[PVP] Benjiro vs Cabballero | Man vs Menos

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Thread Title: Man vs Menos
Participants: Benjiro Hiroto, Caballero
World: Human World
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: PG-13
Location: The uninhabited island of Okinoshima, an inland sea island off of the coast of Japan. It is a host of old remains and souls of dead Japanese soldiers from World War Two, with the setting being that of a ruined military fort.
Special Conditions: None
Circumstances: Benjiro Hiroto: Class 5 Shinigami, tasked with investigating and dealing with the appearance of a Menos Grande in a relatively uninhabited area, giving it a low priority.

Caballero: Class 5 Hollow, recently turned Menos Grande.

[Deleted]

It had been a day like all others in the quiet, remote island of Okinoshima. All had gone as quiet as usual in the final hour before the sun finally set and gave way to the darkness. The old ruins of the military fort cast uneven, half-broken shadows into the land, each hour that passed vanishing more and more from the minds of the people. Those stones used to represent something great, something bigger than a man himself. Now, they had been consigned to oblivion, as the war that had predated it was far, far away in the past. Now, only calm remained, peaceful and quiet if not for the lost souls of warriors that still inhabited the place. Not even the chirping of birds could be heard anymore, just the sound of waves crashing against the nearby bluffs.

But peace is a delicate equilibrium, and all equilibriums can easily be broken. All it takes is one slight push in one direction to make everything tip over into chaos, and that was exactly what happened when, all of a sudden, a giant crack appeared on top of the fort, on one of the floors that was still standing. For those standing at the base of the fort, it was as if the sky had shattered, bringing unspeakable fear to those below. Hollows normally did not emerge there, and so what few human souls lingered there in peace quickly turned from dangerous curiosity into a full-fledged run the moment a ghostly, clawed hand ripped the crack apart into a bigger space from which its owner could wiggle into the Human World.

From the Garganta, a full being emerged--though there would be nothing else coming out, as it had been thorough in intimidating or outright consuming the foolish creatures that had tried to scavenge any power from its efforts. Feet akin to boots stepped on the gentle slopes of the japanese architecture, and all of a sudden, there was yet another shadow cast on top of the fort's, the shadow of a monster clad in a black garb, with spikes above its Hollow hole, and the same generic mask that the vast majority of Hollows on the same evolutionary stage showcased.

Standing at 8 feet tall, this creature certainly was a Gillian on the lower ends of the size spectrum. Of course, it was to be expected, considering who the transformation had originated from. Even so, the Menos Grande was not Caballero. Well, it technically was, but no more than it also was a myriad other Hollows, following a chain of consumptions that eventually ended in the tiny knight as the last link, the bucket where all souls fell. Unable to contain them, they had burst forth, forming the baleful being that was a Gillian, the very first stage of Hollow evolution. And what had it done right after its transformation? Why, it had gone straight to feed, of course. Stomping through Hueco Mundo and crushing whatever demi-Hollows were around with its much larger body, the Menos Grande had aimlessly wandered, its instincts driving it to find more prey to consume that would satisfy its tastes. This Menos had found both individual Strays and packs of them, but the end result had always been the same: mindless consumption that added more souls on top of the pile, further burdening Caballero, who was suffocated and asphyxiated by the burden of thousands of souls already.

When the monster had felt Hueco Mundo insufficient for its tastes, it had promptly opened a gate toward a much tastier buffet: the Human World, where the quality of souls would be much higher. However, owing to its state and to the lack of refinement of the technique itself, Kumon hadn't taken it to Karakura Town, which would have been the preferred location given how spiritually rich the location was. No, the Menos Grande had emerged in an island, far away from the intended location. Karakura Town was a prime feeding spot for Hollows, regardless of the Shinigami that defended it. No matter, it could feed and prey on whatever humans lived here before turning its sights on returning to the town. Somehow, that instinctual line of thought brought forth a tiny spike of pain, of rejection, of denial. It brought forth a kind of hesitation that was not needed for the good of the collective; thus, it was quickly buried under the collective hunger, the thirst for more power, and the drive to evolve into something greater than itself.

The Menos Grande looked up at the sun, the sun that was missing from Hueco Mundo. Again, the souls within stirred, the vast majority of them used to the darkness of their homeworld. As if there was something to express, the monster opened its masked mouth and let out a roar that scattered the Pluses even further apart. It did not matter, however. As a Hollow, a predator, it would enjoy and relish the pursuit of its meals. That was what hundreds of souls were feeling, desiring.

But there was still that prickly needle deep within its head, the one that not only did not show any enthusiasm for that idea, but actively complained against it before being inevitably muffled again by the power of the other lost souls. After its display of might, the Menos Grande's eyes slowly wandered down and looked for a spot to land on. The jump was rougher than it somehow expected, as if its body was used to smaller sizes, lighter loads. Did not matter that much after a few more test-drives; it was still its body, after all.

It was still weird that the Menos Grande had yet to chase any of the snacks around. There really was no hurry for an immortal creature that had all the time in the world, it seemed. Or was that something else, keeping the monster at bay and making it rationalize what should have been an instinctual, non-negotiable part of its nature?


OOC:

Caballero's stats

Stat	SP	Type
Strength	75	50
Speed	200	200
Reiatsu Strength	400	600
Spiritual Pressure	160	160
Senses	50	50
Instinct	125	125
Energy Sensory	0	0
Healing Expertise	20	20
Light Aura	100
Dark Aura	0

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro woke up on his first day as the 12th Seat, feeling a mix of pride and apprehension. He knew he was honored to receive the promotion, but he also felt unprepared for the new level of duty and responsibility. He thought of his Senior Officers, Aya and Seijuro, and wondered if he could ever match their experience and power. He was unsure as to why he was given the position of the 12th Seat, doubting the decision of Captain Celes, especially since Seijuro was the 13th Seat despite already awakening to his Shikai. He could not for the life of him understand why the Captain had made such a choice, but Old Man Seijuro didn't seem perturbed by it. He had instead congratulated the younger Shinigami. 

Aya, on the other hand, was very upset. Despite her proficiency in Kido, she was not the most powerful, nor did she have a release yet. She made it clear that she planned on challenging him for his seat if he didn't live up to the position, and Benjiro just apologized for the inconvenience he had caused. He wanted to continue this train of thought but he couldn't dwell on his doubts for long, as he received an official summons to deal with a Gillian on his own. The letter stated that the creature had appeared on an uninhabited island in Japan, known as Okinoshima and that he was to call for backup only if necessary. The enormity of the task weighed heavily on him, but he knew he had to face it head-on.

Apparently, Okinoshima was a military fort used in the second Great War, which took place after his own death. Benjiro had heard of what his fellow countrymen had done, and many tears were wept as the stories reached him within the Soul Society. To think that he would have an assignment in one of the greatest shame's he felt about his home, it had definitely shaken his resolve somewhat. He closed his eyes as he offered up a prayer to the Buddha, asking for aid and guidance. "Namu Amida Butsu. Namu Myoho Renge-kyo." He repeated this chant over and over again as he empathized with all the lives lost in the atrocity of war.

Unfortunately, many souls still reside in Okinoshima, remnants from the war that refused to move on. This Gillian was threatening their safety, and it was up to Benjiro to stop it. As he walked out of his room, Benjiro felt his heart beating fast with anticipation and anxiety. He knew that facing a Gillian was no easy feat, especially for a newly appointed 12th Seat like himself. He wondered if he was up for the task, if he had the strength and skill to take on such a powerful Hollow on his own. He felt a knot forming in his stomach as he made his way through the Seireitei towards the Senkaimon that would take him to the island.

He tried to calm himself down, focusing on his breathing and the feel of his Zanpakuto at his side. He felt like he was walking towards his own destiny, unsure of what lay ahead but determined to face it head on. With that, he went through the Senkaimon, guided by the Hell Butterfly that had seen him through to the World of the Living a handful of times before at this point. As he headed out to the island, Benjiro's heart raced with anticipation and apprehension. He knew the stakes were high, and he couldn't afford to fail.

When he arrived, he was struck by the eerie silence and the palpable spiritual pressure emanating from the Gillian. It was surprisingly not the largest, only appearing to be a few inches taller than he was, but he still felt insignificant in comparison. He cautiously approached the Gillian, his senses on high alert, but the Gillian didn't seem to be doing anything yet. There was a growing dread from the Pluses all around, as the Gillian stood at the top of the ruined fort of Okinoshima. The fear was palpable, but the Pluses were frozen, undoubtedly from the fear. 

That was when the Gillian opened its maw, and an ungodly roar came out. This roar was a cry that sent the hundreds of Pluses running, fleeing from the scene as quickly as they could. Benjiro gripped the hilt of his Zanpakuto, feeling the familiar warmth of the stingray hide on his palm. He did not like resorting to battle from the very beginning, preferring to reason out and attempt to save the soul of his enemies. When it came to Hollows, it was a little different. His blade was not a weapon of war, it was a weapon of cleansing, freeing the souls trapped within. A Menos Grande was an amalgamation of souls, victims, trapped within the seething malice and hunger that needed to be purified. 

While he still had the chance to gain the upper hand and make the first move, Benjiro unsheathed his Zanpakuto and pointed it towards the Gillian's mask. He steeled his resolve, not the resolve to kill anyone, but the resolve to free them. As he did, he spoke to his blade. "Guide my resolve." He felt the prayer beads around his wrist tighten, allowing him to trust in the will of his Zanpakuto even further. The Gillian jumped down to the ground, stumbling as if it was not yet used to its form. With that in mind, he flashed forward, activating Shunpo with a burst of reiatsu. He aimed for a clean slice across the mask, the metal singing through the air in the hopes of striking true.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Benjiro's OOC}
Strength: 100 (150)



Speed: 100 (50)



RS: 150 (225)



SPPR: 120



Instinct: 50



Senses: 50 (25)



ES: 100



HE: 0



LA: 75



DA: 25

---

Learning - 1



Calm Mind - 1



Strength of Will - 2



Weapons: Swords - 1



Pain Tolerance - 2



Bleeding Tolerance - 2



Damage Recovery - 2



Mental Incantation - 2



Kido Mastery - 2

---

Reiatsu: 1150/1200
-50 for Shunpo

[Deleted]

From its vantage point, the Menos Grande saw that not all the souls around were running away from its roar. Well, truthfully, there was only one that had not ran away. Too busy looking ahead at the horizon, this Gillian had failed to notice the gate between worlds opening once again, giving way to Benjiro Hiroto, 12th Seat of Squad 10, arrive in Okinoshima to put an end to the Hollow threat; however, it was kind of difficult to miss the 7'3'' giant heading toward its position while the rest of the souls ran for dear life. For the Menos, who stared silently before jumping onto the ground, Benjiro was naught but an unknown Shinigami, though one brave and powerful enough to stand against the might of the multitude of souls that formed the amalgamation. However, one must remember that it was not a matter of quantity, but of quality. Before the Menos Grande had jumped to the ground, the Shinigami had pointed its Zanpakuto towards it, and the thousand Hollows within immediatelly stirred against the notion of being hunted down and purified. However, the prickly feel coming from one particular soul took note of the gesture, and perhaps misinterpreted its meaning. As always, the result of any confrontation remained on the battle itself, not on any previous assumptions.

When the Menos jumped down, Benjiro did not lose any time in trying to get the initiative. The towering buddhist disappeared in the blink of an eye, in a maneuver that the creature immediately recognized as Shunpo. It had seen it many, many times before, having fought both alongside and against opponents that used it. Despite the jump and landing being rougher, the creature's response was immediate thanks to its mastery over Úlcera, the step technique of the Hollows. Through this, the Gillian also launched itself forward, imitating Benjiro's approach. While not as much of a speed boost as a Shinigami's Shunpo, Úlcera allowed these monsters to dive into the dark folds of the Garganta for the duration of that step. This allowed the Menos Grande to phase through Benjiro and his first strike, reappearing where the Shinigami had been moments before.

Their positions would have thus become inverted, with the monster looking at Benjiro with a sideways stance. Its black garb flowed with the wind, in what was perhaps a twisted imitation of a Shinigami's Shihakusho, painting a picture of a battle at sundown. The thousand Hollows within clamored to press the attack, to drive their body forward and put an end to this foolish man, to fry him with a Cero or punch him full of holes with Bala. Amidst all the killing intent of the other souls, however, something else prevailed upon watching the Shinigami. The sword pointing, the fact that he had used a sword, the fact that it was a one on one. For that particular Hollow, this felt like one of the challenges they used to issue other Shinigami. A duel, if you must.

And, if this was a duel, it was only natural that the niceties would be observed, wasn't it? In perhaps the first semi-lucid moment of the creature, one where it would not be bound by aimless instinct and bottomless hunger, the Menos Grande fully turned toward Benjiro and did the unthinkable. One of its white hands emerged from the cloak, and the apparent monster bent forward in what was unmistakably a bow, as if it was giving its opponent the due respect that he deserved. Unfortunately, that moment of passed as quickly as it had surfaced, for the Gillian returned to its mindless state, Caballero's consciousness pushed back down again by all the other Hollows.

Still focused on Benjiro and without barely thinking about it, the Menos Grande shot one Bala forward as if it was the most natural thing in the world, in what might be akin to a boxer's jab. Its purpose was to gauge its opponenent, to mark Benjiro and draw first blood, although it might end up doing more than that. While the compressed nature of the attack made it weaker than usual, this particular Gillian's Reiatsu Strength would still make it quite a threat, and it would fly toward the Shinigami at a speed of 1600. The Hollows within relished with the first attack, eager to finish off the enemy and consume him so that they would grow even stronger. The other Pluses had been all but forgotten, at least for the time being. There were bigger fish to fry and bigger souls to consume, after all.

However, that one pesky Hollow within could not help but feel that there was something else that it should have done, a different way to fight, something the Gillian's body would be very comfortable at. What was that, though? What was it that made its hands feel empty, as if it should have been gripping something? Why did its feet feel so restless, as if it was supposed to be running?


OOC:

• Reiatsu: 1600 -75[Úlcera] -50[Bala] = 1475
• With Úlcera, Caballero steps at 1000 SPD.
• Bala has a RS of 600*0.75 = 450

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats}

Stat	SP	Type
Strength	75	50
Speed	200	200
Reiatsu Strength	400	600
Spiritual Pressure	160	160
Senses	50	50
Instinct	125	125
Energy Sensory	0	0
Healing Expertise	20	20
Light Aura	100
Dark Aura	0

SPOILER: Click to show

{Úlcera *}Technique Name:Ulcera [Ulcer] - Mastered
Class: 7

Technique Type: Stepping

Usable By: Hollows (Not Arrancar)

Technique Description and Effects: This technique is a basic stale for a Hollow's ability to slide in and out of the valley of screams at will when it is hunting or stalking prey. By gliding in and out of the space used by techniques like garganta or descorrer, a hollow can get around quickly. This technique operates similarly to a stepping technique, but only moves at 5x the user's speed. However, the user weaves through rips in the fabric of whatever world they are in, and as such the hollows exits, and then re-enters at the destination, Hollows do not lose awareness of the world as they move through an Ulcera, and can return to the material world mid-step in response to a threat or opportunity. This technique does not take up a Technique slot.

How to use technique: See Above

Technique Drawbacks: Costs 75 reiatsu per step.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bala *}Technique Name: Bala [Bullet] - Mastered

Class: 6

Technique Type: Hollow Technique

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: A straightforward and simple technique that hardens the user's Reiatsu and releases it like a swift blast of spiritual energy. While the technique is not nearly as powerful as a Cero, its speed is twice as fast and allows for it to be fired in quick repetition. The orb of reiatsu fired varies in size and strength, some Arrancar creating one the size of a basketball with the rough power of a massive punch, and others creating Bala with enough power to blast holes in adversaries. Some Espada can create Bala as large and powerful as an average Arrancar's Cero.

How to use technique: The user must first aim and then fire the technique, as is custom of any projectile type.

Technique Drawbacks 50 Reiatsu cost. Due to its compressed nature, Bala suffers a 25% reduction to Reiatsu Strength.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro lunged forward with his Zanpakuto, he was taken aback as the seemingly still Gillian suddenly moved with unnatural speed, dodging his attack by cutting open a hole through reality. The Hollow's agility caught him off guard, and he realized that the creature was much faster than he had anticipated. His slash with his Zanpakuto struck nothing but air as the Menos switched places with him. Was this its way of taunting him? His worry grew, knowing that he couldn't underestimate this foe. He had to rely on his strengths and fight with all his might.

Drawing upon the power of his body and spirit, Benjiro unleashed his full potential. His muscles strained as he wielded his Zanpakuto with precision, and his soul surged with determination. He thought back to his mentors in both of these aspects, Gestalt's fluid precision and agility in wielding the blade as opposed to his own powerful and sudden strikes. He thought of Akira and his hasty, lightning based spirit as opposed to his own aquatic aligned soul. He was in perfect harmony with his body and spirit, using them as his greatest weapons in this intense battle. He prepared to cast a Kido spell, ready to utilize all of his abilities to overcome the formidable foe before him.

However, his plans were interrupted when he noticed the Gillian doing something unexpected. The creature stood opposite to him, reaching a hand out of its twisted cloak of broken souls, and then bowing in a gesture of respect. Benjiro was taken aback, as he had never seen a Menos exhibit such sentience before. The Hollow's behavior caused him to hesitate, but he quickly regained his resolve. He couldn't afford to let this momentary distraction affect his focus in the midst of battle. True enough, this composure was what saved his life.

Just as he regained his composure, he felt a surge of spiritual energy from the Gillian, indicating that it was preparing to launch an attack. Benjiro's spiritual senses were honed to a high degree, and he could feel the fluctuations of energy around him, especially one as powerful as this. He braced himself as he saw the Gillian forming a ball of condensed spiritual energy. The ball of energy was released with unprecedented speed, hitting him like a cannon and causing searing pain as it threatened to break his bones and burn his flesh. He didn't have enough time to fully block it, only able to absorb the impact with his left forearm while the rest impacted his torso and ribs directly.

Despite the intense pain, Benjiro refused to back down. Blood dripped from his mouth as he gritted his teeth, channeling his determination into a counterattack. He knew he had to retaliate with even greater force in order to stand a chance. With a resolved demeanor, he unleashed his own powerful attack, fueled by his resolve to protect the souls on this island and defeat the Gillian. His mind was calm, despite the suffering he felt. He knew his body was capable of taking more, much more. His will was the only factor that determined whether he was still in the fight or not, and that tolerance to pain and strength of will allowed him to fight back despite the difference in ability.

Benjiro's mastery of Kido incantation and applications had allowed him to weave the reiatsu around him to an exceptional degree. He was even able to cast it through his mind alone, and that was what he did. He pointed his Zanpakuto at the Gillian again, similar to earlier, in the hopes that it would try to predict his incoming slash. Little did he notice that the point this time was used as a focal point, expanding the line of reiatsu from directly in front of him until it was beneath the Gillian. Benjiro's soul and his reiatsu began to flare, but it did so gently, as if filling a reservoir of water that expanded beyond himself. Through the canals of spiritual energy in the air, he sent his spirit out, budding in a single droplet of water that served as the beginning of this maneuver. 

"A drop of water ripples across the ocean surface, a leviathan rises from his slumber. Go forth, depths of the sea, rise from your slumber to drown the land in your magnificent expanse; turn earth to sea, air to liquid, bring forth your deep embrace! Hado number 40, Gouzen Demizu!" The incantation was completed in his mind as he pushed forward, lunging with all his strength as he aimed his Zanpakuto to pierce the air in front of him. He moved far too slowly for the Gillian to even be reached within the next few seconds, but that was when the drop of water rapidly expanded, the reiatsu forming pillars of rushing water that launched him into the air at high speeds. 

At the same time, the rushing geysers of water extended outwards along the initial line he had aimed for, attempting to knock the Gillian off balance for a moment as the geysers coalesced into a roaring wave. Then, Benjiro's left hand swung towards his own chest, the tidal wave being given direction as it surged backwards, aiming to push the Gillian back towards the fort, and thus, towards Benjiro who soared above the roaring flood. As Benjiro fell forward, using the speed afforded to him by gravity, he aimed his Zanpakuto to slash down towards the mask of the Gillian, hoping to at least damage it amidst the chaos. Benjiro's accuracy and precision in this matter was based solely on his spiritual senses, which was strong enough to pinpoint the mess of hollow souls within the roaring flood. 
    
Reiatsu: 1050/1200
- 100 for Gouzen Demizu+
Cast with incantation doubling the size of the roaring flood

Damage Sustained: 
- A couple broken ribs
- Heavily bruised left forearm

[Deleted]

The myriad souls within Caballero relished with baleful glee when the Bala they fired, which should've been a compressed, weaker Reiatsu of the power the Menos Grande's body could muster, caused quite the hefty damage on the monster's opponent. Due to the sheer difference in speed, it was a miracle that Benjiro could take measures to partially block the attack by using a more expendable limb, instead of allowing the attack hit his chest unabated. The same myriad souls were not so thrilled when the Shinigami, in an act of sheer strength of will--and owing to his pain tolerance, but they couldn't really know that!--refused to even go down after being struck with the attack, regardless of the difference in power that it had shown. Once again, the torrent of malevolent spirits that swirled within the Menos Grande kept struggling for dominance while turning murderous thoughts and the illest of wishes toward the Shinigami. They wanted to see him dead, preferrably in pain and agony, and that was not aiding their fun. However, that lone soul within looked at Benjiro with awe, admiring the sheer dedication that their sworn brother in arms was showing in their duel, and as such, he deserved the utmost of respects.

Benjiro, whose mouth was dripping blood by that point, then prepared yet another attack. For someone with the Menos Grande's levels of Instinct, the maneuver might have been telegraphed, as he directly aimed his Zanpakuto toward the Gillian yet again. However, with Benjiro standing right next to the fort, there really was not much space to reproduce the same maneuver of countering a possible step technique with Úlcera, not without running head first into the wall. Of course, this was far from an acceptable outcome in the thousands of Hollows' minds, and even more so in the tiny knight's, whose experience in battle all but advised against that. So, what would the amalgamation of lost souls do to prevent the opponent's actions and keep that Zanpakuto away from its face?

Why, another Bala, of course. At least, in spite of the protest of that tiny lost soul, who was clamoring to use something else, something more adequate for a battle between Shinigami.

If Benjiro had been unable to dodge the first one, who was to say he would dodge a second one? He was right in front of the Gillian, too, so aiming was not precisely difficult for the creature. The monster had no idea and could feel absolutely nothing as Benjiro's Reiatsu flared to cast a powerful Hado that he was incantating in his mind, all due to the monster's complete inability to sense any energy whatsoever. However, it was the slow start of the attack that granted them such a window of opportunity. The monster had yet to be touched by the Shinigami's blade, and as such there was very little muddling its thoughts. The Zanpakuto telegraphing a potential attack, and Benjiro's initial lunge was far slower lunge than his first attack.

Here, a bifurcation of paths would happen. If Benjiro's Hado didn't launch in time and he was struck with the Bala, Caballero would only need to deal with the Hado. Otherwise, they would probably only need to contend with the incoming, surprise attack--although Benjiro's superhuman levels of resistance to pain and strength of will might say otherwise.

Whatever the case here, Hado number 40 would surge beautifully not just in front of Benjiro, but right under the Menos Grande's body as well! The creature would be surprised and be thrashed by the sudden, violent geyser beneath its feet, as the geysers in front coalesced into a roaring wave. If the Bala did not reach in time, it would probably cleave through part of the wave at the very least, limiting the frontal assault given the massive difference in Reiatsu Strength between the two. However, with Benjiro's incantation outright doubling the amount of water bursting forth, this would be far from enough to handle the attack... and that was just not it.

His Kido mastery allowed him to pull a tricky maneuver, taking the water and forcing his opponent backwards with it, making the Gillian crash against the wall. Since it was not the bulkiest of beings, the sturdy wall would not be broken down, but the creature would be pinned against it. The flood would also damage the Gillian as a Hado would.

If Benjiro had been lucky enough that the geysers were fast enough to burst forth before the Bala reached him, the monster would now have to deal with him. However, just as the Shinigami was made to resist pain and injury, this creature seemed to be made for battle. Amidst the chaos, a combination of its strength of will and its ability to remain focused on the enemy in chaotic situations would give them a way to counter this advantage. If Benjiro had used air ground to Shunpo toward the monster, it most likely would not have been able to react in time. With only gravity aiming his speed, however, this would be different. Caballero was pinned against the wall, true, but they did not need to move to attack again.

Benjiro would notice the dense, black Reiatsu coalescing into one of the Hollow's custom techniques. Espinas bloomed forth, a myriad spikes aiming to intercept and skewer the Shinigami if he was flying toward the monster.




OOC:

Reiatsu: 1475 -50[Bala] -100[class 6 Espinas] = 1325

SPOILER: Click to show

{Espinas}Technique Name: Espinas [Thorns]

Technique Class: 7-1, maximum class is equal to Caballero's, but they can use it at lower classes at will. Paid up to class 5.

Technique Type: Hollow [Custom]

Technique Cost: 50 +50 per class above 7

Description: A rather straightforward technique that allows Caballero to weaponize their entire body, instinctively developed as a defense to not get eaten due to their originally small size. A myriad black spikes erupt from Caballero's body, although they do not detach themselves. This allows the Hollow to skewer opponents coming from all directions at once. Caballero may keep the spikes out for as long as they want, though this is hardly recommended--instead, the Hollow's preferred usage is to retract them as soon as the target has already been pierced. OS used is Reiatsu Strength, since Caballero's 'body' from which the spikes generate is nothing but condensed black Reiatsu.

The spikes bloom and retract at projectile speed, but they don't reach very far: maximum range is Caballero's height at class 7, gaining 1.5ft per class (for example, Caballero's Vasto Lorde form is 6'0'', maximum is 15ft at class 1). For Gillian stage only, range is 30ft, but speed is equal to a Cero.

Drawbacks: Since they are made out of Caballero's body, damaging/destroying the thorns via an OS clash effectively deals damage to the Hollow as well. Each spike can't change directions and blooms in a straight line. Indiscriminately skewers allies in range as well. Due to a Gillian's massive size, not too useful during this stage--if anything, it creates a lot of extra surface for attacks to hit on an already sluggish target.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As the battle raged on, Benjiro knew he had to come up with a bold plan to turn the tide in his favor. He focused his spiritual energy, incanting a powerful Hado spell that would create geysers of water. The water would serve a dual purpose - it would simultaneously support him and send the Gillian back towards him and the wall, trapping it in a pincer movement. Benjiro's mind raced as he chanted the incantation with urgency, the immense burning pain from his forearm and ribs a constant reminder of the toll the Gillian's earlier attack had taken on his body.

Even as he casted the spell, Benjiro's sharp spiritual senses detected the familiar energy of the Gillian charging up for another attack. He couldn't afford to hesitate, knowing the creature's speed and power. If he even gave it a moment to keep up the distraction, his death would be imminent. He figured he could take one or even two more of those blasts head on, and even then he'd barely hang on. He had to act quickly. With renewed resolve, he shifted the momentum from his fake lunge into a powerful leap, aided by the geysers of water propelling him forward. His body moved with agility and precision, fueled by his resolve to defeat the Gillian and protect the fleeing souls. 

The Gillian's attack came at lightning speed, a ball of compressed spiritual energy hurtling towards Benjiro with immense force. He gritted his teeth, bracing for impact as the blast struck the side of his right thigh. The searing pain of the impact caused immense burns, but he refused to let it break his focus. The rapid waters he had created with his spell dispersed the energy blast, mitigating some of the damage. While he soared through the air, he continued his maneuver, causing the roaring flood to turn and engulf the Gillian before pushing it back towards the wall of the old fort, pinning it down while the waters mercilessly thrashed against him.

There was little he could do, however, when it came to his hope to fall and slash down the Hollow's mask. The blast on his right thigh had completely counteracted the momentum he built, causing him to fall back towards the wall and the Gillian, who was already charging another attack if its reiatsu was speaking the truth. The roaring flood had settled at this point, settling into a large reservoir of water with a radius of 10 feet all around them. As he fell, Benjiro's reiatsu flared up once more, another twofold application of his Kido in an attempt to attack and defend once more. 

Benjiro pushed his arms forward, sending waves of his soul out in all directions as his mind screamed the name of this Kido. "Hado number fifty-three, Surasorutoiera!" In that singular moment, as the body of the Gillian spiked and jutted out at immense speed, Benjiro was launched higher up into the air as pure pressure and force was sent out in all directions to push everything of weaker Reiatsu Strength. This meant the relatively still waters would also be pushed, the sudden momentum causing it to crash against the Gillian once more, almost like a second, albeit much slower and weaker, wave. 

Benjiro's heart pounded in his chest as he soared even higher through the air, feeling the intense pain in his thigh and arm. The damage he felt in his ribs had made breathing harder, which was affecting his focus. He couldn't find the concentration to let loose another Kido of this size in quick succession, but the Gillian still stood strong. He couldn't afford to dwell on the pain. He knew he had to press on, else he lose the momentary advantage he gained. With renewed determination, he pushed himself forward, channeling his energy into another attack.

He watched with anticipation for the Gillian to reconstitute its form, hoping that the spikes along it's body would retract. If it retracted while he was still in the air, then he would aim his hand towards the battlements of the old fort. If it did not retract, then his sights would turn towards one of the nearby trees, tall enough and sturdy enough to withstand the sudden flood. Either way, he spoke the name of this Bakudo, to lighten the mental burden on his mind. "Bakudo number nine, Horin." This technique came as easy as breathing for the Shinigami, who had relied on it in every assignment he had.

Should his opponent return to its non-spiked up form, then Benjiro's Horin would create a tendril of orange energy that wrapped around the battlements, creating an anchor and pendulum for the Shinigami to leverage himself on. He used this to control his descent, swinging at an angle in the attempt to simultaneously slash the water-battered Gillian across the mask and forgo any of the more predictable arcs of movement, hoping that it would limit the Gillian's usage of another powerful blast of energy. His Zanpakuto gleamed as he swung it with precision, aiming to exploit the opening created by his expert use of kido to strike at the Gillian's exposed flank.

Of course, should the Gillian keep the spikes across his body engaged, Benjiro's Horin would wrap around the branch of a tree, allowing him to swing down to the safety of the waters below. The spiritually rich liquid had been comforting for him, but as soon as the weight of his body strained against his thigh's muscles, he felt the pain suddenly intensify. He winced as his concentration broke for a moment, the white hot searing pain causing his mind to falter. He had never fought something as powerful as this before, and it was beginning to show. He didn't have enough Reiatsu or stamina to keep fighting like this forever.



Reiatsu: 875/1200
-150 for Surasorutoiera
-25 for Horin


Damage Sustained:
- A couple broken ribs

- Heavily bruised left forearm
- Burnt up right thigh

[Deleted]

Of course, the thousands of souls within the Menos Grande had wanted to have fresh Shinigami kabob for dinner, perhaps enjoy the meal with the lovely sunset that one rarely got in Hueco Mundo. When Espinas had bloomed forth, however, Benjiro seemed to be prepared for this, and with another substantial Reiatsu expenditure, the valiant Shinigami cast another Hado that would allow him to float back just by pushing against the monster with his Reiatsu Strength alone. Of course, the sheer difference in raw power--though perhaps not in ability--meant that the Menos Grande didn't so much as notice a light breeze as its spikes retracted, having failed to secure the entrée.

The water that was halting the creature's movement pushed against it again, but this time it was not nearly as strong as it had been before, meaning the monster wouldn't be as immobilized. The monster thought it would be easy to strike Benjiro, but the creatures that formed the amalgamation did not have the expertise and technique of the one soul shouldering the entire burden of the rest. As such, it failed to find a suitable counter to Benjiro's strategy, which involved using a Bakudo spell to swing himself around the place, taking advantage of the old fort ruins to do so. This was despite the fact that Caballero themselves had actually used a very similar tactic in various fights now, and had it countered by Celes herself. Instead, the monster tried to aim a Bala, without success, so it never launched the deadly projectile. Just the misfortune of having one smart opinion against a myriad uninformed ones.

Metal flashed and sang with the wind. The Hollow screamed in pain as Benjiro's Zanpakuto finally found its mark, finally managing to cut the creature's exposed flank thanks to all the maneuvers he was pulling. This was the very first time that most of those Hollows experienced what it was like to be cut by a Soul Reaper. And right on the mask, no less. It hurt. It seared. Benjiro was inhumanly strong, there was no doubt about that, and the Gillian was as frail as the average human being. The only reason why the monster hadn't taken a more grievous wound just then was because of the broken ribs and heavily bruised forearm of the Shinigami limiting the power behind the hit. After taking that cut, the Gillian instinctively jumped up to the air in retreat, not caring about anything else but to put distance between them. It ignored the fact that Benjiro was struggling to keep himself afloat right now.

Making use of the air ground available in the Human World, the monster remained perched on the air. Its strength of will allowed it to power through the wound, though it still hurt badly, and that hurt got turned to anger. The monster raged, it roared, it wanted to just go back down there, kill and devour that pesky Shinigami. But then, the more informed opinion prevailed, taking charge amidst that wave of pain. In a fleeting moment of lucidity, it recognized the fact that this duel would be like the one they had with Akira, where it was imperative to pull out all the stops.

All of a sudden, the Menos Grande went silent. Benjiro would be able to see something very strange happen to it, as the Gillian's Reiatsu concentrated far more than it should have been possible for a normal Menos. Hidden by the black cloak that enveloped the monster's body, its incredibly dense, black Reiatsu body coalesced even further, becoming more concentrated regardless of how impossible it may have seemed at a first glance. Through the usage of class 5 Focalizar, the cut across the mask was partially healed, greatly reducing the pain to very bearable levels, although not enough to completely make it vanish--the gash would partially remain, marking the monster's body.

Perhaps the Shinigami would mistake this as just a small healing factor, which would hurt his chances to win the fight if he hoped to do so by endurance alone. However, Focalizar was far more than that. Through usage of this technique, the Menos Grande had just armed itself with a few aces up its non-existent sleeves. Now, it let out a low growl as it focused on Benjiro again, waiting for the Shinigami to prepare another attack, since it could not immediately attack the Shinigami right after using Focalizar. In a second, it would, but its Reiatsu needed to fully stabilize first. Once it did, however?

Act two of the battle would begin.



OOC:

• Reiatsu: 1325 -150[class 5 Focalizar] = 1175
• Partially healing the injuries with Focalizar.
• Caballero has 3 stacks of Focus.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Focalizar}Technique Name: Focalizar [Focus]

Technique Class: Equal to Caballero's maximum class (7-1). Paid up to class 5

Technique Type: Hollow [Custom]

Technique Cost: 50 +50 per class above 7

Description: A technique based on the nature of the extremely dense Reiatsu that comprises Caballero's body. Through sheer strength of will, Caballero can compress this dense Reiatsu even more, repairing and rebuilding their body and giving them access to three uses of techniques named "Focus:" (which would be unusable otherwise) or enhanced effects on their normal ones, in any combination. Healing ability is directly proportional to the technique's class and Caballero's Healing Expertise stat. When purging harmful effects, however, Caballero's Reiatsu Strength will be used in the clash to overcome said effect.

Drawbacks: No other offensive action can be taken in the same post Focus is used. Only three enhanced techniques can be used before Focus needs to be reused. Only certain custom Hollow techniques, as as well as the basic versions of Cero and Bala, can be enhanced via Focus; this must be explicitly stated in the technique description. Healing via Focus can only ever affect Caballero.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

With a surge of adrenaline, Benjiro's maneuver succeeded, Surasorutoiera proving its effectiveness as he deftly escaped the Gillian's attack, rushing waves crashing against the Gillian's body once more. He could feel the raw power coursing through him, his instincts honed from years of training taking over. Without missing a beat, he swiftly transitioned to his next move, Horin coming alive in his hands. He swung around with precision, using the unique pendulum and arc of his swing to catch the Gillian off-guard.

Benjiro's sharp spiritual senses warned him of danger, and he felt the Gillian charging up another blast of energy. The creature's reiatsu crackled with intensity, but Benjiro's swift and calculated movements kept it at bay. The orange tendril of energy that served to anchor him and support his movements had allowed him to escape from harm. The Gillian was unable to release the powerful blast of spiritual energy due to his unpredictable swinging, which was only possible because of his mastery of Horin.

See, Benjiro's ability had allowed him to shorten and lengthen the orange tendril of Horin, giving him even more control over his mobility. It was perfect for the relatively slower Shinigami, who needed to use his mind and his reiatsu to even keep up. His Zanpakuto sang through the wind as he slashed with inhuman strength, the steel slicing through the Gillian's mask with a resounding impact. A streak of damage marred the creature's face as it recoiled, which was a wonderful sight to behold. Benjiro was afraid that his abilities were unable to affect the Gillian's immense form, but a single slice of his Zanpakuto was enough to harm it.

Undeterred however, the Gillian leapt into the air with surprising speed, using Air Ground to defy gravity. Benjiro's eyes narrowed as he saw the creature's reiatsu condensing further, its power building up for another devastating attack? It was possible, but he couldn't assume anything. He couldn't afford to let up. He had to keep his momentum up. With renewed determination, he pressed on, continuing in his upward arc from his earlier Horin swing. Unfortunately, the Gillian was above the range that the Horin alone could reach, so Benjiro released the Bakudo at the height of the swing to propel himself up, his Zanpakuto at the ready to slice as deep as he could.

As he launched himself upward, Benjiro's blade was already at the ready to slice the Gillian's form. He thought about beginning his slice at the bottom of the Gillian's form, but that was unnecessary. Despite the twisted amalgamation of souls being strong enough to kill him with a proper attack, he found no reason to cause unnecessary harm. All he needed to do was completely slice of its mask, so that was what he aimed to do. His Zanpakuto swung with an arc, using the full strength of both of his arms, cutting through the air with deadly precision. The earlier gash on the Gillian's mask began to heal, but Benjiro refused to relent. In fact, it only encouraged him to strike more. 

If he was successful, a second diagonal slash across the mask would have been created, this time empowered by the momentum of his rapid ascent. Benjiro's full strength had never been utilized in any of his battles before, because he figured that his strength was unnecessary to defeat most foes. Even in his life, without much training he was considered to be one of the strongest in the Kiyomizudera temple. Now, he was stronger than even the pinnacle of humankind, and he had barely even focused on training his strength. It was in this moment that he regretted that, for if he only dedicated more time to training his physical prowess, perhaps the battle would have been over by now. 

Unfortunately, his ascent was cut short by the sheer strength behind his swing, causing him to begin to plummet. The gentle giant would not let up though, taking advantage of the same ability that the Gillian used. The reishi in the air was rich in the spiritually dense Okinoshima island, which allowed him to make use of Air Ground. Benjiro created a solid platform to stand on and push off of, allowing him to lunge forward with a stab, trying to deepen the cut he had just made before the Gillian could heal himself.

His goal was to do enough damage to outperform the creature's healing. However, that did not mean that he was unfocused and unaware. His spiritual senses were still sharp, sharp enough to dictate whether or not it was about to release a powerful attack. The reiatsu gathered at his feet, ready to perform a Shunpo should he need to quickly get out of there. While he was still able though, he twisted the Zanpakuto, hopefully while it was still embedded into the mask, and pulled with all his might, hoping to rip it out before bashing his shoulder into the open wound. His training with Gestalt taught him that his body was as much a weapon as his Zanpakuto was. 

As for his wounds, Benjiro had always been able to take and shrug off more pain than most. In recent weeks, it felt like this unnatural tolerance and healing was even greater. While his ribs did not mend and heal, nor did his bruised forearm or burnt thigh, the pain had numbed to the point that he could fight to his fullest again. This was a boon greater than he knew, because unbeknownst to him, the Gillian was preparing to unleash an even greater attack than ever. One could only hope that this was enough, for the Gillian's strength was nigh insurmountable for the newly Seated Officer.



Reiatsu:850/1200
-25 for Advanced Air Ground+

Wounds Sustained:
- A couple broken ribs
- Heavily bruised left forearm

- Burnt up right thigh

[Deleted]

It seemed the Shinigami didn't want to have a stand-off of any kind, and instead pursued the monster right into the skies. The Menos Grande would've grinned, had it not been physically impossible with the completely static features of a Gillian's mask--the beast seemed to have a blank expression, even when Benjiro unknowingly put himself in a rather precarious spot. Unfortunately for him, the gentle giant was neither as fast nor as quick to react as the monster before him. The Menos Grande's instinct was not that far away from that of a wild animal, and the sheer difference in speed would allow the creature to blur a bit in the 12th Seat's eyes. This would naturally aid in making the Gillian's counter attack far more difficult to deal with for Benjiro; specially considering his senses were below those of an average human.

This time, the Menos Grande had learned that using Bala might not be enough to take down its enemy. The monster wasn't aware that just continuing to blast Benjiro with bullet after bullet of deadly energy--much more so now that it had used Focalizar--would most likely be enough to put an end to the fight. Alas, more of those awful beasts interfering with the one true warrior captured within... although they would have never brought themselves to hurt the peaceful Shinigami. Not even if he had turned his blade on them, now that they knew what they were. The monsters that overpowered the knight's mind, however, clamored to put an end to the threat in front of them, and it seemed more drastic measures were needed to do so.

The monster was fast enough to react and step away from Benjiro using Úlcera, but there was no need to do so. Instead, it used its faster reaction time and waited until the Shinigami was close, no Bala or Cero charged at all. Once the Shinigami was close enough, the Menos Grande's arm would burst forth from underneath its cloak, with Tendón rapidly splitting it into a web of black tendrils that sought to constrict and crush Benjiro. Unfortunately for him, again, Tendón's natural speed was still quite faster than his Shunpo, even without being on a straight line. Powered by 600 Reiatsu Strength, it would be easy enough for it to overpower Benjiro's attack and not just bind the Kido master, but also deal a good amount of damage, even to his sturdy body.

However, that was not all. If Caballero's Tendón managed to constrict Benjiro in that web of black tendrils, part two of the attack would be coming next. The monster had already used this technique instinctively; however, the increasingly frequent flashes of consciousness that the lone soul experienced while trapped inside the amalgamation enabled a far more nuanced usage of the ability. When--and most importantly, if--the tendrils entangled the Shinigami, Benjiro would find himself on the receiving end of not just the crushing damage from the Reiatsu Strength powered Tendón, but of Espinas as well, on a maneuver that would not be unlike an iron maiden device. Espinas was a technique caused spikes to bloom forth and retract throughout the Gillian's body, originally conceived to defend Caballero from much larger foes trying to eat them. However, Tendón was part of the body, too... which meant it was just as affected by the technique.

Benjiro had proven to be incredibly resilient to damage, able to recover quickly and continue fighting in spite of the difference in power. However, he still bled. He still suffered from attacks. It should be possible to incapacitate even him by overpowering his defenses. The Gillian's strategy was as brutal as it was bloodthirsty, and the amalgamation of beasts was making full use of Caballero's battle experience, much to the tiny being's dismay. For the time being, this would have the effect of forcing the tiny knight's shackled consciousness into serving the same beings they had sworn to defend everyone against.

However, Menos had a peculiar way of evolving. It was not just mindless consumption that set them to become an Adjuchas. It was one consciousness, asserting dominance and subjugating the rest into subservience, making them effectively naught but a power source. So far, the monster's mind was still no-man's land, with no clear victor over all. With Caballero's expertise being brought forward to serve the entity? That might just begin to change soon.

OOC:

• Summary: Caba waits to have Benjiro real close, then uses speed and instinct advantage to catch him by surprise. Tendón does not require charging of any kind, and its main telegraph would be Caballero moving his arm (which is under the Gillian cloak). The Reiatsu flare would be noticeable only when fired. If the Gillian catches Benjiro, he'd be squeezed by Tendón, and they use Espinas to pierce his body like an iron maiden.
• Reiatsu: 1175 -100[class 6 Tendón] -100[class 6 Espinas if used] = 975/1075 (depending on whether Espinas was used or not)
• Caballero has 3 stacks of Focus, since Tendón and Espinas don't have enhanced effects.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tendon}Tendón (Tendon)

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

Technique Type: Hollow [Custom]

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

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

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

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

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

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro's maneuver had failed utterly, a miscalculation that cost him dearly. He had underestimated the Gillian's speed and tactics, and now he paid the price. The creature, which had functioned as a mindless beast until this moment, lured the unsuspecting but cautious Benjiro close to its body. In a flash, its arm shot out from under its cloak, grabbing Benjiro's body in a vise-like grip that threatened to shatter every bone in his body. It was not as if Benjiro had thrown caution to the wind, his spiritual senses were still heightened, but he had failed to account for the Gillian's physicality. 

A scream of agony tore from Benjiro's lips as he felt the crushing pressure, his body bending and breaking under the immense force. Pain unlike any he had ever experienced before seared through him, making him feel as though he was on the brink of death. His ribs punctured his lungs, blood gushing forth and staining his Shihakusho, as his Zanpakuto fell limply to his side, connected only by the prayer beads wrapped around his wrist and the hilt of the blade. He felt a sudden disconnect from his soul and his body, as his mind was torn asunder by the wracking pain. 

If the excruciating pain wasn't enough, the Gillian's ruthless and merciless nature showed itself in an even more horrifying manner. Its grip shifted and became jagged, stabbing through Benjiro's flesh again and again, like a macabre dance of death. This torturous iron maiden had left holes in his body, rending through flesh, bone, and sinew, even going as far as to puncture his lung. The once gentle giant, known for his unwavering resolve and courage, was now silenced, his screams muted as the Gillian continued its brutal assault, piercing him dozens of times. 

Benjiro neared the end, the intense, numbing pain becoming all-consuming. Every nerve in his body was screaming in agony, and his mind was filled with a cacophony of regrets, memories, and reflections. He thought of his goals, the dreams he had once held so dear, now slipping away from his grasp. The enlightenment he had always strived for slipping away, this time for good. He recalled his choices, the decisions that had led him to this fateful moment, wondering if he could have done things differently, made better decisions. He wondered if he was meant to turn down the promotion, turn down the assignment, brought backup, anything just to survive this ordeal. Those thoughts were woefully cut short.

As the Gillian's jagged grip continued to tear through his body, Benjiro's thoughts turned to his loved ones. He thought of his comrades, his friends, his new family he had to leave behind far too soon. He was only beginning to feel like he belonged there, as a Shinigami, as a brother in the Gotei. He saw a mess of faces flashing by, from old friends to new, people he had grown to cherish over time. He wished he could see them one last time, tell them how much they meant to him, and apologize for not being able to fulfill his duties. The pain was overwhelming, and yet, he found himself strangely numb, as if his body was no longer his own. He could feel his senses slipping away, his vision fading, and his consciousness dimming.

In those final moments, Benjiro's mind was filled with a mix of emotions - regret, sadness, and acceptance. He accepted his fate, knowing that he had fought with all his might, but it wasn't enough. He regretted not being able to achieve all that he had set out to do, not being able to make a difference in the world, to create the peace he had sought. He felt the weight of his failures, the battles he had lost, and the mistakes he had made. And as his body failed him, and the pain grew too overwhelming to bear, Benjiro's thoughts slowly faded into darkness.

However, it was in this darkness that he heard a voice reaching out to him, clearer than ever before. "Giving up so soon? Isn't it far too early to let go of your ideals, Benji?" The voice that spoke was warm, warmer than anything he had felt before. "Who are you? Do you-" The darkness began to melt all around him as the voice continued. "Come now, Benji. You still don't recognize my voice? I'm hurt." Benjiro opened his eyes, finding himself in a world entirely unlike his own. The once ruined fort of Okinoshima island, flooded and destitute with the battle between man and Menos was replaced by golden leaves swaying gently in the wind.

Benjiro's heart leapt as he beheld the sight before him, feeling a sense of relief and peace far beyond that of anything he could have imagined. Tears streamed down his face as he witnessed a manifestation of the very peace he had thought impossible. This was it, the endless field of verdant blades of grass, the endless expanse and abundance of nature, the ancient tree adorned in gold, and the gentle breeze swaying through it all. Best of all, was the man who looked down at him with the warmest of smiles, wearing the robes of a monk. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Benjiro could not respond, he could only nod his head at the sheer awe of the brilliance he had seen. 

"Would you like to stay here, Benji?" 

"I," The gentle giant caught himself. Was he truly ready to leave everyone behind, all those he cared for, all those he promised to protect? If he were to leave now, then the peace he strived to achieve, the peace between the races, would be lost to time. He thought of the teachings of the Okami Butsu, the lessons from Lucien, the tutelage of Captain Celes and Father Gestalt, even the companionship he had felt with Akira. Was he truly meant to just forget about them? "cannot. Staying here means my work is finished, but I am far from done."

The blonde man's lips curled up into a smile. "Good. Survive, Benji, use every ounce of your soul to survive. Maybe then, we can have a proper chat."

In that moment, defying all logic, Benjiro drew breath once more. His soul had bolstered him, pouring everything he had into maintaining his life. The roaring spiritual energy that he held throughout the fight, the massive reservoir of water he had kept within himself, was completely spent. He had condensed it, the dam filling the space of a single droplet of water, refining every bit of the energy into its purest and strongest form. What would he do with this refined reiatsu, stronger than anything he had been able to do before?

He opened his mouth to begin his chant. "Namu...Amida...Butsu," There was no hostility in his heart, only warmth and empathy for the souls that had gathered to kill him. Through their proximity, he had hoped that they would be able to sense his warmth and hear his words. "may the Buddha guide your souls." A soft smile fell upon his lips, still covered in his own blood. "I am sorry I could not free you." 

Reiatsu: 10/10
-300 Reiatsu to transfer 119 SPPR to my RS
RS: 269 (403)

[Deleted]

The souls that swirled and boiled within the inferno that was the Menos Grande's mind all chanted and clamored in unison when they managed to completely apprehend the Shinigami using Caballero's expertise. Needless to say, the little knight's soul was completely and utterly mortified when Tendón wrapped itself around Benjiro's body, which had seemed unbreakable up to that point, and crushed it so tightly that the gentle giant let out a pained howl that echoed through the ruins of the fort. For the thousand Hollows within the Gillian, those screams were nothing but the sweetest of tunes. For Caballero, it was nothing short of pure agony, as their kin used their knowledge of their own body to mercilessly destroy the Shinigami. It was at that point that Benjiro, after being pierced by the myriad spikes created by Espinas, slipped out of consciousness.

While the buddhist monk was fighting in the brink, the Gillian slowly came down to the ground again, away from the water that had formed from its opponent's Kido. It touched the ground with ease, but it would still be surprised as Benjiro, somehow, still managed to pull through. The man opened his eyes once again, and looked at the soul abomination that still held him prisoner--albeit without Espinas, since it appeared that would not be necessary anymore. Then, the Shinigami... began to chant. He wished that the souls would find peace, and even went as far as to apologize for not being able to save them from that terrible fate.

Again, the Hollows within laughed and cackled, ready to claim the Shinigami's life... and when they went ahead to do so, they found themselves hitting an impenetrable wall. Outside the battle of the thousand minds, a barely conscious Benjiro would see the Gillian let go of him with ease, in a gentle, delicate manner. Tendón retracted, and the Gillian brought forth both its arms, palms facing towards the mask. A conscious thought crossed the Gillian's mind, suppressing all other thoughts and slamming them down to oblivion. Once again, they were spilled with Shinigami blood. Once again, it was by their hand that said blood had been spilled.

At that point, the Gillian began to shake, looked up to the skies, and roared. Not in an aggressive way, not in a way that signalled it was a threat. This was a desperate, sorrowful scream, one that would shake the island. And then, without warning, those screams were completely mute. This was not that the monster had stopped screaming. Its mask mouth was still open, but there was absolutely no sound coming out of it anymore. Then, without hesitation, the monster's hands went straight to the mask, clawing at it, scratching at it, as if wanting to tear it apart but having no luck in doing so. Had they had any skin, they would've ripped it to shreds with that intensity, and even then the beast did not stop, causing more damage to itself in both rage and frustration.

The Gillian only snapped out of that state to jerk a hand forward and open what Benjiro might recognize as a Kumon gate right next to him. This one would lead straight were a certain tiny soul had always wanted to visit, a place where their friends--if they still were friends after this, that was--would be waiting for them. Light waited ahead, not the usual darkness that belonged to Hueco Mundo. It was the light of Soul Society--of the Rukongai, to be more precise. The Gillian pointed toward Benjiro, and then toward the gate, as if desperately telling him to get away while they were still in full control. The monster went as far as to Úlcera straight against one of the walls that were still intact, only coming back to the material world at the point of impact. They sought to incapacitate themselves even further before the myriad souls regained control again and pushed them back into the darkness.

All the while, Benjiro would see that the Gillian was not targetting any of the scattered Plus that might still be around. Far from it, it was almost actively keeping itself away from them. Thus, the monster... no, Caballero continued to deal more and more damage to itself; all futile, of course, but it would give their fellow brother in arms enough time to escape. In the end, knowing themselves to be losing control, the not-so-tiny Hollow opened a second Kumon gate, only this one would lead to the darkness, away from that marvelous world with the lush green landscapes, the sea, the sun. Back to the bleak wasteland that was Hueco Mundo, where they could not hurt anything, kill anyone. Only Hollows. Only the same filthy monsters that had driven them to do this.

Without hesitation, Caballero jumped within their Kumon gate, leaving Benjiro alone for the time being with a safe passage home in case he could not conjure up one of his own. The Gillian landed on the sands of the world, where its sudden moment of pure lucidity, not that semi-darkness they lived in, finally passed them by. This time, however, Caballero would no longer be relegated to the empty void within. The monsters had chosen to utilize their skills to the fullest... which had brought them back from containment. Now, the struggle for the body began.

Now, it was time to make those creatures bow down to the Shinigami that they always believed themselves to be.

[EXIT]

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro lay in the grip of the Gillian, feeling his body breaking and failing, he was overwhelmed not with fear or anger, but with empathy. He could sense the Gillian's pain and desperation, and instead of resenting it, he felt a deep sense of sorrow. Despite being on the verge of death, Benjiro found it in his heart to apologize to the Gillian for not being able to save them. He wasn't ready to accept his fate, but he held onto his ideals of peace, determined to survive. After all, that was the promise he made to his Zanpakuto, the beads constricting even tighter around his wrist. For some reason, he felt like everything was going to turn out alright. 

True enough, something unprecedented happened. The Gillian, in a moment that caught Benjiro by surprise, gently placed him down on the ground. Benjiro was shocked, staying completely still as the waters of his Gouzen Demizu earlier had washed some of the blood away. He watched as the Gillian remained deathly still, as if frozen once again. Were they preparing another attack? It seemed unlikely. It was then that the Gillian howled in agony, its scream filled with immense sorrow, as it tried to rip the mask from its face. Benjiro's heart stung as he witnessed the creature's pain, and he realized that it, too, was a victim of circumstances beyond its control.

In an astonishing turn of events, the Gillian created a rip through reality, opening a gate to the Soul Society. Benjiro, at first worried that the Gillian would rampage through his home, was taken aback when the creature pointed towards him, urging him to escape. Benjiro did not question it any further, nodding in gratitude as he summoned every ounce of his strength to drag his bleeding and broken body through the gates to the Rukongai. "Thank you. I will return for you. I promise." He whispered under his breath, an oath he made to save the souls trapped within the Gillian's form.

As he crossed the threshold into the Soul Society, Benjiro felt a mix of emotions - relief, gratitude, and a sense of awe at the unexpected turn of events. He knew he owed his life to the Gillian, an unlikely savior who had shown him compassion despite their earlier battle. Benjiro was determined to get the medical attention he needed and reflect on the events that had unfolded. He vowed to honor the Gillian's sacrifice by continuing to uphold his ideals of peace and justice, and to find a way to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Benjiro would carry the scars of his near-death experience, both physical and emotional, as a reminder of the fragility of life and the complexity of the world he lived in. He would treasure the empathy he had felt towards the Gillian, a reminder that even in the midst of conflict, compassion and understanding could prevail. And as he embarked on his path to recovery, Benjiro knew that this encounter had changed him, leaving an indelible mark on his soul and shaping him into a stronger, more compassionate warrior who would continue to fight for peace with unwavering determination.


[EXIT]

[Col Arana]

Will be counting this as Caballero's victory as Caba basically had Benjiro dead to rights and let him go.

Caballero: 39 paragraphs, plus 100 victory TP, for 490 TP

Benjiro: 51 paragraphs, 510 TP