Hollowfication [Open / DP Invasion]

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Thread Title: Hollowfication [Open / DP Invasion]
Participants: Shio Kyrou, #7 Espada + Defenders
World: Soul Society
Death Setting: Permanent Injuries Enabled
Rating: R
Location: A district of Rukongai along the outskirts of Soul Society, not too far from Seireitei, not too close either.
Special Conditions: If the thread goes on for too long, the Rukongai will be overrun with Hollows.
Circumstances: Shio Kyrou has made a declaration to all plus souls; your existence as it is serves no purpose, join us.

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Along the outskirts of Rukongai, an area with abundant Plus Souls, living their afterlife in poverty. This would be the best place to begin, it's ripe with reishi, a prime feeding ground, a great place to form a nest. I don't expect any of those Shinigami to show up, but even if they do, it's not a concern. All I need to do is fulfill my purpose. All that I am, what I was built for... my creator, I'll prove to you my existence has meaning.

An inky black portal rips its Jaws open to the Rukongai, Plus Souls flee in terror as an entity emerges from the portal, followed by several hulking, masked monstrosities. In a blur obscured from lesser sight, Plus Souls are swept from their feet, crunching and crackling can be heard mixed with the seeping splurts of ichor dripping to the ground; once bodies full of life fall limp. An eerie smile pervades the expression of one aggressor, satisfied.

"Endure the pain, you will be corrected soon; one of us."

Panic erupts from the crowds of Souls fleeing from the small mass of Hollows let into the Society of Souls, pushing, shoving each other. Pitiful. Bodies released by the hungry beasts are dropped callously to the ground. White, seeping crust leaking from their deceased and watered eyes. Within minutes, their souls will be made proper once again, returned to how they should be; one without the ravenous beasts that consume them.

Their own complete form, each and every consumed Plus Soul will be made Hollow.

"Well, then." - Stated the white-haired lupine figure, garbed in black, the number 'Seven' clearly printed boldly upon the long-glove she wore upon her forearm. Placed upon the surface of the ground beneath her, it begins to crumble, like a tiny localized earthquake does the area surrounding shudder in response to rampant reiatsu being poured into it. Chunks of earth rise to the air, the distinct clinking of chain can be heard assimilating the surrounding area as, aburptly bonds made of stone erupt from the earth itself.

Like string pulled taut do they raise an ominous crucifix created from the materials within the area itself, this amalgamation of Hollow reiatsu screams out in the sinister shrill howl signature of the Hollows; as though a living creature, cornered and tortured. It is raised and suspended, slightly above ground level, the center of the crucifix bursting open as shards of stone are flung and shoot into the cascading debris within the district, fallen silent and eerie.

"There, there." - the soft and soothing voice of the woman calls out, a mellow and motherly tone to accompany the soft stroke of her palm against the inanimate structure."Bring them here, let them eat.". With a gentle caress, an embrace, the crucifix cackles... then screams.

With such piercing velocity that everything within half a mile might be able to hear, a soft, water-like and transluscent dome begins to take form at the boundary of this area. An enormous Garganta, to suit the size of the dome, tears open the fabric of reality, pouring out a thick and night-black ichor from its maw just above the dome; subsuming the once transparent canvas in a thick void of darkness that threatens to blind everyone inside.

Within moments, a crescent moon forms upon the surface of the inside. With the area illuminated, the masks of the Hollow reflected, seem ever more terrifying. As the pervading feeling from the atmosphere instills a distinct terror within every Plus Soul in the area. Shio gazes up at the beautiful inky black sky, she smiles thinly, her gaze of reminiscence in bliss. Raising one palm out in front of her, as though expecting rainfall, with no clouds in sight.

"Bury them in the night, my sweet symphony; know their hunger."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Shio - Statistics and Skills}Strength: 25
Speed: 25

Reiatsu Strength: 470
Spiritual Pressure: 800
Reiatsu Pool: 8,000

Instinct: 300
Senses: 25
Energy Sensory: 100

Healing Expertise: 250

Damage Recovery - 3
Crafting/Forging - 2
Anti-Stealth - 2
Focused Eye - 2
War Strategy - 2
Strength of Will - 2
Acrobatics - 2
Multi-Tasking - 1

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kyōkan Mugen: Lament Crucifix - Mastered (540 TTP)}Class: 2

Technique Type: Hollow Command Technique

Usable By: Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

Technique Element: N/A

Technique Description and Effects: Representing the inner turmoil, endless hunger eternal that hollows represent. This ability utilizes Kigen to summon an idol, or effigy; made out of materials in the users surroundings. It rises from the ground in the shape of a cross, only it is twisted, in chains. These linked chains seem to be suspended from midair as they raise the idol into a standing position, all whilst it takes its shape, rising as a monolith structure apart from its environment.

Once this cross reaches the pinnacle of its height, it fractures, and in the dead center of it does a hole form at its intersection; the material once in its place crumbling into dust. From this dust does a structure behind it begin to churn, shift and form. It takes the structure of a crescent moon, levitating only a breadth away from the cross itself, at the height where the hollow chamber rests at its center; allowing anyone to see right through it.

In place, the chains once suspended in the air shoot down and lodge themselves into solid surfaces within the area. Creating an eerie - haunting landscape, with the crucifix at its center. To mark this landscape does a membrane begin to form, it takes the shape of an enormous sphere; half a mile in diameter, with the crucifix acting as its central point.

Objects, individuals and techniques may all pass through this membrane. It is formed of spiritual pressure, it is translucent, but it does little to inhibit anyone from passing through it. Almost like stepping through a thin layer of water, anyone is capable of doing so. Likewise, it cannot be destroyed by any means, as it only exists to indicate the area that the crucifix asserts its dominance upon.

This effigy to lament acts as a gigai for its user, an external gigai that the user is able to utilize her unique ability to assimilate into; as though it were an Arrancar or Hollow. Furthermore, it is immobile, but is likewise indestructible by any means or technique; with the exception of 'Class 0' techniques, and attacks that exceed 3x Shio's Offensive Stat. In the center of the crucifix, whilst merged, her exposed core rests in its middle, levitating in a manner just as the crescent moon does.

Whilst merged with this crucifix, the user gains a sense of disassociation from the battlefield; they view everything within that half mile as though it were a chess board in some manner. 'Instinct' and 'Energy Sensory' statistics are doubled from their usual values; unable to exceed an amount three times their base values. Furthermore, from this objective point of view, one is able to utilize the 'War Strategy' skill to its fullest extent.

How to Use Technique: Utilize both the aspects of 'Kigen' and 'Assimilation' together. When combined, this creates something of a quasi-hollow. Incomplete, and only existing as purely an inanimate structure. Reach your roots out temporarily, as far as you can sense energy. Draw in that ambient, levitating material to shape its form. Once it is shaped, its form will remain in place as long as it is provided reiatsu.

Technique Drawbacks: In addition to the base cost of the technique, it requires 300 reiatsu per post in order to maintain it; however, this per-post maintainance only exists so long as the user is not merged with the crucifix. Whilst merged, the user is subject to all the expected downsides of their unique mod soul ability. Furthermore, as this technique requires the use of 'Kigen', it requires that the user has 'Kigen' mastered to at the very least 'Class 2' level.

Made By: Kyrou

Reserved? (Yes/No): Yes.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kyōkan Mugen: Hueco Mundo - Mastered (750 TTP)}Class: 1

Technique Type: Hollow Command Technique

Usable By: Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

Technique Element: N/A

Technique Description and Effects: Hueco Mundo is an evernight landscape, existing in a realm where predators lurk in every shadow. Aside from monstrosities, there is no life. Only white sand of reishi, quartz-like dead trees, and a dark night sky existing without stars. Only a haunting crescent moon, and dull, grey clouds suspended high above. This technique exists as a means to replicate that very same, haunted and desolate landscape that the hollows dwell.

Whilst under the effects of 'Kyōkan Mugen: Lament Crucifix', an enormous garganta opens up above its dome membrane. Like the hungry jaws of a ravenous beast does it rip open reality to do so; accompanied by a shrill howl - identical to that of the hollows. From this portal does inky black substance pour out. It splashes unto the dome-shaped membrane. Furthermore, it subsumes this substance, like ink dripped onto a canvas.

Over a time does this pitch black become a part of the dome, it spreads over it - all encompassing. Much like paint splattered over its surface, the once translucent dome becomes a nightmare hellscape; for a moment, everything turns dark inside. Then, in a ray of guiding gloom, just as everything turns overcast, does moonlight shine down upon everything within the sphere. In the shape of a crescent moon, a single blotch of white to illuminate everything inside forms. It is the night sky of Hueco Mundo, faithfully recreated.

Aside from the gloom and shift in atmosphere, the effect of this may not be apparent right away; with the exception of no longer being able to see in-and-out of the dome, it maintains the property of being intangible. This technique is not a barrier, neither is it a direct offensive ability. Instead, it acts as one - enormous - portal to Hueco Mundo. It is a link to that spiritual realm of the dead; specifically, it is a link to the Menos Forest.

In other words, it could be considered an extended garganta; only for hollows. Using this, the user is able to summon forth hollows; an endless scourge of them. From this membrane they emerge like blotches of ink, they might rain down from the canopy sky - or clamor out of the walls on the side. There is truly no limit to the amount of Gillian-class hollows which may emerge as a result of this technique, they are countless - unthinking and hungry.

In addition, by exerting her own reiatsu, the user is able to forcefully call forth or replicate much greater hollows. These hollows, unlike the endless swarms of Gillian who are considered 'Class 8', have an identical class level to the user. They are capable of using any 'Cero', 'Bala', or general techniques available to hollows, but have no unique abilities themselves. Much as regular hollows do, these special hollows have their own hierarchy.

That is to say they come in three forms, these forms are the standard; Menos, Adjuchas, and Vasto Lorde. Each one has their own associated cost to call forth; 250, 500, and 1000 reiatsu respectively. As the cost is so enormous, it is to be expected that these hollows are real; they are not phantasmal. Furthermore, they are all brought forth with an associated statistic pool. This statistic amount is decided by their level of evolution, and at the time they materialize.

If the hollow is 'Menos'; then 1,100 SP may be divided. If they are 'Adjuchas'; then 1,500 SP may be split as the user sees fit. Finally, if the hollow is a 'Vasto Lorde'; then 1,900 SP may be divided in total between existing stats for that hollow. Existing statistics for a hollow brought forth by this technique must be listed, as well as their evolution. They are each capable of exceeding their statistical limits of 400, by 600/700/800 in order of lowest to greatest evolution, but cannot have a type added to them.

These hollows are unique, unlike their mindless counterparts; they take direct telepathic commands from the user herself. Furthermore, they are capable of a level of cunning that one might expect from a hollow at their associated level of evolution.

How to Use Technique: Whilst merged within 'Kyōkan Mugen: Lament Crucifix', picture an image of the night skies of Hueco Mundo. Envisage the swarm that dwells within the Menos Forest, endless and hungry. With this vision in mind, instruct the lamenting crucifix to open a garganta - a portal to that same realm. Once the quasi-hollow obeys, it will do so, only the result is venomous; twisted and not quite complete, much like the structure-hollow itself.

Technique Drawbacks: Hollows that have been pulled forth from this technique cannot leave the dome, this is true for both the unique variants as well as the Gillian swarm. In order to learn this technique, the user must have 'Kyōkan Mugen: Lament Crucifix' mastered. Furthermore, it is a requirement that the user must be merged with the crucifix to materialize the unique variants, or to command them telepathically. In other words - this technique may only exist or continue as long as 'Kyōkan Mugen: Lament Crucifix' is in use and active. Only up to five unique Hollows may be summoned at any given time. Additionally, the bodies of summoned Hollows are not regarded as techniques for class clashing.

Made By: Kyrou

Reserved? (Yes/No): Yes.

6,600 / 8,000 Reiatsu

[Nakajima Kimiko]

This was supposed to be a peaceful day like any other. At least, that was how Kimiko had imagined it would have been when she woke up in her western dojo this morning, a process that she had now begun to get used to due to the many graduations she has had to go through with her students as they went up the ranks of Nijūkan. The summer sun was, for once, not too hot, and the wind blew with a sort of coolness that was both refreshing for those who wished to find rest in this afterlife, and motivating for those who instead chose to follow the path of the blade that she had created for those who wished to seek it. A flew of guests had even decided to come visit the particular school, a mixture of the inexperienced and experienced who all looked forward to learn from what they believed to be a very powerful warrior. All in all, should have things been uninterrupted, this would have been a day that the Captain would have enjoyed dearly among many others. She needed all the little happiness she could get, after all, especially while she took care of Kin and dealt with a plethora of other matters. Unfortunately, that little happiness was not to be.

It occurred as she gave her attention to the newcomers, more specifically while she presented to them the great edifice which had become Nijūkan West over the many years since its revival. The tour group was composed of at least fifty visitors and four teachers, one of which being Kimiko herself and another being her very first disciple, Emile. No interruptions would be felt throughout the majority of the tour, aside from the few questions that were to be expected from the guests. It was only once they reached the northern-most edifice, midway through Kimiko's presentation of the significance of the many symbols which occupied it, that they all saw it. In the distance, not far from the 40th western district of Rukongai where the dojo rested, appeared a portal which rested far above in the sky. It was jet black, inky, and from it rapidly began to fall several figures. Though they were small from afar... no greater observation would be necessary to identify these aforementioned figures, if only due to the darkness of the rift from which they came from: they were either Hollow or Hellions.

It was yet another invasion. Another attack from a loathsome being who did not understand the concept of honor, and so made it its objective to slaughter the innocent for sport.

The Captain of the Eleventh acted quickly after she understood what was happening. It was how her mind acted back when Kishi had accidentally stepped into the Soul Society, and how it acted when she was informed of the previous presence of the Vandenreich officers who scouted the wilds outside of Rukongai. With swift words, she told her teachers to secure the district and its citizens, and advised Emile to quickly gather those who could fight to the edges of said district and perhaps beyond if necessary. She had not expected that this day would come so soon, not while they were still recovering from their most recent losses, but today, the efficiency of the Hakabe would be tested. Today, the strength of her students as well as the necessity of Nijūkan for those who remained within the encompassing Rukongai would both be proven and solidified, for the benefit of everything and everyone who remained within the heavenly realm.

In the minutes that followed, several students from Nijūkan West would quickly be assembled to protect the 40th western district of Rukongai as well as a few of the districts which precedes it, mainly the 39th to the 33rd. Considering the sheer amount of people which followed the Nijū Kanmeki-ryu under the teachings of Kimiko, it did not take long for the areas which found themselves under the assault of numerous Hollows to quickly be filled with a great variety of fighters. There were Shinigami - many of which were naturally from the Eleventh, but also the Tenth, mainly due to their barracks being still under repairs since the latest attack against Seireitei - but also Rukongai citizens, each of which were armed with a sword. Together, they formed a perimeter and attempted to contain the threat as much as physically possible, preventing it from spreading further into the rest of Rukongai. There were already some who lost their lives to the rising threat, mainly due to their inexperience, but several Hollows were quickly pushed away and sliced to bits. For now, at the very least.

Meanwhile, as the people of Nijūkan West did battle with the first wave of Hollows and torn them asunder, Kimiko had reached via the use of Shunpo what had been arisen from the earth near what may now be constituted at the front-lines of this newborn mess. It was located within the 30th, and it stood tall, a cross-shaped abomination rendered immobile by what appeared to be chains which pulled against the air itself. Some parts of the earth had been lifted upward due to the ridiculous amount of spiritual energy which came from the monument, which apparently had been enough to cause some of the nearby buildings to collapse into ruin. Then, there was what surrounded it. Kimiko wasn't sure of how to explain it, but it seemed as though it was encircled by some sort of portal towards what appeared to be another realm. All it took was a few minutes, just a few minutes... and that had been enough to transform the 30th district - a place which Kimiko had always considered to be peaceful and even cheerful - into a hellscape of torment.

This was, naturally, a very impressive sight for the many civilians who found themselves nearby or, worse, within the globe which surrounded the cross. They found themselves shrieking and screaming as the Hollows which suddenly appeared from nowhere around them, and for the most part, by the time the Captain had arrived and understood the situation, they were already gone. However, to Kimiko who was a veteran of the demonic invasion, none of this was anything new aside from perhaps the cross itself. She couldn't even find herself caring about the fallen suddenly starting to transform into Hollows. She had seen that too. The only difference was that those were Hollows instead of plain mutated zombies. "Hmph," she let out as she approached the portal, looking unimpressed even as the closest corpse began to rise before her eyes with white fluid quickly seeping from their every pore. Inside, a quiet rage slowly began to burn, especially once she noticed that there were still survivors from the 30th, some that she recognized.

Eventually, some of the lesser Hollows that were inside of the portal would realize that a powerful target was standing not far from them. One by one, they would turn their head towards the dojo master, and creeping quietly, they would begin to approach the Shinigami. They appeared to be briefly stunned by the spiritual energy that was slowly beginning to realize around her person. This was an understandable reaction, as the amount was such that it caused the ground around her to crack and the nearest buildings outside of the portal which still stood to wince. But of course, this reaction of theirs could only remain as such for so long. They, like all Hollows, were hungry, and before them stood what may be one of the greatest prey they have had the chance to witness in their corrupted afterlives. So, as to be expected, they would slowly begin to openly growl towards Kimiko before, finally, they would howl and then quickly begin to run towards her.

Kimiko did nothing impressive in that moment. Instead, she simply walked forward into the portal and allowed the Hollows to come close to her, even the Pluses which had been infected with the substance which oddly transformed them into the corrupted monsters. As to be expected from someone who wore one of the thirteen haori of the Gotei, this action allowed the Captain to showcase the sheer might of her spiritual energy. None of the lesser Hollows were left unscathed by their assault against her. Before they could reach her, they would find themselves stopping, and in a sickening display of crunching bones and rushing fluids, their bodies would cave in onto themselves and burst as they were subject to the gravitational pressure of the officer's spiritual energy. The majority of the creatures were instantly killed by this motion, while a few remained alive, though barely so, just about conscious enough to begin gurgling and whimpering from the extreme pain that wrecked their entire body.

The Captain would watch the fallen survivors for a moment as she further approached the cross before, as she did so, the heads of each of them would slowly begin to fall off their necks. It appeared as though their heads had all been cleaned off where their skin was at its weakest, causing it to be unable to push back the blades that the Shinigami had apparently pulled in what could have only been considered as being less than a second. Finally, as her body found itself completely illuminated by the crescent moon above, she stood still before the other Hollows which now stared at her, all the while she herself stared at the person who stood nearest to the great cross. Although she appeared calm at a glance, her scarlet eyes were wide open as she gazed as the lupine woman. More specifically, they were staring at the number which was displayed onto her forearm.  The Seventh, huh...  her thoughts noted as she analyzed the woman.  So she's Ailene's successor.

Quiet, the officer continued to stand there for a moment before she eventually gazed towards the moon above. Of course, she recognized the place: this was Hueco Mundo. Somehow, this girl had opened a portal that linked the realm of Hollowkind to the heavenly realm that was the Soul Society. The reason why she decided to do so was completely irrelevant. All that mattered was that she deserved to die for it. So, with this in mind, Kimiko would eventually look down before gazing at the girl again. "Earth to the bitch in heat!" She called to her with a scathing tone of voice, hoping to get the woman's attention by insulting her appearance and her way with words. Usually, she would have not resorted to such disrespectful tactics, but she was not in the mood today, not while she was having a good time at the dojo and not while the Soul Society was under attack yet again. Meanwhile, the spiritual energy around her began to hum quietly as it cracked the grounds beneath the white sand below, right before her voice suddenly sharply rose: "Look at me!"

Her cry boomed in the area, enough so that it caused it to echo all throughout the emptiness of the dark realm and the 30th district of Rukongai which rested at the other side of the portal. The echo burned with the anger that fueled her soul, causing many of the nearby Hollows to suddenly freeze and cower before the Captain, and the citizens of Rukongai who were still flying outside the portal to flee even faster. It was a tactic she had used before to both scare her enemies and bring their survivors away from them, and most of the time, it worked. Hopefully, it would work here too. Once her voice finished echoing, she took a deep breath before staring straight at the woman. Her voice did not settle down as she did so. "I am Nakajima Kimiko, Captain of the Eleventh Division, owner of Nijūkan, and slayer of your predecessor, Ailene Haschiro! You have ten seconds to introduce yourself before I cut your ears off and send them back to your master in a jar! I will not repeat myself!"

There was no respect to be had here, no mutual agreements. The officer had no intentions to give her opponent the chance of even so much as teasing her. All that the wolf-girl could observe from Kimiko was the anger of someone who was beginning to identify herself as the guardian of a place that has become dear to her, a place that was she has seen ravaged far too many times now. Should she be capable of showcasing such prowess in the detection of spiritual energy, she could also perhaps observe something that pulsed deep within the Captain, something dark and amused, entertained amidst a sea of red rage. It carried alongside it the same signature which the Hollows who surrounded them carried themselves.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}

Statistics

Physical	Spiritual		Sensory	Miscellaneous
Strength: 158 (210-52) Speed: 700 (400+300)	Reiatsu Strength: 30 (40-10) Spiritual Pressure: 700 (400+300)		Instincts: 400 Senses: 300 Energy Sensory: 50	Light Aura: 50 Dark Aura: 50 Healing Expertise: 0

Skills

Mental	Battle		Body	Utility
Strength of Will: 3              Analyzing: 2	Iaijutsu: 4 Martial Art - Hohō: 3 Battle Analysis: 3 Battle Focus: 1		N/A	N/A

SPOILER: Click to show

{Technique Used}
Technique Name: Akuma no Sakebi (悪魔の叫び, "Demon's Cry")

Technique Type: Other | Fear Inducement

Technique Element: None

Usable by: All races

Class: 2

Technique Reiatsu Cost: N/A

Technique Description and Effects

The projection of one's own will to strike fear in the hearts of others. The user channels the strength of their very soul within themselves before screaming it out with monstrous energy, similarly to how a beast howls or roars. Though it possesses no physical or spiritual attribute of note, the manifestation of this power is considered to be so intense that it can induce terror to the targets that have to face it. Those who do not possess an ability that would allow them to resist the effects of such a demonstration - namely a superior Strength of Will, Calm Mind, or Lack of Fear skill, or a Aura of 100 - will find themselves so taken aback by the scream that their combat performance will worsen, rendering them sluggish. Masters of this technique possess such fearsome cries that their targets are literally stunned by them for one post, unable to fight against the terror they have injected into their soul.


Drawbacks & Weaknesses

To unleash fear onto one or many beings at once, one must be able to be physically capable of unleashing such a thing in the first place, and unfortunately, there are a few who will be forever incapable of doing so. Some are simply too softhearted to even express such terrible power, while others are too discreet to even let out such a loud scream to begin with. Considering this, the main users of this technique will possess a Strength of Will skill of 3, which is just enough for them to be capable of properly unleashing Akuma no Sakebi. However, there is an alternative in the form of Dark Aura. Those who happen to be monstrous enough to possess fully-darkened energy will be capable of using this technique just as well as the aforementioned wilful individuals, for better or worse.


Made by: Nakajima Kimiko

Reserved? : No

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Enchanting, isn't it? I could gaze upon the quaint moonlight for an eon propose we had the time. Those faint teardrops beginning to form upon its surface, watch as they drip to the earth, graceful in their fall... only to splat upon its surface like paint. They resurface to show their true forms, their wonderful masks basking in that luminescent glow. Truly, the number of Hollows transported by Lament Crucifix is a wonderful thing to behold.

Of course, each and every one of them only yearns to be free. That place is in no shape to remain an appropriate feeding ground for them. This 'Soul Society' is much better. It is rife with the lingering energies of greater spiritual beings. Cannibalism will only stave off the hunger for so long. Hopefully, with any luck, we might get too see a few rise above their places in the food chain this afternoon. Would that not be the most ideal outcome?

Mellow silver eyes gazing upon the skies flicker a wisp of brilliant azure for a brief moment. There is something weary about the countenance of Shio then and there; a deeper thought. Not a drip of malice remains present throughout her expression, neither in the way in which she holds herself up. In a sense... she almost seems to be mourning. For what exactly, who knows.

"They're here..." - a solemn phrase, spoken beneath a deep sigh. Shio had been kneeling at the Crucifix for awhile, pondering just when exactly they might show up. With her enhanced spiritual senses, and with the aid of Lament Crucifix, it was easy for her to discern when the first combatants had entered the half-mile wide area. By the time that they arrived, a good number of the Plus Soul inhabitants had already been made Hollow.

On the topic of those who hadn't... well, what else could Shio claim. That she had tried to make their transformations as pain-free as possible? Such a tale would only lend itself to being that of a white lie. In truth, Shio anticipated as such. If they didn't want to submit to becoming what they perceived as a monster... struggle against it, only to become one later. That couldn't be helped. Plus Souls weren't resistant to Hollowfication, not like the Shinigami were.

Well, if the lesser fighters are already here... I'd better prepare, a big fish will show up soon enough; Shio correctly surmised, wasn't that hard.

Shio had a minute, maybe two to prepare. Shinigami were fast to skitter about where the commotion was. Even on the outskirts as it were, still, Shio was not attempting to be subtle by any means. There were three things that Shio intended to do before Kimiko would later soon arrive. The foremost, and secondary; secure a connection to her inner Chakra, and then, merge with the quasi-hollow that she had created, the Lament Crucifix.

Tapping into her Chakra technique was simply done, burning up from embers, the bright azure flame seemed to manifest upon her body with an immediate command. Still, Shio did not feel pressured at all, she even took a moment to examine its splendour properly.

Reaching her palm up to the Crucifix, resting against it flat, Shio gestured a waving motion with her palm against its surface. At the end of this motion, her hand began to dematerialize into some half-liquid substance. It span around, spreading to the rest of her body as her physical form compressed itself within the vortex into the shape of a small sphere.

An azure globe, roughly the size of a pinball, encased within a rhombicuboctahedron shell. It now rested squarely in the dead center of the Crucifix, levitating much as though part of the Crucifix itself. Indeed, the object was indistinguishable from being its own separate part from the construct, and seemed to float in sync with each and every of its gravitational movements. At around this moment, Kimiko had entered the area.

"Ah, a real strong one." Shio could discern immediately. "In that case...".

Without wasting a moment, much unlike her prior two actions, Shio focused her Reiatsu for a brief instant; activating her unique ability. With the keen sound of glass shattering in reverse, accompanied by abundant spiritual energy, a faint mist forms around the Crucifix. Manifesting from the mist itself, a perfect replica of Shio Kyrou, the Septima Espada herself, is created. Like panels of glass they merge to form an identical visage of herself.

This, 'Synthetic Shio', finishes forming; with its legs crossed over one another, perched upon the top of the floating Crucifix. Aside from the holographic sheen refracting from its own body, the Synthetic version of herself is coated with the same azure flame.

Now it was time to focus, adjust her energy levels, and simply await the new arrival.

From the perspective of Shio, merged with the Crucifix, Kimiko really took her sweet time to arrive. Crushed a good few Hollows, t'was all well and good. As the skies continued to pour down with more, inside of this dome, it seemed as though each swarm killed was replaced with another.

At last, Nakajima Kimiko had arrived at the Crucifix, and she was greeted by the cold stare of the Synthetic Shio; eyes narrowed, gazing down upon her in a likewise calm manner.

Silence permeated the local area, whilst yelling and fighting could easily be heard off in distant places. It was only until Kimiko spoke, in that loud and booming voice, that it was at last broken. And... what an incredible sentence to start with. If only Shio, the real one and not her counterpart, weren't stunned to quietude, she might've replied too.

"I am looking... respectfully." - Something along those lines.

Even the Synthetic Shio widened its eyes a little, perhaps a reflection of its own soul-linked counterpart; naturally, the two were intrinsically linked. Such a disruption had caught her off her guard, and so the remainder of the Shinigami Captain's introduction was sat through in silence. There was one key detail that was mentioned by her, one that caused the replica to re-narrow its eyes toward the Captain toward the end of her speech.

However, those narrowed eyes seemed to reflect something else than hostility. There was most certainly a pervasive weariness to them, apparent enough for Kimiko to clearly take notice of. "I see...", stated the puppet, cupping its palms within its own lap patiently. All whilst chaos was consuming every other place within the area at that moment, the vicinity of Shio felt almost tranquil by comparison, a genuine display of loss.

Though that couldn't be, not for a Hollow, could it?

Otherwise, after the effect of Kimiko's shouting had worn off, Shio appeared indifferent to the predicament she was in. Those ten seconds passed in absolute silence. All that Kimiko could do was make inferences unto what Shio was thinking at that time. At last, the reverberating voice of the construct echoed throughout the immediate surroundings.

"We should fight, then."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Shio - Adjusted Statistics and Skills}Strength: 25
Speed: 25

Reiatsu Strength: 740
Spiritual Pressure: 530
Reiatsu Pool: 5,300

Instinct: 600
Senses: 25
Energy Sensory: 200

Healing Expertise: 250

Damage Recovery - 3
Crafting/Forging - 2
Anti-Stealth - 2
Focused Eye - 2
War Strategy - 2
Strength of Will - 2
Acrobatics - 2
Multi-Tasking - 1

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Synthetic Shio - Statistics}Strength: 25
Speed: 25

Reiatsu Strength: 423
Spiritual Pressure: 720
Reiatsu Pool: n/a

Instinct: 270
Senses: 25
Energy Sensory: 90

Healing Expertise: 225

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spiritual Discipline: Chakra - Mastered (750 TTP)}Class: 1

Technique Type: HWD Tech

Usable By: Bount, Mod Souls, Fullbringers, Non Vandenreich Quincy, HWD Nakabakki

Technique Element: N/A

Technique Description and Effects: The soul. Essentially the core of one's true self. And to manifest its energy is a feat anyone can accomplish. When you gaze at all of the spiritually aware, you see them blasting their spiritual energy around themselves. Sometimes they can flex it and use the force it generates to their advantage. Other times they can create projectiles, or concoct actual physical changes. But this technique is different.

The cost for this is a full 800 reiatsu, but it lasts for 20 posts. As long as it is active, the user's hands gain the power to directly utilize their own reiatsu. How? Anything they touch, should they allow it, including their own body, can be imbued with a flame of their choosing. This fire isn't hot, and does not burn. What it does it enhance offensive and defensive capability. This can be used on techniques, releases, body, attacks, weapons, etc.

As long as that flame coats an object, it is considered "class neutral" and "value neutral." Unless struck by a superior class or 2x offensive stat or more, it will always win in conflict against anything that is without a flame. In other words, say Player A utilizes Chakra on their sword and Player B has some sort of Hierro-like ability. Player A, except with the aforementioned limitations, will always be able to cut clean through that defense and sever it.

If the target is also coated in flames, however, then the neutrality of class and value is lost against that target, and once again it is treated as a clash of offensive power or class, as per normal rules. Therefore, this technique is a must for top level HWD, as it is almost impossible to succeed in combat without it. Just to meet the high tier status quo, this technique is required.

How to Use Technique: It is activated for the 800 reiatsu cost, and it is special in that no technique that lowers reiatsu cost can lower the cost of this technique. Furthermore, anyone who can charge or generate reiatsu cannot use any such methods of charge or regeneration while this technique is active. To learn this technique, user must know Willpower, Output, Movement, and Energy Generate.

Drawback: 800 reiatsu cost, in addition to considerable stamina drain the longer this technique is used. In addition, anyone who uses this technique bleeds 20% more profusely out of wounds while it is active.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Resurrección La Espada}There is talk within Las Noches of the legendary Espada, a group comprised of only the strongest Arrancar in Hueco Mundo. For many, they are an aspiration, a beacon - the highest authority beyond the king. To others, a scourge. In total, there are ten of them, each branded on their skin a ranking numeral to instate their position in this organization. Within the realm of the spiritual, they are without a doubt a force to be reckoned with.

Shio Kyrou is a Mod Soul, however - she was not always. Once upon a different time, she was not all too different from those Arrancar that roam the halls of the exalted Las Noches. Even though such a thing might seem impossible now, for one of such cotton constitution - it is the unspoken truth. As a result of this, she has an innate connection to the organization unlike that which belongs to any other. It is a fated bond, and an invisible link.

'Resurrección La Espada', the manifestation of this bond - and, the zenith of 'Amalgamation Synthesis'. It allows her to frabricate the Espada themselves. Duplicate, incomplete versions of the legendary Swords of Las Noches. All of the ranked numbered Espada 1-9 are generated in her vicinity, constructed from the unique synthetic nature of her own reiatsu. Materalizing like ghosts to take bodily form, they are both tangible and crystalline - yet lifelike to such a degree. Identifiable as spiritual constructs, although imposing and vividly detailed.

Each of these synthetic Espada is made in likeness to the current members of the organization, it is impossible to create one belonging to a position that is not filled. Likewise, they have access to a unique list of techniques drawn from each member of the real Espada. In terms of statistics, they similary determine their capabilities based on the actual statistics of the member of the Espada which they represent, however, not quite as potent.

For each of the Espada re-created, their statistics are lowered by 10% for each Espada 1-9 that are active at once. This is true and has a limit until they only have 10% of their original statistic in total, for all of their statistics. Or alternatively, until one statistic would drop below 50 - which is impossible, it is impossible for any statistic to drop below 50 as a result of this drawback for any of the synthetic Espada. This also applies to any form of debuff.

In order to determine which techniques the synthetic Espada have access to, they must first be determined when the synthetic Espada are created. Each non-release technique can be chosen from a selection of any technique that members of the Espada have learned, excluding any technique that requires that the user must be a high-tier Espada. All of the synthetic Espada are capable of using these techniques collectively, and each one costs Shio a technique slot. This is only a temporary use of her technique slots, and prepared techniques for the synthetic Espada must be kept track of in her point bank. The synthetic Espada cannot use any of her own techniques.

At the same time these entities are generated, Shio may choose one of them to merge into - using 'Amalgamation Synthesis'. Each of the synthetic Espada has the ability to host her, and likewise, she is able to transfer her essence between them at will, under the same rules as her using 'Rapid Configuration' - except, she can do so from any distance. When this rank of her ability is used, all of the Espada that currently exist are made all at once.

This is with the sole exception of the Cero Espada. Aside from this sole member of the organization, she is able to control each synthetic Espada to a fine degree. Whilst in combat, it costs her focus and 100 reiatsu per post to do so; to represent the strain of precisely controlling each one. It also costs Shio 200 reiatsu to manifest the synthetic Espada initially. However, outside of combat, these phantom Espada do not have a cost to maintain. They remain indefinitely, and can maintain any distance from one another.

In terms of statistics, the synthetic Espada that Shio is fused with is unique. Unlike the others, the Espada which she is fused with gains a flat increase to their statistics that is identical to the statistics of Shio herself. Ordinarily, these Espada are incapable of using Resurrección. As long as Shio remains hosted within their bodies, it becomes possible for her to force them to use it. It costs 400 reiatsu to activate, and the signature release phrase.

Enunciating the release phrase unique to that Espada, they take on an identical form to that of the original in Resurrección. They gain access to their Primera Etapa, their overall ability - but not their release techniques. Segunda is not an option. If Shio leaves the host body of a synthetic Espada in Resurrección, they lose it. Otherwise, it lasts eight posts. Each of the synthetic Espada are regarded as having a class level equal to Shio.

At any point of time whilst using her own ability, Shio can choose to fragment a specific Espada. This will cause their corporeal form to break apart, and then shatter. This will also happen if they are destroyed - break apart, then evaporate into ethereal mist. If this happens, then all of the synthetic Espada which still remain will be empowered. As the lingering spiritual energies of their memories coalesces into the remaining Espada.

Each of them is bolstered with the energy, and regains 10% of the statistics belonging to their original counterpart. In total an individual Espada can never have more than 90% of the original statistics belonging to the Espada that their form is based on. All of them gain this boost immediately, along the same bond that Shio can use to see through their eyes - hear through their ears, and feel what they touch in any given moment. The synthetic Espada are spiritual constructs, and have a durability equal to double the 'Spiritual Pressure' statistic of Shio herself.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Symmetry}If the recipient 'Host' of her ability falls unconscious, Shio is able to assume control of their body for a short period of four posts. During this time, the 'Hosts' movements are mechanical; as reiatsu is being used to animate the body. Physical stats of the animated body remain the same, however she may only use her own techniques. Furthermore, the animated body relies on her own 'Instinct' and 'Energy Sensory' stats to determine its surroundings. This ability does not need to be immediately activated, but only once per time the 'Host' is unconscious.

Those with a lower 'Energy Sensory' stat than Shio are no longer able to determine her 'Host' and herself as seperate entities at this level; using spiritual sensing abilities. Visually, she is still discernible to those with keen eyes.

5,300 / 5,300 Reiatsu
1,060 / 1,060 Synthetic Shio Durability
-800 Chakra
-200 Resurrección La Espada
-300 Spiritual Conversion

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The battle outside of the dome that led into Hueco Mundo raged on with surprising cadence as the forces of the heavenly realm braced for the impact of those which came from the dark. Within normal circumstances, the latter should have by now already overran the former. The Rukongai was typically not equipped to defend itself against the Soul Society's enemies, and so it was easy to assume that the consequences of this invasive scenario would not be much different when compared to the ones which preceded it. After all, if only in regards to the latest attacks against the realm, many of the infinite town's citizens had been turned into horrible undead creatures against their will, and many others - quite literally millions and millions of them - had been consumed by the ones which had escaped the depths of the underworld before these ones were in turn slaughtered themselves. Why, then, would an enemy of the Soul Society believe that invading Rukongai was difficult?

But this time, something did differ. This time, the citizens of Rukongai, or at least a great number of them, did not simply attempt to run away or accept their inevitable fate. Instead, they banded together, brandished their fists or blades, and fought. With great courage and bravery, they would cooperate with those of the Gotei 13 who patrolled the areas nearest to the dome to eliminate any Hollow which dared to face them in combat, and eventually, they formed a barrier around the districts that were most affected by this sudden attack right outside of the great dome which was formed by the invading force. This was the Hakabe in motion, the veritable "Blade Wall" that Kimiko had instated as she founded the four great Nijūkan schools, and it was making sure that no enemies of the Soul Society would dare to advance further into Rukongai. As long as it remained standing, the rest of Rukongai would stay safe, at the very least until reinforcements from Seireitei would come to grant them aid.

In so doing, numerous Hollows who were lucky enough to spread throughout Rukongai after the first portal would find themselves unable to go much further. Those that were powerful enough to kill one or two of Kimiko's students would quickly find themselves stabbed by numerous more swords until their bodies were nothing but a mess of cut muscle and bone, and those that were lucky enough to slip past them would be quickly exterminated by Shinigami soldiers who were incoming from the holy city. As to be expected from this ordeal, it would not take long for this whole matter to cause the streets as well as the sword-wielding warriors to be covered in blood, granting them quite the frightening appearance for what might as well be a war band of what should have been defenseless Pluses. Their intimidation was such that some of the creatures of the dark began to hesitate during their advance, causing them to be swiftly slaughtered by those who had mastered some of the techniques of the Nijū Kanmeki-ryu.

Inside of the dome where the rest of the intruder's forces stood, away from the Hakabe, the Hollows were not granted a kinder fate, for they quickly found themselves subjected to an inhuman power. It was a great pressure like no other, a force so great that it caused those which were affected to be violently pressed down onto the ground until they were no longer, and those which came found themselves coming from above with the aid of wings and other flesh-like apparels to be very quickly introduced to said ground in a sickening display of shattering bodies. It was a cruel display of violence, one that left many of the creatures dazed and confused as they attempted to brace against the force and potentially surpass it, but it was not one that was alien to Kimiko. Far from it.

Of course, the Captain was the one who was releasing such power. She was doing so with almost no effort whatsoever, allowing the ridiculous amount of spiritual energy that composed her to flow out of her body and bring ruin to anything and everything which dared threaten the existence of the Soul Society. This occurred before and after her introduction to the wolf-girl responsible for this mess, but now that she had finished making her presence known, it almost became stronger. Even now as she stood there with her wide and bloodthirsty scarlet eyes staring right at the Espada, some of the latter's Hollows above would find themselves shrieking in surprise before smashing themselves straight against the sands below, bursting in a chaos of rushing blood and skin torn by the bones protruding from them. At a glance, there was perhaps nothing that bore the Shinigami's namesake better than this portrait of seemingly-endless incoming death and pain, one that caused the nearby surviving Hollows to be further intimidated by the officer.

Perhaps the worst part about this was how the scene simply did not stop. No, as this went on, it kept going. As Kimiko waited for the lupine woman to present herself, the bodies continued to fall from above, further surrounding her with the corpses of the fallen. Again, there were many who were left whimpering in horrible agony, many that appeared as though they had completely forgotten their reason behind their coming here and now simply wished for their pain to end. However, unlike the ones whose heads had been cut clean off moments earlier, the Captain did not grant them that wish. Instead of doing so, she stood there and waited, allowing her opponent the gravity of the decision that she had just made by bringing all of these Hollows here and transforming some citizens of Rukongai into her pawns. In a moment of silence between the both of them, she told her that her army was worth nothing to her, and that whatever she was doing to these people was not going to bring her any success or merit. All it would bring was shame, defeat, and a horrible death.

Even so, the Captain waited. Even though the anger within her was steadily beginning to turn into a raging wildfire threatening to consume her for the benefit of Rukongai, she waited. She wanted to know the name of this new Espada, to understand what this was all about. However, as the seconds counted down, she would slowly begin to understand that the name and the explanation she waiting for would both not come. It would appear that her opponent had no intentions to actually do any of those things. She acknowledged the Shinigami, yes, and went as far as to even show hesitation much like how her Hollows were doing the same... but nothing would come out of her. It appeared that she believed that answering Kimiko's question was simply unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. This caused Kimiko's gaze to widen even further as her rage burst within her soul, and her spiritual energy to increase ever-so-further.

Around the sixth-second mark, the Captain's mouth began to move. However, it would be difficult for the lupine woman to hear what was said in the moment, as while words were apparently muttered by the Shinigami, the spiritual energy which came from her became even greater. It caused further bodies to fall from above and the very ground around her to rumble incessantly, creating an almost-deafening cacophony in the process that would prevent many from hearing correctly. Then, all so suddenly, a wave of what appeared to be a gaseous substance akin to black and white "ink" surged from her very being. The substance - an aura of sorts that appeared impossible to get rid of - formed a great dome which spanned a quarter of a football field around Kimiko, with her being its very epicenter. Meanwhile, the scabbard of her blades - previously and respectively only colored in white and in black - had changed to harbor different designs.

Then, just as the black and white energy which was now being released in droves from the Shinigami formed astonishing torrents to be released from her... she vanished from sight, right before her opponent had even finished her own declaration. If the lupine woman was familiar with the technique, it was clear that Kimiko had moved with the likes of Shunpo. However, her velocity was such that it would be difficult for the woman to keep track of her, as she had moved at a speed of 7000... right in front of her, or at least the one that she could see. The gaze that that she gave to the girl in that moment was so wide that it almost seemed monstrously bloodshot, devoid of the honor and mercy that she'd usually grant to her adversaries. As she made her superior Speed clear to her enemy, she then crouched down before she grabbed onto the both of her sheathed blades and took a deep breath. Finally, she then clenched her teeth and stared right at her enemy again before she let out a wild, beastly scream.

What she said in that moment was unclear. Perhaps she had said nothing at all. All that mattered, however, was the intent behind the scream. Once again, much like the one prior, there was no respect in it. All that composed it was thirst for blood and a deep murderous intent, the kind that a Shinigami would not usually be capable of releasing so violently and powerfully. It reflected how she wanted to defend Rukongai and the rest of the Soul Society in the moment. She did not want to stop this woman: she wanted to kill her. ... No. There was more than just that behind that kind of anger, else she would not keep applying that horrible pressure onto the area to crush more of the lupine woman's Hollows. It was as if the officer wanted to outright make sure that no creature of the dark would ever dare set foot in Rukongai again, not even in the wilderness that surrounded it, and that this was the very first step that she would take to accomplish that incomprehensible goal.

However she may accomplish that goal in the near future, she seemed dedicated to the accomplishment of her first step, as proven as she unsheathed the both of her strange blades and sent them both flying straight towards her opponent at a speed of 700 in a double Iaijutsu slash. The white blade traveled to the right and the black blade traveled to the left, each in an upward diagonal strike designed to cleave the woman in two. There was no hesitation or even so much as questioning of the true nature of what she was looking at. She wanted to destroy it, and then her cross later, and that was it.

Such was the fate that she wanted to bestow upon the enemies of the Soul Society.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu: 6625/7000   |   Shizukakane (0.6m) : 10 Posts Remaining   |    Taishokukane (1m) : 10 Posts Remaining   |   Light Gauge : 0%   |   Dark Gauge : 0%}

Technique Name: Shunpo (瞬歩, "Flash Steps")

Class: 7

Technique Type: Kidō

Technique Element: None

Technique Reiatsu Cost: 50/step

Technique Description and Effects

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


How to use technique

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

---

Technique Name: Advanced Air Ground

Class: 7

Technique Type: Spiritual Technique

Technique Description and Effects

This is a technique designed especially for breakdancing and parkour, utilizing a more advanced version of air ground. While in a terrain where air ground exists, the user can create more complex surfaces like air walls, air ceilings, air ledges and even an air push. This allows the user to perform handstands and windmills on air as if it were normal ground or even stand upside-down on air as if gravity were reversed. The air push makes the air ground very elastic so that the user can jump higher. It allows for slight movement even when restrained by a Bakudō.

For a cost of twenty-five Reiatsu, the user will be able to momentarily cast an "air ground" on areas such as in Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, allowing the user to "double jump" or cast Shunpo in mid-air. If this technique is mastered, the user will be able to create air grounds that last for as long as a single post. This can be used in creative ways to improve acrobatics and visual impressiveness.


Drawback: N/A

Made by: Shiki Kanzaki

Reserved? : No.

---

Technique Name: Akuma no Sakebi (悪魔の叫び, "Demon's Cry")

Technique Type: Other | Fear Inducement

Technique Element: None

Usable by: All races

Class: 2

Technique Reiatsu Cost: N/A

Technique Description and Effects

The projection of one's own will to strike fear in the hearts of others. The user channels the strength of their very soul within themselves before screaming it out with monstrous energy, similarly to how a beast howls or roars. Though it possesses no physical or spiritual attribute of note, the manifestation of this power is considered to be so intense that it can induce terror to the targets that have to face it. Those who do not possess an ability that would allow them to resist the effects of such a demonstration - namely a superior Strength of Will, Calm Mind, or Lack of Fear skill, or a Aura of 100 - will find themselves so taken aback by the scream that their combat performance will worsen, rendering them sluggish. Masters of this technique possess such fearsome cries that their targets are literally stunned by them for one post, unable to fight against the terror they have injected into their soul.


Drawbacks & Weaknesses

To unleash fear onto one or many beings at once, one must be able to be physically capable of unleashing such a thing in the first place, and unfortunately, there are a few who will be forever incapable of doing so. Some are simply too softhearted to even express such terrible power, while others are too discreet to even let out such a loud scream to begin with. Considering this, the main users of this technique will possess a Strength of Will skill of 3, which is just enough for them to be capable of properly unleashing Akuma no Sakebi. However, there is an alternative in the form of Dark Aura. Those who happen to be monstrous enough to possess fully-darkened energy will be capable of using this technique just as well as the aforementioned wilful individuals, for better or worse.


Made by: Nakajima Kimiko

Reserved? : No

---

Technique Name: Iaijutsu (居合術, "Sudden Strike Technique") [x2]

Class: 4

Technique Type: General Physical Technique

Technique Element: None

Usable by: Any

Technique Description and Effects

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

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

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

How to use technique

Simply draw your weapon and strike in a single fluid motion.

Drawback

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

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

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

Made by: Kerrigan

Reserved? : No

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Ever moreso the battle lingered onto the Rukongai. In estimate, it had been a good twenty or so minutes since I had first arrived. Logistics had proven troublesome for the forces of the Soul Society this time around, and whilst their response had been fast, it was perhaps not quick enough. An army took time to rally, to arm, and to set perimeter. In reality, Kimiko had simply taken a lot of time to reach this place, and naturally this had consequences.

In that time, a large majority of the half-mile radius that made up this particular district of the Rukongai had been under Hollow threat. Plus Souls had, for the most part and at this conjuncture of time, been evacuated from the area. Ones that were injured or unscathed alike found refuge elsewhere, they had scattered outside of the dome and past the perimeter into safety. Unfortunately, for Kimiko, many other Plus Souls were not so lucky.

Kimiko had trained her warriors well, and they proved to be a formidable threat in of themselves upon the battlefield. Whilst they carved their way through the lesser Hollows, preforming accolades unexpected from their status as Plus Souls. Naturally, I had taken note of this, though it was not entirely beyond the limits of my expectations. If anything, I had expected more Shinigami to show up, this was fine too; better, even.

Kimiko and her forces were winning; they were outside the dome, had set up secure places outside of the large encompassing sphere to hold their ground. Hollows not only poured from the skies, but also entered through the dome membrane on the ground level. Therefore, 'camping' the entire spherical radius was simply not possible. Instead, they had chosen this action as an alternative, not bad. It performed effectively the same thing, though not quite.

Of the thousands of Plus Souls that were originally occupied within this half-mile section of district, a good thousand had been slain and Hollowfied; a good few hundred had evacuated injured, and the remaining ones had managed to escape unscathed. This was largely in part thanks to the fast response time from Kimiko and her student army, "Well done." Shio thought. Whilst no less than tens of them had fallen, they had thusfar managed to hold their ground.

Gravitational Pressure was indiscriminate, as were the echoing cries of Nakajima Kimiko as the Captain went into battle. Whilst it might've certainly felt like she were aiding her comrades directly, the truth was that she were only performing as such in ripple effect; by maintaining a constant pressure inside of the dome, she was able to ensure her troops could secure the outside of it with ease.

She'd have to be careful with that, one Shunpo too close toward the edge of the dome could result in that radius encompassing her own comrades, too. And without the means to see outside it, she couldn't leave the center to be sure, the radius would overlap. As a result of this, the Captain was confined to the general area of the Crucifix, at least for the moment, whilst her Gravitational Pressure was still in use. A half-mile radius might be small to her, though it was a great distance for anyone else.

All of these strategical thoughts raced through the mind of Shio Kyrou. In the meanwhile, the Captain had drawn her blades at last against the prismatic entity, the Shio that Kimiko had assumed herself were the real one; the primary threat.

Her Shikai, the astonishing form of her twin katana in the glimpse that Synthetic Shio managed to obtain before Kimiko had vanished from her sight. It appeared to be another type of sword release, the one that Shinigami refer to as 'Shikai'... most likely, albeit the Espada had never seen a Shinigami with two blades at once before. This level of spiritual energy; it felt less than some of the Ressurection she had seen in members of the Espada.

Still, it was quite formidable. Whilst the ink from her Shikai seemed to lap against the surrounding area, there were particular sections of Kimiko's surroundings that seemed to be resistant to the staining effect of her Shikai. Namely, the areas coated in that azure flame. As Kimiko darted towards the Crucifix; the Synthetic Shio, the Crucifix itself and its chains, each appeared to have an innate resistance to the substance. Much alike oil and water, the two refused to remain mixed together.

What response would Shio make to this attack?

Gleaming silver eyes never left the original position that Kimiko had used Shunpo to step from; they stared right through her, unmoving to adjust to the Captain's new position. It was incredibly unnerving, as though the present Shio was still observing the Kimiko of the past. It was unlikely that an Espada wouldn't be able to keep up with her, right? Although, that was exactly what it appeared to be. A cautious fighter might've anticipated a feint.

That wasn't what happened, however. Not in the slightest. As Kimiko drew her twin katana, at a speed faster than even the most top bracket of fighters could keep up with... Shio remained motionless. Without animation to her body, a thin smile spread across her lips, gazing down at that same position Kimiko had once been. Kimiko drew her blades, both struck squarely against the torso of the Septima in a direct cross section slash.

Upon contact, the distinct piercing echo of honed steel against crystal glass began shrieking from the body of the Septima. It was ear-splitting, much alike chalk being scraped against a blackboard. During this brief instant, as the entire length of Kimiko's blades ran across the full torso of Shio, there was a resistance much akin to an ordinary clash of swords. Distinctly, Kimiko could feel the weight behind the vessel of Shio and now knew: her skin was not made of flesh.

Would this lead her to the conclusion that this Synthetic Shio were a 'fake'? Absolutely not, because whilst it felt a tad different on contact from what Kimiko might be used to, the feeling of striking Shio was not all too different to something else Kimiko was far more used to fighting. Namely: the steel skin of the Arrancar, Hierro. Given that Shio had earlier given away the fact that she were an Espada - on purpose and prior - this was a natural conclusion to draw.

The fact of the matter was, Kimiko had no way of knowing that Shio was - not - an Arrancar. Even so, what a frightening prospect to draw from; the idea that Kimiko's strike had been so prominently outclassed by a mere Hierro-like ability would perhaps alert her to a false sense of power from the Septima, one that she might decide to be cautious of to follow.

As for how the clash concluded: no damage was dealt to the body of the Synthetic Shio. There was most certainly a noticeable impact, though such felt only like a natural result from a difference in striking force. It was like being shoved off her pedestal so to speak, and to follow suit, the Synthetic Shio was pushed off her perch. Not so much as sent flying meters away, but as though a strong gust of wind had swept her off the thing.

This resulted in the not-so-graceful landing only a few meters away from the Crucifix, a landing where she had been lifted in updraft from her both her shoulders, and flung onto the earth that short distance away. "Ouch." - reverberated the nonchalant echoing voice from this odd individual, that had crashed in such a way both her arms were stretched out, her legs were apart, almost as though ready to make a snow angel from the debris.

Aside from this, the puppet lay motionless. All in the meanwhile, the authentic Shio had been keeping note through her sensory abilities. There was a key factor that Nakajima Kimiko herself could not possibly know: her shouting ability was being received by Shio via proxy as dissected information, the real Shio could not hear or see her in the traditional sense. Therefore, her shouting technique had no effect on either of the two, beyond simply being loud and obnoxious.

"Why does she keep yelling?... Must be very upset."

That was the natural conclusion Shio, who could not hear Kimiko directly, came to. And of course, this perhaps sprouted a further misconception from Kimiko, though not an intentional one at least on Shio's part. 'It must be working', or something along those lines. In reality, the puppet Shio lacked the senses to keep up with her, it was all a great misunderstanding. It would remain that way, if Kimiko continued her assault.

At least for the time being, there was no action for Shio to take.

5,200 / 5,300 Reiatsu
1,060 / 1,060 Synthetic Shio Durability
-100 Resurrección La Espada
19 Posts Remaining (Chakra)

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Amidst the cacophony of agonizing wails from Hollows, crushed, broken and laid to rest; the Synthetic Shio lay there, motionless. As though strings were practically cut, the lifeless husk of its body, even without having visibly sustained damage, did not move. Blurred out by the chaos encroaching upon an otherwise tranquil scene, through a disturbed mind, the displaced and reverberating voice of the puppet rang out, tone without vitality.

"Ailene... she's really dead, isn't she?"

It wasn't accusatory, it was neither hurt or rageful; it was simply the tone of someone tired. One dismal dissonance, flat and certain, that resonated its purpose with certain tune. Rhetorical, and allowing not rhyme or reason; a depressed, depraved, and defeated ego.

Raising herself upright, the puppet sombre gazed up to Kimiko, and spoke thus:

"Whatever..." - she looked down to the ground - "this age of the Hollows bullshit..." One clouded gaze, once full of lustre, fell flat upon it's next lingering sentence, laced with spite but full of melancholy;

"It's not worth it."

Upon the last syllable, a crack split open the Crucifix that Kimiko had launched her from, a deep rumbling could be felt within the entirety of that half-mile radius. This localized earthquake, sure to put all alert individuals on their guard, by contrast had the Septima look out towards the dome, which was now beginning to tear itself apart; almost like shredding and shedding its inky blackness as though paper. It sighed, dull and lifeless.

"Those infected plus souls will be Hollowfied soon. I was going to keep you busy here, but... well; if you leave now, you can probably still purge them. Or whatever you katana-wielding freaks do to them. I don't care." Sunlight beamed its way through the torn membrane of Hueco Mundo, in soft rays it displayed an area dripping with horrific corpses. Still, the Septima appeared unfazed by this. Their gaze was longing, and distant.

"Just go." - and upon that note, both the puppet, and the Crucifix, burned up in a display of roaring hellfire, until naught remained but a gradually decaying crystalline fragment. It rested like a feather whence the Synthetic Shio had once spoke, and continued to glimmer right up until its final moments. Finally, leaving the area at rest once it had faded. Shio was nowhere to be sensed any longer, and so... one nightmare came to an abrupt end.

[Chika Hirabayashi]

50 paragraphs even for Shio, meaning 500 TP for her!
28 paragraphs for Kimiko, meaning 280 TP for her, +100 for repelling the invader!