Culling the Unfortunate, Open / "JT" / R

[Hanako Nozawa]

As the minutes crept by, so too did Hanako make her way through the market district. Regardless of what training she may have received to hone her skills and talents, fighting three Hollow back to back had proven to be particularly exhausting. Her arms shook a little as she darted from one hiding place to the next, and she stumbled a little on a loose piece of concrete edging the sidewalk. Every few seconds, a long and slow breath passed from her lips before the next came to her lungs.

Up ahead, she could sense the next Hollow to be felled by her sword. However, unlike the others, it wasn't rampaging near as quickly and savagely through the streets. Instead, it moved slowly and with a steady grace. It moved with purpose beyond mindless consumption. Its reiatsu felt no less weak, but rather subdued and calm. No doubt; it was trying to hide itself, but her abilities of detection simply exceeded its skill in remaining hidden. That was fortunate for her, she supposed, but it did raise the question of whether it could detect her, as well? If it could, then it wasn't letting her know the fact. For all intents, it appeared to be completely unawares of her slow and gradual approach.

As it came fully into view, she could see that the Hollow was larger than herself, but smaller than the others she had faced so far. It resembled a large cat in build, with sleek black skin that stood in stark contrast to its deathly white mask. Two additional appendages sprouted from each forward shoulder, sweeping back and staying thin and lithe until ending in a large, fan-like structure that appeared to have a different texture on the underside. She couldn't guess what those limbs might be used for, but the thought of being caught by them caused her to worry.

As the monster moved with precision and calm around overturned boxes and towards the entrance to a large building with a wall made almost entirely of glass, Hanako quietened her breaths and steadied her sword in its sheathe. Her eyes swiveled where the beast was now facing, helping to guide her other extrasensory abilities into the unknown. There, she could feel a number of much weaker spirits -humans cowering from the disaster happening all around them. They were too closely huddled to take an accurate count, but Hanako steeled herself to act.

Slowly, and ever so carefully, she circled around the entrance into the building, now clearly filled with clothes, and kept where she had hoped would be behind the creature and out of its line of sight. So far, so good...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hollow Dispatched}None this post. Hanako has spotted her first mini boss Hollow!

[Gael Hendrickson]

As Gael sat on the ground, stomach churning and threatening to spill out he heard the other person. The being in question who was making his stomach churn. He didn't want to have the conversation he was going to have. . . but unfortunately, he needed to have it with them. He listened as they made their way over and took a moment to look over his body. . . . They have a point. . . I really should have been more careful. . . Next time I'll be more careful. . . I'll . . . oh fuck. . . nope I'm going to vomit. Gael immediately pushed himself up and walked to the other side of the car and began vomiting. Unapologetically just spewing up lunch, his breakfast, and anything else he'd even considered eating.

Throughout it he could hear Ren continue to speak that same comfortable tone with him. It was probably fair given they'd fought hollows up until this point but still. His previous commentary continued to ring and bounce around in his head. By the time he was finally done he slowly stood up with the assistance of his poleaxe and slowly pulling himself back together. He looked Ren in his . . . "eyes" if you could call the dots that. And spoke with a new ragged voice. "I . . . You're right about the blood. . . Ugh. . . And thank you as well. . . fuck though there still more hollows. . . I'll work on fighting them later . . . just need a few. . . However. . . I need you to tell me a couple things first." Gael looked at Renn, eyes hard and not upset at him per say but at the possible truth behind his words. Both recent and previously spoken.

He had to pull himself together a bit more before he could ask the question, he didn't really want the answer to. "You said you're a quincy . . . but you feel . . . abnormal. Never felt anything like it. What are you? . . . More importantly "Letzt Stil"? I thought only our arrows destroyed souls. . . I thought. . . are you telling me every hollow I've killed with ginto . . . and my reiatsu just . . . remove the hollow AND human souls? . . From existence? If so, are you certain?" Gael grew especially pale at the question regarding the fate of the hollows and human souls he had killed. Self-defense or not, it was a sin he couldn't really bear if he just removed them out of existence. Forever. It's why he never shot arrows. Beyond the fact he couldn't create a bow anyway but still he was so scared to create a bow and even try to fire arrows if it meant the removal of souls from existence.

Gods if this is true . . . The shinigami were right to hunt us. . . We're monsters . . . no soul deserves that. Not when there's hell . . . unless we don't have that? No surely, we do. My dad said its real . . . Fuck . . . I may start heaving if this is true. As Gael kept letting his mind keep going down a perpetual rabbit hole. All the while being silent and waiting for the ominous answer that may await him. There was a part of him that was thankful he had the time to even ask these questions. He couldn't imagine how things would go down if he was learning about this mid fight. He'd have likely stopped everything he was doing despite the circumstances. But still he was hoping against hope that they were wrong or that it was uncertain. That there was a chance.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hollows Killed}
16/65 base hollows killed

1/5 mini boss hollows killed

0/1 bosses killed

[Hanako Nozawa]

The seconds felt like minutes in and of themselves, as she carefully entered the department store after the Hollow. Every foot fall had to be carefully placed and planned, her senses aware of so much as kicking even the smallest stone and giving away her presence before she had gotten close enough to attack. All the while, the beast continued to stalk ever forward, its eyes never moving from the door behind which helpless mortals were hiding. It raised its head, for just a moment, and in that moment, Hanako gripped the hilt of her zanpakutō and steeled herself to move quickly...

However, she was given pause. Not by any thought of her own or an action in the room; she was given pause by the presence of laughter building and echoing monstrously off the walls. It was a puzzling thing. It was a disturbing thing. It was filled with malice and hatred and pride all wrapped up into one awful sound. The way it made her skin crawl and her spine go dead cold was altogether a new experience for the would-be Shinigami, and it took her a moment to realize why that was:

She had never heard a Hollow speak before!

"Come out... Come out... Wherever you are... My morsels!" The beast growled in a voice that seemed to echo against even itself, bouncing behind the constraints of its mask before finally escaping out into the world. Its breaths came each with a laughter of their own as it crept ever closer to the door. It knew where to find its prey. It knew they couldn't fight back! It reveled in this, and enjoyed prolonging the moment in which it would strike! It wasn't that it didn't care for the harm it did, but rather that it truly, sickeningly enjoyed its role in this world.

Hanako fought to swallow the lump in her throat. Her hands shook, rattling the sword in its sheathe unawares. The beast stopped and raised its head, and with a slowness that came from confidence and glee both, it turned itself around.

She moved, acting on reflex instilled into her by years of training! The debris underfoot shuddered and buckled, signaling the end of her care as she drew her weapon and leapt at the Hollow while its back was still turned! Its ghastly yellow eyes found hers, and Hanako felt a fear the likes of which she had never known before. In the next moment, her sword flew through the space between the Hollow's neck and its mask, and she landed on the other side in quiet realization: she had felt no resistance.

No blood stained her sword.

Hanako spun on the ball of her foot just in time to see the last vestiges of the Hollow's form fade like mist in the morning light, then its voice filled the room again. A deep and dark laughter bounced from the walls, and she struggled to find the hilt of her sword with both hands again as her eyes flitted quickly back and forth for where it had gone.

"What a nice little trick..." It breathed from nowhere and everywhere all at once. Hanako's eyes opened as wide as they could go when even her sixth sense failed to discover the beast. "You hide yourself well." The air felt... wrong for a moment, and Hanako almost didn't have the time to respond as her senses became alight with the desire to move again! Pressure appeared to her right, and she dove forward just as the black skin of the Hollow entered her view! She rolled across the ground, turning as she came to a stop on one knee and raising her weapon defensively in front of her! An arm's reach away, the Hollow retracted its mysterious extra appendage; the fan-like organ on its end now splayed out to reveal a set of sharp claws that it had concealed.

Then, before she could retaliate, its entire form faded into the background of the world just like before. Hanako tilted her head and stood, her confusion prominent in her puzzled expression.

"Fast, too, but stupid." It laughed again. She was desperately trying to piece together what sort of ability this monster possessed before it struck again. She knew that it could hide not only its reiatsu, but its physical form, as well. She knew that it could speak to her while it was in this state. She surmised it couldn't attack without reappearing again first...

"Heh," she chuckled with a false bravado. "Look who's talking. Attacking from the side, instead of behind me? Who taught you how to ambush?" Her voice still shook, giving away her fear of the moment. The Hollow didn't respond immediately, so she couldn't tell what it might have been thinking or doing then. When it spoke, she couldn't tell where its voice was coming from, nor did its footsteps appear to make any sound she could hear. However, if she could bait it...

The pressure reappeared again, and Hanako reacted! Dropping down, she twisted her body around her knees and almost sat on the sides of her ankles, bringing the cutting edge of her zanpakutō around and up in the same swift motion! This time, she felt resistance! Blood spilled on a nearby rack of clothes, and she rolled to the side as a piercing cry of anger and pain filled the air! On the ground, lay the creature's fan-like appendage, now severed from its shoulder. In her hand, her bloodied sword stayed ready for its next attack!

"Now, who's stupid?" Hanako smirked at the Hollow as it faded again like mist. Quickly, she stood and readied herself. She didn't think that she could bait it like she had done again, but now, it was hurt. It might make more mistakes if she continued to press it. "Here, kitty-kitty~" Her mouth played with the words as she slowly stepped around the room with gradual and careful steps. Her goal was to get a wall behind her so that it couldn't sneak up on her again; it was frightening just how small of a window she would have to react once it attacked her. Fortunately, it hadn't caught her just yet. She wanted to keep things that way.

"You arrogant little shit!" There was definitely a new level of rage to its voice now, much more deeply felt than before. She inhaled slowly to try and keep herself calm, but her hands still shook around her zanpakutō. Even the smallest noise had her head on a swivel, alert for anything at all that might suggest the next attack. "I'm going to enjoy tearing out your entrails! I'll make you watch as I gorge myself on your corpse!"

The feeling of the creature's reiatsu returned! Hanako squeaked from her throat, and dove to the side just as the Hollow's remaining limb missed her shoulder by an inch! However, her feet hadn't left the ground! Keeping her balance on one foot, Hanako spun herself on her toes towards the Hollow's body, and swung her sword high! Again, she felt the resistance of flesh and bone, and again, the Hollow howled in pain!

"Hah!" As more damned blood sprayed into the room, she rushed her target head-on against every fiber of her body screaming at her to flee! Her sword flashed, reflecting the light from overhead as she swung it horizontally! However, the beast was still quick! It raised its body up, and avoided her attack before falling again with all its weight on top of the woman who had harmed it!

"Too slow, nyanko-kun~" Her voice rang from underneath the beast, where Hanako lay crouched underneath its large form. The curve of her sword pressed upwards, seeming to hold its weight at bay before she darted to the side and out from under her foe! Its scream echoed, and an unearthly amount of blood spilled onto the floor as she hopped up and onto a metal rack -away from its reach. The Hollow flailed, its stomach opened by her sword, and shouted unintelligibly all the obscenities it could muster in its agony. While her confident smirk remained, however, Hanako's eyes had dimmed a little.

She didn't wish this kind of suffering on even the Hollow.

"I hope you find peace, nyanko." Her words were only met by more obscenities. With another leap, she landed upon its back, and her weight sent the beast toppling to its side. Gripping her weapon in both hands, she swung and severed its head from its neck, ending the thing's accursed existence with a mercy.

As blood pooled on the floor from the creature's wounds, Hanako leapt off of it and landed safely away. Her uniform was stained, dotted with flecks of the Hollow's blood; except for one sleeve that she now could see was soaked with the sludge. While the Hollow's corpse disintegrated, and even its spilled blood vanished from the room, she was left to pout as her clothes and skin remained marred by the aftermath of the battle. She felt grimy, and a little sick at the smell. No doubt those would only get worse as her adrenaline wore off.

Hanako exhaled, long and slowly, and wiped the ick from her sword before returning it to its sheathe. She wondered just how long this would go on for. Were other Shinigami not going to arrive to aid against the horde? Were there not others capable of defending themselves? Visibly shaken by her experience, she breathed again and placed a hand to her heart in an effort to steady herself.

"Nobody ever said they could talk." She breathed again, and made her way for the door. Her thoughts continued to swirl as chaotically in her mind as the situation did outside. However, she couldn't stop yet. There was still more to do...

[Ren Akasawa]

“Abnormal? Guilty as charged.” He shrugged, unable to argue against that accusation while whatever scraps of reishi dominance he had left were busy holding his current form together. “Soul's a bit broken right now, is all. Lost my powers, can't draw reishi worth anything like this, can't use any proper techniques either. ‘Least until I can do something to earn the Saint Emperor's attention for a moment, his majesty's blessing could patch what's left of me together ‘ith no problem at all.” Perhaps that had been too idealistic a belief, but it made sense from Ren's point of view. He needed a miracle, and so he worked hard to earn the favor of the only one who could possibly grant it to him. If he couldn't do it through achievements, he would do it through sheer tenacity.

He didn't break off the eye contact as he continued onto the question that seemed more important to his less experienced companion with a literal manic gleam. “Way I learned it, arrows, ginto, the six properties of your cross, it's all made of the same stuff in the end. All of them dissolve souls into the last silence.” Or at least, that was what he'd been told during his short stay in the ice castle. He didn't understand the theory behind it, but quincy properties were literally a part of their bow, and ginto spells were made from quincy reiryoku and ambient reishi just like arrows were. “That's the purpose of all Quincy— to tear down the walls between this realm of flesh and the realms of raw soul.” Ren paused for breath; he'd been speaking a bit too fast towards the tail end of that.

“Most quincy have banded together under the Sankt Kaiser, our saint emperor, to create that paradise as soon as possible. That is the Vandenreich, a quincy empire aiming to create a world where there's no such thing as death to separate us from the people we care about. Long while back the shinigami slaughtered most of us, ‘ey planned to kill every last one, from the twenty-five holy star knights chosen by the Emperor himself down to children who hadn't learned to draw a bow yet.” A well-timed droplet of reishi from the failure's perpetually melting halo ran down his face as though it were a single tear. “Since that happened, the empire's been hiding out in tne icy cold, ‘cept for the few quincy ran away and tried to live like they were human. Guessin’ that's where you came from?” Ending on that note, he leaned back against a car and rested his arms on the roof behind him, like that speech had taken more energy out of him than the actual fight.

It was at that moment that the ground began to bleed, as though the concrete and asphalt were wounded. Mere seconds later, the cars and buildings joined in. A lake of blood erupted into being to cover just over fifteen meters in every direction from Ren's distorted form, save for a small bubble around Gael. Any surfaces within a foot of the free Quincy miraculously spared... at least until they moved, at which point the safe zone moved with them, but the existing mass of sticky dark red fluid didn't bother to move out of their way. Though the lake of blood could and did move under its own power, the entire mass shifted and churned in slow motion as droplets began to break free from the surface and drift through the air at incredibly low speeds.

Ren paid no mind to the situation, so what if the world was bleeding? That happened so often he would have lost count of how many times years ago, and the failure had never actually counted. It was scary the first few times, and from then on, it was just another thing that happened, no different than unpleasant weather in his mind. All that mattered about this particular instance was that there was a deeply alien cry that now echoed through the failure's heart and mind. Even though it was new and unfamiliar, he understood it to be one of elation but not of victory, as Blood Drive seemed unusually pleased to have found a quincy. Ren wasn't sure if it was a sign that the flood was finally on the right track for whatever it was searching for or if it simply shared his joy in finding another of his own kind.

“Relax. ‘Ya got the flood's attention is all. All it ever does is watch. won't hurt us, won't hurt the hollows either.” He explained in a tone most of Karakura’s citizens would have used to say the bus was running late that day. An attempt to mitigate any fear his companion may have felt at the sight while also making it clear that he and it were separate entities. He knew this thing well enough to recognize that it wasn't a reflection of any part of him. More like a highly independent and standoffish pet with a few disturbing habits, like a cat, only—wait, no, that was exactly like a cat.

SPOILER: Click to show

{No Price Paid}Rei Points> 225/300

SPOILER: Click to show

{Release Activated}Blood Drive charging posts—
—Gael (6/6)

Blood Drive stats
OS: 1
Speed: 7
Amount: Millions and rapidly increasing.
Duration: Until Ren spends four (4) posts with no other characters within 50 feet of his body.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Zero}No hollows were harmed in the making of this post.

[Ume Oboro]

Ume had waited long enough. She had set up equipment all over the city in hopes of gathering any and all information she could One particular location she had put some equipment near was by the building which contained a supposedly fairly nondescript zaibatsu named Uzaki Enterprises. Ume, however, knew that things were not what they seemed with the "company" and once she corroborated what she had found out in the field with what was already documented, she could make a report on the matter and decide if further investigation was warranted. 

It had also been some time since there had been anomalous activity inside Karakura town. That meant that it was the perfect  time for Ume to recover her data and analyze it since nothing could possible happen. Nothing. Ever. So, as she started taking down information from the place where her equipment had been left, and she had just started downloading data, and she heard a noise that sent a chill up her spine, the opening up of a gargantua, Ume couldn't help whine at the serendipity that was being inflicted on her. 

"You have got  to be kidding me..." She growled. She blinked and leered at the gargantua as it coughed up Hollow after Hollow into the quiet streets. "Stupid." She hissed and reached inside of her labcoat. She pulled out an energy drink and snapped it open. She guzzled it down in under a minute without even taking a breath and then tossed it down as a bit of energy drink flavored drool dripped from the corners of her mouth. 

"Well..." Ume barked. "It sure is good that we have a whole building of spiritually aware humans, isn't it." Ume said, leering at the building and a sneer. "I guess I should be careful, though." the NEET said as she pushed aside her labcoat to reveal a long glass jar strapped to her side. It had a closed lid and a handle sticking out the middle. Inside the jar was a murky looking liquid that made it hard to tell what was exactly inside of it, until every so often an unlidded eyeball would bump against the glass. 

Ume grabbed the handle and puled up. With a disgusting slurping noise, as she extracted what was now a straight iron bar with a hilt. It was dripping juices and covered in unlidded, yet somehow still blinking eyeballs. She started pacing around the perimeter of the building and at each corner she plucked one of the eyeballs off the bar and smashed it into the railing,and at each halfway point dropped one over the edge. Each time they smashed, they left behind a small, nearly invisible mark. 

Once she was finished, she resheathed the bar and pulled her equipment to the center of the building and went about her business. Once more, she had  to feel like Uzaki might do what they need to do, but she also knew that she, herself, having a zanpakutou that never sealed itself, was bit of a beacon for those who were keen on detecting reiatsu, as much as she might try and mask it. 

Eventually. what Ume predicted happened. She watched as zanpakutou started running rampant around and near the building with no one seemingly coming out to do a thing about it. With a sigh, Ume lamented if anyone was even in the building, but, of course, she knew the exact  count and what they were doing. Ume was content to watch the rest of the hollow's path of destruction, but suddenly, one of them decided to get a little froggy- quite literally. 

High in the air, a frog-like hollow had leapt up to the building in a single bound. While it descended, it cackled at Ume. "Did you think you could hide up here, shinigami!" It croaked. 

Ume held out her zanpakutou. "Yeah, I did." She growled. "Thankfully you look pretty stupid. Not like most  hollow. I can probably defeat something like you  with no trou-" 

"Haaaaa! Stupid!?" The frog hissed and lashed out its tongue. "How will you kill me without your zanpakutou!?" It said as the tonge wrapped around Nijuume. Her eyebrow raised and she couldn't help but grin. "Why are you laughing!?" It shouted as the tongue squeezed and jerked. Instead of yanking Ume's zanpakutou free, it popped two of the eyeballs. Then, suddenly it dropped much faster than it was falling. 

The frog-Hollow crashed into the roof of the building and landed on its back. It appeared to be gurgling and twitching  as Ume carefully gathered up the Hollow's tongue and stuffed it into it's mouth. "You're even dumber than you look. Of all the zanpakutou in the world, you picked the least delicious one. I would say that it's even more funny that the last thing you'll get to see before you die is your own head exploding, but... we both  know that won't be all  you see. Unfortunately you didn't know that until just now." 

Ume then shoved the tongue into the frog's mouth completely and stepped away. As it twitched and looked around frantically, desperate croaking could be heard coming from it. Once Ume was back to where her equipment was, she held out her free hand and snapped her fingers. 

*Booom!*

There was a loud, forceful explosion, like that of a grenade going off, followed by chunks of the frog Hollow being blown in every direction before dissipating. Ume went back to checking her data as if nothing was happening. 

___________________________

1 Hollow Killed this post!

___________________________

Reiatsu 2300/2400 | 10 Eyeballs |

-100 Blink

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and skills}Reiatsu: 2400

Strength:30
Speed: 200
Reiatsu Strength: 30
Spiritual Pressure: 160 (240) (+50%)
Instinct:110
Senses: 110
Energy Sensory: 110
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
Healing Expertise: 0

15/15
Hoho 2
Memory 2
Analyzing 2
Learning 2
Illusion Resist 2
Anti-Stealth 2
Hacking 2
Acrobatics 1

[Gael Hendrickson]

Gael sat in abject horror as he listened to Ren speak. The acknowledgement of their form wasn't really that big a deal. By this point there was no hiding it. BUT THE WHY, now THAT freaked out Gael something fierce. His SOUL was fractured and made into this. . . thing. Which explained why he was oozing reiatsu, it was like a dam that was shattered with streams of water leaking through the cracks. However, what kept him on his toes was this "Saint Emperor". Gael actually managed to calm down from his previous concerns over the other's soul based on this new information. Though it really only brought up more questions as he'd never heard of this "emperor". Which if they were so important, you'd think his father would have mentioned it at some point. But no, there was nothing. This being was about as new as the idea of everything he did deleting souls from existence.

Which speaking of Gael had to listen to that commentary also. And it only started up the dry heaving that much worse. Every hollow he'd killed. Not just recent but back as he grew up and when he moved here. Despite never firing an arrow off, he'd killed them with his poleaxe. Said poleaxe that was currently disappearing as if ashamed of the big secret being revealed. And honestly, Gael couldn't stop his stomach from twisting and churning despite being emptied of any and all contents. Even his legs went weak and it truly felt like his own soul was leaving his body. Which at this point, Gael wouldn't have even fought. It was genuinely the right thing to do in his opinion given he could NEVER bring back those he'd doomed.

As Ren continued talking, or more accurately preaching Gael swore that are some point the world around him went red. With tears in his eyes from the stress he wasn't certain if he'd vomited up blood from all the stress he was undergoing. Or if maybe he'd been hallucinating. The latter would have been especially preferable in his opinion. But then Ren, ever the conversationalist at this point spoke up again and made mention that this was his "flood". A very real, very present lake of blood that was very conveniently not engulfing him at the moment. And frankly Gael wished he could have vomited again because the sheer sight of it all was horrendous. Genuinely, Ren's presence and information just seemedd to keep making this actually terrible day worse. And it just wasn't going to stop any time soon if he had to guess.

Gael stood up shakily and slowly, trying to regain his composure in general. Let alone his ability to think critically but he was all over the place. As he put a hand to his head and try to calm himself he could damn near physically hear his thoughts as they rampaged through his mind. They're gone. They're gone. All of them. Gone. I'm no better than bount. . . I just . . . killed them. THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE! SHIT! What do I do about the city then? There's still more hollows yet . . . and people are in danger. They're being consumed no less. What do I do? What would dad do? What would my brother do?! Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK! Maybe there's a way to save them? Does kill them through blood loss do anything? What if I use a weapon that's not imbued with my rieatsu? What could possibly be used that isn't something I've got on my person??

Gael looked around him feverishly but found everything to just be blood. There was nothing in his sight that he could find. Sure there was likely something hidden amongst the red liquid but of all things Gael didn't wan to deal with, it was that. He'd have to find something . . . But in the meantime they needed to go to another area. Clear out more hollows. Do something that would save those who hadn't been eaten yet. The screams of the hollows around still hadn't subsided though they were growing pauses in between the screams. So that meant they were doing something right. Gael nodded to himself and took a deep breath to steady himself just a fraction of an amount so he could search the world around him for the next pack of hollows. The were a few more groups but the closest ones to him and Ren were those in the apartment complexes. It would be a run but fuck, it'd let Gael think and hopefully get himself pulled together.

He turned around to Ren and tried to speak. Stopped. Then steeled himself for a moment before speaking shakily. "W-we-we're needed in . . . other areas. . . I'm going to the apartment complexes. If you follow, please be in the air. . . I can't imagine people want to see. . . this. . . more than they already have. Also, my name. . . sorry my name is . . . Gael. You've said a lot of things I need to think on. But you're right about one thing at least, I've never heard of your emperor. While I don't agree with your group's ideology of "erase all" with the powers given . . . what it does to others I'm in no position to fault you. Make no mistake though, I won't be using my powers again until I can stop removing things from existence. I never . . . It's not . . . It's not worth it."

"Your emperor, I pray will assist you in fixing your soul and that they aren't as cruel as he seems to give so many this . . . burden of being able to remove everything from existence. I'm sorry for any offense." With his shaky thoughts said and the fear in his eyes and body, Gael started running off towards the apartment complex. Though his breathing was ragged and his thoughts were in disarray, he had to do something. The people didn't deserve this. They deserved to live their lives and not be made into something they weren't. And they didn't deserve to be banished from all existence. While Gael didn't know what to do, he knew where to be and that'd have to be enough for now. He'd figure out the rest on the way. . . hopefully.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hollows Killed}
17/65 base hollows killed

2/5 mini boss hollows killed

0/1 bosses killed

SPOILER: Click to show

{Current Locations of Hollows}
Near Uzaki Enterprises

Apartment complex

Shopping District

Karakura Park

Near Xcution's southern hidden entrance

[Raphael Laurent]

Raphael was sitting at his desk, taking care of a few reports. It was a nice day and, admittedly, he wasn't really in a "report writing" mood, but he needed to get these submitted before four. He was almost done and it was only two. After this he could go and get some food. He could already taste the ramen that he was going to get. Oh it was going to be so good... Just needed to make sure that the numbers were accurate. The number of hollow attacks had been steadily increasing, since the destruction of New York and Moscow. Worse still there were so many different groups taking advantage of it...

The strong feeling of spiritual pressure rocked him to his core, hollow spiritual pressure. He'd become so accuutely aware of the feeling and density that it practically made his heart dance. It hadn't been long, but the feeling was...exhilerating. Knowing that he might have another fight on his hands excited him.

That...was when he felt a different spiritual pressure, someone... what the hell were they doing? Getting up from his desk, he took a few steps forward. It felt like... a shinigami. What in the world were they doing, though? The behavior felt incredibly erratic. He could't tell what was going on. But, he knew that hollows were out there and that, even if he didn't want to fight them, and he very much did, he was going to have to regardless. Not to mention that someone was screwing around the building.

The elevator ride down was uneventful and he took the time to steel himself, mentally, for what was most likely to be an argument of some kind or another. Shinigami always seemed so certain that their way was the right way. And that anything done by the humans or quincies was aways going to be so wrong that it wasn't worth entertaining their ideas. Kazura had already stressed, once before, that the shinigami, while allies, were cautious ones, and Raph had made note to be careful around them.

The moment that he opened the door, however, a frog detonated. Well, a hollow that looked like a frog did, anyways. Then, a woman in a lab coat, checked over data of some kind.

"Uhm, excuse me?" Raphael said, as he exited the building. "This is kind of private property. Can I help you with something?" It was quite clear that he was looking at, and addressing Ume, while the people around him were screaming and running around in a panic. "...you're kinda not helping with the panic."

[Ren Akasawa]

“‘ll be following ‘ya, can't sense where the hollows are on my own. Give you some space on the way, too, since ‘ya clearly need it.” Ren hadn't realized just how overzealous he had been until he heard Gael's claims of swearing off their quincy abilities entirely. He meant for the promise of the coming deathless wahrwelt to lead them into embracing their arrows with the knowledge that every soul dissolved was a step towards a better world, but the stray quincy seemed to be utterly repulsed by the idea of releasing even one soul from the artificial and pointless cycle of reincarnation. Did I… break him somehow? Eh, he'll come around once the hollows pressure him enough.

The rust-red lake below rapidly expanded in every direction with every step Ren took while spiraling up into the air. While the areas no longer in range ceased writing in slow motion and collapsed, every drop that exited the flood's radius remained exactly as substantial as it had been inside, and the failure's higher position allowed the upper floors of buildings to transform into cascades of flowing red that fell far faster under natural gravity than their supernatural movements at ground level could have achieved. What moved with his body and reiatsu was Blood Drive's infinite creation; the fake blood that it had already created would never fade, never change, and never dry. It would persist, clinging tightly to existence, until the day another soul clashed against it.

He'd settled into a casual pace where he lagged behind and above Gael at just over three stories into the air as they traveled onwards, his movements more destructive than they would have been if he had stayed at ground level as the sphere of creation was able to reach both above and below him where it had formerly kept its lower half restricted to whatever underground tunnels and pipes he'd been unknowingly walking near. Where once there had been a lake, there was now a vast river of imitation quincy blood that marked where the pair had been. And all the while, the flood continued its joyful song for an audience of one, a serenade for the failure who did not understand.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Infinite creation at no cost}Rei Points> 225/300

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{Permanent creation at no cost}Blood Drive charging posts—
—Gael (Complete)

Blood Drive stats
OS: 1
Speed: 7
Amount: Tens of millions and still rapidly increasing.
Duration: Until Ren spends four (4) posts with no other characters within 50 feet of his body.

SPOILER: Click to show

{No destruction}No hollows were harmed in the making of this post.

[Leonie Dallmann]

"ATTENTION:

Karakura Town currently appears to be swarming with an unnatural Hollow presence. Cause of such is currently being determined, but information remains difficult to obtain at the moment. Multiple Privat have lost their lives in His Majesty's name already after attempting to quell these attacks. Any spare hands that can make their way to Karakura Town, please do so. I fear time is of the essence before an unnecessary number of casualties continues to ramp into exasperate amounts.

-Sternritter R, The Rōnin."

Seemed some sort of operation was at hand today. It hadn't been long since she'd been let go from the hospital, after her incident with Privat Krieger had unfolded. Leonie knew full-well that putting that girl in her place was her first goal, but she'd need to grow more capable before something like that could happen. While she'd been given the offer to train alongside a General, she wanted to see just what she could do before taking him up on such an offer.

This little excursion was the perfect opportunity.

After a fair amount of preparation, the Captain stepped into the shadowed area she'd created for herself not a moment before in order to travel between the Worlds. Truthfully it was something she'd gotten pretty used to over time, but still left her a little disoriented afterward. She couldn't help but wonder just why that was, but it wasn't something that concerned her at the time. For now? Her effort was to be placed on eradicating Hollows.

Arriving within the Market District, Leonie nodded her head to herself. Ultimately, she began to think, this place has to have one of the larger concentrations of Hollow life; at least a forty-five percent increase over nearby locations. She chuckled at the thought. "All right... Captain Leonie Dallmann, commencing extinction."

Cracking her neck in preparation, the girl allowed her spiritual presence to make itself known rather prominently. Flexing her immense spiritual pressure across the locale, Leonie did what she could to act as close to living hollow bait as possible. Even more, those with minimal or near-no sensory capabilities should've easily been able to pick up the traces of her spiritual signature.

Seeing as a small pack of Hollows quickly filtered in, the girl smiled. Taking a precursory glance over them, she made immediate note of the fact that they didn't seem the most intelligent. The way they carried themselves was primal, almost ravenous. Like a pack of wild animals, not yet realizing they were about to be cornered. "Curious," she started, "a lionlike mongrel, alongside two wolflike ones as well. No signs of sapience amongst them however; seems they've inherited the minimal intellect Hollows tend to possess."

As she finished speaking, the lion - presumably the leader of the group - snarled toward her. "Who do you think you're calling 'minimal intellect?" The beast spoke, his voice deep and gravelly. The moment this occurred, it prompted a response from the Quincy girl. "Oh! It can talk! Quite surprising, though not unaccounted for; a small chance this was the case, and one that's been long-since accounted for."

As she finished speaking, the girl simply held her arms behind her back, the small hanging portions of her sleeves waving in the wind. Truthfully, it was quite comfortable wearing such a big coat. Especially when utilizing her hands wasn't something she'd really needed to do in a fight. "If you're done prattling about, I'd love to see how many seconds it takes before you're reduced to spirit dust."

Another growl followed thereafter. "You bitch!" The beast called out, before taking hastened steps forward. Truth be told, he likely would've gotten a fair bit closer, if she'd not immediately went on the offensive. Once she sensed any semblance of aggression, Leonie took action without so much as moving a muscle.

Seemingly from nowhere, a series of comets manifested above the Lion, before slamming downward into the beast's back with noticeable force. Shouting in agonizing pain as the bombardment continued, Leonie couldn't help but maintain a soft smile. "Ah," she started, "truly, my favorite part of this experience. Say, shall the two of you like to play as well?" Her eyes darted between both of the remaining Hollows.

Each taking a step back, rather timid in how they held themselves after witnessing the massacre she'd just brought about, neither of them dared speak a word. "Mm, I'll take that's a yes?" As her question finished, one hand moved from behind her back to ready her bow.

Firing a single arrow at each of them, the girl smiled when both made their individual attempts to dodge; one upward, and one diving in closer to the girl herself. The jumping one was quite easy to deal with; another bombardment of comets quickly brought him back down, and into the ground.

The other however, was going to prove a bit more interesting to deal with. As it leapt in toward her to snap at her legs, Leonie took a leap back, seeing the attack coming from a mile away. "A predictable countermeasure," she retorted, "my studies estimate a 87.6% chance of this occurring once more."

Funnily enough, that was exactly what'd happened thereafter. Chasing her movements once again, the beast closed in toward Leonie, before looking to go in for another leap. This time however, she'd be prepared. Once the wolf had gotten within melee, but just a moment prior to sinking its teeth into her leg, the girl let loose another comet, this time at point-blank range.

Blasting the wolf into the ground, similarly to the force behind the previous attacks, the girl let out a soft sigh as her bow dematerialized. "Hollows these days..." She shook her head. As the encounter proved to wrap itself up, the girl began to explore, looking for really anything - or anyone - she could find. Drawing in reishi in the area, the girl continued to do what she could to exist as a living beacon.

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{Leonie's Stats & Skills}
Type: Cunning

Leonie's Stats:

Strength: 200 [140]
Speed: 200 [200]
Reiatsu Strength: 100 [70]
Spiritual Pressure: 400 [600]
Senses: 100 [100]
Instinct: 400 [700]
Energy Sensory: 100 [100]
Healing Expertise: 0 [0]

Light Aura: 0
Dark Aura: 100
----------

Analyzing: 2 [Free]
Battle Analysis: 2
Calm Mind: 2
Strength of Will: 2
Pain Tolerance: 2
Learning: 2
Memory: 2

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{Reiatsu Pool: 5,300/6,000}
-100 for Weltraumfelsen activation - Comet Stance.
-150 for Meteorregen activation.
-600 for x20 Class 5 arrows.
+150 from Quincy regen.

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{Class 6 Form - Weltraumfelsen (lit. ‘Space Rock’)}

Activation Cost: 100 Reiatsu.

Starting off Leonie’s abilities, Weltraumfelsen augments the shape of the girl’s arrows. Upon activation of this property, Leonie chooses either comets or meteorites. While active, this property will turn the girl’s arrows into either comets or meteorites, either applying severe frostbite or third degree burns to areas struck, respectively, depending on which “stance” the girl is in. These comets and meteorites start small, with a three-inch radius at Class 6, and gain one foot per Class, capping at an eight-inch radius with Class 1 arrows. Spending 50 reiatsu allows the girl to swap to the other “stance” when she likes. Class 6 and 5 arrows require 1 Rank in Cold/Heat Tolerance to resist the frostbite and burns, respectively. This goes up to 2 Ranks with Class 4 and 3 arrows, and 3 Ranks with Class 2 and 1 arrows.

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{Class 5 Firing - Meteorregen (lit. ‘Meteor Shower’)}

Activation Cost: 150 Reiatsu.

Instead of firing from her bow, Meteorregen allows Leonie to instead fire her arrows from the sky. By paying the normal Reiatsu cost, Leonie’s arrows manifest ten feet above the location she’s looking to hit, before pelting down. In buildings or areas where the ceiling is below 10 feet, it instead manifests at the ceiling. In order for her to pick an area to pelt, either the area she’s looking to strike needs to be within her sight, or the area in which she wants to create the arrows needs to be within her sight. Arrows can only be fired downward from this effect.

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{Kill Count}
3 Hollows ruthlessly purified in His Majesty's name.

[Ume Oboro]

Ume watched the entire thing, all while collecting her data and keeping an eye out for other hollows. The lump of mass hunched over a desk. The careful scratching at paper, typing, anything that needed to be done to continue the tedium of whatever façade(Ume was sure that it was a façade, or some kind of shell corporation) needed to be put up so that no one thought Uzaki Enterprises was what it actually  was. The decision to finally acknowledge the world around him and the long elevator ride down to the outside world. 

Never did Ume react to any of this, nor did she flinch when Raphael appeared in her presence, but she seen it. When she was confronted, she didn't even turn to look at him. She didn't need to. She could see him clearly from several angles. Instead she cleared her throat and snorted. "So, do you want me to point out that if you can see me, then you know a threat of trespassing is about as useful as a hole in a ship? Or, should I apologize for not letting that horrible thing eat me because how dare I not. That certainly would have decreased the panic, me dying and that thing being allowed to continue to terrorize everyone else." Ume said with a tone that was as bored as it was sarcastic. 

The messy NEET closed her eyes and pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, I thought that your company was just content to watch what was happening. Really, I should be asking you some questions but, if you want to help me, then, go out there and deal with those things." Ume shivered, just thinking about the disgusting hollows. 

Ume sighed again and stood up. She held up her zanpakutou and with a swipe of her hand, plucked four eyeballs off of them and spun around. She dropped to a crouch and flung them out in Raphael's direction. They whipped passed him and cleared the top of the building just as a pair of hollows poked their heads up. It was as if she could see their every movements. Each eyeball "popped" when it hit the hollows and then both suddenly flopped backwards off the building, crashing to the street below. Ume could see their writhing and twitching, even from her spot on the roof. 

'Well?" She asked. Her eyes lifted up. In the sky was the screech of something terrifying. Ume narrowed her eyes and lifted up her free hand. "That one is a lot bigger than the others. Are you going to help or am I going to run away?" Ume then snapped her fingers and from behind Raphael, down on the street, two more explosions ripped through the air, like two bombs going off. Two more Hollows exploding in two, big flashes of light and explosive reiatsu. 


___________________________

2 Hollow Killed this post!

___________________________

Reiatsu 2100/2400 | 6 Eyeballs |

-200 Blink x2

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and skills}Reiatsu: 2400

Strength:30
Speed: 200
Reiatsu Strength: 30
Spiritual Pressure: 160 (240) (+50%)
Instinct:110
Senses: 110
Energy Sensory: 110
Light Aura: 50
Dark Aura: 50
Healing Expertise: 0

15/15
Hoho 2
Memory 2
Analyzing 2
Learning 2
Illusion Resist 2
Anti-Stealth 2
Hacking 2
Acrobatics 1

[Hanako Nozawa]

It had taken a minute to finish catching her breath after the battle with the talking Hollow, but with her resolve holding in the face of adversity, she continued to make her way through the market district! With her presence hidden as much as she was capable, Hanako crept along the side of the road, keeping herself to the shadows of buildings, stands, and cars in order to remain out of sight of any passing Hollow. All the while, her senses stretched outwards and guided her towards the next source of dread and unease.

there, up ahead, she saw her next foe! Or foes, as it were. Two Hollow gnashed and snarled at one another, circling around a still and bloodied body lying in the middle of the road. Their individual size was nothing to scoff at, though she guessed from this distance that they were smaller than the Hollow she'd just slain. Her tongue moved from size to side in her mouth as she thought, her eyes sweeping over the area in search of anything that might stand out -or other Hollow capable of hiding themselves well enough that she couldn't detect! Fortunately, she didn't think there were any but the two present in at this time.

Bestial roars and sounds of defiant aggression deafened the ear as she crept nearer, holding her zanpakutō steady so as not to make a noise. The pair of Hollow lunged at one another, brawled for a moment, then backed off again. For that moment, she wondered if she could wait it out and finish off whichever one was the victor, but the words of her teachers rang in her mind: Hollow grow stronger when they consume one another. It might be for the best that she not wait and see, she thought.

So, steeling herself for the next moment's clash, Hanako broke into a run across the open ground! The sound of bone-splintering force shook the air and was followed by an otherworldly roar of pain and anger, covering the scrape of steel against sheathe as she drew her weapon! One foot kicked off the hard ground, and the other bounced from the roof of a car as she propelled herself high into the air in an arc towards her intended target!

"HYYAAAAH!" Hanako yelled, and she swung her zanpakutō down with both hands from behind the creature! Her blade found flesh, disconnected it from the bone, and severed the first Hollow's head before it had ever recognized that she was there! She landed, crouched on one knee and holding her bloodied sword to the side, and breathed deeply. In the second or two she spent recovering, the Hollow's fated foe absorbed what had happened, turned its gaze hungrily towards her, and roared as it reeled upwards to crash down upon her with all its weight! Hanako darted -not away, but towards the creature, and slipped by underneath its legs before massive arms could crush her to pulp!

The beast roared again, and teetered to the side on what was now a stump of a leg, spraying blood where she had cut through its knee. The earth shook as it fell, and Hanako was quick to turn on the ball of her foot and leap upon the monstrous prone form of her attacker! In another swift motion, she swung her zanpakutō through the meat of its throat, then again to finish the job before it could suffer.

She breathed again, deeply and slowly to settle and control her racing heart. Her senses remained sharp, and after a moment, she twirled her head this way and that to keep alert for anything that might have heard the attack. Fortunately, nothing appeared to be coming her way. However, before she could let herself relax again, a noise drew her attention nearby! Hanako spun on the ball of her foot, raised her weapon defensively, and-

Her breath caught in her throat, and she nearly threw her sword away for the quickness with which she lowered her weapon again. In the midst of the fight, in the chaos of those few moments, she hadn't realized another body had been present. The young girl looked up at her, tears and blood smeared across her face and a broken chain hanging from her chest. She was much too young to have come from the body nearby, which upon further inspection was still moving with shallow breaths. The realization hit the shinigami-to-be like a brick, and she fell to her knee and pulled the girl into her arms; she didn't care for how her uniform was becoming further stained by the second.

"Mama..." The child trembled, and she fought to keep it from looking at the near-dead body nearby. What was she supposed to do now? Hanako thought and thought about the situation, but there had been nothing in her training for this. The girl's chain of fate was broken, after all. There... There simply wasn't anything to do, was there?

Unable to think of a solution through the unintelligible torrent that were her thoughts, despite knowing quite well what she was supposed to do for the poor soul, Hanako stay still as the girl began to cry. Her own breath hitched in her throat, and quiet sobs soon joined the child's wails. She wanted to make this better. She wanted to provide comfort. She wanted to fix this in any way she could. She just... couldn't bring herself to do it yet. She dropped her zanpakutō to the ground and gingerly held the back of the child's head in her hand. The attack still continued, but for now, she couldn't imagine leaving the child to face the truth of its situation alone.

She simply couldn't.

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{Hollow Dispatched}2 Hollow defeated and purified!

[Caesar]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Things that arent releveant to the thread read for fun}Der Kaiser’s great Cathedral hummed and buzzed with traffic as men and women came to and from the large building of ice. A grand cathedral appeared to grasp at the sky as if to call Der Kaiser home. While on the outside it was crystal blue as the ocean of a sky that hovered above everyone yet on the inside it was a homely feeling. Halls and walls modernized and appeared as if they were in a modern day attempt to create a cathedral without making it feel ancient. Holy portraits of the Vandenreich’s exploits littered the wall as well as various artifacts that has been collected through the years both commemorating the Vandenreich of the past but also gave the future members to work for and grow inspired. A neutral black carpet seem to trail from the main entry way into the cathedral’s main Hall, its ceiling growing into what felt like an endless abyss above. As if Der Kaiser himself could reach down and grab anyone and bring them Home.

The Cathedral had rows upon rows of seating filled to the brim with members of the Vandenreich that had chosen that time to worship. Their heads bowed, their eyes closed and mouths mumbling their personal prayers to Der Kaiser. At the very center at the end sat Caesar, his pure white cloak which was more of a poncho rather than a cape was a way of allowing the General to dress in a formal dress blue attire while keeping up with the theme of Pure white, the only exception is on the back of the General’s was a simple emblem of the Vandenreich. Normally around this time Caesar would be delivering sermons, speaking with Captain supervisors, praying to Der Kaiser anything and at that moment Caesar sat at his throne, overseeing the members praying. His eyes moving towards what felt like a single line approaching his throne.

Their hoods draped over their faces, their ages varied and their ranks hidden. In the church of Der Kaiser rank was not necessarily important to pray to Der Kaiser as equals and some may have specific prayers they wish to say but their identities unknown for one reason or another. Almost immediately this sermon was interrupted as many of the rows in the back began to shuffle towards the exit in a hurry, a Vandenreich Captain handing out pamphlets as if it was candy. He had appeared to be in his early thirties, thirty-two if anything his crimson red hair slowly shifting into a shade of gray. His uniform on point and an arm full of pamphlets to hand out, while addressing those that were departing from the church he was stern. His eyes narrow and with purpose became fearful and full of dread the moment they had met Caesar’s eyes.

In that short span of time Caesar had crossed over the distance to the front and did not need to wait patiently to find his way to the front. Almost as if it was an act of Moses the Vandenreich splitted when it was clear that Caesar was approaching the captain as well. A salute with a pound loud enough to make others wonder if a bomb had gone off was followed by an announcement that was as strong as it was afraid of disappointing the man that stood before him ”C-APTAIN JOHN HERRMANN Reporting for Duty My Lord. I am here disseminating information and orders from Captain Supervisor R.” Almost as if presenting the head of the Captain Commander on a platter Herrmann’s knee collapsed onto itself as he bowed to the General paper in hand. In fact Caesar did not have to read it himself as if reading the situation in hand almost manifested itself in the crowd that had surrounded them and grasped onto the paper before pulling it backwards.
An unknown voice, young, stern, a private that wants to show their merit or an ambitious upper trying to impress the General spoke strongly and clearly, her voice almost booming and attempting to reach a tessitura range spoke ”My Lord Caesar it appears that Karakura town is under an attack of Hollow origin. Members of opposition and outside factions are reacting as well as ourselves. It is requesting all available hands to-” and like a missile screeching from its gates Caesar bolted for the same way other members were going and they were en route to Karakura town. Caesar’s reiatsu melting and blending with the area, almost becoming invisible he disappeared in the darkness.

In Karakura town, the fighting would continue as normal until… Snow. Snow began to gently fall from the sky, turning the pleasant sunshine into a dreadful reminder for the Shinigami that remembered and a show of strength for the Vandenreich that were there at the invasion of Soul Society a long time ago. The air became cold and stagnant as those that were sensitive to energy sensory would feel that of a Captain creating an ice castle at the center of one of Karakura’s Park, to those that were on the wrong side could breath easier as the expected flood of Vandenreich members escaping the castle only for it to light up the surrounding area as if a sunrise became a local thing and ensure there was a secure perimeter.

Those around this castle would hear a megaphone that was meant to reach as far as the majority of the Hollows found themselves. The voice spoke with military fervor, as if riling up privates from their sleep or reminding the enemy that they were there and they were not hiding. A thick german voice almost screamed when speaking through the speakers of the external perimeter ”ATTENTION ALL NON-HOSTILE COMBATANTS. VE ARE THE VANDENREICH. VE COME HERE AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF DER KAISER. VE OVVER NOZING BUHT TO OFFER HUMANITARIAN AID TO THOSE AFFECTED AND TO OFFER DEFENSE TO THOSE THAHT CAHN NOT FIGHT BACK. IF YOU SHOW UP AT OUR DOORS WITH HOSTILE INTENTION YOU WILL BE TAKEN DOWN. THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST AND FINAL WARNING. IF YOU ARE ARRANCAR OR HOSTILE TOWARDS THE VANDENREICH YOU VILL BE SHOT.”. this order would and should have reached the ears of all in the area.

However for the Lieutenant of the Vandenreich she would also find her support in the form of several members numbering in a total of four, three privates and one lieutenant. All appearing as if they were approaching their early if not late twenties all hollows in the immediate vicinity would disperse in a barrage of arrows if she had not taken care of themselves herself. The Lieutenant, jet black hair, pale skin and squarely defined facial features almost made the man look like a white box had chosen a human body to inhabit. ”Liutenant Dallmann? We have a forward base located at the following coordinates. We will offer food, rest and sanctuary that is in need but will execute anyone that tries to do otherwise. We are also planning on utilizing the castle to draw in all the hollows as well as the one responsible and personally execute the roach. Follow or don’t I got my job done.” and as quickly as they had arrived they were sprinting their way back.

Caesar stood at the gate of the church, on the outside the standard motif of the Vandenreich colors and banners flew as it was clear the church was being used for humanitarian aid. Those that can be comfortably IDed as Quincy and do not hold outward hatred towards the Vandenreich they were allowed the resources of the Vandenreich, food, shelter from the hollows as well a place to know more of the Vandenreich and Der Kaiser. For anyone that was spiritually aware would sense nothing from the man. For the better lack of words Caesar looked like a spiritually unaware old man standing in front of a place he shouldn’t be. On his person the General had strapped his colt to his thigh, the infinite bullet and rounds of quincy ginto tubes cluttered his pocket and strapped to the left of his side Der Kaisers Holy Light. Caesar did not intend to release this entire fight. He admired that there were others fighting back the Hollow and intended for all the cubs to become stronger. Stronger so that they may end each other, stronger so that the Vandenreich can bring them into the fold or allow the stronger cubs to kill them. It all served the Vandenreich in the end. ”Quincy. Rah.” the general chuckled as he held a salute to the castle.

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{Reference, at least size of the castle}

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{Release Stats}

Sealed Stats
Strength - [400 - 75% = 100 ] Points

Speed - [500 - 33% = 335] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [400 - 33% = 268] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [400 - 33% = 268] Points

Light Aura - [0] Points

Dark Aura - [100] Points

Instinct - [400 - 33% = 268] Points

Senses [200 - 33% = 134] Points

Energy sensory - [0] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [2300] Points

Equipment

1 colt class 1
2 speed loaders class 1
1 ginto rounds class 2
1 infinite round class 2

Der Kaiser’s Holy Light Class 1

[OOC] The Vandenreich heading back are free game, if you want to specifically attack them just say so. Keep in mind they are classed the way they are for a reason.

[Leonie Dallmann]

Almost immediately, the girl found her attention drawn away from the Hollows, instead putting her attention toward the loud blaring that came from somewhere nearby. As she listened, a massive smile quickly lit up across the girl's face. Seemed that reinforcements had arrived, after all.

As the Hollows that had closed in - about five or so - had quickly appeared around the girl, Leonie prepared an assault, only to find each of them had been wiped from existence by the same individuals that followed quickly behind her. As she turned to meet the eyes of the Lieutenant that had made eye contact with her, she cleared her throat with their words. "Captain Dallmann, thank you very much," she spoke, "but, your words are heard. I appreciate your informing me."

Turning her attention back behind her, the girl made note of the glasslike structure that stood a fair distance away from her, just barely poking over the skyline of buildings that decorated Karakura town. As the air began to chill, She found herself growing ever excited. Perhaps it was time to stop by the castle that had been formed for a moment?

---

Eventually making her way over to the churchlike building square in the middle of the park, Leonie ran up toward the entrance. She'd need to meet with whomever was in charge for the time, see what she could do about helping out; especially when it came to Hollow extermination, as she was originally intended to do.

Though, she'd noticed a familiar face standing by the entrance, and proceeded to run directly up toward him. "General Caesar!" She shouted, "Wonderful to see you again; especially so soon!" She smiled. Truthfully, it felt a little out of place for her to be glad to actually meet someone else, but the General was someone she quickly grew to admire; to hold on a pedestal close to His Majesty himself.

"I was tasked with maintaining the extermination by Sternritter Rozelyn; unless you wish to order me somewhere else, I'm going to linger around here where possible. Make sure those provided quarter are able to enter without risk of casualty." She smiled, and stretched her shoulders. She was ready, all things considered.

Turning back around unless Caesar had something else to say, she faced the small pack of Hollows that quickly began to approach the lot of them. Disabling her ability to create rocks, the girl instead opted for tendencies that were going to be a bit more... aggressive. Crossing her arms, and staring at each individual beast as they appeared, the girl unleashed a barrage of arrows, each one flying at incredible speeds toward each of the beasts. Five total arrows for each of them, serving as more than enough to quickly put them down due to the sheer backing force behind each arrow. She wasn't going to hold anything back against these beasts if she could help it.

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{Reiatsu Pool: 4,600/6,000}
-250 for Luftstoß activation.
-450 for x5 Class 5 shortbow arrows.

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{Class 3 Mass - Luftstoß (lit. Airburst’)}

Activation Cost: 250 Reiatsu.

Leonie’s Mass property aims to imitate a meteorite airburst with her arrows, though resulting in a shower instead of her arrows simply fragmenting and burning up in the atmosphere. While this property is active, each of Leonie’s arrows can split into five separate arrows during their flight at no cost, instead of the Reiatsu normally needed to be paid to do so. Splitting arrows after this point is 50% cheaper than normal, instead costing only 25% the cost of the arrow to split.

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{Hollows Obliterated}
x5 Hollows have been massacred by Leonie.

[Gael Hendrickson]

Karakura was rapidly becoming more and more fucked up in the span of a few minutes. First hollows had showed up and were starting to attack humans and plus alike. Then Gael had met some fractured spirit that was currently keeping pace with him for some reason or another. Then found out his abilities removed all living things from existence upon death. And here he was running through the streets only to stop and look up to see just what on god's green earth was near him that was casting a shadow. And Gael's eyes nearly popped out of his head in fear and abject horror. Above him, though a bit away, was damn near a sphere of the very same blood that was just out and about for all to see. And it was moving alongside the Failure and smacking into things. Thankfully not destructively but it was hard to avoid the bright red sphere in the air.

Gael was hyperventilating as his thoughts rushed around him. He wasn't sure what to do with any of this. He wanted to help but didn't know how to address the hollows around. He didn't want this thing sticking around him if only because he was literally a natural walking disaster made manifest. Even if he was thankfully not destructive but more symbolic. And then it was rapidly beginning to freeze. The last point actually had Gael look around him and stop all his thoughts except for one train. Wait . . . it's cold? I'm in an alley way . . . in the middle of summer. . . AC units aren't around, right? I'm not walking in the middle of a bunch of them yea? Gael finally having his mind more or less forcibly shifted stood still and looked around at the city, the alley, the sky, and himself just to see what all was going on.

As he looked around, he found himself realizing that snowflakes were beginning to fall from the sky. Which was rapidly filling with dark grey clouds. Gusts and bursts of wind were blowing through not just the alleyways but the city itself. And the temperature was plummeting quickly. Then he let his sixth sense reach out to the world around him and he felt it. A mass of spiritual energy and a few pings on what could only be described as mental radar. Yet even more curiously the energy was eerily similar to his own. Though something was off about it. Something that felt strangely unique and almost . . . welcoming in a way. The only way he could describe this sliver of energy was transcendent. As it was definitively quincy but so much more than that. And then there was more. This sliver kept growing and growing until it was a solid block of energy. Again, predominantly quincy but the amount of transcendence in it was larger than he'd expect.

That's when he'd hear the loud announcement. Vandenriech? Isn't that what Ren had talked about earlier? The group that wants to "cleanse" souls? WAIT didn't he also mention that they lived in an icy realm?!?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME THEY SHOWED UP IN KARAKURA?!?!?!?! Gael fell to his knees in shock and admittedly Gael was growing so desperately tired of all these revelations. What the fuck was going on that made today be the day that his world and the foundations he knew were functionally shattered. Frankly speaking Gael was at a loss for words and he genuinely didn't know what to do at this point. However, that wasn't the only new revelation, in fact he saw the newest development run by him across the street nearest to him. He saw a pack of hollows doing nothing but trying to rush towards the new source of reiatsu.

Gael blinked for a moment. Then rubbed his eyes and slowly stood up. Then used his sixth sense again. There was a ping of movement at least near the apartment complex that was shifting hollows towards the park nearby and its new bundle of reiatsu. Gael's brain slowly but surely started to rub its cells together for a moment before the synapses finally fired. They were running towards the Vandenriech. Which were a group of quincies. Who were going to kill them permanently. His eyes grew wide and for a moment he held his breath as the repercussions were almost immediate. Then he reacted on instinct more than he did with specific intent. He returned his focus on his quincy cross and flooded it with reiatsu. Then started to shape and mold it again into the beast in question. His mind repeating the same series of phrases as he thought on the hollows. I have to stop them! I have to save them before the human souls and their own are gone! I NEED TO ACT NOW!

Gael took the newly created sphere of reiatsu and threw it out to the street nearby as he ran towards it. He found a few things of note, namely some broken wooden strips, a metal trash can lid, and partially broken beer bottles. He grabbed what he could and yelled out to Terror who'd only just reformed and was letting out a loud abominable roar for all to hear. "WE NEED TO STOP THOSE HOLLOWS! FLY UP AND GO AFTER THEM! MAIM BUT DON'T KILL THEM! DON'T LET THEM GET TO THE VANDENRIECH!" Terror let out another screech and once Gael was on his back immediately took off. The duo found themselves hunting down a pack of 3 hollows. One disfigured grow that was running on the ground, followed by an iguana that looked like it had a tortoise shell, and the last that was flying with wings that looked like a bee's while having the body of a worm. They looked crazed and focused only on the new and powerful energy source that had just arrived. They paid no attention to Gael and Terror regardless of what amount of energy was being released from them.

This did help to the duo's advantage as Terror was more or less able to advance up to them without a concern for harm. It wasn't until Gael threw the broken bottles at the bird that they became a concern. The glass shattered and surprisingly did enough harm to cause the bird hollow to stop in its tracks. This would be followed almost immediately by Terror slamming into the bird with its body. Effectively shoulder checking it into the ground. The asphalt cracked and caved in a bit, but this was one of three. Thus, Gael immediately jumped off and gave a new command to Terror. "GO AFTER THEM! BRING DOWN THE FLYING ONE AND THEN CRIPPLE THE LIZARD! I'LL CATCH UP! DO NOT KILL THEM!" Terror huffed but ultimately did as tell and began hunting down the other two. Gael in the meantime was left on his own against this beast.

The beast was slowly pushing itself up but was evidently already injured by Gael and Terror's efforts. It really made Gael wish he could use his poleaxe because it'd cut down time that he didn't have but he knew he needed to get this sooner than later. Especially with Ren nearby. He wasn't certain if they also removed souls from existence, but he wasn't willing to test that theory out. Thus, Gael immediately ran up to the hollow and started laying into it with his several boards of wood. He slammed them into the bird's face time and again. The wood would shatter almost immediately, spraying out splinters and fragmenting but that kept the bird disoriented. Thus, allowing Gael to keep using the wood until it was gone. He'd started with five boards of it, and now had only his fist and metal trash can lid. He rolled his eyes and just started using it to slam onto the head of the hollow. Again. And again. And again. And again, until it was finally making headway and shattering the mask. By the time the thing was too warped to be used the hollow was dead.

When Gael turned around, he was relieved to see Terror had done exactly what he hoped. The beast had managed to rip off the wings from the snake and tear out the Achilles tendons from the iguana's legs. The snake was still trying to move but it ultimately found itself having to deal with more attacks from Terror who was swooping onto its backside and using its claws to tear out chunks of flesh from it. Wasting no time Gael started running towards the last two, thankful that they'd never notice his presence because of Terror. Full of adrenaline and fear, when Gael came up to them, he did the only thing he could. He started punching and kicking the living shit out of the hollows. The iguana was larger than him but wasn't able to move. Making it a blessedly easy target for Gael to jump on top of to start choking out the beast. All the while using his other hand to start trying to tear off the mask of the hollow. "LET GO OF THIS MASK DAMNIT! THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! This finally succeeded when he managed to tear off a chunk of the mask and quickly follow suit with the remainder as the hollow screamed in agony.

However, it didn't come without consequence as Gael's hands were started to burn and were bright red. His skin was looking pale and even moving them hurt as though he'd touched a hot stove. He'd forgotten that he couldn't easily touch hollows. Something else Ren had said and his father had taught him. He groaned in pain and was kept in place as his hands were continuing to burn. The problem child came when Terror realized this and decided to outright kill the hollow before it. It'd slammed its feet into the head of the hollow before it and smashed the hollow mask to pieces. The hollow died shortly thereafter with Terror stomping over to Gael and trying to be available in some capacity. Unable to help but actively available to defend Gael. Meanwhile Gael had to bite back tears at the physical pain in his hands while also dealing with the knowledge that Terror had eradicated another soul and likely other human souls with it. "Why. . . why do I have to kill them all? I didn't want to have this power. I just wanted to help the hollows and people who they'd eaten. But I can't even touch them let alone use my powers as I'll erase them. . . What the fuck man!"

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{Reiatsu}
-300 for Form Property

550 - 300 = 250 reiatsu remaining

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{Terror Info}
1/3 posts used

150 durability

Class: 6

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{Hollows Killed - Updated}
35/65 base hollows killed

3/5 intermediate hollows killed

0/1 boss killed


1 Intermediate Hollow along with 6 additional base hollows were killed via the castle forming and slamming into the pack.

Congratulations on getting over halfway so far. Keep up the good work!

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{Karakura Information - Please Read}
Shifting to freezing temperatures rapidly. Think about 32F or 0 C. This will occur over the next several posts. Temperatures will not kill but it will shift from being summer weather to mid-winter weather.


Additionally hollows from the apartment complex district will be moving towards the park / ice castle. The park's previous hollow pack are all eradicated.

Hollows near UE, Xcution, and the Shopping district will take note of the new large source of reiatsu. Xcutions packs will be making their way over. UE and Shopping District are up for the players near there to decide how they react.

[Ren Akasawa]

Still spiritually isolated as ever in the roiling depths of a flood, Ren couldn't feel Leonie's reiatsu, nor that of the sternritter he vaguely recalled as “The Cardinal” from his short stay in Silbern back in the 2010's or so; all that he'd noticed first about the arrival of the vandenreich was the cold. Segments of Blood Drive that froze into tiny icy beads and fell to earth below, which drew his sight down to see a hollow that had been hiding in wait for an ambush. The Bestival soul in the antlered mask thought it was safe because it had concealed its reiatsu, but that didn't hide it from the failure's eyes. And so, while Gael rode his beastly bow into the alley, Ren swerved into the open road and began to descend in pursuit of the hollow that was so clearly trying to keep its movements quiet.

Having drawn his sword once more, Ren launched into a charging thrust that impaled the deer-shaped hollow he'd been pursuing as he landed at ground level, an act that created a significant splash as droplets of fake blood were thrown in every direction and soon hung ominously in the air as their own slow movements asserted themselves over the will of gravity. Despite the aura that made the world itself bleed, the exiled private's white clothing stayed unnaturally clean all the while, as any part of the flood that began to seep in immediately pulled away and squirmed through the air to avoid further contact with the failure. It was impossible to tell from the outside if that was a gesture of affection or disgust on the flood's part.

The glowing brands that defined Akasawa's body flared with radiant light as though burning more intensely to combat the chill that had grown in the air, with those that marked his legs clearly visible through the white pants he wore. Torn knees provided enough of a window to see that the same rust-red reishi now flowed out of the pattern and had begun to coat his legs entirely. What remained of his soul was losing ground, transitioning from ghostly flesh marred by bands of light to seething raw spirit pinned together by dark circuit-veins with the distinct appearance of Blut Vene floating beneath the surface. My own damn fault, spent too much time talking and not enough time resting. Too late to regret anything now, this is already a victory long as I can end a few more hollows and convince Gael here to embrace their bow.

The ongoing metamorphosis hadn't stopped him from breaking into a run toward another hollow with their nameless sword. An elephantine horror that had been so overtaken by the scent of wounded quincy surrounding them from all sides that it had not noticed him until the blade met their flesh. He cleaved cleanly through its neck as he passed, and both its body and head tumbled into the flood's ever-expanding mass and sent even more droplets to join the growing haze that hung in the air. The may-have-been knight struggled to balance as their run continued towards the other side of the street; the leg he set down at the end of each step was no longer the leg he'd begun it with. Even when he'd stopped, the new balance he'd found was somewhat alien to him.

And then came the distant yet booming voice of tinny speakers, clarifying just where the sudden cold must have been emanating from. “They brought an ice castle all the way here?” Why deploy someone so high-ranking to Karakura of all places? Was there an Adjuchas or something? That was usually what it meant when a captain was sent to eliminate a hollow, and a greater menos leading this attack on Karakura as some kind of disorganized crusade made a lot more sense than the alternative. Just the thought of seeing another who truly shared his beliefs after so long was overwhelming in its own way. Maybe he'd get a chance to speak to them, maybe even get a quick prayer to the Emperor on his behalf?

The failure had begun to laugh, to laugh and laugh, and to keep on going as he bent over backwards in the waterfall of fake blood formed by a streetlight above him. A cackle of questionable sanity continued on even as the alterations to his head extended downwards, twisted his jaws into new shapes, reduced his throat to flowing energy, and ultimately pooled at his collarbone, where a single golden quincy cross lay embedded directly into his skin, for lack of a better word to describe the surface of a body that was literally held together by that bit of shiny metal. Between the exposure to quincy reiatsu and the sheer mental tidal wave of realizing he may have been making meaningful progress towards returning to Silbern, his grip on the finer details of his own form had slipped enough that the flood had been able to erode that much more of him.

A hollow tried to interrupt his revelry, but he had jumped over their attack without even bothering to stop his crazed laughter. The jaws of a tyrannosaurus-esque mask snapped shut with nothing but gallons upon gallons of chilled fake blood caught within. A moment later, he landed on the hollow's head, using the force of his leap to drive his uchigatana into the eye socket of the hollow's mask. A quick twist of the blade, and the hollow lay dying, slowly developing an icy layer of red over its limp form even as it faded away beneath. As it did, the growing layer of frost collapsed under its own weight and became a formless grave marker that would last only until the unnatural cold faded away after the castle departed. Was that ironic? Sarcastic? Something like that.

Another hollow ran past the failure, casually whipping its long, flexible tail in his general direction as it bolted towards the source of the cold winds and missed by a good half-meter because it hadn't even bothered to turn its wedge-shaped mask in his direction while it did. Ren didn't quite understand why the tawny, six-legged thing was in such a hurry or why the quills on its back literally bristled with rage, but he had a vague idea that its destination must be the same as his own. And so he gave chase, knowing the hollow was too fast to catch even if he ran at top speed. The point wasn't to catch it; just to follow it to wherever the empire's new outpost was and then maim it when he got there.

The pursuit wouldn't be hard for others to follow if anyone had wanted to; Blood Drive was transforming Karakura into a winter horrorland with every step, even after leaving Gael behind. The flood was nowhere near stopping since the hollow's presence would be enough to sustain it so long as Ren didn't fall too far behind, and even if he did, it could continue on pure momentum for a while longer. And while the failure would rather not have the hollow added to the flood's production, he didn't exactly want to arrive at the ice castle radiating what would clearly be a mass of hollow-quincy hybrid fake blood, but he didn't expect the chase to drag on for long enough that could happen.

His mind turned towards the potential futures that he desired to meet at the gates of one of the beloved Emperor's lesser castles and those he feared to meet. It had been so long since he had any contact with the Vandenreich that he wasn't sure if anyone would know his name, and they certainly wouldn't be able to recognize him by his appearance or reiatsu; neither resembled his old self from before the auswählen ripped out a good chunk of his soul and imperfectly patched together the remains with something else at his core. And even if they'd known him from the last few days before he'd had to leave Silbern, he'd still changed significantly in terms of form and spiritual presence during the years between then and now. It was better to assume he'd be making a first impression when he arrived.

He ran faster whenever his mind was focused more on his desires, which were exactly as he'd told Gael they were: to end his exile by earning the Sankt Kaiser's approval and the return of his quincy flesh, ideally with a fast track to a captain supervisor position afterwards. It only seemed right that after he'd been struck by auswählen and spent years undergoing a tribulation to atone, he should see some form of blessing for passing what had clearly been some kind of test of devotion. There had to be some point to all this, didn't there? He knew he'd never be worthy of a position as a general, and certainly not a sternritter, but surely all that he had endured while remaining faithful was worth a lesser position?

His fears dragged him back to a pace where the hollow was pulling ahead of him. He was more visibly broken than ever; would that be considered a failing on his part? What if all he'd done wasn't enough yet? What if nothing he ever did would be enough to earn the Emperor's blessing? Would the quincy he so longed to speak to shun him once he arrived? Shout at him to begone? Drive him away with a volley of arrows? Would he even survive if they did? All those questions would tear him apart if they ever managed to catch up, but as long as he didn't think about those things, they couldn't hurt him. Doubt was the enemy, and it deserved to drown. The lesser castles, dark and cold shelters for those of us denied our true world. I can feel how close this one is...

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{Can barely use these at all}Rei Points> 225/300

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{ Can't stop using this}Blood Drive charging posts—
—Gael (Complete)

Blood Drive stats
OS: 1
Speed: 7
Amount: Tens of millions and still rapidly increasing.
Duration: Until Ren spends four (4) posts with no other characters within 50 feet of his body.

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{Two of swords}Two hollows utterly ended.