounded him, practically scorching it black. It still protected him, but the blast was so incredibly powerful that the avatar jolted upward.

Being launched high into the sky, the Inner Hollow was dazed for a brief moment. He bit his tongue and growled before the Bankai suddenly spread its wings to stabilize itself. Turning around, his back hunched, Yukito stared down at the earth with vengeful fury. A massive crater had formed as quickly as the bright flash of light subsumed, practically swallowing three-fourths of the warehouse. There was no doubt about it. Shizuka was incredibly powerful and one wrong move, on either of their parts, could spell doom. Flapping its wings, the Astral Soul began lowering itself straight down.

Suddenly, the Hollow took note of something. The girls' reiatsu, stable and calm at first, began to boil over. He sighed briefly, "Well then... I guess I'm for something even grander." As he continued to lower himself, he began to focus his own nearly limitless pool of reiatsu. Slowly, but surely, he would convert some of it into qi. His very life energy. He would then utilize this life energy to mend the Astral Soul once more. Needless to say, it required a lot of qi to rectify what the girl had inflicted upon him but it had to last. Celes' body and her dwindling energy had to last. As he landed, his feet stomped against the ground, crushing the buildings beneath him.

He took deep breaths as Shizuka's reiatsu morphed even more quickly. Soon, the reiatsu began to resemble a 30 ft feline that surrounded the girl. It let out a fearsome howl and Yukito very nearly had to brace himself. His body was shaking. Sweat rolled down his brow. "Is this... dread?", he briefly thought to himself. The Hollow ruminated on this feeling before scoffing. He would not turn tail and run. He was a Inner Hollow! He wouldn't be scared off by some blonde bitch!

As another roar erupted from the feline construct along with five orbs of the same blue coloration, Yukito chuckled. He focused his vision through the tengu's eyes and he spoke, the avatar mirroring his voice in a distorted, deep growl. "Well, this is new! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Suddenly, the scarlet tengu dragged allowed its blade to scrape against the ground. Some of the screaming masses, unaware of what exactly was happening, were buried beneath rubble and debris as a result of the scraping sword. Stretching out the other arm, the scarlet tengu suddenly formed a massive shield that covered most of the arm. "Your little explosive trick was impressive, kitty-kat, but miracles only happen once..."

Suddenly, the scarlet tengu and Yukito vanished with a Shunpo. Rushing in at a speed of nearly 8000, the tengu closed the distance in what felt like an instant. Mid-Shunpo, the avatar raised its shield in front of himself as Yukito had a singular objective. Utilizing his full strength, Yukito would attempt to shield bash into Shizuka's feline Inner Power, focusing his entire body into the movement. He wanted to test the potential of the feline construct. How much punishment could it take? If he was successful with crashing into the Fullbringer, he'd quickly cease his Shunpo and attempt to deliver a slash against the construct at 1200 Speed. Despite his force of will, Inner Power was an incredibly overwhelming and intimidating presence. Anyone could be forgiven for briefly faltering in the face of such adversity. Nevertheless, he'd put his heart and soul into this strike, slashing at the feline's front leg.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Pool & Resources}
Current Reiatsu: 1075/3000
Total Reiatsu After Takeover: 50/3000
Blessed Breaths: 0/10

-525 for Latent Spirit
-50 for Shunpo
-------------------------------------------------
Strength of Spirit: 10

+15 from Bankai Overall
+21 from Latent Spirit
-40 for Astral Body: Restoration

SPOILER: Click to show

{Astral Soul Durability}Astral Soul Head: 1375
Astral Soul Left Arm: 1375
Astral Soul Right Arm: 1375
Astral Soul Body: 3125
Astral Soul Wings: 2125

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shunpo}Technique Name: Shunpo (Flash Steps)

Class: 7

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

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

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

Class 1 Bankai: 2/9

Hollowfication: 2/3

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Well, this is new! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Shizuka clicked her tongue and scowled. She was tired, only protected by the being who formed around her thanks to her spiritual abilities. She could feel her will slipping away again, unable to fully control this technique yet but fighting as hard as she could to keep it at bay. The last time she ever called on this cat beast had resulted in Luke being beaten up so badly that he was almost killed before she left the confines of her Inner Power and one of his Dolls overcame her. It was as if the construct was attempting to take control of her mind and pollute it with dangerous, disastrous thoughts. It wasn't just her power that was multiplied, it was her murderous intent - the part of her that she relied on when dealing with targets.

The formation of a shield didn't help, either. Her confidence was waning quickly along with her overall psyche. She blinked away the headache that was forming as her own power attempted to take control of her mind once again. The construct surrounding her body started pulsing a bit as her rage started to grow even more, but she didn't let it get to the point where she'd completely lose sight of who she was like last time. She'd come to terms with what happened, resolving to figure out what the Shinigami really had to do with the death of her loved one, and wasn't going to let her power as a Fullbringer use that against her. So if Shizuka was going to have to continue to beat Yukito down to get Celes back and prove to her that she could handle her request, then that's what was going to happen.

"Your little explosive trick was impressive, kitty-kat, but miracles only happen once..."

Suddenly, the Inner Hollow disappeared completely and Shizuka couldn't even blink before something slammed into her, forcing the construct to get thrown into the opposite direction that Yukito had come from. Shizuka had gone along with it since she is effectively stuck inside unless she chooses to leave, and the projectiles followed suit while still remaining in a semi-circular position over its body. Slamming into the side of a tall office building maybe twenty stories high, the Fullbringer cursed under her breath as she was saved from the blunt force due to the creature protecting her, but she could tell she wouldn't be able to take beatings like this much longer. Yukito would eventually break it, probably after only two or three more hits at his full strength.

She tried to sit up, Inner Power and all, ignoring the screams from people in the building who she absolutely severely injured or potentially killed. Several were in the process of trying to escape when Yukito was in front of Shizuka once again, sword held high as he slashed downwards. He hasn't made an attempt to move a single limb faster than others the way Shizuka knew how to, so she took advantage of the attack and used Bringer Flash once again while he made his slash, moving at 3000 speed to a position behind Yukito's avatar as her own would try to grab on to it. If successful, claws should lock into its shoulders while the wings would still be free to move from either side, but they were still beneath the body of her Inner Power due to the positioning of its arms and paws against the avatar's back.

All five projectiles would leave their position above Shizuka as she attempted to force them to slam into Yukito's avatar along with, potentially, Yukito, himself. Since each projectile would have the same sum of power as the construct, the impact would be detrimental to the avatar since they were so close. Even if Shizuka's attack missed or the avatar wasn't destroyed or broken, the building would instead be decimated, regardless. Her hope was to effectively latch herself on to Yukito's avatar, make it difficult for the creature to easily escape without her or find a way to hit her directly, and give her an opportunity to attack once again. She couldn't give herself the chance to think about the possibility of ending however many lives that building held.

She thought about her options briefly. If she were to use her explosive again from this distance, she would be in the line of fire and weaken her Inner Power that much more since it wouldn't be safe from the blast. She couldn't risk it right now and would have to rely on something like that from a distance. Unfortunately, since he now knows she can use it, he won't be as likely to follow her into a trap the same way he was before. All she could do was hold her position against his back and try to break this thing down bit by bit. It offered a similar level of protection the way Inner Power did, but she wasn't sure she'd be able to get him alone, either. And even then, he was way too strong. He'd crush her in an instant.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bringer Light (Mastered: - 80 TTP)}

Technique Name: Bringer Light

Class: 4

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
This is the stepping technique for humans. It increases their speed for a single step by 10 times for 50 Reiatsu. It leaves a column of flickering light in the place where the user previously occupied. Unlike other steps, this one can be used to build speed. If used in succession, the speed and cost go up with each additional step. The second step is a 13x increase, and costs 100 Reiatsu. The third step is a 15x increase, and costs 200 Reiatsu. From there, the cost doubles with each additional step, and the speed increase goes up by 1 time. Meaning the fourth step is 16x and 400 Reiatsu, the fifth is 17x and 800 Reiatsu, etc. Though at first the column of light is visible where the user was, once the third step is reached, the column of light is no longer there. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique: To work, this technique manipulates the soul in whatever the user is standing on, allowing for feats such as high jumping, or the step which increases speed.

Drawback: None

Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 5,650
Fullbring Level Two (Class 1): 5/15
Liquid Types: ANNM, Liquid Nitrogen
Cartridge Gallons Remaining: 25/30 (Liquid Nitrogen)
Bucket Gallons Remaining: 50/100 (ANNM)
Inner Power Duration: 2/7 (2,450 durability/power from combined stats)

[Celes Castellanos]

Using the enormous size of their Bankai combined with his monstrous strength, Yukito crashed into Shizuka's cat-like construct. Needless to say, the blow would leave the Fullbringer tumbling violently. The local destruction of their battle was a testament to the power that both combatants wielded. The woman's powerful spirit against the Hollow's sheer brute force. However, it was time for this game of theirs to end. Yukito raised his gleaming blade high into the air before striking down at the feline's paw with all his might. He aimed to cripple it before going for Shizuka. Unfortunately, it seemed that the girl was craftier than Yukito anticipated.

As he brought his blade down, the blue cat disappeared from his sight. Suddenly, the light behind him grew dim. A massive shadow cast over him as the Fullbringer was airborne. With ferocity, she dug her claws into the shoulders of his Bankai. However, in that moment, the claws were vicious. Without much warning, parts of the Avatar began to falter and crumble away. The bonds of the legs and wings began to dissipate. Its hair faded as the clothing that formed its body began to snap apart. Suddenly, the Avatar reeled as it shed its form to reveal an armored core. Reduced to a mere 25 ft, the Tengu Avatar had diminished to its armored form.

Descending from the heavens together for a total of roughly 15 ft, Yukito stared back at the cat who presumably remained clawed on the Bankai's back. The Hollow knew what had to be done. His grip on the Captain's body was slipping and he needed to act NOW. Taking a deep breath, Yukito stared at the blue feline avatar. Even though Shizuka was in the perfect position to pelt its orbs into her opponent, the position was not without disadvantage either. Allowing the Astral Soul to remain still, separating his movements from the armored form, Yukito disappeared in a flash, appearing at the underside of Shizuka's Inner Power within an instant.

Vibrating his arms at speeds so fast they were likely beyond Shizuka's ability to effectively notice, the Inner Hollow prepared to deliver a counterstrike as Shizuka's projectiles threatened to crash into the Bankai. In one last gambit, the Inner Hollow struck forward at the underside of Inner Power as it presumably lay against the Bankai's back. As he did, however, something changed within Yukito's body. The muscles of Celes' body began to swell and suddenly grew larger. Yukito had traded speed for physical strength. However, his movements blurred further as a Shunpo Karin threatened to crash into the Inner Power at a speed of 15,000.

The vibrations that Yukito was producing were unique. A Hakuda maneuver known merely as Daikotsu, it allowed the user to deliver vibrations to their target, wreaking near-unparalleled devastation. If Yukito connected this singular hit, the vibrations would threaten to ripple across the feline construct. Furthermore, if the blow connected, it would at least allow him to pierce Inner Power, rocketing up through the Inner Power thanks to the built-up momentum. It would create a shockwave in front of Yukito, threatening to pierce through the other side. If he would himself successful in his endeavor, this gambit would leave Yukito airborne before falling downward.

During the Hollow's fall, he'd chuckle briefly. "Looks like the bitch is stronger than I gave her credit for..." Cracks began to creep along the Oni mask covering half of Celes' face. "Least I'll have a fun play partner if I ever wreak havoc here again." More cracks continued to spread. "Till next time, Celes~" Suddenly, the mask broke into millions of splinters before dissipating in the wind. The darkness left Celes' eyes and the girl took a deep breath just before crashing into the ground beneath her with cataclysmic force. At least, out of most Shinigami, her body could handle such an impact!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Hollowfied Stats}Strength- 600 [3000]
Speed - 300 [1500]
Spiritual Pressure - 200 [300]
Reiatsu Strength - [800]
Light Aura- 0
Dark Aura - 100
Instinct - [600]
Senses - [300]
Energy Sensory - [100]
Healing Expertise - [0]

Total SP: [2000]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Celes' Pool & Resources}
Current Reiatsu: -100/1500

-50 for Shunpo
-100 for Shunpo Karin

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stances}Technique Name: Blessed Breath Contemplation -- Stances
Class: 6
Technique Type: Bu Gei, Tier 4
Usable By: Anyone who has learned Spirit Breathing.
Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: Through this technique, the user may shift up to 100 pre-type Stat Points from their Strength to the Speed, or from their Speed to their Strength. A statistic cannot be reduced to less than 25% of its normal allocation, or 50, in this way.

How to use technique: By studying the purpose and inner workings of various positions and kinematic chains, the user learns to use and blend their stances together to achieve greater bodily flexibility.

Technique Drawbacks: Before learning this technique, the user must have first Learned Spirit Breathing.

Made By: Ammutseba

Reserved? No

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shunpo}Technique Name: Shunpo (Flash Steps)

Class: 7

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

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

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

SPOILER: Click to show

{Shunpo Karin}Technique Name: Shunpo Karin

Class: 5

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: The famous "partial Shunpo" technique. This allows the user to initiate a single movement at Shunpo speed with one limb. This cannot be used without initiating the forward momentum. The user will need to move their arm the way they normally would before this technique can be activated. Momentum for this technique cannot be controlled. This means once the user initiates this technique, they cannot stop their limb from the movement.

How to use technique: Stated above.

Drawback: Higher Reiatsu cost than normal Shunpo. Limit is once per post. More taxing on stamina than regular Shunpo.

Made by: Admin

SPOILER: Click to show

{Daikotsu - 4500 OS}Technique Name: Daikotsu

Class: 2

Technique Type: Hakuda

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: Shigekuni, the 33rd Captain Commander, had two well known impact techniques. Ikotsu and Sokotsu. They were both renowned as ridiculously powerful impact techniques. Unfortunately, he was the last known user of them both. These techniques have been lost in time. However, luckily, his friends and others of the time knew similar impact techniques.

Daikotsu is a personal invention of Kenpachi Shingai, who was never able to match Shigekuni in physical strength. Because of the strength deficit, Shigekuni was never able to teach Ikotsu or Sokotsu to Shingai. This resulted in the creation of the impact technique Daikotsu.

Daikotsu causes the user to vibrate their body at great speed. When this happens, the user actually gains the ability to go through defenses. The vibrations of the body allow the user to phase through even an enemy's blocking arms or sword. This can be done with sword or other weapon strikes as well, causing the weapon to vibrate through other weapons. This cannot vibrate through reiatsu based defenses, but can vibrate through physical structures, the equivalent of physical manifestation, and the enemy's body.

The possibilities are limitless. When this vibrates through an enemy, the user can suddenly stop vibrating, and thus have their arms impaled into an enemy. But the most applicable hit attack is that when this vibrating punch hits something, it adds the user's speed force into account. Therefore, the user's speed stat is thrown on top of the user's strength stat for the punch. This sends powerful force through the opponent's body. This does not bypass Hierro or cutback, but it is a lethal attack that can kill just about any properly hit enemy in one hit.

The end result of the technique is usually that their body is left vibrating as the force ruptures and obliterates the majority of their internal organs. The vibrations will shatter nearly all of the bones in their body, and more likely a large hole will erupt into the torso. The body will soon fall apart and be destroyed.

How to use technique: This is a very specialized technique. It requires a base speed of 1000 to work, and it also requires a 3 in Hakuda. It requires a minimum strength stat of 300 as well. To boot, if one wants to use this with a weapon, it requires at least 2 in that weapon's use. It requires a minimum physical age of 20. One must at least be in their prime to attempt this technique.

Drawback: It can tax stamina, sure, but really its drawback is a strain on the heart. The healthy heart may be able to use it several times, but less healthy specimens will find great pains in its use. The vibrations on the body consistently strain muscles and cause great damage to the heart if overused.

Made by: Kenpachi Shingai

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

She thought she'd won. Shizuka thought her attack, a relentless assault on the avatar that consistently threatened to harass her, would be enough to destroy it and the body housed within. If she had calculated her moves correctly, she would have been more successful. Unfortunately, not everything can be predicted the way it's supposed to be for someone like her. She wasn't omnipotent, by any means, and she never expected herself to be. She knew there would be times where she'd still fail, still falter, and be completely unable to succeed in her goal. That was why she needed to work harder. She was trying to prove herself, not only to Celes as a friend and protector, but to her own person as a strong individual. Maybe she just wasn't who she thought she was.

The projectiles hit an empty shell as Yukito managed to escape at high speeds, only giving Shizuka a moment to realize he wasn't even inside the broken avatar anymore before feeling a part of her soul fracture. She didn't have the ability to properly sense what was going on and couldn't catch on to Yukito's movements even if she wanted to before it was too late. This was yet another hard slap to the face as reality brutally reminded her of her shortcomings as a Fullbringer. She never remembered a time of wanting to be anything different and felt like she had the ability to take on anybody, but this was too much for her. She wouldn't survive against a Vizard. She couldn't survive against Celes.

A loud shattering sound like glass breaking from a heavy rock's violation rang through the area as Shizuka found herself too stunned to say anything. Almost as if she were observing everything in slow motion, she watched as her Inner Power crackled and divided itself into sparkling fragments, feeling the very threads of her soul finally come unwoven before she fell to the ground. The impact was enough to make it difficult to even open her eyes again, let alone suffering the drawbacks of Inner Power being pummeled to an end. All she could do was move her eyes and refocus, briefly catching sight of Yukito as he, too, began to fall from the sky. His mask started to dissolve and disappear, giving Shizuka the thought that perhaps Celes had come back to her.

Unable to move her body at all, there was nothing Shizuka could do aside from watch as her friend's body did nothing to avoid the impact on the ground. One final effort, one small motion was all the blonde would be able to muster as she commanded the air to cushion Celes enough to let her float seamlessly down once she was only a few feet away. There wasn't a single muscle in Shizuka's body that would give her the opportunity to fight further than this and she felt herself fading quickly. Now that Celes was right next to her, also somewhat lifeless, at least there was some confirmation that she was safe. Unfortunately, despite this, Shizuka couldn't fight the disappointment she felt. She couldn't ignore those negative feelings or the thought that she was too weak to handle herself. She couldn't stop herself from thinking...

"I failed. I'm sorry, Celes."

Shizuka reached out and grabbed her friend's hand, holding it tightly. She refused to let go, even as her body began to sink into a darkness that she hadn't experienced in years - the same darkness she was unable to escape when she lost to Luke all those years ago. Only this time, it was because she was left broken and suffering from not only several injuries, but from the aftereffects of her technique being overpowered by someone stronger. Her eyes closed and her thoughts evaporated into nothing as every last sense she had finally shut down, leaving her completely unconscious on the ground next to Celes. Whenever she finally woke again, she hoped she'd be able to apologize properly.

[Leonie Dallmann]

76 paragraphs from Celes, meaning 1,064 TP after doubling and Social bonus, rounded up to 1,070 because I don't like that number!
74 paragraphs from Shizuka, meaning 1,036 TP after doubling and Social bonus, rounded up to 1,040 because I don't like that number!