Lingering Despair

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

"Uwaaa!" The boy panicked and let out a yell as a voice in the distance called out to him! He whipped his attention in that direction with his right arm raised up defensively over his face. 'Don't be a monster!' He repeated over and over in his head as he hid behind his arm. His long sleeves obscured the arm beneath them, but couldn't hide the brilliant white glow emanating from within the sleeve!

He spotted the origin as he peered through his not-scared-surely-just-defensive posture. It was another shinigami. He didn't recognize her, but then he had spent so much time away from Soul Society that he hardly recognized anyone. He lowered his arm with a nervous laugh and bowed his head.

"Nice to meet you, Naomi. I'm Kazuhiko Satoshi, 3rd seat of the Yonbontai." The division had begun to define itself as Soul Society's Search and Rescue squad. A change from the purely medical and janitorial identity it had in the past. It made sense that they would be the ones sent in after the missing Shinigami. "You must be from the Advance Recon team! Great! We were worried that you all were lost! Speaking of... Where's the rest of your team?" He asked as he began to approach the girl. She too appeared quite confused.

It was at that moment that another yell, Skoll's, broke through the forest canopy. And once again Kazuhiko flinched! Though, this time, he was able to keep himself from squealing! Point for him! The call didn't sound far off. Perhaps this was the individual Naomi was looking for? "Is that who you're looking for? Come on! I don't think there are many others in this forest, yeah?" He waved her in the direction of the great bellow before taking off in that direction.

[Akio Naito]

The voice immobilized him. Was that really them? A deeply familiar sense of guilt welled up in Akio's chest, forced his eyes down as he struggled to get his breath under control. After twelve agonizing seconds of crushing pressure bearing down on him, he replied honestly. "I came to respect your choice to go where I could not anymore." He frowned as he remembered that selfish search, a doomed quest that beat him down until he'd finally accepted his limits as an ordinary human. Clinging to the memory of his lost ability and the companion who'd chosen to leave had been far more unhealthy than what he'd done when he stepped into the woods, too corrosive to pursue anymore, even with the stolen power he'd decided to embrace. He took a half-step back, pushed back by the sheer regret that he had for that part of his past.

The dejected young man stared down into the fallen leaves, he lacked the strength of will to look directly at the silhouette and confirm the figure as real or fake. Akio already knew that he'd just lost by hearing the accusation, but not how severe that loss was. A fake would have meant his plan for that night derailed, he could try again somewhere else at a better time. But if the real Tsukisawa had genuinely just spoken to him, then it meant that the sickly path he'd chosen earlier that night had been demolished then and there. In his mind it was better not to find out right away if he'd be keeping the bow he'd stolen in the nights to come or slinking back to his apartment without it. For now, not knowing was a sage's wisdom and not having seen was a field of lovely flowers.

It hadn't helped that the voice had dragged a memory up to the surface in lurid detail. A reminiscence of two students sitting on their school's roof under an overcast sky. Still can't see them? If I could, I'd tell you. Their exchanges always started like that, the team captain still convinced that something must be wrong with someone who casually held their own against fullbringers and bount but couldn't perceive hollows beyond an indistinct heat haze. That mystery had shaped their entire dynamic, well, that and the complementary nature of their release abilities. The older student's ability to extract and transfer through needle-tipped arrows had particular synergy with the younger student's ability to cut and disperse anything sufficiently formless with the simple dull wedge they wielded. Shame that dynamic had been lost just as easily as the power that had made it possible. Even so, it had been something beautiful while it lasted.

Then something pulled him back to the present, the sound of someone shouting in the distance. The stranger's voice that asked if there was anyone else out in these woods. Reluctantly, he shifted towards that unknown person, still avoiding meeting the silhouette's gaze. "Spilled water won't go back to its tray, so for tonight let it flow freely. If you still want to talk after sunrise, we can settle this then." Akio denied wanting their lost bond back, only giving a sincere offer that the conversation would be continued after sunrise. He took a shaky breath, forced himself to take the first uncomfortable step towards the stranger's voice, and slowly wandered in Skoll's direction while waiting for a reply from the shadow he'd assumed was following behind him.

[Aura Kyuketsuki]

OOC NOTE: Party members can meet with each other if choose to do so fwue.


BEGIN PLAY:


Skoll


A loud deafening cry from the mix breed echoed through the soundless forest, bringing what life should be there in an instant. A loud cry that could reach those within distance, drawing them towards the Beastclan mix breed. Yet, it drew something else. As if to answer his call and white ghostly figure spawned behind the trees. Distant from the Black Wolf's presence, yet still recognizable. Outlined in fur that were similar that of razors edge. One that glowed like the Moon. Prestine in its shape and alluring in its sight as it waltzed away with only the lingering trail that it took. Walking away into the shadows that only knew to swallow that in which surrounded the invading party members. Yet, it didn't wander away in just any particular direction. It wandered as though it knew, crossing the trees and onto a beaten path. Although appearing alone, others may reach the beast within time.



Eshin

Tantalizing indeed as it wandered about. Through the thickets and brushes the black silhouette marched its trance like state through the shadows. Light began to dim. What illumination remained was only swallowed as the ghost continued with the wrath hot on its trail. It didn't seem to recognize its presence, or perhaps it didn't concern itself with the Hollow. It did as it was keen on something. That which unveiled itself into an opening. A patch of land that was surrounded by trees. Surrounded as it were meant to be a cage with thick brushes. But it was there.....and not alone. Bodies resided there. Bodies of Human shaped that were cloaked in a similar silhouette kicking on the ground as others resided over them, resting their hands onto them. The bottom figure flailed about before ceasing its movements as soft muffles could be heard across the way. Three more bodies that had been surrounded, with the silhouettes keeping their grip onto them. One sternly planted against a tree. Another wrestling on the ground with a pair of silhouettes, and one that was growing quiet in its soft delicate tone. It was too dark to make out their physical appearances. Not at this range, but they were indeed Human nonetheless.


Struggling Humanoids Class 7

Stats -

Silhouettes Class 7



Hikari


The figure remained stoic at the distance, lingering even as the cry echoed throughout the forest. Its hunched stature slowly crawling to a near upright position, turning its head in the direction of the cry. Its gaze keen on the direction of the cry until broken by the womans words. It flinched for the momment, then responded...........Scar...let.......Scar...let... its body crumbling towards its core, hunching once more. Its body falling front as to clutch at its formless abdomen whilst emerging from the shadows behind did the whispers come. ..Nishi.....Nishi...Nishi... as though chanting. Whispers that grew from one into another, calling from what was that of darkness then into blackened figures. Figures that gazed back at the contesting woman to take hold of the hunched figure that first revealed itself. Its silhouette only growing more distinct as light sprouted from its silhouette, slowly hugged by the others that surrounded it. ...Scar....le.. Embers sprouted just as quickly as the figures began to tow the burning body away..........h-ellp..



Kazuhiko


The Shinigami girl nodded, rushing a bit of distance behind the faster paced Satoshi. The direction of the cry was solid as the forest remained lifeless made it a clear in which what direction it came from. An easier time of making oneself known upon the approach with the noise that was being made by the pair. "I-I don't know Mister Satoshi. It doesn't feel like him, but he could be danger! Or maybe something....something else waahhhhhh." the girl bellowed in a sniffling cry. The girl struggled to keep herself composed unlike her superior whom didn't seem to be fazed by the situation. "I don't know if there were others sent here besides us, but there can be a chance, Mister Satoshi. Just don't leave me here by myself wahhhh." the girl cried again trying to keep up with her comrade. If the wolf had waited, then the pair would meet, or perhaps even catch his direction. Nevertheless, the forest was aware.


Akio

The voice didn't respond immediately as if to contemplate the words that was provided. An answer that was sought out as steps were taken by Akio. An answer in kind was returned. ...selfish.... as ever... he began to say. "That is why....she...has...m the voice was cut off as branches from behind were violently being torn away from each other. The snapping of wood and bark shoved aside to form a singluar route ahead. The silhouette that stood behind the tree snapped from its position, yanked from its footing on the ground and into the shadows the veiled overhead with only a muttered shriek heard from the passing wind above. Its low pitched shrill followed the wind and towards the direction of the distant cry as though summoned, tearing the branches above into raining twigs.

[Eshin Sōtō]

Eshin raced through the forest, his hunger clawing at him like a savage beast. The trees loomed above him, casting twisted shadows that seemed to mock his desperation. His body was nothing but a blur, his ghostly form flitting through the darkness like a wraith. He had to find something to eat, anything, or he would wither away into nothingness. That was when he saw it, a faint silhouette in the distance. It was humanoid in shape, teasing him with the promise of sustenance. He had chased it, chasing this endless desire for power without recognizing all of its features, or lack thereof. 

As he drew ever closer, Eshin's heart raced with excitement and fear. His hunger was so intense that it bordered on madness, clawing at his skin from the inside out. His mad dash towards this silhouette never seemed to be enough, as they passed through thickets and thick brushes in the strangely silent world, more hollow than even Hueco Mundo. The silhouette began to merge with the darkening shadows, but Eshin's keen senses never lost sight of it, his hunger would not allow him. The forest grew denser around him, the thicket tearing at his hair and skin, but he paid it no heed. He had to catch his prey, or he would die.

Finally, he reached a clearing, the light of the moon illuminating a gruesome scene. Several human bodies lay on the ground, writhing and squirming as formless silhouettes feasted upon them. Eshin's eyes widened with rage and disgust. He had thought that these silhouettes were his meals, measly human conduits of spiritual energy that he could feast upon. He was wrong, now that he could see their corpses laying about. These creatures were taking his food, and he could not allow it. He prepared to attack, his body trembling with anticipation.

With a furious roar, Eshin lunged forward, his ethereal form taking on a feral aspect. The shadowy creatures seemed to ignore him, focusing solely on their hunger. Eshin's hunger was stronger, though, and he rapidly approached them with sharp claws at the ready. The sound of tearing flesh and bones echoed through the clearing as Eshin tore into his enemies, devouring them one by one. The taste of blood and flesh filled him with savage pleasure, and for a moment, he felt alive. Or, at the very least, that was what he thought would happen. 

In truth, Eshin's strength was far from what it once was. While his claws were sharp and his proficiency with them allowing him to use his speed and its serration to cut into most of his prey at this point, he was unaware as to whether they would affect these silhouettes in the first place. He still tried, his claws attempting to rend through the shadowy form, focusing on lighter, shallower cuts as opposed to powerful cleaves. If the creatures bled or felt pain, then he would kill them through a thousand cuts, if need be. Either way, he would not go down easily. 

[Scarlet]

“What the fuck” the expression phrase slipping from Hikari’s mouth as she watched the figure in front of her contort like something from a horror movie, why in the world was she looking at Marilyn Manson practicing a strip routine in the middle of the dark woods. Hikari, usually fairly confident in herself, felt the cold shiver of fear crawl down her spine as the figure began to speak. Whatever was going on in the woods no longer seemed like something she could handle. She’d come expecting to find some sort of Hollow that was a bit to hunger, one that the Shinigami hadn’t picked up on or had slipped away from them.

This though was something else completely. Her lack of spiritual knowledge left Hikari stumped as to what she could actually be looking at right now and what it could do. She faced down a few demons that had given her less freight then what was in front of her right now, a fact that didn’t get any better really when fire started to emerge and then the figure was pulled through the embers while asking for help. “This has got to be a joke, there’s no way.” Hikari felt every fiber of her body screaming at her to turn around, but she forced her right hand to tighten on her axe.

Getting closer to the embers was something Hikari could handle, despite her fear of live flame she knew she had to deal with it all eventually and right now light was something that she had to rely on against the fear. Leaning down and holding her left hand out Hikari does her best to focus remembering what some of the others had told her about her powers and how the environment could listen. “Please become my light.” Hikari would try her best to pull at the soul of the embers. She wanted them to come up off the ground and hover above her palm like an orb of fire illuminating the forest around her. If it worked she’d approach slightly faster than if not with her ax ready to be swung.

[Skoll Koryu]

In a similar situation, a person might have been bewitched by the moonlit silhouette that teased at Skoll’s vision. One might have been intrigued, especially since motion was made away from him, flitting from tree to shadow, lingering just beyond recognition. Another individual would have stepped forward in curiosity, following as though led, and perhaps disappeared into the darkness after the figure. Others would have frozen, unsure of their situation and unwilling to proceed. Fear would bind their feet as surely as any ropes, and they would do nothing but stand and wait in horror of what lay beyond their sight.

Skoll was none of these people. And he did not like what was going on.

A long-fingered hand came up, the last three fingers curling inwards while the index finger extended, thumb held up like a child’s imitation of a gun. Yet this was no idle motion as spiritual energy pooled at Skoll’s fingertip, shifting and twisting as the half-demon altered his Reiatsu. Anyone with adequate ability to sense it would see the Nakabakki’s spiritual energy seem to shift, transforming from a volatile mixture into something with a vague outline to mimic a Hollow’s. It wasn’t a perfect replica, with its unique quirks, yet looking at it someone would easily be able to say “this is a Hollow,” or at least something very close to it.

“Get back here, you fucker!” With a snarl, Skoll released the Bala, a compressed ball of Reiatsu leaping from his fingertip. While the strength of his spirit was enough that the half-demon could probably match an average Arrancar’s Cero, Skoll had learned enough of the technique to compress it to a very fine point, like firing a bullet from a gun. The shot was far more aerodynamic and harder to track as a result, but lost none of the power, enough to easily blow a large hole in anything it hit. That shot would be fired directly at the fleeing creature, moving at the immense speeds native to a Bala.

Let’s see how you like that, jackass...

Remaining Reiatsu: 3800/4000 (-200 for Lore of the Spirit, -50 for Bala)

Lore of the Spirit: 1/5

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Kazuhiko continued into the depths of the forest with 'Naomi' behind him. The yelling hadn't been far off. Just a little bit further into the brush! His pace hastened as he felt the welling of Reiatsu. He wasn't capable enough in energy sensory to determine what type of reiatsu it was. But the fact that it was occurring informed him of everything he needed to know as far as he was concerned. Somebody was in danger!

Kazauhiko emerged on the scene just as Skoll's snarling, profanity-infused attack was about to be released! He managed to hold back a gasp as his eyes worked quickly to analyze the situation! Anyone within fifty feet of him would have been far easier to process thanks to his release. However, he had emerged such that neither Skoll nor his intended target was within reach of Hyaakujuunou's sensory field! So he had to rely on his otherwise unimpressive natural observational skills.

There were two subjects. The first was a white creature of a seemingly ephemeral constitution. It appeared to be beastlike in some way, but perhaps it was the darkness playing tricks on him. The second was illuminated by the energy gathering at the tip of its' finger. The light made him quite easy to perceive. This one was, unmistakably, a beast! And while he couldn't identify the energy with supernatural senses, he'd seen enough balas in his career to mark it as such. It was different from Lagos'. And it was different from the female hollows as well. But he didn't doubt that it was meant to wreak havoc on the other being!

"Wait!" He cried out amidst Skoll's profanity-infused assault! It was too late.

Without thinking, Kazuhiko's body moved! His sandals kicked up dirt and leaves from the forest floor as he threw himself into the path of the attack! He grit his teeth, not afraid of getting hit, but afraid that he wouldn't get to it in time! He leaped into the air as the bala streaked forward with a speed that he had regrettably grown familiar with! Time seemed to slow as his mind worked... He wouldn't make it in time. Not like this!

His knees bent and he launched himself into the air! The boy's body dove forward like an athlete trying to make the game-winning catch! His right arm was filled with tension. This caused an unexpected machine-like sound to escape the depths of the over-long sleeve within which it was hidden. White light flashed from within it! And that arm shot forward in desperation in what could only be described as a punch!

If he was in time, the bala would immediately sear away the fabric of his sleeves. This would expose the alien-looking golden arm beneath them. It pulsed and throbbed with pure white reiatsu, not unlike the way a human arm's veins and muscles did with blood and oxygen. But unlike a human arm, when the punch connected with the bala, it would suddenly pop like a balloon! Hyakujuunoou had the ability to drive the capability to hold reiatsu out of things. And when this happened to something made entirely of reiatsu, then it resulted in the manifestation in question to disapparate harmlessly. Its reiatsu scattering into the wind.

Whether it connected or didn't, Kazuhiko's body would hit the forest floor with a meaty *Whump!* and a grunt of pain! Yonbontai's Third Seat had acted on instinct. An impulsive move that had been motivated by the thing he wanted more than anything else in the world. To save everyone. It didn't matter who was wrong or right in this situation... What mattered was that nobody died. It was naive. It was stupid. But more than anything else... It put him in danger!

[Akio Naito]

Akio had been fully aware that he was being selfish that night. That was unavoidable trying to be something he wasn't, that was an inescapable part of wanting back the bond he'd lost. Even so, he still couldn't bring himself to agree with the voice's 'as ever'. The words hurt his resolve anyway, forced him to consider if he should have settled for a normal office job instead of forcing his involvement in karakura's supernatural incidents. It would only take the right words from the right person to force him to turn back on the path, maybe the wrong ones with enough persistence. Even more reason he couldn't bring himself to argue any defense in the face of this situation. Oh, right, he'd come out here to try and intervene without dwelling on those hangups for once. This wasn't the time to drown in regrets and hypotheticals, that had to wait until after he was done with the search he came here for.

He'd already taken a few paces away before he noticed the sound of snapping wood, and two paces more before he stopped expecting an arrow in the back and finally turned back to see nobody there. The sudden absence saddened him even as he felt the grip of sheer terror loosen from his chest, something Akio had probably deserved after playing out an Orpheus and Eurydice routine like that. "Sorry about all of that." He apologized, starting along the path of broken branches the voice had left behind. "This is my fault, maybe next time will be different." The shaken young man's focus shifted to the flowing nature of his reiatsu and the world around him, keeping the incantation he'd developed over the past few months in mind as he prepared for whatever he was being led towards.

The crunching of loose branches accompanied every step now, made his passage clearly apparent to any others nearby. "Anyone else out there?" Between trying to keep himself calm and not wanting to draw in anything hostile he just wasn't comfortable raising his voice in the woods, and so he hadn't shouted it even though that would have been more productive. He paused for a reply he didn't expect, arm raised in preparation for the only binding spell he knew, just in case. If nothing came of that, then he'd continue on for as far as the trail of broken tree limbs would take him. And if something responded? Well, he'd figure out how to deal with that when it happened.

[Aura Kyuketsuki]

Fwue:



IC


Skoll/Satoshi


The bright light of reiatsu scattered into the still air around them. Fluttering like fading embers of a fire, the small explosion of released reiatsu plumed in all directions within the small vicinity, charring the surrounding life. The golden arm had made its mark by a meer second, turning its golden surface into a glowing lantern that dispersed the hot reiatsu fired from the Sinner. A dim lantern in the darkest of places, providing the two groups with some semblance of life beyond their own personal experiences yet...

The fellow Shinigami plopped out from the bushes giving chase to her superior, glancing at the sudden sight of the Ebony ash Wolf clearly standing over her heigh just as Satoshi did. A look of fright overcame her, although, it was forcibly taken by the fluttering of shattered reiatsu ahead of the trio. A glimpse of silver fur. A glimpse of tribal markings that only spread across its feminine silhouette that mirrored the darkness around. Its fine coat faded back into shadow, with only a heavy thud coming a moment later. What the pair set out to do was accomplished, but by different means. Satoshi's arm wouldn't return as it originally intended. On the contrary, it was stuck.



Eshin

Like knife through butter was a good description as to what was transpiring when talons met shadow. A head that toppled over and rolled as lifelessly as its movements were that was followed by a half torso that plopped onto the floor beside the Hollow. There was certainly no resistance in their figures as nails met with their bodies. Yet, their gaze fell onto the invading creature. Those that distant removed themselves from their stilled targets, fixated on that who held more life in his movements. The bodies garbed in black robes ceased to move, swallowed by the shadows that came from the ghostly silhouettes. A moment of twitching before sitting upright to join the fray.

Their numbers grew, seemlessly with each new individual removed from squabble. Shadows began to shift. Shadows moved about, dragging themselves from around the opened patch of land, and wandering away as others joined in. Another shadow crushed, torn away from its body to fall clumsly onto the floor. Three were dispatched, with five taking their place. Their numbers multiplying with arms reaching out to take hold of the Hollow. They were swarming....Except one. One, from among the crowd of shadows motioned into the shadows beyond with a body in hand. Beckoned to somewhere.



Scarlet

Reiatsu surrounded the Fullbringer. Normally, such a place would have a lack of, yet it didn't. Now, it was in abundance. Light of faeries emerged at the beck and call of Scarlet, giving light from within the darkness that surrounded those in its midst. A sign of good fortune to be told, but only for the moment. The illumination could only bring forth at what the darkness kept shrouded. And those were the eyes that watched her. Eyes that remained behind the flickering surfaces of the trees around her. Empty. Hollowed. Sculpted darkened faces that lingered and watched as the light from the surrounding areas dwindled, and faded as the shadows expanded their reach of the woods. What was once an illuminated pathway that Scarlet once followed was now a duplicate of what was in front of her. All that remained of a light source was that in which the Fullbringer provided. And it called to them.

Another...one Anotherone notherone...More...Don't....Comehere...Why....Don'trun.. Voices. Whispers. They echoed from the opposing side that the woman faced. They were merely faint for the moment yet they grew in number. Only the sounds of twigs snapping beneath pressure was heard from such a direction. Scarlet was not alone as the shadows came. They called. They wanted with fingers extending outwards with their presence clearly felt. Just how many were there?


Silhouettes Class 8

Stats:?



Akio

The reiatsu around the man could be felt. More than before from past experiences as it was fountained around him. It resided clearly in the air and in the ground. The very nature of his environment was overflowing with reiatsu? Despite the tone of the situation, the reiatsu here was clearly active. "Anyone else out there?" A moment passed, nothing but the rustling of bark and leaves beneath Akio's feet. Another moment went on with branches snapping. Another moment, twigs falling overhead. Another moment, ...only what you've created. the voice returned, yet closer than ever. Its voice gurgling, muddled by its transitioning into...... Branches snapping overhead with the passing trees beside Akio shifted. One uprooting itself with the voice coming once more, ....only what you've created~ it gurgled once more with a pair of white eyes beaming down at the man, with a veiny arm reaching down for him.

SPOILER: Click to show

{reference}

[Eshin Sōtō]

Through the twisted maze of the forest, Eshin followed the ghastly silhouettes that had taunted him, their elusiveness a cruel invitation to satiate his insatiable hunger for power. With every step, his craving intensified, the primal urge to devour growing like a ravenous beast within his decaying form. At last, he arrived at a clearing, his wraith-like presence seeping through the shadows, ready to claim his prize.

But what he beheld in that accursed space tore at the fabric of his being. His eyes widened, reflecting a mixture of rage and despair, as he witnessed the strange entities feasting upon human flesh. The sight of his coveted meals being devoured by these interlopers stirred a deep-rooted anger within him, a monstrous rage that surpassed his own self-loathing. With a guttural growl, he lunged forward, his long and horrific claws slashing through the air, seeking to tear into the beings that dared to claim what was rightfully his.

The first strike of his jagged talons found its mark, rending through the entity's body with a sickening precision. The upper half of its form was cruelly bisected, the gory remnants falling to the ground in a grotesque display. Yet, this victory was short-lived, for the other silhouettes released their victims and turned their attention towards Eshin. The shadows themselves seemed to stir, writhing and contorting in unnatural patterns, converging upon him with a malevolent intent.

Their ghastly forms closed in, their ethereal touch brushing against his rotted flesh, igniting a deep-seated anger that surged through his veins. With a primal roar, Eshin unleashed his fury, summoning a ball of golden energy that crackled and seethed within his mouth. The sphere split into nine blazing bolts of lightning, each aimed at dispersing the encroaching shadowy beings. As the explosive impact rent the air, his claws danced in a frenzy, slicing through the ethereal forms that dared to defy him.

He cared not for what came into contact with his decaying body, driven solely by the primal desire to devour. Speed became his ally, his slashes leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Amidst the chaos, his mouth remained agape, an open maw hungry for the taste of carnage. The sickening pleasure of feasting upon the remnants of his foes mingled with the fury that coursed through him, fueling his relentless assault. In that moment, Eshin embraced his monstrous nature, the embodiment of primal desperation in his relentless pursuit of power.

Technique Used: Cero Lluvia
Reiatsu: 1450/1500
-50 for Cero Lluvia
RS of 100

[Scarlet]

Although this wasn't something that Hikari wanted or enjoyed at all it seemed that she had been successful in her attempt to use the soul of the embers on the ground. Holding the live flame now above her hand like a candle she could see what was immediately around her yet almost as if answering what she had just done it was like light danced around her for several seconds causing her to turn from one side to another trying her best to perceive what was going on only to see nothing, beyond the darkness that surrounded her in this forest. Then even those small flickering lights faded, and she found herself inside the depths of a shadowy night.

Holding her right hand down at her side with her hand positioned halfway up the shaft of her axe Hikari kept it ready while her left hand was now out in front of her. This didn't feel right, and she knew now she was at a serious disadvantage if she happened to be right and this was a Hollow. That's when she started to hear the voices and Hikari couldn't help the sensation of her nerves crawling up the bottom of her spine. This wasn't a situation she liked nor one that she had been trained to handle, she'd been thrown into a horror flick with no idea what could be causing all this beyond something that wanted to eat her.

"Stay back! I'll cut you down I swear!"

[Akio Naito]

The hand connected, easily seized his upper arm. He'd been too slow to react and didn't have enough speed to evade once he had, so consequently the mysterious limb made contact with his left arm while he had still been in the process of twisting to avoid it. The scrawny young man didn't have enough strength to escape its grip either. Besides that, he wouldn't have made it that far running through the woods in the dark without running into a tree or tripping over a branch. And really? He hadn't deserved to escape, it wouldn't have been right. Or at least he couldn't form an argument that he did right now. Not while he dwelled on the loss of the only real friend from school and thr life of isolation he chose after, nor while he dwelled on the loss of his powers and the lengths he'd gone to in replacing them with something that he was never meant to have. In those conditions, the idea that he may actually be a bad person sprouted readily, tied him down with climbing vines. Had he crossed a moral line by learning to manipulate reishi? Had he become something inhuman by- Not now.

He forced those thoughts aside by invoking something he'd mastered through repetition, a thing of the natural world that he didn't feel the need to justify. Something he could accept as his own accomplishment, disconnected from the anxieties that threatened to crush him. "Heavenly serpent, descend to the sacred tree!" Shimoku's incantation came naturally even as he struggled against the unknown figure's grip. The spell connected Akio's reiatsu with the currents of spiritual particles and energy in the earth beneath him, the air around him, and the trees that surrounded him. Loose coils of reishi flowed from those currents as he redirected them, tiny streams of spiritual particles gathered around his free arm, and took on the properties of water. Within seconds a miniature river rushed circles around his sleeve, both an attack and a binding in equal measure. Coiled and ready to strike as soon as he could gesture for it.

He twisted to face the strange humanoid, swung his arm upwards, and launched the blast of water aspected reishi at its head. Guided the projectile as best he could to correct for the difficulties in aiming while grappled. If it worked, the initial blast of water pressure would be reinforced by his 80 RS, and after impact it would transition into binding threads of reishi intended as a restraint. Akio's intentions were simple, he was hoping his attacker would drop him as they recoiled from the initial strike and would stay bound long enough for him to create some space between them. This was quite literally the only option he had to break free from whatever had grabbed him, he only had one other spell he could rely on, and it required stable footing. There was too much risk of getting pulled off his feet and interrupted to try that. And outside of the fuusuishi art line of spellcasting techniques, he had no other supernatural talents that could save him.

Unless the figure had turned out to be a hollow or an arrancar, of course. In that case the white-eyed attacker's spiritual pressure would sink through his sleeve and burn away both his arm and the temptation to follow the quincy path, which solved that night's dilemma by force when it quickly crippled him beyond the ability to weild a bow of any kind... Not only would the burning touch have prevented him from focusing enough to cast anything retaliatory, it would have defeated him entirely right then... But so long as the attacker was not a hollow, the possibility of an instant loss would remain a needlessly bleak hypothetical. No more real than any other intrusive thought holding Akio back, and presumably less of an immediate threat than the arm that was literally holding him by that point. But dwelling on anything but the present moment was a hard habit to break.

[Skoll Koryu]

Skoll’s Bala shot off suddenly, tearing across the distance. At such a speed it normally wouldn’t be able to be intercepted, only avoided by stepping out of its set trajectory. Yet the half-demon found himself surprised when a figure leapt from the shadows, crying out and breaking the night’s oppressive quiet. Not only that, but instead of attacking the stunned wolf, the figure stretched out their arm as if to catch the Bala—no idiot would willingly throw a limb in front of such a powerful strike, would they? Though it seemed like this one would, and Skoll could only anticipate seeing the thing’s arm getting ripped through as the super-compressed spiritual energy simply shot through and continued towards its target.

Further surprise came when instead of penetrating, his Bala just… shattered. The attack popped like a soap bubble against the being’s fist, fragments of Reiatsu filling the clearing with a small burst of light. It reflected off of a limb of pure gold that seemed to shine after deflecting the attack, causing Skoll to squint his eyes at the sudden break in the darkness. Though the light was muted after a few moments, it still left spots fluttering before his eyes, only adding to the Nakabakki’s irritation. A moment later, instead of landing on their feet after making their seemingly desperate dive, the individual just crashed into the ground in the roughest landing that Skoll had seen in quite some time.

Though on his guard, Skoll took a moment to examine the fallen saboteur. Male, human, short...ish? Definitely a human, though. No, the half-demon corrected himself, a Shinigami. The black robes gave him away. The lack of sword at his waist was strange: given the Nakabakki’s frequent interactions with their kind in the Rukongai, he would have expected the man to be wearing his Zanpaktou, especially in a place like this. Maybe... Skoll looked closer, and spotted the Shinigami’s arm, still sheathed in that golden color. Maybe that was his Zanpaktou—while Skoll had not had the opportunity to see too many of them Released, most humans did not possess a golden arm that could shatter Reiatsu. He supposed it made sense to Release one’s weapon in an environment like this. Mystery solved.

Well, one mystery, anyway. Now for the other.

Knowing that this man was supposed to be one of his allies—or at least someone he was supposed to be working with—only made Skoll all the more irritated. The idiot had jumped in the way of his attack to defend one of the anomalies that were here! The creature was likely getting away, too, which only further caused Skoll’s temper to flare. The half-demon strode over to the fallen Shinigami, who was likely starting to get up at this point, and lashed out with a swift kick to the man’s side. He didn’t hold back, either, attempting to deliver a solid strike to the Shinigami’s ribs.

“What the living fuck do you think you’re doing!? Don’t play the goddamn hero if you don’t even know what you’re defending! That’s one of the creatures from this damn forest! If you get us killed because your head’s too far up your own ass to see straight, I swear I’m gonna find my way through the cycle just so I can murder you again!”

[Satoshi Kazuhiko]

Kazuhiko's diving save managed to disperse the bala! He let out a "Yoshaaa!" Even before hitting the ground. The sound he made after hitting the ground was much less triumphant. A sort "Ungghhh." He'd thrown caution to the wind and hit the dirt floor of the forest hard upon his side.

He was quick to roll to his hands and knees. But he couldn't force the air to fill his lungs quickly enough to get to his feet. He turned his head to catch sight of the strange being walking towards him. He wasn't sure what he was. Even as he entered his sensory field. But he knew that he was mad!

Breathless, he could do little more than brace himself as the stranger's foot buried itself in his ribs! The flexibility of his ribs aided in absorbing some of the blow, but that was cold comfort. His flesh bruised before he's hands and knees had left the dirt they were pressed into. He landed with a heavy thud a few feet away from where he'd been. His body rolled from the momentum until it skidded. And then came to a stop.

He was left coughing, choking on the pain and his empty lungs as the stranger berated him. He managed to make it back to his hands and knees, still hacking as saliva ran past his lips to darken the earth beneath him. "M-might h-have been." He wheezed, still coughing. "But you don't know f-for sure!" His head turned to meet the beast's eyes.

"Don't worry... I won't let-" He got to his knees, a little wobbly even posted upon three limbs. "Anyone die." His lips curled into a confident smile as he made his declaration. He was covered in dust from rolling on the ground. But his golden eyes shined with resolve more pristine than stainless steel.

[Aura Kyuketsuki]

The soft chimes of the bells rung once again. Stirred from its daze did the growing emotions of those around drew its attention. Living beings that entered into the domain. Five that have pursued for which ever their reasons for. It was cold. Fingers too stiff to move. More. More was needed. The doors will open soon, and take in the newest of tenets. All in which have come and filled themselves with raw emotions. A shadow entered the vicinity, offering one of the limp figures that it had taken. Once filled with life now caving into itself at what they had experienced.

A delicate soothing flow of a finger that drifted up from the collar towards the chin. A breath of frozen air seeping out from the numbing body that was emptying with the passing seconds, fading inward to match the darkness surrounding them. They croaked shakingly, slowly spewing the emptiness that was overtaking them. Now, five in total as before there were others. Now only five. Four filling what was required. Fear. Sorrow. Anger. Rage. Four met what was needed. With hollowed eyes the wait will be over. Soon, the fifth will join. All that was needed was the right incentive.


Skoll/Satoshi

The dance of colliding reiatsu was by far the only actual sound that resonated within the vicinity of the pair. The dance of crimson light and golden segment blossomed into a plume of light that eminated brightly for the moment before being swallowed by the lingering darkness. The white hue from before faded into the shadows momentarily to return shortly after as the collision of light eroded. Its ghostly frame returning from the darkness, hovering off of the unseen ground beneath them all... Muttering all but a single line, "I'm sorry....my little Volsung" its sorrowful tone wallowed away, with only the tag-along Shinigami looking part ways between it and the pair. The girl was flustered, unknowing where to even enter into the little dilemma, looking to chase the fading figure into the shadows.

"Wa-...Wait!" Naomi called out. Each step the girl took eroded her figure. There was no distress as she continued to pursue. Feet whisked away from sight. The extending arm that reached out to feel around her surroundings eaten by the shadows. Not a muffle. Not a sound; taken in similar manner as the life around the pair had been. Nothing remained but the empty space that the pursuing Shinigami was in, and faint twin golden blips that trailed off in the distance in their direction. Lines of yellow that sparked weakly in their presence, with foreign reiatsu following their momentary emergence.





Eshin

A swipe of claws tore through the jawline of a single phantom, meeting with the ribs of another at the end of the strikes end flow. Bolts of reiatsu that snapped from their spheric form, tearing through the rows of phantoms that were forming an enclosing wall of pitch black. Without realizing it the darkness was slowly surrounding Eshin. Lost to the instinctual drive, the unrelenting thirst for power the Hollow would lose out on what was occurring to his surroundings. A single phantom lacked onto the beings shoulder, with a weak gnawing sensation that came from it. Its strength was severely lacking and didn't show a hint of reistance onto the coming talons of the Hollow. Yet, it was already done.

The environment was different. The opening that he previously roamed into was smaller. Comparable to that of a miniature league baseball field. The moonlight pierced through the cloudied skies from above, bringing some natural lighting to the scene beyond what was before. All that was present were the number of phantoms that remained, and the single dead tree that miraged in and out of view at its center.

Despite the numbers the Phantoms were no match for the thrashing Hollow, seemingly to lack any resistance despite what had occurred before. They were easily destroyed? Their bodies were fragile, reverting to what they were once were based on their origins. Casual in wears, belonging to brands from the Human world. Their bodies pressed for casual outings as their genders varied from male to female. Though, not all were of but a single race as garbs of black were among their numbers. Blades peeling away from their freed figures, enlisting more among the casualities that were already present. Yet, one retained something unusual; something golden?




Scarlet

The voices didn't stop. A wall had come to be made from their muttering. As if spoken softly in a chorus beside the ear. A lack of motion. A lack of action. What was coming was not impeded by the womans declaration of action. The uttering of her words spewed with it the sensation that it carried within. What lingered in the back of the womans mind. The voices were encouraged by it, enabling them to swallow the world around her. It was as if she had entered into a void. The lacking of her perspective only allowed for the silhouette of the trees to be sight. Despite the depths of the darkness they were clearly made out with some effort. With the plume of embers that were summoned, their existence was made all but for certain. Yet, now, there were no trees. Nothing existed but herself the vanishing voices that were onced plagued her surroundings. There was nothing, but the coming wailing of a blood filled shriek, and array of yellow lights.

The world of darkness faded, torn away by the bolts of reiatsu that speared past. A sudden unveiling of the patch of land within the sea of trees. Glimpses of moonlight that shined from up above through the heavy clouds that gathered. Rumbling of a coming storm about to brew, yet refused to flash any bolts of their own. Unusual. What remained to be seen were those that were laid onto the floor, all in different forms of clothing. That and the beast that resided across the section of where the woman stood.




Akio

The pair wrestled for control. Standing five feet taller the gurgling shadow flicked its arm to toss Akio off balance at the beginning. Its wailing in frustration at the sight of its failure, at the mans resistance, only made it grow all the more reckless in its pursuit to drown the man in its distortion of movements. Its free arm twisted, forcing itself into place as it reached down to slither its dangley, disportionate fingers around the smaller beings neck, without coming to realize that gathering of reiatsu of Akios arm was already set into motion. It paid no attention into what was occurrring, being locked into a tunneled vision of what it wanted. The flow of water cascade around the mans arm, slapping into the disfigured silhouette that made the shadows face, flailing its free arm to its eyes.

It cried out in pain, forming incoherent formation of words if they were anything at all. It didn't stand a chance at having its sensitive excuse of a head to be struck, flailing further with its entire body to whip the man out to the opposite side of its body. And that was where things got weird. The environment had come to a drastic change. From being stuck in a dark forest came to be an opening. Flung from what seemed to be endless tree silhouettes and shadows, to that of an open meadow like patch of land. The transition rather abrupt, like a blink of an eye with no trace of the figure from before, but only the bruise of its grip it had left behind. All that was there were the two others that lingered, and the scene that befell him.


Music for all at the opening





The bells chime once more, and the tree in which they reside stills.