Culling the Unfortunate, Open / "JT" / R

[Hanako Nozawa]

"We're going to do what?" Hanako had stopped running before she could collide with the Ume who had just appeared in front of her, and feeling panic rise from her breast again, she looked back at the gargantuan monster which was to be their target. She was no more convinced when she turned her attention to Ume again, who was already busy making preparations for whatever plan she had managed to come up with in those few scant seconds. "I..." She paused, stalling for time while she tried to keep up with what it was that Ume wanted her to do. Surely, she didn't just expect her to be propelled towards the Menos' face by an explosion! That would be insane! "I don't like this plan."

Nonetheless, Ume grabbed hold of her wrist and hauled her along with speed enough that, if she'd had the time, she might have questioned why Ume wasn't doing this herself. Instead, the student swallowed the lump in her throat and played along. When Ume's momentum began to slow, she pushed along with her own strength to get them into position, then propped herself on top of the scientist's feet to be thrown. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about what she was about to do, and kicked off when she felt Ume push up against her from below! An explosion ripped through the air behind her a moment later, and a shrill scream broke free as she was rocketed forward far faster than she was prepared to move!

"AAAAGH!" Hanako screamed, struggling to turn herself in the air against the sheer wind and air resistance buffeting her at the moment. The borrowed coat fluttered wildly around her as she fought to bring her sword arm forward, nearly losing her weapon in the process. Finally, she winced and went limp with a practiced ease, just as she hit the hard surface that was the injured Menos' mask! "Ooph!" The wind was knocked from her lungs, and she rolled against the white material for a second, disoriented by the daring experience. However, perhaps miraculously, her zanpakutō remained held in hand! Furthermore, its blade had found purchase inside not just the Menos' mask, but the comparatively softer flesh underneath!

"Ha! Hah-aaAAGH!" Her moment of celebration was cut short prematurely by another scream, as Hanako scrambled away from an excessively large limb that rubbed against the further injured mask of the creature while not letting go of her stuck weapon. She looked about frantically, spotting another limb coming towards her, and acted fast! Unable to pull her zanpakutō free with just her hand, she kicked at the dull outside of the curved blade, and pulled the sword free with no small amount of blood trailing behind it! Already regretting her next action, Hanako thrust her other hand into the wound, leaving what she hoped was not a squished and useless eyeball, before retreating with great haste!

The sound of brushing cloth marked her attempt to flee just before the Menos' other limb collided with its mask, and she reappeared a short distance away atop a nearby roof! She stumbled, attempted to take a step further away from the creature, and collapsed to her knees in exhaustion. With one heavy breath coming after the other and now covered in more blood than before, she could only hope it was worth it...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}50/150 Reiatsu Remaining

Shunpō used.

[Astrid Vess]

Astrid was making her way over slower than she'd have liked. The phantom feelings and tingling sensation in her core and her head weren't completely gone yet. She'd need a bit longer to force the feeling out from her head. That didn't mean she was unable to move around or fight, just not at the level she'd have wanted to be. That wasn't going to stop her however, she wanted that menos and there wasn't going to be anything in this world or the next that stopped her from getting it. Not the shinigami, not another hollow, and certainly not whoever threw out that electrical blast was. With her limbs back under control and her vision clearing she decided that it was now or never to get to the hollow. She jumped up above the buildings near her, the last one she'd just passed, collapsing as she'd slammed a line through the entire side of the base wall. As she got up on the air and over the rooftops, she saw it. The menos.


But worse however was what she heard. While she couldn't recognize the voice what was said was enough to have her react immediately. Pry it open enough to stuff this eyeball into the crack, then it can watch its own head explode." Astrid didn't waste any more time, she channeled reiatsu into her legs, though admittedly it was sluggish and almost unwilling to do so. Likely due to the internal spiritual war she had going on at the moment. Eventually her legs did fill with reiatsu however and she sonido'd her way to the mask of the beast. Evidently in the nick of time as far as the menos was concerned. Mainly because while Hanako had been propelled towards the monster her sword and by extension her body, hadn't landed where she'd have likely preferred. Instead, she found her sword impaling through a mysterious woman's stomach. A woman who had black skulls fused into her collarbones, was over half a foot taller than her, and most definitely weighed more in pure muscle mass. And Astrid was pissed beyond belief, not even at the wound that she had in her but more so at these two shinigami's attempt to kill the menos.


Astrid clenched the muscles around her stomach and back to make sure the one impaling her couldn't remove the sword. She then sluggishly summoned up more reiatsu into her right arm and reached out to grab the arm Hanako was using to hold onto the eye in cloth (5,200 speed). Then unleashed a wave of reiatsu that sped over her arm and over the eyeball. Solidifying into obsidian with spikes that shot throughout the inside. Piercing through her arm and the eye at nearly the same time. Meanwhile her grip never wavered, and she kept full force onto Hanako's arm (400 Str) attempting to break the bone within. Once she felt the snapping of bone, she then brought her arm, and Hanako with it, to her side before flinging her back at Ume. Both would bear witness however to what was likely a comical sight. Not but a second or two after flinging Hanako towards Ume, Astrid had saliva drip onto her hair. When she turned around, she was already in the maw of the creature she'd defended and subsequently chomped on. And for a long quiet moment it looked as though Astrid had saved the menos only to be eaten by it.


That would last a total of two seconds before Astrid shattered a mandible of the creature and walked out now covered in saliva and even more pissed off. She slammed her fist into the head of the menos effectively knocking the thing unconscious despite the reasonably sized dent to its skull. The menos's body fell back onto and through the previous building and onto the curb. Lights out, no one home. Astrid then slowly turned around towards the two females before her and stared at each of their eyes. She bared her metallic fangs at them and her body was twitching unnaturally as parts of her body shifted around. She then pulled out the sword from her stomach with the muscle and skin immediately closing once the object was removed.

She then looked at the sword and then back at the women before smiling and doing the unthinkable. She brought the sword to her mouth and bit the thing so hard that it shattered after only a moment. the sword handle and the tip of the sword along with several shards would fall to the ground below while Astrid continued to crush and chew the portion she'd eaten until it was functionally miniscule and finally swallowing the remains. With that done she just watched them, waiting to see what they'd do. As much as she wanted to kill them, she needed to make sure they wouldn't stop her from leaving with the menos. The rest of this mess could be a failure but not the one that had evolved. She'd kill them before she let them have it, and seeing as how one was more or less a gnat compared to her, she didn't see much that they could do.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-100 for Sonido
-150 for Sonido Garra
-100 for Form: Obsidian

Total Reiatsu used: 350

1,000 - 350 = 650 reiatsu remaining

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techniques used}
Form: Obsidian*
Class: [3]

Technique Type: [None]

Usable By (Technique is available to which races?): [All Races]

Technique Element: [None]

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect): [Insert Below]

This technique hardens the user's reiatsu into an obsidian-like crystal, and it can be molded and shaped into anything as long as it does not exceed the volume of the user's own body. The newly hardened reishi has a durability and piercing strength that depends on the cost of the technique. For every 100 reiatsu the user puts into it, the durability and piercing strength of the technique increases by 250 (ex. a cost of 200 reiatsu gives Form: Obsidian a durability and offensive stat of 500). The user can either hold Form: Obsidian or launch it as a projectile at the same speed as a cero.

Once Form: Obsidian is used, the user has the option to activate it once more. By doing so, he can cause the obsidian to crack into as many pieces as he’d like, anywhere between two uneven pieces to a million little grains. He can cause the obsidian to shatter with a speed of up to 600, spreading out to a maximum distance of 15 meters in every direction. The user can control the speed of the shattering and the distance that the shards travel.

How to use technique (How is it activated?):

Stated above.

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc) (Insert Below)

The cost of this technique increases greatly depending on the desired offensive stat. The minimum cost is 100 reiatsu and the maximum cost is 400 reiatsu (an offensive stat of 1000). In addition, the user must pay 100 reiatsu for the second activation that causes Form: Obsidian to splinter.



Sonido*
Class: [4] - 7-1.

Technique Type: [Hollow Technique] - Kidou, Quincy Technique, Bount Technique, Human Technique, Hollow Technique, Other

Technique Element: [None] - If any

Technique Description and Effects: [What does your technique do? How strong is it? What is it's range of abilities? List these things below.]

A powerful technique, Sonido is a step that increases movement speed for a single step. Essentially, it magnifies the speed of just that one step, by 13 times. Each step for Sonido costs 100 Reiatsu. Additionally, this technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique: [How do you use this technique? List below.]

Just use it and drain the Reiatsu.


Sonido Garra*
Class: [4]

Technique Type: [Arrancar Technique]

Technique Element: [None]

Technique Description and Effects:

The Shinigami have a technique called Shunpo Karin, which increases the speed of one of their limbs for one movement with an enhanced Shunpo. In other words, they get a 10x speed boost for one arm or leg movement. Oftentimes, Arrancar took unnecessary damage against sword strikes from that technique. To counter it, they created something new.

Sonido Garra is a partial Sonido technique which enhances a single limb's movement for one single movement with a Sonido. In other words, for one movement, either a leg or arm can use Sonido to speed up. 13x is the speed boost associated with Sonido Garra.

How to use technique:

Activate the technique. Unlike Sonido, which costs 100 reiatsu to activate, Sonido Garra costs 150 reiatsu every time one wishes to use it. It can only be used once per post.

Technique Drawbacks

Reiatsu cost. Continued uses also cause strain to the user's arm. Usable by Arrancar only.

[Ume Oboro]

Ume's plan was perfect. She calculated all the factors. The wind, Hanako's weight, the abilities of the Menos. She launched Hanako into the air and landed back on the ground fully expecting to see an explosion in the air. The only thing she could not  account  for was something that Ume couldn't possibly have thought of. Outside interference. Astrid had managed to defuse her bomb and snatch up Hanako in short order and send her hurtling back to the ground as well. Hanako had gotten in a pretty nasty shot, but...

Ume rolled to the sighed as Hanako crashed where she would have been. Now on her hands and knees, she looked over Hanako. She could see the injuries. That was probably it for the academy student. Ume sighed and slowly picked herself up. She eyed Astrid the entire time, but as she looked woman over, she was thinking. She took the syringe out from her obi sash and tossed it at Hanako. "Use it. Run. Get help or just get away." Ume demanded as she took a few steps towards Astrid. 

"So, you don't want to kill it, but you don't want it to die?" Ume said as she set a hand on the end of her sheathed zanpakutou, eyeballs sloshing around in the jug as she faced down Astrid like this was about to be an old west dual. "If you think that trick will work on my zanpakutou, by all means, try it." Ume said as she unsheathed it, an iron bar with 13 blinking eyeballs on it. She held it in one hand and pushed her glasses up her nose with the other. Curious as Ume was, she was also trying to buy some time. For Hanako to get away, for any kind of reinforcements to arrive, for her to catch her breath and collect her thoughts. However, she knew she didn't have long. 

Ume then plucked two of the eyeballs off of her zanapakutou and pushed one against the back of her head and threw the other one down onto the ground. little glowing marks appeared where the eyeballs popped and then Ume grabbed one more and sheathed her zanpakutou. "If you're doing research, I'm interested. Or, would  be, if that thing wasn't horribly disgusting. You, on the other hand, seem like you're full of much more valuable data." 

'Judging by the state of the chemical adjustments currently being made in your body, I would say there's a ninety percent chance your current actions are being produced by emotions and not the desire for data collection. Your attention also seems to be focused upon Hanako Nozawa. Calculating odds of engagement with these new parameters.'

"Shut up." Ume barked as her cheeks blushed. Reiatsu formed aro8und her foot and she shot towards Astrid with a shunpo. She raised her free hand and made a gun with it. As she flew through the air, it began to glow and when she appeared out from her SHunpo, she was behind and off to the side of Astrid. "Hado #4: Byakurai!"  As the bolt of lightnigh shot from her finger, Ume wanted to see a bit more of what this woman was capable of. She certainly wasn't about to get close enough to those horrible teeth!

___________________________

Reiatsu 1875/2400 | 10 Eyeballs |

-25 Shunpo

-25 Hado #4: Byakurai

SPOILER: Click to show

{Byakurai}Hado #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning) (25)(Learned)
Technique Name: Hado #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning)
Class: 7
Technique Type: Kido
Technique Element: Thunder
Technique Description and Effects: The user fires a concentrated, powerful lightning bolt from their finger that pierces a target.
How to use technique: Speak the spell and point hand at the target.
Incantation and Effect: "Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners!" When the incantation is spoken, the Reiatsu Strength used to determine the power of Byakurai is increased by 10%. (i.e. 100 Reiatsu Strength is treated as 110.)

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]

Or rather, that's what should have happened. Instead...

Hanako felt the impact, and the air was summarily knocked from her lungs. Rather than the mask of the towering Menos, her zanpakutō had become lodged in the stomach of... Well, in the stomach of quite the gorgeous woman! In any other situation, perhaps she would have thought to say something -anything! A brief flirt, a lewd comment, an invitation to lift her up with those muscles~

Instead, Hanako squeaked in panic, and tried in vain to pull her sword free from its fleshy sheathe. However, no matter how hard she tried, it just wouldn't come. The thought never even occurred to her to abandon the weapon and retreat to a safe distance, for why would she!? It was much too important to leave in the hands of this Hollow standing before her, not when-

There was no time to even formulate a thought about what was happening, not before her arm was grabbed. To say the movement was beyond her comprehension might have been accurate, but it was all she could do or acknowledge to scream as the pain hit her. Her arm ruptured from the inside, broken clean in two, and without any ability to fight back, the student found herself flying through the air again as speeds enough to make her skin hurt! It had barely registered when she'd hit the ground and slid a short distance more, only able to comprehend her own suffering as she was. Her vision was blurry -it might have been more accurate to call her well and truly blinded by the pain.

It was a wonder how she managed to recognize Ume's words at all, or to find the syringe so callously tossed in her direction and left to bounce against her shoulder before landing at her side. She fought to quiet her screams, but found no ability to even reduce them to a whimper. Every attempt to move was pure agony; more so if her arm were ever disturbed.

"Focus~" She didn't know where the voice had come from, only that it resounded inside her own head as conscious threatened to leave her to spare any further pain. "It hurts, but we need to focus~" Another scream broke her ability to concentrate on the voice, but she now recognized the feeling of the syringe in her hand. Without looking, she haphazardly shoved the needle into her thigh through her ruined clothes, and pushed down on the plunger. "Good gi-" As sweet relief flooded her veins, the voice receded. A warmth washed over her again, chasing away the excruciating pain and cold before finally reaching her injured arm.

Her screams began again as the flesh and bone repaired themselves with haste, and little regard for her own comfort.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}100/150 Reiatsu Remaining

Shunpō was interrupted. Wounds healed.

[Astrid Vess]

Fucking shinigami. Leave it to them to fuck around with the ONE thing I'm trying to do. Fucking Samson had to go and make shit worse for me. Now I have to THINK on how to handle this. Fuck this shit. Astrid though she had been smiling previously was now frowning given she'd "missed" the other shinigami who'd rolled away. In truth she was more than a little hopeful that they'd just fuck off so she could make the portal and leave with her prize. Especially given the state of her soul at the moment. Yet this fucking glasses wearing gnat before her thought she could throw hands with her. It didn't help that she'd passed by . . . something to her other. The one that was still injured. She growled lightly as her frustration was growing and thus in turn it made her want to let loose. But if she did that, she'd never leave WITH the hollow and she did NOT want to know what would happen when her soul was out of whack from an internal war and try to user her powers. Something told her, it'd fuck her and everything else up around her. Be the shit cherry on an even shittier cake.


Astrid was stupid and lacked forethought in many situations. But she wasn't raised in hell for nothing. The little object the other had thrown toward her companion would not be used. Astrid snapped her fingers, and the obsidian cast that was impaling through the arm of Hanako more or less exploded (250 OS). A third of the entire cast were made into shards up to four inches in length flung out (800 speed) and slammed into the glass of the syringe as Hanako began to reach out for it. The remainder of the shards were aimed for Hanako's legs to make sure she couldn't run, or at least run effectively. Sadly, though this made sure Hanako was dealt with, it was too late to stop Ume from Shunpo'ing as Astrid realized she'd moved. Which meant they were going to either attack her or the hollow. And considering they'd JUST tried to attack the hollow and she'd knocked the thing out, her money was on the hollow given she'd taken no damage from Hanako's sword.


As Astrid turned around to see what Ume would do to the hollow it seemed that Astrid was wrong. The target was undoubtably her and there was a blast aimed directly for her. She blinked only to turn malevolent. As Ume fired off her kido, Astrid wouldn't even hesitate as she flung out her right leg at Ume using Sonido Garra (5,200 speed). The only tell that something was happening being Astrid's left arm shrinking dramatically as Astrid's right leg then unnaturally stretched and extended until it was double in size before impaling into Ume's stomach cavity. Then quickly, though not as quickly (1600 speed) as it slammed into her, it'd be gone and returned to Astrid back to normal size and held in front of her and coated in Ume's blood. In the meanwhile, as Astrid's flesh shifted back to her left arm, she would simply tank the attack from the kido to her chest without flinching as the damage that tried to pierce through found itself healed as soon as the attack was finished. Astrid gave a psychotic smile as she looked at Ume to see just what she'd do now.

With the other shinigami crippled and this one now suffering from a punctured stomach Astrid knew this game was nearing its end. There was no way it wouldn't be. Unless they wanted to play the part of the hero, but she was for once, hopeful that they wouldn't. "Fuck off and die shinigami. Do us all a favor and go to hell. When you do, I'll be there waiting for you. And I'll make sure you find yourself in Violence, just like the scum that came before you." Astrid practically growled out her promise to Ume waiting to see what she'd do. Voice akin to rocks grinding one another into gravel from both a lack of use and far more frequently inhuman sounds when used. She didn't like being this passive and if she was going to be for the sake of this stupid fucking menos, then she'd make damn sure they knew who the fuck they were up against. She'd be lying though if her priorities weren't shifting just a bit though, Ume's warm blood on her leg and seeing both her and Hanako being injured was riling her up something fierce. It almost made her want to lose herself in it, but she NEEDED that hollow alive. Once she was in Hueco Mundo she could take her time beating the fuck out of it until she was satisfied. Until then she needed to deal with these two annoying gnats.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-50 for Retraction
-150 for Sonido Garra
-100 for Form: Obsidian fragmentation

300 reiatsu used:

650 -300 = 350 reiatsu remaining

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techs used:}
Distorted Growth*
Technique Class: 3

Technique Type: Physical / Spiritual

Usable By: Astrid

Technique Element: Flesh

Description:

Distorted Growth is the first in the series of Way of the Flesh Warper. It should be noted that this is a not a martial series for everyone as the basis of this fighting style is because of one's natural or supernatural means to generate flesh/bone/blood/etc. Thus, to begin learning this style the user must gain or otherwise activate High Speed Regeneration. Once this is done Distorted Growth can finally be used. Distorted Growth is "simple" in what it does. This technique once learned, allows the user to warp their body by shifting flesh from one limb to another.


The first noticeable benefit it allows is the user to have hyper flexibility of their body. Shifting, contorting, and otherwise bending in ways that should not be physically possible. Such as bending their spine backwards and under their legs. Or pulling up their leg diagonally and wrapping it around themselves. Effectively if the user desires their body to move or contort in a direction, the body is capable of doing so with minimal if any consequences. This allows for one of the most important facets of this particular style of fighting. Otherwise seemingly erratic and "impossible" feats using just one's own body. The higher the skill points in Way of the Flesh Warper, the more eccentric the means an individual can move their body. Mastering this technique allows the user to act as though they have an additional point in Way of the Flesh Warper. This can bring a 3 to 4 so long as they know and have mastered at least 3 other Way of the Flesh Warper techniques. Until then it can only boost the user to a 3.


With regards to shifting one's flesh to another limb this is a bit more difficult and can only be done on a temporary basis until this technique is mastered. In essence the limb in question gains additional muscle mass and is able to grow in size up to an additional 5 feet in all directions for every limb's flesh used for this. Limbs with additional muscle to them are able to flex against attacks easier and gain a durability stat that actively reduces harm done to the user on that limb. The durability is equal to half the user's strength stat.

There is another benefit to reinforcing one's limbs this way. Damage imposed on an item, object, or being with a durability stat takes an additional 50% more damage upon impact. This occurs from the excessive force that can be exerted by the limb in question. This also extends to the user's shockwaves produced by this limb if the user can create them.


How to Use:

Activate one's HSR if it is not already. Then channel reiatsu throughout the body. From there essentially flex the body to shift in the manner you desire. The body will follow thereafter.

Drawbacks:

First and foremost a body cannot survive using this technique for long if HSR is not active or present. This is because naturally pushing flesh from one part to another or bending/contorting it in directions it's not inherently supposed to is painful and damaging. Thus no one without HSR in even a temporary fashion can learn this technique series.

The user also must have a pain tolerance to endure this in a fight. A 2 is required until Proficient. A 1 is required until Mastered. Additionally, the maximum speed the body can move while warped in an unnatural manner is 80% of its speed and with 80% of its power. This is reduced to 90% at Proficient and is removed at Mastered.

Limbs where flesh was taken from have 50% less durability. And thus, can be broken or harmed more easily. They also cannot flex or produce shockwaves. Hyper extended limbs so long as they are cut at the joints are 25% easier to cut specifically. But harm to them is 10% easier. I.E. attacks against them depending on the manner of attack are stronger against the user.



Class: 6

Technique Type: Step Technique

Usable By: All races

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
The user pulls an extended limb or extremity in toward the core of their body with great speed, priming them for a more defensive stance or ready state. This technique moves a single limb or extremity of the user toward their body's core at ×4 their normal Speed. If used prior to a stepping technique that moves the user's entire body, the cost of this technique reduces the cost of that technique by an equal figure.

How to use technique:

Stated above.

Technique Drawbacks This technique can be used no more than once per post.

[Hanako Nozawa]

If only reality were so pleasant as dreams~

The pain was mind-numbing, blinding to the point that she questioned if it were even real at all. No sound would come from her throat, for her lungs had no breath to give any longer. Her eyes stared blankly, dull and robbed of their luster as her body was further ravaged by the Hollow's attack. The syringe, her one hope for reprieve, was well and truly gone now. Moisture crept to the corners of her eyes as strength left Hanako's broken and shattered limbs, and she felt herself go limp in the steadily amounting snow.

"I'm sorry~" That voice that tried its best to soothe her pain. "Come~ Let go of the pain, and we'll talk when it's over~" There, just on the precipice between sleep and waking, she swore she felt a warmth huddle against her back; a comforting hand on her cheek to brush away the biting chill. The sun overhead wavered and grew dim as her eyes drifted closed, and in the scant few seconds before darkness took her, she swore a figure had come to rescue them...

If only~

[Raphael Laurent]

Fuck... Everything was hellish. First off there was the blast from the damn arrancar... whatever the hell he was. The beam of energy flew down and he was about to move, before someone moved, in his stead, an incredible blast of power that cleaved the beam in two! And caused more destruction. More people dead as the beam collided with the shopping district and the university. He was just glad to be back to full.

How many times could he wish that he'd already been done with all of this? How many times had he wished that the shinigami would leave them alone?!

Many times. Many, many times.

Yes, fuck you. Tired of dealing with these damn shinigami, arrancar and hollows, though. Seriously...

The shinigami and... whatever the big lady was... they were about to throw down, but he was pretty sure that she was much stronger than the shinigami were. Why were they confronting her directly, again? He hoped that was part of someone's grand strategy, though at the same time, he didn't think that hey'd really thought that whole thing through. It was surreal, in a way. This thing, that arrancar, these shinigami, even the quincies here... They were all fighting...

He sighed. His options were let them fight which...he considered. He would have to stand back and see what happened.

[Ume Oboro]

Hanako was, unfortunately, no longer a thought in Ume's mind. She didn't even feel  it at first. She barely heard it and didn't see it, but she did sense  it. Unfortunately, that didn't matter. Ume felt a sudden warmth stain her clothes and then dropped to her hands and knees. She coughed and blood came out. Her hand pressed against her damp Shihakushou and she closed her eyes. She didn't need them open to see what was going on. The pain was intense and her body told her to get as far away from Astrid as possible. 

'Critical organ failure is imminent, if blood loss does not render you unconscious first.' 

"Why?" Ume said out loud. 'She could have just blown my head off. She's protecting the hollow, but... why?' Ume thought. 'If I could just distract her... if I could just keep her occupied for a moment.' Ume continued to quickly assess the situation as she coughed again. She brought one knee up to stabilize herself and grabbed the handle of her zanpakutou with her free hand. On her knee, she still looked like she was taking an Iajutsu stance, ready to quickly draw her blade. 

'This is entirely ill advised.'

'She might  let me leave, but she might not. If none of these other idiots are going to do anything, then I have to.' Ume pursed her lips and coughed again. 

"Why do you want it alive?" She decided to just ask Astrid directly, nodding to the Hollow behind Astrid. Maybe actually talking to the woman could provide better information than just doing in half-cocked. It might also provide Ume with the distraction she was looking for. "I don't need it dead... personally." She added, hoping to pique Astrid's interest.  

[Col Arana]

Col was infuriated. While his kido had not exactly been the most powerful attack he could possibly have mustered, it was among the strongest moves in his arsenal. Only his Cero Oscuras surpassed it in power. And it had been intercepted, by a Shinigami. There was a momentary pause in Col's thought process. Why is a Shinigami defending a Vandenreich encampment? Col suddenly wondered. He'd need to investigate that. It was VERY strange behavior for one of Soul Society's protectors. And the strength behind that blow that split his Hiryugekizokushintenraihou.... That was no mere lieutenant. Only a Captain-level Shinigami could have split that blast as she had. So again, Col wondered. Why was a Captain defending a Vandenreich outpost!?

It didn't matter. She had seemed to disperse as soon as she'd stopped the attack-- no doubt such a defense taxed her greatly and she wouldn't be able to stop successive strikes. That was well and good then. Col instead charged a more basic attack. A Cero. He was greatly irritated that his display of power had been averted so thoroughly-- but then he also had to consider that a second attack could cause further collateral damage. His kido spell had caused tremendous devastation, but in areas not related to his target. Col felt this time a lower-caliber attack was more fitting so-as to be more controlled if diverted again.

The blue orb fired, extending into an incandescent beam of light, still with the same colossal power towards the Church once more. Though the class and power was lower, it was still greatly superior to all but a few of the individuals present. Would the Vandenreich pack up and run, or would they remain cowering in their pitiful church until the structure exploded with them in it? The Cero firing down on the Church was more than powerful enough, afterall, to eradicatethe building entirely, and leave nothing but a scorched heap behind, and of the inhabitants inside, leave naught but corpses.

"Did I stutter?" Col hissed in irritation though not with the loud gravitas of his prior statements. Lost on him was the milling of Hollows below, and even the arrival of a Menos was something the arrancar all but ignored. Celes's interception and protection of the church had stung the arrancar's pride. And he would correct that mistake before he addressed any other concerns.

Reiatsu Remaining: Reiatsu Remaining: 2600/3400 (-200 for Cero)

[Astrid Vess]

Though Astrid smiled at first while the other collapsed, the fact that they were still present was enough of a problem that Astrid only found her anger starting to peak again. Her powers were bound, and she was having an unstable soul, she knew the problems that would come if she released but she was sick and tired of dealing with this fuck. The tingling and displacing sensation that had been in her head so far was vanishing, but she could feel the internal war start to wear her out more. She had only a handful of options. Kill them outright and be done with it, ignore them as they were critically injured and couldn't heal, or give up the menos. I can leave at any time. If this fuck wasn't around, I could leave with the hollow. Makes me wish I could eat them here and now and be done with it but there's too much going on to just do that. God fuck all this thinking. I'm taking the fucking hollow and leaving. She can try to fucking stop me.

Astrid didn't even give Ume and huff or grunt. Ume didn't matter anymore as far as Astrid's immediate goals were concerned. Though to Astrid herself, she couldn't say she felt good or comfortable doing this. But circumstances as they were, she wasn't going to stick around long enough to see how her soul handled more time being unstable. Astrid channeled some reiatsu to her legs and feet and Sonido'd away, back turning during the step as she appeared in front of the hollow's mask. She gave it a quick once over and made certain it was still alive. To which it was, but it was still unconscious. Probably would remain so for a long while given the punch to its temple she gave it. While she may not have been looking at Ume, that did not mean she wasn't keep track of the other through her hearing and smell. The amount of blood she was spilling was distinct and heavy in scent given how close she was.

Plus, with Astrid having a significant amount of said blood on her leg, there was going to be no mistaking the other if they somehow moved over towards her. In the meantime, Astrid conjured up a circle of reiatsu with a simple tree trunk on inside the circle. Mind you, unless Ume moved her position Astrid would be produce said sigil in front of her person and thus blocking Ume's line of sight for it. Regardless, the sigil grew bright grey and once thrown on the ground, widened considerably to create a large portal that led directly to a random point in the Menos Forest. The hulking Menos being knocked out and over the sigil, would simply fall through it once the portal was appropriately sized. Meanwhile Astrid would half turn to watch both the Menos and Ume just in case something was to happen. And once the Menos had fallen through to the other side, Astrid would do the same. Jumping into the portal and having it close behind her.

As far as the other hollows were concerned, with the being who'd brought them here originally having left, there was nothing forcing them to stay any longer. Thus, prompting most to immediately begin to open garganta to return to their home realm or otherwise go disperse into Karakura and find other meals of their choosing. Meanwhile for the Vandenriech, UE, Xcution, and Shinigami their respective organizations would release specific instructions for those present on the scene.

Vandenriech (Caeser): For a moment the world would seem to go silent as you hear a whisper in the back of your mind. "My child, the time has come to leave Karakura. Ensure those under your care are made ready to leave immediately and bring any who are willing to join you from those you've saved. This includes the one named Ren Akasawa, he is the bloody "angel" before you. Take care in his transportation, he is rather delicate in more ways than you can imagine. Inform him his future will be decided soon and his efforts in his exile have not been in vain." Then as soon as the voice and silence appeared, it would be gone. Caeser would once again be grounded in the human world and of his own faculties.


Xcution (Col): Col's phone would buzz in his pocket, possibly giving off a ring tone if it wasn't silenced. Once he looked at it, there'd be a message from Xcution informing him that he was to disengage from the ice castle and hollows. In part due to the hollows having begun to rapidly disperse, but more importantly because with the presence of an ice castle, it needed to be handled by a team, not just Col himself. Especially as there was at least a captain level threat, with reports of an older figure who could only be one individual. Said individual being a step above the already dangerous ranks captain or captain supervisor present. But a general. Their presence alone required a coordinated effort to ensure their death while keeping the city's existence continued. This was not a request nor up for debate. He was to return as soon as possible without any others noticing if he could help it.


UE (Raph): Raph's phone would have previously been ringing and buzzing near incessantly as messages from his coworkers and the emergecy response system was doing its job. However, a small alarm, loud and somewhat piercing would emit from his phone letting know that there was a high priority order sent from UE, possibly Kazura or some other board member. Upon opening his phone and looking at the alarm, it would have distinct orders for him to move to several specific spots in Karakura where the few remaining hollows were heading towards. As well as notes about the majority of hollows having left Karakura and that there would be fluctuations in the energy of the sudden cold front, likely signaling that it was dispersing as well. While it may not have settled well with him, his efforts were needed elsewhere and Karakura was partially saved by his efforts already.


Shinigami (Ume and Hanako): As Astrid began to leave a small portal would open near Ume and a hell butterfly would fly out. Said butterfly would land upon Ume's shoulder and begin to transmit a message directly into her mind. "Disengage the arrancar before you and make certain the academy student near you survives long enough for Squad 4 to arrive and begin emergency treatment. The other hollows that were brought en masse to Karakura have mostly dispersed and there are energy fluctuations in the storm made by the Vandenriechs Ice Castle. With the presence of at least a captain level threat and possible a supervisor or . . . even a general given what surveillance has captured. You need to be evacuated out as soon as possible. To that end Squad 4 is on their way through the Senkaimon and will be at your location soon. Hold on until then." The butterfly would then return to the small portal that it left previously with said portal closing behind it almost immediately.




OOC:

Alright gents, as Astrid has left (I.E. the big bad of the thread) that satisfies one of the conditions for the thread ending. Orders have been given from the respective organizations that RPC's are part of. Outro posts are open for anyone but after a week, on the 30th of October this thread will be put up for grading and will be considered officially over.

[Ume Oboro]

"Ok, then..." 

Ume watched as Astrid just turned her back without so much as a grunt in Ume's direction. It was probably for the best as Ume collapsed to her hands and knees, pushing her hand against the gaping wound in her chest. She was starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss and her vision was blurring. Not to mention the searing pain coursing through her. That was bout when the Hell Butterfly landed on her shoulder. 

She hissed at the response and watched it flutter off. She looked back at Hanako and began to crawl over to her. "Ok. Yeah, I'll just... keep her alive..." Ume groaned sardonically. She did get  to Hanako and looked the student over. Ume then unsheathed her zanpakutou and used it as a cane to prop herself up over Hanako's body. She was still dripping, her blood now flowing freely down her body and dripping all over Hanako. She pressed her head against the pommel of her "sword" and closed her eyes. She didn't need them open to see. 

One hand drooped down and pressed against Hanako's chest, just to see if there was a heartbeat. "Heh... probably doing better than I am..." She muttered and then coughed. "Well... If they come for us..." Ume muttered as blood dripped from her mouth as she spoke. "I'll make sure we take them with us, ok? It's.. it's the least I could do for ... messing up so badly..." Ume admitted. 

"Just... take me  back to Squad 12..." Ume muttered before Collapsing across Hanako's body. She was barely conscious, but with her zanpakutou still in her hand, she could still see everything that was going on for as long as her body remained conscious. She watched and listened for the familiar sound of the Senkaimon while her breathing started to slow and her body began to shutdown. 

[Raphael Laurent]

Messages had been coming in, repeatedly, his phone was so full, he was going to have a helluva time deleting all of this later... He'd been ignoring it, admittedly, while the ERS had been in effect, especially since ther was so much shit going down with, well, everything happening. He hadn't had time to look at his phone while blasting hollows and avoiding getting into larger fights with the Vandenreich asshats that had been infesting the park...

He was about to begin the damage control, when suddenly his phone let out a piercing alarm. Wincing, he glanced down at the new alert, seeing that this was a high priority order, straight from the company, itself. He was to stop fighting, and doing any damage control in the immediate area and move on the spots where the remaining hollows were advancing on. Normally, this seemed like something that should've been handled by the shinigami, that were still in the area, but who was he to argue with orders?

He glanced at the two shinigami, neither one looked like they would've been more than twenty, in the living world, but he sighed, closed the phone and put it back into his pocket. This whole time the most support that he'd gotten had been from Isaac, not that that was bad, but he'd been fighting this one, on his own. That was fine, though, he supposed. With the signatures, in the area, he wouldn't have been able to do all that much, anyways.

"Alright... Guess there's still more work to do. What's the saying? Ain't not rest for the wicked..." He sighed, before dashing off in the direction of the first cleanup zone. Already, he could tell that he was going to be busy for a little bit longer.

[Caesar]

[OOC] Excuse incoming. My apologies for my lack of posting. Im running into the problem where nothing I write feels like its good enough. But heres a quick exit post. It was fun! Hopefully I can get out of this funk again with posting more.

[IC]

”It shall be done Lord.” Caesar rose to his feet and stepped out of his office. The clacks of his heels echoing off of the walls until he could hear the chatter of survivors and personnel. The captain responsible for the castle was seen ordering and commanding as per orders. ”Captain. Send word to everyone that we are withdrawing. Scout out those with potential and extend an invitation to them. Bring me the medics that treated our special guest and ensure they are aware that we are bringing our friend home.”

Where Ren was located he would find a hand calmly pressed onto his shoulders. As if being bundled in secure field of energy. ”Well my friend, it seems that the big man upstairs got some plans fer ya. Your long journey might come to and end. Welcome home, son.” Word was sent out to those that were amongst the casualties to return to base. Many of the survivors were escorted out as many did not have the desire to join the Vandenreich. Those that did express interest to join were separated from the main group and escorted with the rest of the personnel.

And as quickly as the church had blossomed with activity, its walls began to crumble revealing an empty husk of what it was. The survivors heading home or whats left of it. In the darkness Ren would hear Caesars voice. ”When we get back ta base. Im making sure you meet the Big man himself. If there is anyone that can give your wings back. It’ll be him.”

[Ren Akasawa]

Shining red light spilled from red teeth. Ren had quite literally brightened with an unnaturally wide grin upon hearing Caesar's words. After so long, after pushing himself to the point his ghostly form had nearly melted away entirely, he'd finally earned his majesty's attention. Surely, this was the end of his aimless wandering that he'd been pursuing for all this time. Every tragedy had a purpose now; every moment of pain had been a test; every enemy trampled had been a stepping stone on the long road back to Silbern. No more to be the outrider who crusaded all alone beneath a battered and stained banner, but a proper warrior of his beloved Saint-Emperor, potentially even the knight he'd upheld the impossible dream of becoming?

"Thank you." In a truly rare moment, the failure and the flood had agreed on something; meeting Caesar had been the best thing to happen in a long while. Akasawa expressed that through kneeling respectfully while the flood had seized more control of the liquid wings he bore, one extended fully to the degree its end smeared across the wall for lack of space, the other folded and bent in front of his distorted body in an attempt at a similar show of respect. Those movements made it all the more apparent that the fluid mass of reishi cared nothing for actually mimicking the bird they resembled, ignoring joints or natural points of movement and instead contorting to make the pose work regardless.

Hours later, the Emperor's will had been made clear. The failure was to be subjected to days of ritual purification and made ready for an audience with the holy Emperor at such a time that his majesty determined them to be sufficiently cleansed. Until such a time, Ren Akasawa was to be considered a serf in the Vandenreich, albeit one with his majesty's watchful eye turned upon him. To minimize the potential damage to the castle itself represented by the nature of the flood attached to him and the unstable nature of failures in general, he had been assigned a reinforced cell in place of being quartered with others and was not to leave without cause. So had the holy emperor spoken, so would it be.

Though as to when that cleansing would be deemed sufficient, only his majesty knew...

[Holika]

I have counted 88 posts total Making a regular reward of 4400 TP for all participants.

I have also counted 164 extra paragraphs from posts across this thread for an additional 820 TP.

All participants will be rewarded with 5220 TP. Good job folks!