Painting the City in Flames - DP PvP Hoshi vs Scarlet

[Hoshi]

Today was the day. Hoshi was going to face off against Scarlet. Even though the challenge was thrown down yesterday after lunch, it felt like an eternity for Hoshi. He was on edge the entire time just thinking about how he could handle things. Did he get upgrades for his rebars? Did he try to make up a super-secret technique? Did he just go balls to the wall and see what happens? He had no idea. And Scarlet was undoubtably going to be a rough fight one way or the other. He knew it in his pill. And it was only for one reason, she had an axe for a weapon. There was no way she'd let him down. So, he needed to figure out just how much he should prepare or not prepare. Inevitably however Hoshi had decided to just let things go as they would. He wasn't out to kill her, hell he wasn't even out to maim her. . . on purpose. He does go a bit overboard though, so he'd have to keep that in mind.



Instead, he was there to test her? Show her how powerful he was? Ehhh . . . something to that effect. Ultimately, he was trying to win her over to join Xcution and work alongside him. Assuming he'd get that kind of say so on the matter. He was just a lance after all, a new one at that. He shrugged to himself as he continued to make his way to the park, along with a friend of his. I have to wonder what all she can do. Is she going to become a flaming monster like me? Does she rain hellfire from above? Will she superheat the world around her to start causing widespread lava fields? There're so many things she could do if her flames are hot enough to actually make an impact. But the true question is can she actually burn me? That shinigami couldn't but he did have explosive force enough to do so. . . So can Scarlet do the same?



Hoshi hummed to himself as his smile grew wider. He was damn near vibrating in place from how much fun this would be. And with Joshua's help he wouldn't even have to worry about the world around them. God bless Shizuka for having so many interesting individuals around. Now if only the real world didn't have to suffer nearly as much from him existing. That would be a sight, wouldn't it? He sighed to himself and took note of the ground as he fell face first into it. The grass and soft earth making any impact functionally null though he now had a few scrapes on him, and his bargain bin kimono was now stained green. Under normal circumstances he'd immediately lose it, but this kimono was going to be burnt away as it stood so it didn't matter. Plus, the reason he fell is because Joshua had been trying to get him to stop moving and he wasn't responding.



When he looked up and saw a vaguely annoyed Joshua, he just chuckled to himself. "Sorry about that bud. I'm just so excited! Namely because you're here. I really hate having to burn the world down around me on accident." Joshua just rolled his eyes as he continued to drink from an extraordinarily large thermos filled to the brim with coffee. The bags under Joshua's eyes, pallid skin, and thin demeanor said it all. Being outside and being up this early was rough on them. And they barely had the energy to force themselves to move, let alone speak or deal with Hoshi. Joshua instead simply took a loud sip of his coffee and lightly glared at Hoshi. "Please speak softly. You'll wake up the districts around us at that volume. Also, you're welcome. Let's just hope this woman isn't late. I want to sleep as soon as possible."



Hoshi just laughed to himself as he nodded at Joshua. He then found a nice tree to climb and sit in. He was certain he had a couple minutes to himself, and Joshua certainly needed the shade as the morning sun was going to "burn out his retinas" as he'd put it. So, they took their time and relaxed while waiting for Scarlet to show up. Hoshi making sure to pat his backside for his two rebars before scanning over the park itself. The place was large but given how early it was, had been empty so far. Not many were here yet and the air was still cool from the night's chill. So, when something that wasn't green, brown, or in gym clothes would show up he'd notice it. Scarlet, true to her name, would be a sore thumb as far as the environment was concerned, given her obnoxiously red hair. But that only served to make it easier on Hoshi to find so they could start this whole thing. Win or lose, this would be fun as he could let loose for real.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Hoshi Stats and Skills}
Stats:

Strength: 50 (30)

Speed: 200

Reiatsu Strength: 400 (700)

Spiritual Pressure: 300

Instinct: 100

Senses: 100

Energy sense: 0

Healing expertise: 50


Light: 100

Dark: 0






Skills:

Improvised Weapons: 2

Anti-Stealth: 2

Illusion Resist: 2

Battle Analysis: 2

Strength of Will: 2

Street Fighting: 2

Cold Tolerance: 2

SPOILER: Click to show

{Items on Hoshis person}
2x Class 4 Beastick+
}

Name: The Beat Stick
Description: This can be made into any weapon the user wishes upon purchase. In short, this is a very strong, very durable weapon. What you see is what you get with this one.
Class: 4
Item Type: Weapon
Item Power (IP): 750
Offense Type: Physical
Durability: 3x IP
Bonuses: N/A
Drawbacks: N/A
Form: Steel Rebar

2x Class 4 Throw Equip (On the Beatsticks+)
Description: This is a modification that can be equip to any weapon from the Kitai Shop. This allows the user to call back the item this is equipped to, at a speed of 625, with a strength equal to the speed. This costs 100 reiatsu to perform.
Class: 4
Item Type: Equipment
Item Power (IP): Equal to Beatsick's IP
Offense Type: Physical
Durability: N/A
Bonuses: Adds the IP of the item to the weapon it is equipped to.
Drawbacks: Only three Equip items can be attached to any one weapon at a time. Added IP does not count towards the durability of the Weapon, or the OS/IP required to damage the item.

2x Class 4 Fire Equip (On the Beatsticks+)
Description: This is a sigil, engraved into the blade of a weapon, or somewhere on it that has a large flat surface on it. This sigil comes in many forms, but they all represent fire, in some way, shape, or form. Be it a figure that resembles the user dancing with a figure of flame, a figure meditating with a circle of fire behind them, or something like the Kanji for fire that glows orange pressed into the metal. The sky is the limit for the user.

Class: 4

Item Type: Equipment

Item Power (IP): Equal to Beatstick IP

Offense Type: N/A

Durability: Equal to the weapon it is attached to.

Bonuses: This is a modification that can be equip to any weapon from the Kitai Shop. While this weapon is equipped, the user can coat their weapon in flames in whatever manner they deem visually appealing. These flames can launch up to three different fire attacks, with those being a large fireball that explodes, a cone of fire, or a curtain of flames that linger for a post. The IP of the fire is equal to the IP of the Weapon this item is attached to. Each fire attack costs 100 reiatsu.

Drawbacks: Only three Equip items can be attached to any one weapon at a time.

[Scarlet]

Managing her morning routine was something that Scarlet didn’t have any sort of issue with now after accomplishing it for more than a few months now. She’d had a hard time at first getting up early in order to drink nothing but water and jog for several kilometers. Normally she wouldn’t stop before reaching about eight kilometers at which point she’d be in the park and start to do other exercises. Everything she’d been doing though had given her the benefits she and others could easily see.

This morning was a little bit different though, today she wasn’t going to keep exercising when she got to the park. No waiting there would hopefully be Hoshi. A Mod Soul with a unique personality that from what she could tell wanted to enlist her in the group called Xcution. He was a battle maniac from what she could tell. Although that wasn’t really a bad thing. Although she had trained quite a bit in karate, she hadn’t experienced a life or death battle before she awakened as a Fullbringer. Now that she had fought for her life more than once. She understood why certain people became obsessed with the adrenaline although she had to do her best not to fall inside that category.

Jogging along the paved trails of the park, Scarlet wore one of her exercise outfits that consisted of a black top which covered her chest but stopped at the beginning of her stomach. Track pants that were white at the top edge but then became mostly black. Three white lines ran down the outside of each leg though to her white sneakers with red laces. Finally she wore a black hoodie that was red on the inside, thick and heavy that pushed her body to sweat more. She had to struggle through otherwise it got too easy in her eyes.

Unzipped Scarlet may be visibly covered in sweat with her scarlet red hair dancing down to the middle of her back. It didn’t take long though for Scarlet to find Hoshi now. Her earrings bouncing with every step that she took were almost comforting to her now that she had been hearing it so often. Almost like her father was still with her. When she saw Hoshi though, she came to a realization. She was going to be fighting against fire directly. Had she really overcome her horror of the element or had she just gotten used to the heat and appearance of lava?

Hoshi though wasn’t alone, another man was with him. Scarlet didn’t have any clue who it was or why they were here, but at least Hoshi was here on time. “Good morning Hoshi. Is your friend someone else from Xcution?” Scarlet wasn’t sure how she felt about someone else being here, but sparring with Hoshi was something she needed. He’d saved her from the overwhelming number of turkey Hollows and because of that she had to find out if she was weak or if he just happened to be truly powerful.

[Hoshi]

As Hoshi was stretching his back, he noticed Scarlet. True to his thoughts, her bright red hair and her gym clothes were easily seen in the park. Especially this early in the morning. He smiled wide and waited until she was close enough to speak to him. He then jumped out the tree, landing on his feet and smiling wide. You know, if she was the kind of gal that would be good for a one-armed hug I'd definitely do that. Gonna have to ask about that after the fact. Ah well, our anime "rival/friends" moment will have to wait until after we have our fight. OOOOO I can't wait! It was clear Hoshi was excited for the fight between them as he was practically bouncing on his feet and almost shining of his own volition from joy. All at once he stopped and his eyes went wide when he realized that of course Scarlet was concerned that Joshua was present.

Hoshi immediately half turned and threw an arm out to Joshua. Without looking at him, he could vividly imagine and almost feel how far Joshua's eyes were rolling at his antics. "Yeah! Lemme introduce you to Joshua! He's our resident . . . uhh. . . I think they call him a "NEET". Or something to that effect. Functionally he's real good with human world tech. Thankfully, he's not a researcher but besides that he's actually here to help us have a fight that won't be seen by most folk AND won't damage the park." Hoshi blushed a bit as he started combing his hand through his long white hair. "So I know you requested the park but uhhh . . . I helped fix it up since I . . . ya know. . . burnt it to the ground. WITH THAT SAID, I really didn't want to have the park go through round two of being burnt to the ground so Joshua here is going to help us keep it safe. Joshua, why don't you tell her how your power works?"

Joshua sighed heavily as he pushed himself up from the tree's roots. His gaze was a glare though it was from exhaustion and as he looked over Scarlet it'd be easy to read the thoughts going through his head. Something along the lines of "Yep, this is why I was called to help. You're both have muscles for brains." He then took a long sip of his coffee before he started speaking. His tone terse and monotone with a factual tick to his words. "Morning, so let's keep this short. I'm here because I can put people and objects into a parallel world. There's no specific name for it so let's just call it the "inverse" world. You'll see why Hoshi calls it that when you go in. But more to the point, normal individuals and spiritual beings cannot see you fighting, let alone sense you. Additionally, as you aren't here specifically, whatever you damage there won't be a big concern. For that matter I'm told it rebuilds itself over time so feel free to destroy it as much as you want. Don't worry about the range, it's large enough that neither of you should reach the edge, but just in case you do, you BOTH need to stop fighting. Then move yourself away and you can continue after. If you find the edge and break it, you'll immediately be returned here and likely in front of a crowd. Do you have any questions?"

Joshua would push up his glasses as he drank yet more coffee. Though his light glare never left Scarlets eyes with a dead thousand-mile stare. Assuming she had no questions or even if she had a couple, once he'd answered them, he'd pull out a keychain. For someone in as bland of clothing as him, given he was basically in his pajama's, his key chain held a number of colorful keys. Anime, video games, book series, you name it, and a form of media had a respective key on it. He then would walk to the tree and his key would slip into its bark before he turned it. Both Hoshi and Scarlet could then feel his reiatsu flare for a moment before settling down and suddenly emanating from the tree of all things. He'd then pull back his key and put the entire key chain in his pocket and look at both of the fighters.

"Alright the world is set up. I've made the size equal to the park. Remember what I said about the edge and just call my name once you're done. For now, walk behind the tree and go straight forward. You'll enter into the Inverse world that way. Make sure to give yourself a minute or two as it can be jarring at first. That includes you Hoshi, last time you went inside you barely lasted a minute before asking to leave. Anyway, I'll be sitting here on my phone so take your time. I've got some work to do anyway." Joshua then did just that and would sit down at the base of the tree again as he pulled out a couple cell phones. One clearly a work phone, while the other was his own, with only one being very obviously a personal use phone.

Hoshi on the other hand would smile widely and motion for Scarlet to follow him as he started to walk behind the tree. "Alright let's go! Also try to keep your stomach in check, it's going to be strange!" Hoshi then immediately bolted behind the tree and functionally disappeared. His reiatsu signature was gone, his steps couldn't be heard, and if Scarlet looked behind the tree, there wasn't even a portal to be seen. It truly seemed like he'd just up and vanished. If she walked forward however, she'd find herself more or less blinking and then seeing a starkly different world. One that was quite literally flipped upside down. The tree she'd walked past was now going down into the sky. The ground was above her feet as were the buildings and park itself. The sky that had been getting brighter due to the rising sun was now darkening as a moon started to rise up over the horizon. The empty sky was starting to fill with clouds below them along with strong gusts of wind. Everything would appear to be the opposite of what it was supposed to be and if she wasn't expecting this level of swap it could be incredibly jarring.

Meanwhile Hoshi was a bit off and actually standing on the air below them. His head looking at Scarlet's and on eye level as he stood "normally" just in an upside-down world. He waved and smiled at her with both his rebars being held in each hand. "Take it easy, the first time you walk in is kinda mind bending. Don't worry though, Joshua made sure that the rest of this worlds reverse effects aren't active. So you'll move and operate normally just in a strange world. Also, I recommend fighting in the air. It's more . . . hmmm "normal" as you don't have to shift how you were previously and adjust to the world. Though it will take a bit of effort on your minds end to keep you walking the same way. OH! While I'm thinking on it, any rules you have? Obviously no killing one another but do you have anything specific you'd like to enforce?"

[Scarlet]

A simple sparring session in the morning against someone that could potentially be a friend like Hoshi, how in the world did things get so damn complicated. Scarlet had been coming here in order to see if she really was still weak or if Hoshi just happened to be stronger than even a Vice Captain of the Shinigami. While having someone else here wasn’t really a big issue nor really any issue at all, but hearing about what was going to happen and why Joshua was here. Saving the park from her powers and Hoshi was something she wouldn’t have thought possible.

“Alright so keep away from the edge of the park, everything inside is fair game and everything is going to be backwards?”

Scarlet wasn’t much of a talker to those that she didn’t have a good relationship with but at the moment she just wanted to start things. From what she could tell Hoshi was going to rely mostly on his ability to become some sort of fire monster. She hadn’t gotten a great picture of him when they first met due to the conclusion and exhaustion, but she wanted to know more than anything now where she stood in terms of power. Whether she was strong enough to join this group called Xcution or not she didn’t care.

“Oh great, it's something that’ll be disorienting.”

Rushing in right behind Hoshi, one moment she could see him right there and then next nothing. Scarlet didn’t really even have a moment to stop and process actually seeing him disappear before the entire view she had was changed. One moment everything was normal and the next she saw almost nothing but the sky. This really was strange, her feet were still on the ground and walking felt only a bit different, but something told her that she was upside down despite standing . . . downward. This really didn’t make any sense and now she had to question if she was going to be able to fight at all.

That’s when Hoshi began moving through the air using air ground which he said made things a bit better compared to what she was doing right now. Immediately though Scarlet paused realizing that if she fought in the air she wouldn’t be able to use everything she’d learned . . . actually she wouldn’t be able to use most of what she’d learned and made herself. Scarlet had been practicing and making more than a single technique using the ground. How could she defeat Hoshi or even fight him seriously like this.

“Really Hoshi, this is insane. You couldn’t bring someone that could throw up a shield or something? How’re we supposed to really fight when this place is going to make everything more difficult? Huh you’re a fuckin idiot you know that?” Scarlet normally wouldn’t be so angry or negative, but this was quite a big difference from what she had been expecting. Just like Hoshi she’d been quite excited but now this was almost like fighting against someone she for sure thought was stronger than her with a handicap. She didn’t know how she could feel positive in this situation.

[Hoshi]

Hoshi had really felt like he was showing off a level of forethought that he wasn't known for. Really felt like he'd checked all the boxes with this idea of his. Calling in a favor with Joshua so he could make sure he kept the damage to a minimum AND didn't oust them both in public. Something that had been a lot more stringent as far as rules were concerned for Xcution. It was genuinely a win-win, right? As he walked through and almost immediately "righted" himself to adjust, this would be exactly what he thought. He did have to wonder how well if at all Scarlet would handle the inversion. He figured it'd take her a minute as even he still needed a couple minutes to get used to things before, he could actually start doing what he wanted. Namely, train or in this case spar. As he turned around and realized Scarlet was here, he'd smile wide and spoke up so she could hear him.

However, things seemed . . . off. Almost immediately and his smile grew smaller as the silence went on for a moment while Scarlet remained quiet. Something wasn't quite right; she didn't seem to be physically or mentally adjusting she almost seemed to be ignoring the world around them. It had him tilt his head a bit in wonder as he tried to look her over and consider just what she was thinking. Surely, he hadn't messed this up right? No, no I got things right this time! I really had to sit and think about this so I'm certain we're all good. There's no wa- That's when Scarlet started speaking and was pretty fucking pissed if Hoshi had to take a stab at it. Admittedly it hurt to think that she thought he was an idiot. He admittedly WAS but he had been really trying here. Especially because if he showed her some of the cool stuff that Xcution could do, she'd be convinced to join right? Sure, maybe Joshua wasn't her cup of tea but there were others. . . yet here she was being kind of an ass about the whole thing. And honestly it was kinda striking a nerve enough that Hoshi decided that he wasn't going to just let her yell at him.

He started to walk towards her on the air as he yelled back. Eyes narrowed, smile now a frown, and he was yelling just as loud as she'd been. "Ah yes Scarlet, because we just have SO MANY PEOPLE on standby that conveniently hide things away! Absolutely I SHOULD have gotten someone like that. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?! This isn't a fucking anime, Scarlet!" By this point Hoshi was up to three feet in front of her, not wanting to be right up in her face but certainly enough to make it clear he wasn't backing down on this. "People do not typically HAVE that kind of ability Scarlet. Let alone A PARK WIDE SIZED power! Use your fucking brain and think about it! Can YOU coat the ENTIRE park in lava? 100 Ryo says you can't, or at least not easily like you seem to think. The fact Joshua can do this AT ALL is INSANE! So sorry that I put the park and people first with the best I had, and YOU aren't satisfied! Fucking gets over yourself Scarlet!"

Were Hoshi not actively trying to keep his reiatsu in check he'd have started the process to collapse and ignite himself. Shifting into his form and frankly speaking, he was damn well tempted to do that right now. But he wasn't about to start their fight like this. It was supposed to be fun damnit! Not out of anger like how he was with shinigami! But damn had her commentary and insult gotten under his skin. With his hands balled up and his heart already pounding he was more than ready to start this slug fest if she really wanted that. Still Hoshi put his mind to the grind and tried to think on if there was something else, he could have done. Somewhere else they could have gone. Sure, there were quiet sections of Karakura but it was during the morning! People were out and about, and she was visible! He might not be visible but the effects of him being a goddamn star were! How would people explain literal buildings melting?

With an unfocused gaze and his hand scratching at his head it was obvious how hard he was trying to think of some better way and coming up with blanks or negatives. After a minute of hard and rapid thinking he returned his gaze to Scarlet and while mad, he kept his tone tight and unnaturally even. "I can't offer you a better place to fight than here. You and myself cause too much collateral damage with you being easily seen while the harm I cause is too easily seen. If it bothers you so much that the world isn't normal, then you know how to leave. Joshua is listening after all but I'm not fighting you elsewhere when WE will be just as bad a pack of hollow combing through Karakura. And if you don't believe me, then think back to the first time we met. I BURNT the fucking park to the ground. Yea sure some of it wasn't me directly standing on it or near it but the flames I MADE did extend and burn it to the ground. This place was closed off for construction for months to fix it!"

[Scarlet]

Damn this was so frustrating, Scarlet had been more than excited about the idea of facing down the flaming skeleton that had picked up the slack. She’s been training harder than normal lately yet those fucking turkey Hollows had attacked her with such numbers that it just didn’t matter. She’d even gotten the approval of a pretty tough Shinigami, now it just didn’t matter because everything that she learned wouldn’t FUCKING work in this place! Scarlet going off at Hoshi was a result of her emotions just running wild throughout her body.

Something that normally she really wouldn’t throw at him or anyone else that was setting something up. Now as the unique looking individual made his way over with his happy expression gone, Scarlet realized how much of an asshole her words just made her. Hoshi wasn’t a friend, he wasn’t someone she was close with, he was someone that she barely knew. What she said to him wasn’t something she could expect him to just take and shrug off. She spoke like he was someone who’d get it, but she didn’t even really explain why she hated this concept.

Hoshi screaming directly in front of her was enough that the fire inside her stomach burst to life again as her temper struggled to rip through her reason. What Hoshi didn’t realize though was that Scarlet was essentially new to basically everything spiritual. She’d only gained the ability to interact with everyone about three fourths of a year ago. It’d been awhile and she’d learned quite a bit while she’d rapidly developed her strengths, but things like this went unknown to her.

By the time Hoshi was done screaming, Scarlet felt the insane rage that pushed an impulse through her to just scream back ag Hoshi. Instead though she had a lesson click in the forefront of her mind. Closing her eyes Scarlet inhales, taking a long deep breath holding it for several seconds and then slowly lets it go. It was something that her dad had always told her. Whenever her anger gets wild just breathe it out. “I’m new to this Hoshi. I don’t have any idea how many people have what kind of power. Honestly this seems way less likely or more complex than a barrier.”

“I’m not sure how I’m going to do anything in here when the ground is where I’ve developed most of what I know so far. Since you’ve gone to the trouble though I’ll give it a chance.” Scarlet wasn’t going to apologize for anything although she didn’t like that she’d responded in anger like an idiot. Putting some distance between them Scarlet channels her reiatsu turning her earrings into her Fullbring’s form. The massive double headed battle axe would start to slash through the air in a couple different sequences. “Are barrier powers really rare?”

[Hoshi]

He could see the look in her eye. The way she tensed and swore he could even see her clenching her teeth until he was done yelling at her. She was going to say something, maybe she'd even throw the first punch. Oh, he was fucking ready to just lay into her if she was going to continue acting all high and mighty. His reiatsu started to flare a bit just from the thought alone of her retaliating in anger against him. But then she did something unexpected. She just . . . stopped. Yea it took a moment, or maybe a few, but she just looked like she was distancing herself despite being right in front of him. Not but three feet away at that. Yet somehow that did the trick, she was calm and focused. She wasn't relaxed per say but it wasn't someone who was a hair's trigger away from walloping someone. In truth, were Hoshi willing to work on his own expression of anger, this would be something he could try to emulate. But for the moment he found himself nearly winded by something else.


When Scarlet spoke Hoshi's entire body froze and his mind had to restart itself. "Waitwaitwaitwaitwait Scarlet is new to this!? Like . . . ALL OF THIS?! She's NEVER done any spiritual ANYTHING UNTIL NOW!? HOW IN THE FUCK?! The fight in Hoshi just dropped in an instant. Of course, she wouldn't know then. Powers were nine out of ten times meant to be aggressive. Sometimes wide reaching in how they altered reality around the user but even still aggressive in nature. It was rare to find anyone who had a power that wasn't strictly aggressive, let alone defensive or healing centric. But she couldn't have known that. There was no way to know that if you'd only been doing things for a short while. Hell, even if you had years of experience people sometimes just popped up with random and weird powers. The only reason he had such a grasp on things is that he had been given an extensive list of how reiatsu, powers, and the like worked. Namely to help him combat hollows in Hueco Mundo.


Hoshi was for all intents and purposes shell shocked. Even the people he'd met, sans maybe Madelynn were beings who knew of the spiritual. Who understood how things worked at least on a basic level. And maybe Scarlet did too but there were holes in her knowledge of the spiritual. Holes that Hoshi would need to tell her about so that any gaps could be filled. With a few deep breathes of his own he watched as she released and got herself ready. Hoshi thought about how to explain to her and figured the best way was to just explain it as simply as possible. And not only that but be upfront about how things worked. Though he still had to fight her and see just what she could do so he needed to right himself for that. The double-sided axe was helping in that department as he was getting excited by just seeing it, but he couldn't lose himself completely.


As he started to channel and charge up reiatsu within his gigai, centering the reiatsu into his pill he started speaking. "I . . . Hadn't realized. I'm sorry about being so aggressive I just. . . I thought you knew how the spiritual world worked. Maybe I've been around too many who were born or otherwise raised in the spiritual prior to joining to realize that others aren't like that. I'll keep that in mind from here on out. The long and short to your question is that it is rare. People develop offensive powers first and foremost. Not defensive or utility powers usually. This includes healing." As Hoshi's reiatsu started to become visible with the air around Hoshi warping as the temperature increased, his gigai would begin to collapse upon itself into his pill. Strictly speaking given he was being somewhat slow about it it wasn't too far off from a horror movie in how the transition took effect.


His limbs would start to cave in on themselves, the skin first, then the flesh being pulled back and off the bone, and finally seeing the bones slam into one another and break apart. This started with his legs and arms while his torso began to glow as a sphere revealed itself and started to discolor the chest as it slowly began to glow a dark shade of red. The skin and flesh would swell for a moment before tearing open and revealing that even his ribcage was breaking apart as a bright red sphere was starting to shine out. Once his limbs collapsed into this sphere, so too did his torso, followed by his neck and head spaghettifying into the sphere. For a moment the red glowing sphere would be the only thing left of Hoshi, simply glowing brightly and radiating intense heat. Then it would rupture as a spine and ribcage formed out of the sphere, followed by skeletal arms and legs, and finally ending in a neck and skull with a crown of large horns jutting out from either side of its head.

A moment later the eyes glowed brightly, and the overall form began to shift and swirl around like flares across the sun. The forms were distinct but clearly malleable. Worse yet, Hoshi who was 5ft something had suddenly grown into nearing 10 feet in height. Worse yet he was steadily getting brighter and brighter as the temperature he exuded continued to climb. When he spoke even though he was calm it was akin to a roaring inferno, with the air quaking around him and upon grabbing his two rebars that had previously been on his back they instantly turned to the same bright red shade his body was, though the light would start to make that difficult to notice. "I'll tell you more about the spiritual world later. Regardless of if you decide to stick around in Xcution or you simply go off elsewhere. You'll need all the help you can get with how dangerous the spiritual world is. However, think of this as a chance to realize just how dangerous things are, most of the time things aren't going to be in your favor so you need to learn to adapt. I'm sure you can do that much even now. With that said, lets see what you've got Scarlet, no holding back."


Though Scarlet may not have been able to see it, Hoshi had shifted himself down some so he could stand with about 5 feet of distance from his head to the ground above him. Eye sockets trained on her, especially that axe. Scarlet shouldn't be just for show, the muscles on her person should be more than capable of dealing significant harm to him. Still, the flames, heat, magma whatever she could do shouldn't be too much a concern for him. After all, he was a literal star, there wasn't a force on earth that could be hotter than he was right now. Let alone if she lasted long enough to see him in his evolved form. Oh, how badly he hoped she could endure long enough just so he could show her how strong it was at its peak. Because the last time he'd used it . . . he'd sealed up an entrance of Xcution . . . on accident. Almost vaporized Madelynn with it had she not damn near died on him. His body shook with anticipation, and he started to chuckle darkly. No, Scarlet wasn't going to fall that easily. He'd get to let loose with her at least up to that point. He could fucking wait.

SPOILER: Click to show

{New Stats}
Strength: 700

Speed: 200

Reiatsu Strength: 400 (700)

Spiritual Pressure: 300

Instinct: 100

Senses: 100

Energy sense: 0

Healing expertise: 50

SPOILER: Click to show

{Mod Soul Level 4}
Here we get to the stars near the end of their lives. The giants of the universe. These stars are massive and bright as can be. Thus, the same thing occurs for the user and their AoE. The main body of the AoE, the star represented, is now 40 feet in diameter, while its extended AoE for what it heats in the world around it is 30 feet in length. As before however the heat in this extended zone while definitely intense can be ignored if one has superior OS to the user or has a 1 in Heat Tolerance. If an individual does not meet these requirements, they will suffer a first degree burn across the front of their body every 2 posts. Upon entering the Star AoE this requirement increases to a 2 in Heat Tolerance or a 1.2x the user’s OS to ignore. If these are not met the individual will suffer a first degree burn across their entire body. However, if they have a 1 in Heat Tolerance or superior OS but not equal to 1.2x the user’s OS, they will only suffer burns across the front side of their body. These burns occur / grow in severity every 2 posts. Meanwhile for interacting with the core, the user needs a 3 in Heat Tolerance to interact with them or an OS of 1.3x the user’s OS to avoid being burned. For the core specifically, if the individual has 1 -1.14x they act as though they’ve got a single point in Heat Tolerance. While for anything 1.15x - 1.29x the individual acts as though they’ve got a two in Heat Tolerance. For those with a 1 in Heat Tolerance they will start with a second degree burn after coming into contact with the core twice. From there every additional point of contact increases the severity of the burn on the point of contact. If they’ve a 2 in Heat Tolerance, they will gain a first degree burn on their second interaction with the core and then every two subsequent points of contact will increase the burn's severity.


As for the other abilities of the previous level, the Solar Flares, while not cheaper, can now be stacked to 30% in addition the duration is increased to 3 posts. The superheated material can be created for 25 reiatsu while still remaining a 10-foot cube. Double if the user wants to melt or incinerate something on the spot. Meanwhile it costs nothing now to superheat a weapon or item that is being held. It also follows the interaction for coming in contact with the core. Lastly the damage dealt to items is now 75% of the user’s RS and items without a durability stat now last for 4 posts. Lastly if the user pays 75 reiatsu they can immediately sacrifice their item and melt it. Allowing for the melted substance to coat opponents. If this is done the item takes a durability strike if the thread is DP/NDE. If the thread is DE, then the item is destroyed permenantly.


While the initial description of this power has been about how things from the previous levels are changed, we now come to a point where the power at this level gains new abilities. The first is a static and passive effect, the Sun AoE, having become a giant type of star, is now incredibly bright. Bright enough that without something to dampen the light produced that an individual can either find their sight being reduced or at worst becoming completely blind. Obviously, those who are already blind will find this to be a non-issue but to those with sight this quickly becomes a problem. A 2 in Battle Focus or Focused Eye will allow an individual to see through the star AoE without any issues. This also includes those with a 200 in Senses. Those who have only one in either Battle Focus or Focused Eye will find the light hard to see through but can manage to a degree. They can make out objects that are within 10 feet of them but any further is difficult to determine. Superior OS does not aid in this, only senses or the requisite skills.


Moving from the passive light ability we now go to the active ability gained. The user can produce sunspots. These are areas on the sun that are naturally cooler due to gravitational forces that are present on that section of the star. Because of these gravitational forces things are naturally drawn to them. Thus, any ranged attacks or ranged abilities that attempt to pass into or through the AoE are now drawn to the Sunspot. The gravitational pull is equal to the user's RS and should an attack be successfully drawn to the sunspot it will be broken down. This spot lasts for up to 3 posts and costs 150 reiatsu to start and 75 reiatsu per post to maintain. This can be as large as a 5-foot cube and while within this cube the brightness as well as the heat is reduced causing all clashes to require one less in Heat Tolerance, Battle Focus, or Focused Eye. This also reduces the OS needed to prevent being burned by 20%. I.E. At this level to not be burnt in the Star AoE, the individual needs 1.2x the user’s OS. If they are inside a Sunspot, they need only equal or higher OS to ignore being burnt. Or a 1 in Heat Tolerance as opposed to a 2 normally required.


Last but not least the limbs in this form now have a durability of 1.6x the users RS. To use this form costs 300 reiatsu and lasts for 4 posts. Lastly if the user cannot pay the cost, the skeletal form fades away with only the pill remaining. The body from prior is not regained. If the user has HSR, each portion of the skeletal body can be regenerated in their following post. When regenerated in this way the body regains its full durability. This also includes durability damage done to the user's skeletal body that did not destroy the body part in question.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Level 4 Info / Highlights}
Class: 4

Duration: 1/4 posts used

Durability of all limbs: 1,120

Star AoE: 40 feet from Hoshi in all directions. (Hoshi to 40 feet)

Extended Heat Zone: 30 feet in all directions past his Star AoE (41 to 70 feet)

Extended Heat Zone has low Heat tolerance requirements, Star AoE has increased Heat tolerance requirements, On Contact with Hoshi/Super-Heated weapons require high Heat Tolerance. OS substitutes lack of Heat Tolerance.

Star AoE creates bright light that requires a 2 in Battle Focus, Focused Eye, or 200 Senses to see through. A 1 allows for 10 feet of sight for the victim.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-300 reiatsu for Level 4

3,000 - 300 = 2,700 reiatsu remaining

[Scarlet]

This really wasn’t something that Scarlet would have ever expected to learn, that the majority of abilities happened to be aggressive and offensive in nature. This wasn’t something she'd been told nor something she’d pondered. She just happened to believe that it perhaps went off the soul or personality. She didn’t really understand how it all worked but the idea that it was rare for barriers or healing abilities to manifest and be available. That was a scary notion to believe, something that in a world of superpowers and monsters, one could only hope for something like a priest.

Although this was a terrifying thing to learn it did benefit the current situation that she was in. It seemed the misunderstanding between Hoshi and herself was now corrected. Scarlet could tell though that Hoshi was more than eager to get things started and watched as his body began to change. Based on what she’d seen the first time and what was happening now she had no doubt that he was turning into a flaming skeleton once again. Watching him actually grow in size and his body collapse in on itself. This was something horrible that didn’t seem possible.

The manner in which Hoshi transformed was unlike anything else Scarlet had seen, to some including herself Calamity of Nature would be a weapon befitting a nightmare. Hoshi at the moment though literally seemed to destroy himself only for a new body to form. The burning skeleton of great height that she’d first seen when Hoshi had come to help her against the turkey Hollows. Although he was loud and frustrating at times, she really didn’t expect this sort of transformation from him. Why didn’t his body just burn off, even though that would be horrible to witness as well what he did instead was over the top.

Hoshi, despite the way that his body was being rebuilt, just kept getting brighter and brighter. It got to the point in just a moment or two that Scarlet had to turn her head away from Hoshi’s body. It was like staring into the sun and now she couldn’t not hear the sound. Hoshi had turned into a literal monster of fire. Scarlet felt her heart up in her throat as her feet once again started to rear its ugly head. A fear that Scarlet had believed she’d overcome was now placing more pressure on her than the heat Hoshi was emanating.

She’d worked so hard to be stronger, so hard to overcome the weaknesses she’d started with, through all of that it hadn’t been until she’d awakened Calamity of Nature, that she believed her biggest fear was gone. Apparently though holding and using the power of lava wasn’t the same as staring down a literal blazing inferno. How was she going to stand her ground when her palms were already sweaty and she felt like a panic attack was only a moment away. She had to breathe and yet her mouth wasn’t opening and her vision was starting to go dark. Damn was she really this useless in the face of a little ember.

When Hoshi began to speak once again Scarlet did her best to pry herself out of the fear that had wrapped itself around her consciousness. A giant that easily dwarfed her in size was holding two rebar that almost right away burned hot almost like her axe. Hoshi wanted her to go all out. Inhaling as much breath as she could while feeling like she was ready to storm into a burning building, Scarlet tried her best to steady her nerves. She was far enough away that the heat wasn’t hurting her yet, but she could tell she was going to burn once they got close.

Despite all the reiatsu and heat around Hoshi, Scarlet was about to still see the bones that made up his current body. “He’s much bigger, but I doubt he’ll make it easy to hit him. The way he is now Calamity probably can’t burn him either. So brute force is my only option.” Scarlet went over her situation while listening to Hoshi speak, trying her best to understand everything that he was saying. Settling her breathing and nerves as best she could this was now the moment when she had to act.

Standing on the air with the ground almost touching her head, Scarlet raised her left hand placing it on the grassy ground for a moment while concentrating her reiatsu to both hands. A swing of her double headed battle axe was enough that she made the first move against Hoshi. A wide crescent wave of lava moved through the air at a speed of 300. Hoshi would have no way of knowing though that the attack would fall apart before ever reaching him. Thirty feet was the limitation of her basic swing and yet the real attack wouldn’t be so limited.

Lifting her hand for a moment by an inch or so, Scarlet did her best to utilize a one inch punch to strike the ground without Hoshi noticing. The moment she did this was the same she swung her Fullbring, a moment needed for the ground to condense on itself. Just like that a technique that Scarlet had only just finished crafting was unleashed. The ground a few feet away above her head firing off like a bullet from a gun barrel right for Hoshi with a speed of 750. Carrying a force of 900 positioned to strike with a pointed front like a harpoon at Hoshi’s chest.

Calamity of Nature: 1/10

Remaining Reiatsu: 1240/1640
Fullbring: -200
Stone Harpoon: -200

SPOILER: Click to show

Technique Name: Stone Harpoon
Class: 3
Technique Type: Spiritual
Usable By: Fullbringer
Technique Element: Earth

Technique Description and Effects: A simple but powerful Soul Command technique that turns the ground itself into a lethal projectile. The user of this technique must focus their reiatsu either to their hands or feet and then strike the ground. This causes the ground in front of them to condense in a moment then fire out of the surrounding ground. This works in the same manner as a firearm with the striking of the ground mimicking a trigger. This condensed section of earth is a cylinder shaped like a pillar with a spiked top that will puncture anything it comes across with 150% of the user's Reiatsu Strength as the value for its impact. It moves at a speed of 750 while being four feet wide and ten feet in length.

How to use technique: By focusing one’s reiatsu either to a hand or foot then striking the ground.

Technique Drawbacks: Costs 200 reiatsu. Distance limited to 100 feet. The projectile can be destroyed by an attack that surpasses the user’s Reiatsu Strength.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength: 200
Speed: 250
Spiritual Pressure: 235 (164)
Reiatsu Strength: 400 (600)
Instinct: 150
Senses: 100
Energy Sensory: 0
Healing Expertise: 0

Light Aura: 80
Dark Aura: 20

Axes: 2
Karate: 1
Charisma: 2
Battle Focus: 2
Damage Recovery: 2
Strength of Will: 2

[Hoshi]

Scarlet's opening hand seemed . . . very basic and very forward. Two arms up towards the ground above, one of which was holding onto her axe. It made sense that she needed the ground to fight effectively as how else would she get the raw material for magma from? The odds she could produce it herself weren't impossible but that was something he'd find out soon. Regardless he knew of at least one thing he could do to hinder her and that was to create a sunspot. If she was going to fling magma at him, then he'd simply crush it into particle matter. Thus, as Scarlet launched out her magma wave Hoshi's flexed his reiatsu and caused the immediate area around himself to dim and cool. A black scab looking collection of reiatsu appeared around him considerably darkening the internal. Much to his surprise her magma wave wasn't even close to hitting him. Hell, it dissipated before even reaching the star zone. What did surprise him however was her other attack.

Said attack that he couldn't have seen coming because he didn't realize that she was preparing it. Couldn't have sensed as he wasn't capable of sensing reiatsu. Yet as the magma began to split into particles and fall down something else came behind it. Something Hoshi could hear but not see as it rushed its way towards him and even caused his eye sockets to widen before finally seeing just what the object in question was. A literal chunk of rock that just stopped in midair before him and began to rapidly break apart not but 3 feet before him. Hoshi had to hold himself back from making his jaw drop out of shock. Had that hit him, he'd likely still be capable of moving but it'd hurt like a sonuva and would have given her an opening. As it completely broke away into particulate matter Hoshi's shock became a much larger smile, one that'd look malevolent on a flaming skeletal demon. I'm going to enjoy this. Note to self, she'll command the earth too. Makes sense.

Flooding his form with reiatsu Hoshi immediately dashed forward using movement, intent to close the distance and bring Scarlet right in front of him. Thankfully before he'd made it there, she'd find herself getting burnt from the heat his star zone radiated and only getting worse as he got closer. And if he got within forty feet of her? She'd get a full body sunburn almost immediately as her world dramatically changed in color from dark and filled with muted colors to just a dark red. If Hoshi was allowed to get directly in front of her, he'd swing at her feet with his left rebar and swing at her torso with his right watching to see just what she'd do. If she didn't dodge, she'd find herself on the receiving end of a two-sided attack that undoubtable would shatter bones and that was to say nothing about the hear which would undoubtably sear Scarlet's flesh. Yet despite the danger there'd be something curious to note, while she was within the darkened zone around him, the heat was dulled as was the light. Only Hoshi himself seemed to be unchanged.

Assuming Hoshi wasn't able to get up close because Scarlet stepped away or otherwise tried to launch another attack at him, he'd simply shift the right rebar in his hand into something of a makeshift javelin. Then he'd fire it out with its aim being straight and true to Scarlet's torso intent to spear her with the superheated rebar at 700 speed. But that wouldn't be all as Hoshi would reach his skeletal hand up and grab a large chunk of earth, about 3 feet in size, rip it out from the ground above and immediately super heat that also. "You want to throw around rocks Scarlet? THEN TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE!" He'd then launch the nearly molten rock her way at 700 speed aiming for the arm that had the axe held in its hand. Or more accurately, that side of her body. Once the rock was thrown, he'd keep going after Scarlet ever intent to force her into a physical confrontation. She could only fling things at him for so long, especially when she'd have seen her previous chunk of earth be broken apart and that it was "cooler" around him than it was away from him.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu used}
-150 for Sunspot
-25 for Movement

Total reiatsu used: 175

2,700 - 175 = 2,525 reiatsu remaining

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sunspot}
Moving from the passive light ability we now go to the active ability gained. The user can produce sunspots. These are areas on the sun that are naturally cooler due to gravitational forces that are present on that section of the star. Because of these gravitational forces things are naturally drawn to them. Thus, any ranged attacks or ranged abilities that attempt to pass into or through the AoE are now drawn to the Sunspot. The gravitational pull is equal to the user's RS and should an attack be successfully drawn to the sunspot it will be broken down. This spot lasts for up to 3 posts and costs 150 reiatsu to start and 75 reiatsu per post to maintain. This can be as large as a 5-foot cube and while within this cube the brightness as well as the heat is reduced causing all clashes to require one less in Heat Tolerance, Battle Focus, or Focused Eye. This also reduces the OS needed to prevent being burned by 20%. I.E. At this level to not be burnt in the Star AoE, the individual needs 1.2x the user’s OS. If they are inside a Sunspot, they need only equal or higher OS to ignore being burnt. Or a 1 in Heat Tolerance as opposed to a 2 normally required.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Mod Soul Level 4}
Class: 4

Duration: 2/4 posts used

Durability of all limbs: 1,120

Star AoE: 40 feet from Hoshi in all directions. (Hoshi to 40 feet)

Extended Heat Zone: 30 feet in all directions past his Star AoE (41 to 70 feet)

With Hoshi as the center and up to 2.5ft in each direction, of Hoshi is a Sunspot.

Sunspot Duration: 1/3 posts used

[Scarlet]

Scarlet watched as her two fold plan of attack ultimately was fruitless. Although based on how Hoshi moved it seemed that her attack had at least caught him off guard. It was honestly very hard to figure out what Hoshi was feeling at all when he was a giant flaming skeleton. Only so much expression could be seen from this distance let alone when the face was little more than a bonfire. To see the stone harpoon literally melt away and turn into lava yet it couldn’t even hit Hoshi let alone burn him.

From what she could tell though, that pillar of stone had melted before it ever hit Hoshi. “He’s got some sort of defense or way to attack without using his body.” Scarlet thought to herself as she could see Hoshi getting ready to launch his own offensive. Scarlet took a large breath acknowledging the fact that no matter what she did she was about to feel a lot of pain. It was time for her to literally become a firefighter as Hoshi closed the distance in only a few moments.

Watching him get closer was something that took every bit of self restraint that Scarlet possessed. When she began to feel her skin sting she had confirmation that just being near him while transformed was going to hurt. Once again though Scarlet raised her foot this time there left and stomped only the front of her foot on the ground above her. The next moment Hoshi was there swinging his rebar towards her lower body and torso which were in a different place. Scarlet used another of her soul command techniques to evade with a speed of 600.

The ground above her feet moved downward in the shape of a perfect pillar almost like the stone harpoon only much larger. Carrying Scarlet out of the way for a brief moment only for the pillar to get smashed by Hoshi’s attacks. The durability of the pillar was nothing before his physical might, but Scarlet was most likely out of view now. Even if she wasn’t the moment she felt the pillar get hit she was gone. Executing Bringer Light to accelerate her speed by ten times what she was normally capable of achieving.

A bright green burst of reiatsu from her feet, off the pillar in front of Hoshi. Now swinging her Fullbring with both hands on its long shaft, horizontally from her right side. If successful, Scarlet was aiming for the edge of her axe to bite at hopefully three of Hoshi’s ribs on his right side now that she was behind him. She could already feel the immense heat affecting her skin as she tried her hardest not to close her eyes or release her breath. If she misses or not doesn't matter though as she would blow out her breath the next moment executing one of the first techniques she’d learned.

Brilliant Breeze wouldn’t cause Hoshi any damage, but it would push against him with a force of 450 which Scarlet hoped would be enough to at least knock him forward. If it did then perhaps she’d be lucky and he’d fall over the broken pillar in front of him. The real reason though was the wind from her breath wouldn’t just push him, but her as well. Pushing her away from Hoshi at a speed of 300 up to fifty feet where she’d start to feel the heat fade. The sting across her body was already more than present and she came to the conclusion she couldn’t fight him for more than just a couple exchanges.

Calamity of Nature: 2/10

Remaining Reiatsu: 1090/1640
Pillar of Depth: -50
Brilliant Breeze: -50
Bringer Light: -50

SPOILER: Click to show

Technique Name: Brilliant Breeze
Class: 6
Technique Type: Human World Dweller
Usable By: Fullbringers
Technique Element: Wind

Technique Description and Effects: This technique begins with the user filling their lungs up with air, afterwards it will appear they simply breath outwards a large gust of air. In truth though the Fullbringer must feel out the soul of the air they’ve inhaled. By feeling the soul of the air it can be commanded like everything else. When released the air repels everything in front of the user with 75% of their reiatsu strength. This typically won’t cause harm although it can topple individuals over sending them rolling away. The user is sent backwards as well though moving at a speed that equals 50% of their reiatsu strength. The air can move the user up to fifty feet backwards.

How to use technique: Inhale enough air to fill most of the lungs, command the air inside the lungs and then breath outwards.

Technique Drawbacks: Costs 50 reiatsu. After three uses it’ll make the user start to pant heavily as it stresses the lungs.


Technique Name: Pillar of Depth
Class: 6
Technique Type: Human World Dweller
Usable By: Fullbringers
Technique Element: Earth

Technique Description and Effects: By commanding the earth below the user with some sort of physical interaction whether it be a placement of the hand or a stomp of the foot, the ground itself will either rise up or sink down. When the ground moves it does so as a perfect circle with space enough for the user and any others touching the user when the technique begins. The ground can move up to twenty feet both up and down making this useful for both evasion and stealth. The speed the ground moves at is determined by the Reiatsu Strength of the user. When the ground rises up forming into a pillar it gains a slight amount of durability to keep itself upright and stable which is equal to 20% of the user’s reiatsu strength.

How to use technique: Must make physical contact with the ground with some sort of indication.

Technique Drawbacks: Costs 50 reiatsu. The pillar aspect of this technqiue can only be used on solid ground. Mud and sand cannot be forced to retain a solid state meaning the pillar will fall immediately if tried. The pit aspect can still be done although it’ll fill up by the end of the next post.

[Hoshi]

Hoshi had been running forwards seeing not immediate change in plan on her end. Well, not an evasive plan anyway as she threw her leg up to touch the ground above. Admittedly Hoshi had to hold back a moment of awe that she could remain physically a brute while also being flexible as hell. Honestly, he was impressed and would attempt to compliment that about her once they were done. In the meantime, however she was right before him seemingly ready and willing to tank a hit from him on either end. He was already smiling in a mildly sick anticipation at being able to see just how durable she was compared to others. Only to find out that she wasn't going to be hit. And instead managed to conjure forth more earth. This time using it to distance herself from him. The only thing he managed to catch a hold of was the pillar that shattered like glass to a thrown rock. Unsatisfying and mildly aggravating because Scarlet had apparently decided to be more akin to a fly that buzzed around him than fight.

I get I'm a flaming star but for fucks sake just come throw hands with me jesus! Credit where credit was due, Scarlet had the decency to not only notify him where she was at but then face him face to face. He smiled widely, which should look sinister given his flaming skeletal form was physically contorting to create said smile. His arms were already crossed given he'd smashed the pillar from both ends, so he was primed to defend himself already. However an idea popped into his head, a sinister and definitely underhanded move but a move that he'd pull, nonetheless. As Scarlets axe made its way to his body, she'd find that given he was already defending himself via his crossed arms, all it'd take was a slight twist of his waist to ensure his right arm was hit instead. Or at least would be the target. Without warning upon once her axe touched his arm, it'd be forcibly bound to him through the creation of a dark crystal that immediately began to superheat. (1,000 OS) Which in turn would begin to superheat, albeit a bit more slowly, her axe.

No doubt she'd be shocked not only by the speed at which crystal moved to encompass the axe head and upper handle (800), but she'd find her attempt to move out of the way fruitless. Meanwhile Hoshi's arm, would suffer some immediate harm from being smacked by her weapon but nothing that took it out of commission and thus moved her along with her weapon down an additional 3 feet away from the ground above to keep it out of reach. Things were only made worse considering he was made of plasma and functionally couldn't be burned in the first place. "Out of breath already? Poor thing, lemme help with that!" He'd immediately charge up a small bright blue flare at the side of his rebar, a flare aimed and basically point blank at Scarlet. The time to decide was momentary at best for Scarlet before it'd be fire off (800 speed) and subsequently explode engulfing her in bright blue flames post the incendiary blast (750 IP). Assuming she was still holding onto her weapon despite everything he'd just let loose a solid kick directly gear towards her torso in a more or less forced attempt to throw her in the opposite direction without her weapon, something he was certain she couldn't hold onto while being punted in another direction.

But assuming she let go at any point Hoshi would then use movement to widen the distance between them 10 feet before grabbing her weapon and wielding it for himself. This being after he'd stuff his left rebar in between his ribs as a weapon rack. The worst part of all this was that Hoshi would be creating yet another attack and sending it towards Scarlet because he'd activate Form: Obsidian again and fragment the obsidian into a swarm of chunks (1,000 OS) of varying sizes all of which was coming her way at 800 speed while being spread out to 20 feet in diameter at the end of a cone. He'd then chuckle as he looked over the weapon and point it at Scarlet. "If it makes you feel better, you're not the first person I've done this to. Turns out, stealing does pay in a fight! Let's see you get this back Scarlet!" He'd start running towards Scarlet at that point with her fullbring and his rebar poised and ready to slam into her once he was in front of her.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Mod Soul Level 4 info}
Class: 4

Duration: 3/4 posts used

Durability of most limbs: 1,120

Right Arm Durability: 520

Star AoE: 40 feet from Hoshi in all directions. (Hoshi to 40 feet)

Extended Heat Zone: 30 feet in all directions past his Star AoE (41 to 70 feet)

With Hoshi as the center and up to 2.5ft in each direction, of Hoshi is a Sunspot.

Sunspot Duration: 2/3 posts used

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-400 for Form: Obsidian
-100 if fire ball is created on rebar

or

-25 for movement if Scarlet let go
-100 for Form: Obsidian fracture ability if Scarlet let go


Total: 500 or 525 reiatsu used

2,525 - 500 = 2,025

or

2,525 - 525 = 2,000

SPOILER: Click to show

{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?): [Insert Below]

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.

[Scarlet]

Everything that Scarlet had set up went just the way that she had planned, up to the point that her swing managed to actually connect with Hoshi’s ribs. Scarlet knew that Hoshi was strong since she’s seen him fight against the turkey Hollows briefly. The intense heat that he was giving off already made her entire body feel like she was stuck inside an oven. It was for that very reason why Scarlet had gone for such a vulnerable section of the body. Sadly, though, her swing didn’t amount to any advantage. She felt the resistance of his bones and knew that she’d just made a horrible move.

Pulling away with the strength of both arms Scarlet would attempt to retreat and plan out her next course of action. She ultimately though was stuck, obsidian not made from her own reiatsu was forming around the edge of her Fullbring. What she saw wasn’t something she would have bet possible, using stone like a glue or sorts to keep her in the burning oven. A vicious move in this sparring session by Hoshi. It was bad enough that her axe didn’t even manage to strike the side of his ribs, but his arm. Hoshi managing to block from behind wasn’t something Scarlet expected.

Everything after that happened in the blink of an eye, suddenly Hoshi had hold of her Fullbring and the obsidian that grew across her weapon came towards her. Releasing her grip, Scarlet back stepped several feet. She watched carefully as Hoshi grabbed her Fullbring and put his own weapon on his ribs like a shelf. Fighting a skeleton of fire wasn’t enough it seemed as she felt her skin sizzle. She wouldn’t be able to fight much longer at this distance. Scarlet though had a handle on accepting pain and pushing through it.

Hoshi’s attack was about as in her face as her attacks tended to be towards others, a blue flame that in the next moment would overwhelm her figure. Focusing for a fraction of a moment, Scarlet would disappear, executing Bringer Light just before Hoshi’s attack left his crowbar. Moving only a short distance to the side, Hoshi likely expected her to retreat, putting some resistance between them so she wouldn’t keep getting sunburnt. Scarlet though was stubborn beyond belief and hated losing.

That's why she only went to the side of the large flaming skeleton, reappearing for a moment after Hoshi fired off his attack. A moment for Scarlet to send her left hand out utilizing her hours of practice as a practitioner of Karate, to strike Hoshi left cheek with a closed fist. A single punch with Scarlet’s full strength and skill wouldn’t amount to much and she was almost certain of that. She just needed to just push different spots to find a weakness. Once her hand would connect she’d disappear again using Bringer Light again!

This time Scarlet would reappear over a hundred feet away from Hoshi, her breathing was heavy, a fact that Scarlet began trying to remedy right away by slowing her breath. She had to inhale a large amount and let it go slowly. Hoshi didn’t waste much time though as he swung her Fullbring, the obsidian that he made around her weapon broke apart and flew towards her. It was actually quite weird to see as it resembled her own ability quite a bit. Moving once again to the side this time with Movement Scarlet watched and waited as Hoshi spoke and then rushed her.

“A skeleton thief, I’m certain it’s the set up to a bad joke.”

Calamity of Nature: 3/10

Remaining Reiatsu: 915/1640
Movement: -25
Bringer Light: -150

[Hoshi]

Scarlet was many things, and surprising was one of them. Hoshi would have guessed she'd leave once realizing he was far stronger now than he was previously. He'd have guessed that she would try more rocks to throw at him as she seemed to like doing that. And yet what actually happened was that she started to move away from the looks of things. Giving Hoshi the means to move away and get a hold of her weapon proper. Only for her to disappear once he'd stopped moving. The flash of light being the only thing that'd let him know she was using bringer light again. The problem this time was that he was busy swapping around different objects and couldn't readily defend himself this time. This was apparently all Scarlet needed as she'd decided to effectively slap him with her fist. . . . Which wasn't as bad as he thought it'd be all things considered. He really thought she'd throw or knock his ass much farther than he actually went.

As far as Scarlet would realize, she'd see Hoshi be knocked back a step or two from her fist. Likely due to the attack being unexpected more so than her attack being stronger than him. However, while it might not have been immediately apparent as she used bringer light again, she'd feel it the moment she found herself far away from him. Her right hand would in its entirety be at covered in a third-degree burn. Likely immensely painful and making her flesh swell up in the process. Meanwhile Hoshi on the other hand was reeling mentally some at having been effectively bitch slapped. For a moment he stood in shock still about the entire moment before he started laughing maniacally. He then threw the other rebar down into the sky below him. "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! LET'S KEEP THAT UP SCARLET! HEHEHAHAHAHA! LET'S SEE YOU KEEP UP WITH THIS!"

Hoshi's form suddenly grew much brighter as his temperature soared with more reiatsu added to the flames. This increase in temperature and light extended to his rebar and continued to slowly begin to transfer to Scarlet's axe though unlike his rebars it didn't seem to be handling it as well as the heat was more intense than it could create as shown by the metal changing colors slowly. With his form energized Hoshi then more or less disappeared from Scarlet's field of view as he used Movement alongside Movement Mastery: Boost (1800 speed) to speed his way over 50 feet only to repeat this again and appear directly in front of Scarlet. A manic grin on his face and her axe alongside his rebar touching the earth above them both immediately liquifying the ground from their combined heat alone. He then brought both down to create a small wave of magma directly towards Scarlet.

But Hoshi didn't think she'd fall to this so he kept the swing going so he could turn on his right foot and spin both weapons around as he turned to make sure if she tried to hit him with a sneaky side attack that she'd get slammed by one, if not both of the weapons. Still, it only got worse because once he'd finished his spin, he'd turn to face her and fling out the rebar with his full strength creating what'd look like a spinning red-hot disc that was aimed at her. With one rebar out of reach by this point he'd pull out the other rebar from his ribcage and then continue chasing after her so he could slam either weapon into her torso or whatever new earthen projectile she'd try to send his way. Because as far as he was concerned this is when things started to get fun. He could see what Scarlet was really made of and that excited him, especially because he was almost ready to go to his next form. And if he wasn't excited for that in an almost psychotic way then there was no other word for describing that. Because he didn't get to use that form but a handful of times and now, he was almost completely safe to use it.

Still a thought passed through him, one of concern for the other. So, he figured he could be a good sport and let her in on the joke given she was going to need to find a way to deal with it very shortly. "Scarlet! Just figured you'd want to know, that I'm almost ready to kick things up a notch! You better get ready because I don't get to use this next form very often! In fact, I'm not technically allowed to use it because it causes so much collateral damage! BUT SINCE WE'RE NOT IN KARAKURA I CAN FINALLY USE IT AGAIN! HAHAHAHA!" Excitement coursed through him, just like the reiatsu he was feeding his current form. It was damn near electric! And it was now that he remembered about Kitai's electric weapon add on. I'll need to consider upgrading these guys later. But for now, let's see what Scarlet's weapon can really do! Well. . . . assuming it can survive the blast~

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
-50 for movementx2
-200 for Movement Mastery: Boost

Total reiatsu used: 250

2,000 - 250 = 1,750 reiatsu remaining

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techs used}Movement Mastery: Boost
Class: [2]

Technique Type: [HWD Physical Manifestation]

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

Technique Element: [None]

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

Movement Mastery is a little different than Willpower and Output Mastery, given that Movement doesn't have stages to combine like the others. Boost applies the 3x speed boost of the technique to one's entire body. The body heals itself three times as fast as normal including filtering out waste three times faster and purging toxins three times faster. The user then sweats out the waste and is free of any poisons and toxins they may have ingested.

The internal organs isn't all that moves faster. The user gets a 3x speed boost for constant motion over their whole body. This boost starts to fade immediately. The first post has 3x speed, the second 2.5x speed, third 2x, fourth 1.5, and by the fifth the whole boost is faded. By moving so fast, the skin of the user starts to heat up and blister. This is painful, sure, but has a combat capable use. All of the user's barehanded attacks are extremely hot to the touch, dealing extra damage with just a single touch of the user's skin to a victim. This too fades after 5 posts.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): [Insert Below]

Will the entire body to act 3x faster for a short period of time.

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

Only One Mastery technique can be learned. The user must specialize in which HWD technique they want to master. The biggest drawback is that the effects are natural instead of supernatural. Without a body that can heal faster than normal, 3x healing won't be much more than scabbing of small wounds. Additionally, this technique will actually kill the user faster if they wouldn't be able to survive the poison or toxin. The speed boost also hurts a lot given the skin is a blistering temperature. Costs 200 reiatsu per post and ends after 5. Cannot be refreshed without external healing.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Mod Soul Level 4}Class: 4

Duration: 4/4 posts used

Durability of most limbs: 1,120

Right Arm Durability: 520

Star AoE: 40 feet from Hoshi in all directions. (Hoshi to 40 feet)

Extended Heat Zone: 30 feet in all directions past his Star AoE (41 to 70 feet)

With Hoshi as the center and up to 2.5ft in each direction, of Hoshi is a Sunspot.

Sunspot Duration: 3/3 posts used

SPOILER: Click to show

{New Stats}
Strength: 700

Speed: 600

Reiatsu Strength: 400 (700)

Spiritual Pressure: 300

Instinct: 100

Senses: 100

Energy sense: 0

Healing expertise: 50

[Scarlet]

Scarlet was surprised not just by the meager fact that her punch actually managed to land on Hoshi, but by what she felt across her entire body now. It was like she’d fallen asleep at the beach for several hours. Her skin felt tight, dry almost like it was tanned leather after only a few seconds. Hoshi’s fire that surrounded his body was almost cheating her out of actually fighting him. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have the Calamity in her grasp right now when her right hand was ruined. Just making direct contact with Hoshi really was like shoving her hand in a fire pit.

She didn’t need to move her head, she could simply move her view to the right side for a moment as Hoshi laughed. Her right hand barely responded to her commands, that hand was useless to her now with what she could muster. In order to use that hand further she would have to reach a new level of pushing pain out of her mind. At the moment it was like chaos screaming throughout her consciousness, the pain was intense. So maddening that Scarlet could only compare it to when she’d been stabbed multiple times by a Hollow.

She’s sorted against the Shinigami Tala and managed to gain his approval, even getting offered a position with them as well as a substitute. The heat that his zanpakuto managed to make was intense, enough that she had to push herself through it in order to fight him. That was the same thing she had to do right now against Hoshi, but touching Hoshi was on a different level. Her hand now was like when most touched her Fullbring. She could see easily though despite sweat pouring off her body that Hoshi’s skeleton form had no problem holding her Calamity.

Scarlet was doing her best to stand her guard, to not back down from the intense fire that was Hoshi now. Him rushing her though like he had done before while holding his weapon along with her own was terrifying. Scarlet struggled to focus her reiatsu only to her feet preemptively. Hoshi was close something she could tell not just with her eyes but with her skin as well due to the sudden emergence of further pain. The moment he appeared Scarlet did her best to recall her Calamity.

The battle axe immediately would flow then have its form compress and slip from Hoshi’s grasp. Flying off to Scarlet’s head once again to return as her earrings. For the first time in her life Scarlet watched as lava wasn’t just in front of her, but coming towards her. She was always the one sending out the liquid of earth, now she had to keep it from touching her like everyone who fought her. Bringer Light was the only thing she could do as Hoshi attacked.

He hadn’t just been holding her Fullbring, but his rebar which meant that she really couldn’t stand her ground and fight him despite the burns she could feel even now. Ang longer than she would be pushing herself into danger zones. Even if she could keep going then she wouldn’t be able to move much less protect Karakura for several weeks. She had to fight off Hoshi no longer, but her own pride. It was for this reason that Scarlet after disappearing from in front of Hoshi would raise her left hand up above her head.

Over by the tree where they’d both come through, Scarlet stood her top had several holes from the lava splashing down, a small portion of Hoshi’s attack that burned not just her clothing, but skin as well. It was painful yet confirmed even further for Scarlet. “Sorry to disappoint Hoshi, but I won’t be able to survive the next notch. If we keep going I’m not going to be able to put up any resistance or help people for a while which is the important thing.” She didn’t want to give up but her reason outweighed her adrenaline.

[Hoshi]

Scarlet had dodged again. To no one's surprise at this point. He'd caught a glance at her hand and realized immediately why. That thing was rendered functionally useless. Which meant she had one more left and her legs. But her whole body was akin to a living sunburn by this point. So, it wasn't shocking to think that she really was burning up in real time. Something that while curious to Hoshi, was a bit strange as he thought she could handle the heat a good deal better than this. Still, she'd handled it better than expected so that was more than fine. However, as he was about to get ready to shift his form, as his skeletal appearance was starting to flicker away and lose its steam, he finally caught sight of her. By the tree they came into, and she was holding up her good hand in a form of "time out" gesture. Hoshi raised an arm towards her and gestured for his rebar to return to him. The rebar stopped not but a few inches in front of her face before shooting back his way. His rebar was followed by his other rebar.


Hoshi'd be lying if her said he wasn't hugely disappointed. He'd had the right time, the right space, and he was still raring to go! Scarlet was supposed to be someone he could go all out on because she was WAY more capable than the others he'd met. And she was but not capable enough. Which had him in a weird space. Still Hoshi was frustrated and while he did let his form fade out, along with the bright light and excessive heat, it quickly returned though a great deal dimmer. He was akin to glowing bones, not quite plasma but still hot as fuck to the touch. In his anger however he used both hands to reach up, after taking a couple steps as he was so much shorter now and tore out a chunk of earth the size of himself. He then proceeded to throw it into the sky beneath them. He repeated this process several times until he was calmed down enough to speak. Fucking unreal! I can't believe this! First, I couldn't use this until AFTER the fucking shinigami THEN I can't use it because I keep damaging things around me. AND NOW I can't use it because Scarlet can't keep going! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKK!!!!

Were Hoshi to have a heart rate it'd be soaring at the moment. However instead his reiatsu was explosive in his anger and it was seeping out of him without concern for his surroundings. Starting to rapidly dry and even spark the grass above him. Still this entire moment lasted for only a couple minutes before he regained some level of control again. Then he walked over to Scarlet, his rebars in his chest, and spoke towards her. "You're not wrong . . . You're not wrong. Sorry I just . . . I don't get to really go all out much so I'd kinda figured you were gonna hold out a bit longer. Still, if I'm honest most folks I've had to fought don't tend to last this long either. I think the only one who did was that fucking waste of space shinigami. Real fucking annoying that one as he had heat or flame powers. So, he really put me in a bind for obvious reasons. Still pretty sure I killed him; fucker deserved it though. Either way good on you for keeping up as long as ya did!"

"Anyway, my ramblings aside, did you want to talk about the spiritual a bit more before we go back? I imagine you're not exactly in the best condition so maybe it's better we get you to the docs for my group. Oh! That reminds me, while I know you may not be interested or have an answer at the moment, I did want to invite you to join us! So, in case I didn't say it previously, the group I'm with is called Xcution and we could always use the extra hands to help. Especially since we've got a lotta folk out to help keep Karakura safe, which you already do on your own. Not to mention we've got several fullbringers that could help ya learn more about your powers and help develop it more. I think you guys have more you can do with your fullbring. Or maybe you develop another one? I can't remember. I'll have to ask around and see if anyone can tell me what it is for certain. Regardless, if you ever want to join or work together let me know. I'll make either happen and am happy to teach ya more about the spiritual world."

Hoshi's skull smiled as happily and admittedly cartoony as a skeletal being could smile. Scarlet despite being within a few feet of Hoshi would only register some residual heat coming off of him but nothing harmful. In this form he was nothing if not a living campfire. Dangerous to touch but not dangerous to be around and definitely a few levels dimmer than his previous form. Still, it wasn't hard to see him looking over Scarlet's form to make sure how bad she'd found herself now. He silently hoped she took him up on the offer to get herself fixed up but if not, he understood. He just beat the shit outta her and suddenly offered her to join let alone get healed, after admitting healers are hard to come by. With how little she knew of the spiritual world, he wouldn't be surprised if he scared her more than made a good impression by this point. But he was hoping she would look past the scary appearance and powers to see the dumbass inside. Still, he was excited to hear her answer. Yes, no, questions, comments, hopefully no criticisms. But hell, even that would help him do better for the next person he found. . . . Or maybe Madelynn now that he thought about it.