Arc 1 ~ Canon S-2: New Generations: Bount [Hard, DP]

[Serraph Quarrere]

”Don’t call me “Lord”. You may call me Mr, if you wish, though.”

Serraph grinned. The Espada had been too long under the dome of Los Noches indeed. Of course no normal person would be referred to as "Lord". If they play their cards right this night, he'd be far greater than a mere "Lord". Still, he'd keep these thoughts and notions to himself. “Just Luke then” Luke would explain the situation. There was a small detachment of a hundred in route to Karakura Town.

This wasn’t the largest force he’d seen, nor would this be the biggest battle. The Arrancar would remain cautious. Bounts were not a clan of people he’d have that much experience with. The only information he held were of legends and stories that could be implied to originated with the Bounts, but how much of that was true and how much of that was mere fantasy dreamed up by mortal minds unable to process what their eyes were seeing?

As he was lost in thought, Luke had already departed from the rooftops and was already speeding down the road. The good mayor had already gone and so did the shinigami that was lurking nearby. He’d sigh and sift his thin fingers through his crimson hair. “Bloodshed was always your domain, Lady Seris, your burden.”, he’d muse, tapping his loafers against the roof, slipping out of them.

Serraph stepped out on the ledge, crimson eyes looking out against the night sky, brimming with light from the onlooking moon. His toes clutched the edge not unlike the talons he had back then. “I’ll make the moon bleed for you once more.” He’d declare, shifting the core of his weight to his chest. Slowly he’d tip forward until his gaze was filled not with the cooling light of the moon, but the distant inevitability of the ground below.

The air flowed through his hair and his feet caught the side of the building. The arrancar did what he did best, run. Using gravity to accelerate his speed, he’d leap to the ground, following through with his momentum and speeding down the street. In his chest, he could feel his dormant heart pulse, but only for a moment. Seris was watching, of this he held little doubt.

“By the end of the night, I will be one step closer to making you whole. You have my word”, Serraph thought, his free hand clutching his tie’s knot, loosening it until the wind slipped it free from around his neck, left in the wake of the wind tunnel he created. He may be perhaps the weakest Espada in many aspects, but only the Segunda, and who knows how long that title will be held by her.

Like the wars of eld, he’d speed down the street like a pale blur, following the motorcycle, then surpassing it. The intent wasn’t to show off to a potential ally, but rather display a bit of his capabilities. If they were going to fight as a unit, it was fitting that the de-facto leader of this rag tag group of misfits should know what those around him can do. As he caught up to the bike he’d flash the helmeted bount a challenging smile before speeding up. His form would flicker then disappear, leaving nothing but gusts of air and dust in his wake as he sonido’d out further.

From the looks of things, he’d make it there first. As he decelerated to a stop in an open field further down the road, presumably on the outskirts of Karakura, he’d take a deep breath, soothing his rapidly beating heart. Before him the formation had begun to come into view, stopping at the sight of Serraph. “Oho~, smart! It would be my recommendation to stay right there. It would appear there’s been a sizable misunderstanding.”

He’d sink the tip of his cane into the soft soil, his posture becoming more relaxed rather than hostile. He could tell this group was on guard, but not immediately hostile to him. “One of your kin is *rapidly* approaching. He’ll smooth this right out for ya.” The large detachment of bounts would listen, much to Serraph’s surprise. They weren’t seeing him as a threat, but perhaps a few did see how he seemingly popped out of nowhere and felt the wind change direction of his appearance.

There was no rush. Serraph had all the time in the world, but it would appear the Shinigami that was shadowing them and the good mayor himself thought otherwise. Despite the suggestion that “They follow his hunch”, the two would bind a few of them, despite the non-hostile disposition. Serraph groaned and looked to Luke who stepped out to meet them, with the arrancar following on his left flank.

“Good thing you said what you said, Luke. I really didn’t want to stain my shirt”, he’d admit. His hands would begin unbuttoning the mentioned shirt before pulling it over his head and laying it neatly on the ground. His wolves would come and collect it later. If push came to shove and he was forced to release, the shirt wouldn’t be white anymore.

Perhaps it was odd to see the Espada casually cast away his shirt, but it was a practical move. He could care less if the Bounts saw the “VI” tattooed on his midriff. If he released, his clothes would be ruined, then he’d have to spend another evening choosing suitable replacements, and he was quite the indecisive fellow. “Whatever it is you’re going to do, I’d do it quick. I doubt they are just gonna sit there and let those other two embarrass them for too much longer”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Tala had made quick use of his skills in order to restrain the Bount, and several of the plans succeeded. Many members of the army fell to their knees due to Tala's quick thinking, and plenty of others questioned getting in close to the Shinigami. They didn't want to deal with being restricted as the few who had been attacked by Tala so far were. Since this was the case, they redirected their attention to someone else entirely - the new Bount who just showed up. Suspiciously, he was standing in front of the group as a few others were knocked back by some surge of energy. One of the army members who had been in the frontlines spoke up.

"Just who are you supposed to be?" A question laced with malice. The Bount who asked, a male with black hair, was staring directly at Luke.

Several female Bounts were busy ogling at Serraph the moment he removed his shirt. They seemed significantly less interested in fighting, and they were perfectly entranced the moment Serraph appeared. His movements were smooth and godly, his speed nearly unmatched. It was certain that no one amongst this group would be able to win against him in a game of tag, and they immediately recognized this. Instead, they sat back, almost observant, and allowed one of their own to be somewhat of a spokesperson. It could be noted that they seemed to be somewhat obedient, though to whom was truly the question.

"We don't subscribe to the notions of a fake leader. We were given one job and we're going to follow through with it. Besides, you don't want to kill us. That's been made abundantly clear with the way you've fought us so far."

That much was true. The tactics used by the participants were primarily based around capture. That much made the black-haired Bount question the group's motives, especially when he started to assess the situation. His own comrades may outnumber these four, but they were severely out-classed. They weren't going to last even a second in a true brawl. That, and he noticed how the majority of the army didn't even have Dolls to summon. They were given explicit orders, yet was he the only one who could truly use a Doll? Well, him and perhaps a few others, but not any of the rest? That didn't make any sense.



OOC: Now you're all here! It is a little weird that these Bount don't seem to be able to use their powers. Maybe they're newbies! Jin's re-emergence seemed to have gotten the attention of many of the ones of his kind who were hiding, but it's interesting that they're this weak despite their Class. It is important to note that the black-haired Bount who's speaking now is Class 1, Rank 3. I'll provide a build for him in my next CM post along with a reference image.

At the moment, I'm going to say 10/100 of the Bount have been restrained and are unable to fight due to Tala and Amoskon's efforts.

[Luke Clyburn]

He was thankful that someone decided to join him. ”So you put it on the grass?” the helmeted Bount would ask the silly Arrancar. Again though, Luke was thankful that at least one person joined him. He wasn’t stupid. Though someone had masked their own reiatsu via different means, Luke could detect the presence of another source of remarkably powerful reiatsu. That had to be the dear mayor. Unless Las Noches had opted to send a second Espada, that would mean Asmoskon had ditched entirely and chose not to involve himself in the matter at all. Or he was the one who decided to run off some fair distance and immediately launch an attack at the opposing enemy forces, despite what Luke had said. Neither option made him look like a team player. Luke had noted the fact the man had just walked off earlier while he had been talking. It was at that moment the man had scratched the Quincy's name off the list of potential candidates. The Shinigami that had come was doing his own thing, but Luke was thankful that he seemed to be using disarming and binding spells rather than offensive Hado.

No matter. Now wasn’t the time for this. The night was young and the battle hadn’t even begun yet. His boots crunched the grass and dirt beneath him with every step. Serraph removed his shirt, eliciting a reaction from a few women in the crowd, as the Arrancar completed his routine to prepare for the fight. Luke estimated that there were about a hundred enemies. Counting them out with his ability to sense energy. A sea of flickering ethereal flames in the darkness that his sixth sense could perceive. From behind the covered eye sockets of his mask, the Bounts amber hues narrowed ever slightly. They’re… he came to realize after estimating the average level of strength that this army possessed. Hiding his hands in his pockets, Luke stared ahead at the army as someone finally stepped forward to meet with the Bount and Arrancar.

"Just who are you supposed to be?"

The man that approached them was a well built male, similar to Luke, with slicked back black hair stepped forward as though he was the spokesperson for the group. He’s not weak. Luke could tell from a quick glimpse at the man's reiatsu. His words dripped with a malice that Luke wasn’t sure the origin was from. Something wasn’t right. There was something wrong here. A nagging feeling at the back of Luke’s head that he wasn’t quite sure what it was coming from. Just something didn’t sit right with him. If this was supposed to be an army of Bounts that was meant to attack Aura’s coven and subjugate it then why; Is he the only one of any merit? Luke asked himself in his head, getting the attention of his dwelling companions.

Besides, you don't want to kill us. That's been made abundantly clear with the way you've fought us so far."

Luke’s helmet shifted slightly as he lifted his head up a little, his attention returning to the Bount who had come to speak to him. ”Hmm. You’re half-right.” the strongest would reply, his voice modulated and altered by the helmet. ”Not wanting to kill is not the same as not willing to kill. Please, do not make that mistake.” Luke would reply, the tone of his voice impossible to determine thanks to the Vigilante’s Hood hiding his emotional tones. ”You said you wont serve a fake leader. Yours must be quite the man. He inferred the location of another growing Bount community and has sent his one hundred best to crush the competition. Sending Bount to kill Bount, instead of trying to come together for the sake of our kind.” Luke replied, turning his head to the left a little to look at the crowd of people on that side. While the tone of his voice couldn’t be determined, the meaning behind his words would only be lost on the most socially inept of individuals. ”He must have a lot of confidence in you. Why else would he send you, alone, into a den of sleeping dragons?” Luke finally asked, turning his head directly to face the Bount that was speaking to him and Serraph.

Luke took a step forward. ”He sent you to die. Each and every single one of you. Your master hoped and prayed that we would stay our hands against you. I repeat again; not wanting to kill… is not the same as not willing to kill.” Luke shot back. ”What a man he must be. Not here himself. I ask you to think of your friends, your loved ones, and your families. Ask yourself if this is really what you want to do? Do you really want to follow a leader who would send you to die?” a piece of this puzzle that Luke hadn’t put together yet. ”I’m not here to bargain with you. I am not here to plead with you. I am not even a part of the coven you target. I’m here to tell you what is going to happen.” Luke would explain, his voice cold like ice even through the helmets artifacting. With a deliberate slowness Luke reached up with both of his hands and placed them on either side of his helmet. There was a click sound prior to Luke lifting it. Once the Hood passed his chin, Luke unleashed the first attack.

No more hiding.

The spiritual pressure that was released was like standing in front of an airplane's engine blasting directly into your face. A pulse of reiatsu released from the Bount that rumbled the earth of Karakura itself. Reiatsu that was so dense, so thick, and with so much power that the weakest of the Bounts threatened to lose consciousness immediately. Reiatsu that was so powerful that it was physically viewable by the naked eye. Reiatsu teal in color outlined with black flowed from the Bount outwards like fire and upwards like a tower, or a tree, into the sky. The reiatsu released consumed Serraph completely, with the Arrancar so close to the Bount and all. Reiatsu that was unmistakably Bount. Luke brought the full might of his reiatsu output forth, flexing his gravitational pressure to its utmost while also explicitly controlling it and keeping it from outright flattening the weakest of the army into pancakes.

The human world was not like the Soul Society. It did not possess the same level of reishi density that the land of the dead did. Where every man, woman, child, building, rock, and tree was made of reishi. It happened from time to time in the human world, where reishi was fundamentally lacking. When two opponents of substantive powers met and released the full might of their power a new form of weather pattern would emerge due to the abundance of reiatsu. The clouds above the battlefield had taken on a peculiar form that would never naturally be seen. They became a series of rings, like ripples in water or the rings of a tree, that spread outward across the battlefield. A weather pattern only seen in the Human World when the strongest battled called; an Emperor’s Ring. Something that Luke himself, alone, was creating.

A battle was a series of lies. Misleading your opponent, getting in their head, tricking them, were all fair game in a fight. And Luke was engaging in a similar behavior. The reiatsu he was releasing that was changing the very weather itself was his own, yes, but he wasn’t simply releasing his reaitsu. Gate. Open. His reiatsu output (2500) and volume (1600) had doubled. Luke Clyburn was releasing the utmost maximum of his reiatsu by using Willpower to force open the Gate that functioned like a dam for the bodies reiatsu pathways. It was no different than what had been felt months ago. Karakura Town trembled and shook as Luke’s reiatsu created a small scale earthquake that even the city felt. But the effect went further than that. It was felt across the entire island nation.

From the woman who had come to France, to the one who ran a club in secret, to the one who sat at the head of assassination power. Every person in Japan felt it. Those with a trained sixth sense would feel it, their heads turning in the direction of the lighthouse like burst of reiatsu. Those with an untrained, barely functioning, sixth sense would feel the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. The burst of reiatsu was just like when Luke had awoken from the ice nearly a year ago. Since then the Bount had remained in hiding. Avoiding battle where he could. The man even took a desk job away from the frontlines. At some point he had figured that if the word had gotten out that Luke Clyburn had returned, drama would follow. But no, now someone he cared about was in danger. Luke had something to protect. He would not hide any longer.

The question had to be asked though, with Selao being the only Shinigami present, how did Soul Society miss the existence of a Bount so powerful he rivaled or even exceeded the Captain’s of the Gotei Thirteen? Where on earth had he been all this time?

He invoked a binding vow. Luke did more than just flex his reiatsu. This was his first attack after all. ”I am Luke Clyburn. The strongest.” Every single person who stood on the battlefield, except for Serraph, Asmoskon, and the Shinigami, would be hit by this. Luke did not direct the effect onto his allies. Every single person would see something so real, so undeniably real, that there was no doubt in their minds that they were facing reality. Every single Bount was suddenly standing on a plate. They had shrunk. They all stood standing upon a silver plate. Silver cutlery aligned each side of the plate. A first course fork, alongside a main course fork, on the left. A main course knife, a smaller first course knife, and a soup spoon on the right. A wine glass filled halfway with red liquid on the upper right. Each Bount, individually, saw the same thing. They stood alone on this plate, and towering above them adorned in a black and red suit was the one who saw them as little more than a meal. As though this was no more than a dinner date with his woman. The embodiment of Luke before them was a man of shadow and darkness adorned in a suit. No facial features were recognized besides the ominous and oppressive gaze of his amber eyes glaring down at them.

The four foundational principle techniques of the Human World; Movement, Output, Willpower, and Energy Generation. Once these four were learned and mastered one could call themselves a fighter. But this was only the starting line. Further ahead were the advanced techniques such as the one that Luke was using right at this very moment; Martial Discipline Ken. It was a technique known for its almost absolute defensive capabilities. But that was not what Luke was using it for. He invoked a binding vow. What gave Luke his designation as a Special Grade human wasn’t overwhelming power like Asmoskon Masurao had. It wasn’t the same sort of political control that someone like Shizuka Sanamizu possessed. No, it was his ingenious mastery over techniques and reiatsu abilities. He was, for all intents and purposes, a technique master.

In exchange for Ken’s defensive aura… I want all of its power and the more I provide it to strengthen its intimidation effect.

The binding vow Luke had made sacrificed Ken’s ability to use its defensive repulsion, the primary function of the technique, to amplify the intimidation effect the technique also possessed. An intimidation effect that was already so strong that it can cause even the most tempered of warriors to feel extreme fear. But now how powerful was it that Luke traded the defensive portion of his Ken to amplify it? Luke, whose Ken was already so powerful it could repel the might of the entire JSDF, who was amplifying his power even further with Gate. Ken, defensively, would take the sum total of one's power and factor it into its defensive aura. But Luke, through Gate, had amplified his power so high that the defensive value of his Ken (4150) could potentially repel even the Seireitei’s Sōkyoku. All of that power. Every drop of it. Was used to fuel the intimidation factor that Luke subjected every single enemy too. A intimidation effect so powerful it created a very real hallucination that they would all see.

”These are how things will go.”

Luke finally spoke. His voice magnified and amplified by his spiritual pressure so that everyone, everyone, would hear him. The black and white bangs of the Bounts hair flowed in push of his reiatsu. His amber eyes glowing so brightly with power that they had practically turned yellow.

”Those who run will be spared. You will not be shot in the back. Those who surrender will be spared. You will even be welcomed to live here. But those that fight; will be cut down and killed. Make no mistake. Karakura Town is my city. And on my name and title as the strongest, any threat against it will be destroyed. No matter what it is. Now, choose.”

Remaining Reiatsu: 7600 / 8000
-200 x2 for Martial Discipline Ken

Long Term Stat Boosts: 1 / 3

SPOILER: Click to show

{Willpower | Mastered}
Technique Name: Physical Manifestation: Willpower

Class: 3

Technique Type: Other

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects:
Willpower is a technique that is available to most who dwell within the human world, and has a variety of effects that make it a versatile and useful technique. This technique is one that manifests the willpower of the physical body. It essentially causes spirit and physical body to "become one" and merge their powers. There are two uses of it. The first is a non battle use, and is the main use. The main use is simply to know the technique, which slows the aging process of the body and allows the possessor to live easily as long as a Shinigami or Arrancar. This is a will-based technique, however, and thus, if will vanishes, so does its power to stop the aging, which quickly catches up. Mod Souls and Bounts have a minor version of this part at all times, which allows them to age slowly at all times; humans and Quincy learn this version at Class 1.

Willpower has three stages that are associated with it, as listed below:

[Stage One: Cog]: By giving up 100 Reiatsu, the user pumps an explosive amount of intimidating power out. Anyone of inferior class will immediately be intimidated. This does not mean they won't fight. Those who are weak enough in comparison will feel a huge, exaggerated surge of power that will probably make them surrender. This can also be used on Hollows to actually scare them away instead of having to kill them. This does NOT work on animals! It only works on "intelligent beings." This means unless it has a similar to human intelligence, this wont' work on an animal.

[Stage Two: Pulley]: This causes physical output to increase based on draining spiritual energy. It costs 400 reiatsu. When activated, it increases physical stats by 50%. However, it causes the skin to begin to blister from pumped out Reiatsu. Essentially, skin begins to burn. It's a quick burn. Within 5 posts, burning will start to become quite serious. On top of that, statistic gain is lost by the post, starting after the second post of this being active. After that time, 10% of the gain is lost every post. It can only be restored by sacrificing 150 Reiatsu per 10%.

[Stage Three: Gate]: This has no initial cost. Reiatsu strength and Spiritual pressure (but NOT Reiatsu amount) both double. From there, reiatsu output goes up, meaning that costs are also doubled for everything. On top of that, 100 reiatsu is lost per post until this is deactivated.


Drawback: See each individual stage. Atop that, when Willpower is learned, it comes with all three stages, but costs double the TTP to learn. Humans, Mod Souls, Quincy, and Bounts only.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Martial Discipline: Ken | Mastered}
Technique Name: [Martial Discipline: Ken]

Class: [1]

Technique Type: [Human World Dweller Technique]

Usable By: [Bount, Fullbringers, Mod Souls]

Technique Element: [None]

Technique Description and Effects: [Insert Below]

Think about it this way. Most any human with spiritual powers should know the four basic techniques of the human world: Willpower, Output, Movement, Energy Generate. Any who fails to know these is simply a low class combatant. To be a true contender, these techniques are necessary.

Well, likewise, knowing Ken is what puts a human world dweller in the upper echelon of the human world's spiritual abilities scale. Let's explain. Martial Discipline refers to a mental or physical discipline, or both. In this case, it means disciplining one's soul. It is tempering the soul to achieve a certain effect. This is where Ken comes in. That's what this technique is. Confused? What this technique does can be located below.

Ken is the next step from Willpower, Output, Movement, and Energy Generate. Ken focuses the user's soul into an aura around their body. What this technique does is utilize the spiritual aura of its master to create a glowing field of energy around the user. The field extends a quarter inch off the skin for every 100 reiatsu strength the user possesses. What this field does is repel incoming attacks by utilizing the current physical strength of the user combined with the current reiatsu strength of the user. That's the strength of the aura. It repels them, but doesn't destroy them. It simply deflects them or blasts them away. Simultaneously, the user produces an intense feeling of intimidation which would cause even the most tempered of warriors to feel extreme fear. Wild animals will flee instantly from this aura. The aura can, if the range of the user is wide enough, actually be directed at and focused straight onto a certain target or group of targets.

How to use technique: [Insert Below]

Simply activate it at will. The reiatsu cost to activate it is 200 reiatsu per post active. The user must know all four HWD main techniques to learn this one. This is considered an extension of all four.

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

The aura of intimidation can be resisted completely by the use of an opponent's Ken, regardless of user stats or class. Otherwise, if the opponent does not know Ken, then it can be resisted by those of superior class. This technique can be broken by techniques of superior class, or by opponents of superior class. It is also extremely fatiguing to use, especially in consecutive posts. The user must remain immobile when activating this technique, and cannot use any attacks, other defenses, or other spiritual abilities while Ken is active. Luckily, to those who have mastered the technique, it can be switched on and off in a split second as long as previous conditions are met. The user burns up more stamina in a single post of Ken than if they were going all out with movement the post before. Therefore, knowing and using this technique both require built up stamina.

Made By: [Kento]

Reserved? (Yes/No): [No]

[Tala Selao]

Tala Selao stood among the tension, his posture calm but his mind working furiously to process the scene before him. The sheer concentration of spiritual energy in this field was staggering. He wasn’t accustomed to being surrounded by such a diverse collection of powerful entities—each one seemingly as enigmatic as the next. His senses, honed by years of experience, extended outward, mapping the chaotic symphony of reiatsu signatures. Every pulse and wave carried a story, and Tala felt their weight pressing against him. Yet even as he focused on the immediate threat, a nagging question crept into his thoughts: how had so many Bount gathered in one place without the Soul Society’s knowledge? The scale of this army was unlike anything he had ever imagined, and the fact that he was the only Shinigami sent to address it left him uneasy.

His gaze shifted over the gathered forces of the Bount army. They were numerous, but their spiritual energy was a stark contrast to the overwhelming reiatsu radiating from the four individuals who stood against them. Most of the Bounts felt faint, flickering like embers beside a roaring inferno. Tala couldn’t help but wonder how such an unbalanced force could hope to succeed. It was strange—if this was truly the force of the so-called “True Bount,” why send so many with so little power? Was this desperation on the leader’s part, or something more calculated? Tala’s unease deepened as he considered the possibility that these soldiers were nothing more than pawns in a far larger scheme.

Tala’s Ocular Lens activated with a faint, familiar hum, feeding his mind critical data as he observed the battlefield. His eye adjusted to the lens’s Reiatsu Scan, breaking down the spiritual pressure of every combatant. The feed revealed a disconcerting pattern: the majority of the Bount army had reiatsu levels far below what Tala would expect from a force attempting an assault of this scale. The few exceptions stood out sharply—most notably the black-haired Bount who had stepped forward, whose spiritual pressure was leagues above his peers. Tala’s brow furrowed as the lens continued to record the scene, its live feed transmitting every detail to Squad 12’s archives. Even if he didn’t make it back from this mission, the data would. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this force was more a distraction than a serious threat.

The first figure that caught his attention was a Quincy—or so Tala had initially assumed. The sharp, focused reiatsu matched what he’d encountered from others of their kind. But something was off. The moment Asmoskon’s reiatsu shifted into something dark and oppressive, almost mimicking an Arrancar’s, Tala’s hand instinctively brushed the hilt of his Zanpakutō. He didn’t act, however, instead narrowing his eyes in thought. Was this an enemy, or was this just another layer to the chaos unfolding around him? The transformation unsettled him, yet he couldn’t help but admire the control and ingenuity it must have required.

Then there was the Arrancar. His crimson eyes and relaxed demeanor gave Tala little comfort. It was his first time encountering an Espada face-to-face, and he could feel the hollow echoes of destruction woven into the man’s presence. Yet the Espada seemed oddly... composed. Tala watched as Serraph removed his shirt and addressed the crowd with a strange mix of confidence and casualness, even drawing the attention of the enemy forces. His movements were almost theatrical, and Tala found himself studying him more closely. Could this calm exterior mask a storm within, or was this Arrancar truly unconcerned with the battle ahead?

The most surprising presence of all was the Bount who now stepped forward. Tala had never met one before, but Luke’s reiatsu was unmistakable. It hummed with ancient power, distinct and overwhelming, like a dam ready to burst. When Luke removed his helmet and unleashed his spiritual energy, Tala’s breath caught in his throat. The sheer magnitude of it shook the earth, a tidal wave of raw force that Tala could feel reverberating in his very bones. The oppressive weight made him stagger slightly, and his instincts flared. This was no ordinary battle. This was a demonstration of dominance, and Luke was making his intentions abundantly clear.

Tala’s grip on Hestia tightened, though he kept her sealed. His mind raced as he processed Luke’s declaration, and the hallucination Luke invoked rippled through the battlefield like a cruel wind. Tala could see the fear in the eyes of the Bount soldiers, their resolve faltering under the crushing weight of the illusion. Luke’s words were as sharp as any blade, and for a moment, Tala felt his own moral compass spin wildly. How had Soul Society failed to notice the existence of someone like Luke Clyburn? The raw strength and control he displayed rivaled that of a Captain. And how could an entire army of Bount gather without their attention until now? The realization left an uneasy pit in Tala’s stomach. Was the situation in Soul Society so fragile that they’d grown blind to such threats, or had they sent him alone because they didn’t view this as the true danger it seemed to be?

He took a calming breath, willing his heart to steady. His place in this battle was clear—to minimize harm and bring clarity to the confusion. He stepped forward slightly, positioning himself as a bridge between the chaos of the battlefield and the trembling masses of enemy combatants. Though the tension in the air was thick, Tala’s voice, when he spoke, was steady and resolute.

“This doesn’t have to end in destruction,” he said, his tone carrying both authority and empathy. His words weren’t loud, but they were deliberate, cutting through the tension. “Think carefully about the choices before you. The people of this town don’t need to suffer for a cause that may not even be your own.” He gestured subtly toward Luke, Serraph, and Asmoskon, keeping his posture non-threatening but firm. “You’ve seen their strength. You know what will happen if you press forward. Surrender, and there may still be a way to avoid unnecessary loss.”

Tala glanced at his supposed allies, his gaze lingering on Luke for a moment longer. He still didn’t know these individuals or their motives, but their overwhelming presence had left no doubt that this field was teetering on the edge of calamity. He could only hope his words, however small, might tip the scales toward something resembling peace.

For now, he waited, his body relaxed but prepared, ready to act if the storm broke.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Easily the most Bount that Asmoskon had ever seen and yet he was already convinced that out of this so-called army only a handful were at the strength of a common spiritual soldier. Most of these Bount likely didn’t have a handle on their own inherent abilities. “I could have simply handled this by bringing forward the top twenty Quincy.” Asmoskon thought to himself knowing that his friends who’d he’d turned and those that chose to follow his example would have been enough for this at least. “Could Jin have figured out a way to turn normal humans?” Asmoskon once again contained his thoughts within the confines of his skull.

He’d figured out how to enhance the soul of the normal human, turning them into a Quincy. Although turning normal humans into Bount fit the typical mistake of association with vampires, Jin was truly powerful and smart. Asmoskon didn’t believe that anything he could figure out was beyond Jin. For this reason he came to the conclusion that these Bount were either the remnants that remained throughout most of the human world, or fresh souls who, like those that followed him, were simply trusting Jin.

Pushing the few off their feet onto the grass ground was enough, they wouldn’t have any serious wounds nor suffer any real pain, it was just enough so they’d get the idea. He was beginning to walk through the large group when Luke flexed his reiatsu. What he was doing was obvious to Asmoskon, it was something that all spiritual warriors of the Human World could accomplish although Luke was putting far more effort than needed into this wide spread aura of fear. Whether or not the Bount here were knocked unconscious or dropped to the ground in terror didn’t matter to Asmoskon.

He continued his walk while doing his best to sense out each of them nearby in order to find the most developed. Although they all served Jin it was likely that only a few knew his location. Unless he was hiding himself with a technique or equipment then Asmoskon would have sensed him already. Stopping after about a minute he’d turn to the nearest Bount and ask with the voice modifier in his mask turning his voice into a very deep, dark tone. “Where is Jin Yamada? I’m a friend who needs to speak with him.”