Cometh The Hour: Kuroi vs Vice Captains

[Deleted]

In the time frame just before and after Irudai, and subsequently Kyousei, released their zanpakuto’s and charged to attack Kuroi, the Squad 9 Vice-Captain decided to augment the defensive strength of the team. With the Segunda obviously predisposed at the moment, the boy summoned forth a set of five chest plates from the ground. Four of these pieces would rise amidst the team of Vice-Captain’s, up right; they were medium in size, about half a centimeter thick all around, with slight shoulder guards and two flaps extending from their lower sides. All were shade of dull shade of brown. The fifth, however, was meant for Kazuko himself, which rose from the ground in two pieces, both before and behind him on stone struts that clamped onto his torso, fusing together. Each individual plate weighed about ten pounds, given that the Vice-Captain had opted to thin out the amount of material that went into the devises so that mobility would not suffer too greatly. Without looking back, the boy advised, “Put them on if you wish, from the strength of his reiatsu, they can at least stop the bite from his sword.” And it was true; each chest plate had a Reiatsu Strength equivalent of 1050, which could at best stop the Segunda’s sword or hinder a bala.


While it would take at least a few seconds for anyone who wanted the armor to put them on, Kazuko had formed the pieces around his chest in the span of a second, all while keeping his attention focused on the three combatants. When the Espada dodged the Squad 10 Vice-Captain’s assault, the boy, who was honed in the way of the sword as well, quickly noted the underhand tactic employed to blind Irudai. As it just so happened, the Squad 5 Vice Captain decided to make his move at that moment as well, with the use of water, which, as Kazuko already understood, was under his direct control. Unfortunately, the Segunda had launched himself diagonally, thus escaping the paths of the rising blades of water while putting Irudai in harms way. Kazuko’s eyebrows scrunched slightly in irritation; already, they were making mistakes against such powerful a foe. The Vice-Captains needed to work as a team to overcome this opponent; that was the only reason why Central had authorized sending them all out at once in the first place, to work as team.


Noting previously the disposition of the Squad 10 Vice-Captain and the possibility of injury from the attack should he fail to dodge, the boy decided to act as he saw fit to help the man. Before the blades of water could strike at Irudai, a broad plate of earth, about a foot wide, four feet long, and an inch thick intercepted them. The blades of water shattered against the earthen plate, and tore themselves apart back into the puddle of water from where they originated. Unlike the Squad 5 Vice-Captain, Kazuko’s variety of manipulation was almost twice as fast and marginally more durable than his; therefore, the boy was able to intercept his attack and assist Irudai in avoiding the impending damage. However, it came at a cost; Kuroi had, more than likely, seen the boy’s power, so a measure of surprise was now lost. Again, without averting his eyes from the opponent, Kazuko reprimanded, “Watch your fire, Kyousei.” Hopefully, the Squad 5 Vice-Captain would take a bit more consideration for his actions and not act so hastily to attack.


Kuroi, having avoided both sets of attacks, moved backwards giving himself some leeway and a slight respite. The Squad 9 Vice-Captain decided to continue in his role of supporting the efforts of the team; he had no wish for glory at the moment, not when the stakes were so stacked against Soul Society. Instead, the boy called forth another wave of manipulation. Again, there was no outward sign that anything had been done, no exertion from his muscles or any pointless display of reiatsu; there was only the result. Kuroi, as it were, would find his progress impeded as he made his trek backward before he got out of Kazuko’s effective range of control. Five earthen shackles erupted from the ground; three would materialize near his back rush upward. And two just beside his feet would clamp around both of his ankles; two out of the three at his back, would extend suspended on chains and clamp around his wrists. The final shackle was aimed to snap shut around his neck. Each shackle moved at a Stat Speed of 700, and had a durability of 1050 RS. There size was relative to the dimensions of Kuroi’s ankles, wrists, and neck. If anyone of them managed hit their mark, then the chains would hold down the Segunda.


Unfortunately for Kuroi, he had also made a mistake in judgment by keeping his attention solely fixed on the opponents before him. Kazuko’s manipulation was coming from an area where the Segunda was attempting to fall back to, which meant that it would only increase their effectiveness. With his focus on his adversaries, could he notice the danger before it was too late? Moreover, given the close proximity of the shackles, they would also be difficult to detect, avoid, and out maneuver given their location and superior speed. What made things worse was the fact that their was not one, but five simultaneous objects to try and avoid. On the off chance that the Segunda could escape, these shackles would nonetheless accomplish their roles. Their sole purpose was to impede the Espada just enough to make an opening, meaning that the movement and energy wasted to try and escape would buy members on the team with a chance to move in. The Vice-Captain of Squad 9, even if he were merely a boy, was not so foolish as to leave his guard down as well; he at least anticipated an immediate counter attack, or some ploy at diversion from their adversary.


Remaining Reiatsu: 2000/2500 (-300 for 3x Earth Manipulation)

Shikai Posts: 2/10

[Zou ۞]

OOC: Response coming soon, but first, I'm going to roll over an idea that I got from a Mou suggestion in chat. Essentially, Mou's issue was that in the current mass combat system, post counts for things like my Pesquis are inefficient and drain very quickly, which is all well and good for you guys here, but would work terribly if we employed it in future. As a result, Mou suggested DND Round Posting, but naturally that's thread inefficient. Instead, I've got a sort of compromise between this and Mou's suggestion. Essentially, the individual combatant, Kuroi in this case, will extend release and similar by only counting up one post after half of the in-game individuals have posted in round with him. Confused? Here's how it works.

We've got 8 or 9 people here, so our number is 4. So, say I post. That's Pesquis 1/5. Person 1 posts, I post, Person 2 posts, I post, Person 3 posts, I post, Person 4 posts, I post, and now after Person 4 I hit Pesquis 2/5. It doesn't necessarily have to be four different people, just four post responses. Does that make sense? That's what we're going to start doing from now on. So, Kazuko will be Person 1, and I will post after him in response to that. Meaning after my post, three more people will go before my Pesquis goes from 2/5 to 3/5. We're going to experiment now with that idea. Let's see how it goes.

Edit: Pie had a better idea for keeping track of these things. Now we're just going to multiply my post numbers by four. Pesquis is out of 5? Now it's out of 20. Ressurection is out of 16? Now it's out of 64. That makes way more sense. Okay, so after Kazuko, it'll be 3/20 instead of 3/5 or 2/5.

[Zou ۞]

Play this

Moving away from his adversaries, Kuroi had not focused solely on them, but rather had deviated his thoughts toward studying what he knew of them. His attention however was quickly refocused by a new anomaly in the battle. Within his Pesquis, he was able to detect reiatsu forming around him, which captured his immediate attentions and dis-spelled current thoughts of the others, though he did continue to study the situation in the back of his mind. What Kuroi noted was a different reiatsu, matching the one which belonged to Kazuko Shiba. The reiatsu which gathered around Kuroi was the earth that Kazuko attempted to mold to ensnare the Segunda Espada, given that his reiatsu infused into the earth in order to make it move.

Kazuko however had made a mistake. To begin with, Kuroi had been several meters away from the group of Vice Captains. He had not come any closer to them. Irudai had left the group to join Kuroi. This tactical error of Kazuko's meant that his range had been overestimated. Kuroi had already been several meters away, nearly ten if not already moreso, by the time Irudai approached him. He had gotten even further away when evading the strikes from Kyousei, moving back. As he moved back, earth tried to ensnare him, but early on his Pesquis alerted him to the situation at hand, that being a reiatsu gathering around him. Kazuko did indeed also need to expend his reiatsu, and an expenditure of i t would be caught by the radar of Pesquis as well.

That said, Kuroi a back flip using his Kung Fu talents, specifically the Cantonese "Eagle" styled variant of Cantonese warrior monks who originated from the the sixteenth century or prior to it, and whose styles passed on through Asian culture. Ordinarily, Kazuko could perhaps have created his wall or shackles at a great enough height to intercept Kuroi. However, in this case, the Segunda Espada had already been far enough away that even at the start of his backflip, when he was only just lifting off into the air, he was leaving the range of Kazuko's earth manipulation. Kuroi had already been ready to perform a sort of movement like a backflip, and had left Irudai and Kyousei indisposed enough to not be able to cover the distance that quickly so as to be able to intercept him in mid back flip.

Still, Kuroi reached eleven, twelve, thirteen meters and then more away in total from the Vice Captain's general group, Kazuko included in that, with only Irudai being closer. Kuroi had reacted upon sensory of the reiatsu forming or being released, having cautiously prepared himself for it. While indeed he'd been taking other Vice Captains into consideration, the lack of action and attack allowed Kuroi to quickly shift his attention to anticipate what was happening at hand. He had neither been attacking nor even really defending, which meant that besides vague thought and analysis, nothing had truly had his attention. This meant that as Kuroi moved into the air, the shackles formed and clamped over where he had been only a moment before, as did the wall, which he soared over.

Once in the air, he already had a good enough range that the wall could raise itself no higher to reach him, nor could any earth form any farther from Kuroi. In actuality, the Segunda Espada was out of Kazuko's range of earth manipulation once he performed even that back flip. Kuroi landed, clearly out of Kazuko's range, and possibly out of Kyousei's as well. The Segunda Espada took note of Kazuko's wall and shackles being unable to make any adjustments, and decided that either they could not be altered once created, or Kazuko had a range limit of around ten or eleven meters, and Kuroi had passed it. He wondered if Kyousei also had a range limit. If so, what was it? Thus far, two attacks had also been from ground level, and thus there would be no surprises from that. Kuroi had almost anticipated enough one just because Kyousei had already attempted it. Kazuko's had hardly been a shock.

Landing, Kuroi also noted to himself that it was probable that no Vice Captains had pursued him because of having to go around the wall and shackles to reach him quickly enough to intercept him in mid back flip. Having to circle around even that little bit and get into the air next to Kuroi or even near him would be impossible with regular movement while he was in mid back flip. A Shunpo could cover that distance, however having to circumvent the movement would be inconveniencing enough in timing that by the time the Shunpo reached Kuroi, assuming it was done with a speed superior to his own, he would already have landed. He could surely been intercepted instantly from the very moment that he landed, but he would prevent this with something else.

Play this

Another thing which would have stopped the Vice Captains from interfering with Kuroi would be a sudden feeling of weight in their chests. Suddenly, it would be as if their hearts tensed up and clenched, causing hesitation or even shocking surprise. It would be enough to stun them out of approaching Kuroi on the beat. As he landed, it only intensified. "Distractions..." Kuroi noted of their strategy. "Combinations, surprise attacks, decoys, camouflage, underhanded tricks..." As he spoke, the feeling began to intensify, and there would also come dread with it within the hearts and souls of all around. "That is the correct way of doing things. You will need all of these and more. You will need everything that you have ever conjured and will ever be able to conjure. You will need to combine every strategy that you can think of if you are to have any hope of landing a blow against me."

As Kuroi spoke these words, at last it came crashing down in full upon all of the Vice Captains. In that instance, pressure started to crush down on all of them. Kuroi had stopped capping himself, and was at last releasing and exerting the full weight of his massive power. The gravitational pressure of Kuroi's spiritual presence weighed down on all of the Vice Captains. Francis, Keji, Taien, and Kyousei would all feel incredible pain from Kuroi's pressure. In that instant, it would be as if they were under an ocean of pressure, and their ears would split with an agonizing pain as if underwater at a great depth. A shrill ringing could be heard to them in the background, though muddled by what would sound like the intensified sound of the ocean's waves. All of these would be brought to all fours in pain.

No, all four, except for Keji's Gigai. Keji himself, the shadow, would be constricted and feel the same effects, but his Gigai, held up by his reiatsu presence and not by its own merit, would simply fall over from the loss of concentration, and would collapse as if it had died. Kuroi noted this. It fell like a rag doll, or a puppet. However, he had judged Keji's level with his Pesquis early on. Kuroi's pressure should not have been enough to kill Keji, nor even knock him unconscious so instantly and quickly. He knew something was wrong on Keji's end from the instant that the body fell. Now, as to those first four, the pain would be unimaginable. To the next few, it would not be as bad, but it would still be horrible. Raygin and Kazuko would feel the pressure crushing them first to their knees and then to all fours.

The sound would still echo in their ears, but if they exerted a large amount of reiatsu, fighting it would be possible. However, out of those first six, none were capable of launching attacks so easily under that pressure. It would take tremendous focus to regain their composure and minds. Kaen and Irudai had it the easiest. They would feel an incredible pressure beating down on them, and might struggle momentarily to stand, but would not be pushed to all fours or to their knees. Rather, both would feel the pressure crushing down on their bones, and would experience difficulty in breathing, as if Kuroi was suffocating them with his hands around their throats. All the while, Kuroi's black reiatsu sparked here and there.

"Perhaps the Central 46 has overestimated you." Kuroi noted of the Vice Captains. "You are all far beneath the level required to combat me. As it is now, the entire lot of you are nothing more than fodder." He spoke as he believed to be true. Indeed, only four could presently attack him. Raygin, Irudai, Kazuko, and Kaen. However, Raygin and Kazuko would be capable of attacking only through tremendous strain and burning through their reiatsu reserves. It would be heavily stamina taxing. Irudai and Kaen could both attack, however. It was one of them, most likely, who would have to attack Kuroi to prevent him from crushing down on all of the others. Perhaps it was Kuroi encouraging the stronger ones to begin to attack again. Perhaps he wanted to see what some of them could do.

All the while, the aura which he cast out was menacing and evil. It had a killing intent unlike any which they would ever have experienced in their lives previously. Kuroi had no doubt that he was there to destroy all of them. "Attack me." Kuroi challenged mockingly. "Did you not say you would beat me to the ground? Or that you could win? Or that you would take me in, or penetrate me with my own blade? What of all of these wild threats that you all made? They seem to have been moot. Nothing but bluff and talk after all." Kuroi goaded and taunted the Vice Captains, ensuring that someone would lose their patience and begin to attack him once again as well. The Segunda Espada held his sword, and remained ready.

Kuroi's Remaining Reiatsu: 3900 Reiatsu

Pesquis: 3/20

[Kaen Youji]

Irudai went at Kuroi hard, and Kaen mentally groaned, as Kyousei nearly skewered his own comrade. Thankfully, Kazuko had intervened. Good. It seemed he'd also constructed some armor for the group. Kaen put on his armor quickly, overtop the chainmail. Normally, he wasn't a fan of armor. It was bulky, and obstructed movement. Thankfully this was just a chestplate, and quickly fastened. Though the armor was stone, Kaen barely noticed the weight at all, such was his strength. "Thanks Kazuko-san." He said, watching the events transpire. Then Kuroi's spirit pressure hit him.

Kaen grit his teeth, as he felt the air become heavier. He could see that himself and Irudai were not massively affected by it. Taien too seemed to be able to tolerate it. The rest of the Vice Captains were being crushed by it. Kaen's eyes focused in on the Segunda Espada, hoping he could handle anything that Kuroi dished out. "Oi. Irudai." Kaen commented. "It's hammertime." He said, whisking the Esteemed hammer from his belt, and throwing it at Irudai. Indeed, only someone of Irudai's strength and reflexes would be able to catch it, such was the strength with which Kaen tossed it at the 10th squad Vice Captain. Of course, Kaen could have used it too, but Kaen also knew of Irudai's great strength, by reputation and reasoned that the powerful Vice Captain would be able to use it to better effect than himself. Besides which, Kamisoku was a tiny knife. While the weapon was no indication of the warrior, surely Irudai would fare better with a weapon, that had actual reach.

However, Kaen had thrown the hammer to Irudai, using his peripheral vision. His focus was still on the Segunda before him. Ready to react to anything Kuroi attempted. Or at least try to react. As Kuroi mocked the Vice Captains, Kaen strode out from the group, using measured steps to approach him. No sense giving Kuroi an understanding of how fast he could be off the bat. Kaen's eyes stayed on Kuroi as he strode up towards the Espada. "Aye, you're probably right. If you beat Enma-taichou, I doubt any of us could beat you one on one, or two on one." Kaen admitted, as he stopped about two sword lengths from Kuroi.

"Ah, but isn't that where the fun is?" Kaen asked rhetorically, his eyes blazing. Hachiryuu blazed with light as Kaen released the Zanpakuto, wordlessly, and instantaneously. He was insane enough to approach Kuroi alone, but not stupid enough to attack him with only a sealed blade. He's just outside of my zone.[/color] Kaen thought regretfully. Here goes![/color] Kaen lunged in at Kuroi, instantly moving into striking range, throwing a sudden jab towards the Espada's face with the arm, his shikai now affixed itself to. And as he did, Kaen mentally activated his Barrier Stance technique. He was close enough to engage it. His awareness was heightened. In the small space around himself and Kuroi, Kaen's focus had intensified to perceive even the slightest of movements.

But it was a feint. An attack designed to gauge Kuroi's reactions. Throwing a blind punch at the Espada, Kaen knew, could easily cost him his arm, or worse, and thus the Squad 7 Vice Captain was prepared to retract his arm, the instant he saw an attempted counterattack from Kuroi. No doubt Kuroi would see the hesitancy in Kaen's body language. And it was in that body language, that the trap was set. Kaen knew full well, a simple feint wouldn't work on Kuroi. He'd look to the rest of his body for a clue as to the Vice Captain's strike. Feint high with a jabbing blow, and kick low? Throw a body shot? A sweep?

Kuroi didn't have the information to predict the real truth behind the feint. Whether Kuroi reacted to Kaen's feint or not was irrelevant, as the result would be the same. A wide cone of flames erupted out of Kaen's fist to engulf Kuroi, launched at practically point blank range! Against these flames, Kuroi's Hierro would not avail him, for they blazed with a heat surpassing 5000 degrees! More than enough to turn flesh to charcoal in moments, Hierro or no. Merely being as close as he would be to the flames, when Kaen unleashed them, would be enough that Kuroi would feel his eyes dry out instantly, and his skin begin to sweat from the intense heat. Kaen severely doubted that this would be sufficient to bring Kuroi down, but if nothing else, he hoped he could at least force the Espada back, and bring his focus entirely onto his current challenger. That might give the other shinigami a chance to regroup and come up with a new plan!

Reiatsu: 1350/1500
Shikai: 1/10
Barrier Stance Post 1

SPOILER: Click to show

Senses: 200
Instinct: 350

[Zou ۞]

Play this

A twitch. That was how it all started. Kaen's body began to twitch. It was a simple measure to evaluate the body of the one that began to move as soon as the movement began. Kuroi noted Kaen's twitch, and saw which muscles were tensing and which were not. It was not as clear-path a trajectory as predicting a sword movement, however it was his martial arts experience, which had taught him all about close quarters techniques in unarmed combat, as well as bodily functions, which allowed him to fully understand the basics behind the Squad 7 Vice Captain's movement. Kuroi could see very well that a powerful movement was coming, but the lack of reiatsu fluctuation in addition to it indicated no step technique. Kaen was going to rely upon physical movement to get him there, indicating confidence.

Yes, this was a physical opponent. He would be fast and he would be strong. It might be similar to Irudai. Of course, Kuroi's ability to analyze the situation also meant that he was learning about all of it as the fight continued. He simply continued to observe and to fight on. However, Kaen's movement disappointed him. The very instant that the Vice Captain moved, Kuroi noted two things about the movement. First, Kaen was slower than Irudai had been. This was important, as Kuroi's analysis had already developed a counter to the likes of Irudai's speed. Second, Kaen had a Shikai activated, but unlike Irudai, it gave this one gauntlets. Gauntlets often came with special touch properties. Kuroi made a mental note to stay away from Kaen's Shikai. If he was serving under those such as Enma, he was one not to be struck by.

Enough of this. Kuroi thought, never once taking his mind off of the larger picture, even as Kaen approached. No, he had had enough of defending against the likes of these Shinigami. It was time to go on the offensive. First, there was the matter of Kaen's attack. Kuroi made his judgment call while Kaen was on the way, before the Squad 7 Vice Captain had arrived. This time, Kuroi called upon his martial skill to deal with the approaching enemy. Predicting the trajectory of Kaen's movement, Kuroi stepped to the side a split second before the Vice Captain arrived. By this point, the more skilled foes would have noted that Kuroi was not faster than Irudai or Kaen, even though at that point he must have appeared to be. He was simply moving before it became imperative to react.

His side step allowed him to dodge Kaen's incoming swipe, and as he stepped and Kaen moved in, Kuroi's counterattack began. Kuroi saw as he side stepped the arc of fire erupt forth. Several things were processing in his mind at that time, all part of one greater objective, one subject. Kaen's fire was very hot. It probably could not damage Kuroi's exterior, but prolonged submersion would mean that his internal temperature suffered horrific damage as a result of it. Kuroi had no intention of allowing that. Also, while Kaen's initial thrust was a feint, it was still enough of an attack to give Kuroi an opening. Kuroi did not appear to throw a counterattack. Kaen, relying on sight, would see no sign of any sort of counterattack.

Rather, as Kuroi side stepped, he twisted his foot. At that point, Kaen arrived, and Kuroi twisted along the ball of his foot, slid all of his momentum into his toe, and launched into the air into a graceful spinning motion away from Kaen. Simultaneously, a flash of light blinded Kaen. The light was violet colored, and not only was there no sign of such light coming, nor was there any sign of a counterattack from Kuroi, but the light was an instantaneous flash. It would definitely blind Kaen, and therefore momentarily stun him. At point blank range, he was in trouble in that case as he would not know to respond to an attack, he would be stunned, and his body was outstretched, even as Kuroi spun away through the air, away from Kaen's wide arc of fire, clearing it narrowly.

The Segunda Espada's flash of light had not been merely nothing. It had been a light erupting from his shoes, special shoes which had a special property. He could eject his swords, stored by magic, through those shoes. In that instant, a katana with a black blade, curved slightly so as to vaguely resemble a lightning bolt shot forth. Kaen was blinded, the blade came from right next to him, and he was in no position to determine counterattack or recover instantaneously from such an unexpected and immediate stun. None could have predicted the likes of that counter. The blade arced toward Kaen's side as well, barely even visible in his peripheral, were he not blinded, and with a straight, silent stabbing the noise of which was drowned out by the air Kuroi exerted from moving away.

As the blade tip moved to stab Kaen in the side and pierce through his torso, Kuroi moved away to get further from Kaen. His foot touched down on the ground only a second or two later, as the blade should have rammed into and entered Kaen. Whether or not that worked was irrelevant. Kuroi had faith that while a difficult attack to counter, his foe would have found a way. It would not be so easy as that, however the goal had been counterattack, not immediate strike. Rather, it was a distraction. In that instant, Kuroi used this opportunity to close the distance between himself and Kyousei, who had launched the water at him earlier. Kazuko had made a mistake with that earth armor. He had assumed that it carried a larger reiatsu strength than his own. (OOC Note: That was written out during the power scan a month ago. I found it OP to be able to increase the reiatsu strength of your earth, especially to those levels, given the variability of earth manipulation, all in Shikai.)

Now that Kuroi had used this opportunity to maneuver himself away from one of the stronger attackers, he moved to one of the weaker ones. His pressure had elapsed from earlier, as it's main purpose had been intimidation, and so people should be freeing up their senses again. Perhaps recovery would be dull and not immediate, given the sheer power of Kuroi's aura, but certainly they could stand back up and begin to regain themselves, albeit dizzily, and start to attack. That said, with his foot twisting into a pivot unnecessarily, Kuroi used his arm movement alone to slash with the sword he still held in his right hand. He had managed to orient himself to be in front of Kyousei, with his blade arced into a slash across Kyousei's chest.

However, something was odd about the entire thing. Kuroi had planned it too perfectly. Not only was the blade from earlier carrying his reiatsu strength, and thus the power to pierce Kazuko's earth and ram into Kaen's body, but Kuroi's flash of light from earlier had cast itself over Kaen's shadow as well, eradicating the tendril hooked to it. Kaen was disconnected from the mental process of the other Vice Captains, same as Irudai, and Keji would receive damage and pain for the sudden disconnection from Kaen. Two had been cut off from the shadow network, whether unintentionally or not the Vice Captains would not know. That said, Kaen was in trouble. Kyousei even more so. Kuroi's blade would be able to cut the armor and Kyousei both.

Kuroi's blade was held strangely in a loose manner, almost as if it was floppy. Had it been an extension of his arm, it would have seemed flacid. Then again, to a master swordsman like Kuroi, the sword truly was an extension of his arm. For it to be flacid then was a strange thing indeed. The slash however seemed quite ordinary, and the attack would surely deal horrific bleeding damage to Kyousei if it landed. Perhaps the water could save him, but water was water. Carving through water was easy, especially with that blade, which also carried the weight of Kuroi's spiritual prowess. His attacks were always very precise and to the point. He had no intention of leaving things to chance. As he slashed, the glint of his sword reflected into Kyousei's eyes to also blind him because of the strange angle, and then pass over his face and hit his shadow instead, cutting him off from Keji as well.

Indeed, Kuroi had caught on. Earlier when he had crushed them all, he had noticed the body of Keji simply slump over. There was no way for that to have happened normally. Kuroi did not possess enough spiritual weight to destroy Keji so instantly like that. He had detected so earlier. This meant most likely that either Keji was weaker than expected, unlikely because of Pesquis, or otherwise, as Kuroi had suspected, something was off. He had surmised then, judging from the connection between the Vice Captains he had sensed, and the strange shadows observed in Irudai whom he had earlier cut it off from and then later in Kaen, that that body was a puppet. He compared it to the likes of the CEO of Devil's Vendetta, the underground organization he had once encountered which had put him in a battle tournament against many a foe. That one had also had powers to control a fake body to act as proxy, and had been a living shadow. Kuroi surmised a similar trick in Keji Sokudo.

He was testing the theory by attacking the connections to all of the Vice Captains while also attacking the Vice Captains themselves. Kuroi also made a point to speak as he was moving and attacking. As he arrived at Kyousei, or perhaps before, with his words preceding him, Kuroi spoke. "You seem to be under the impression that you can defeat me simply because of your numbers...This is false. Numbers mean nothing to me. True strength is not in a team, but in the merit of each individual to carry himself, and coordinate with all of the others. Coordination is part of individual strength as well. Yours is a joke. As a collective...all of you are my inferiors." He was serious about what he said. Could they prove him wrong?

Kuroi's Remaining Reiatsu: 3900 Reiatsu

Pesquis: 4/20

[Deleted]

(OOC: Okay, I just got to this post tody, and after goig through Kazuko's powers thourghly, I have found that the 50% Reiatsu Strength thing is only left in my Bankai. As is, I want to issue a formal apology to Zou and everyone participating in this thread. This is in fact the second time I fucked up in regards to Kazuko's powers, so I have no excuse for my error. In regards to the armor, everyone can just disregard they were there through some reasoning your character has and what not; to those that have it, you can just toss it aside. Nonetheless, in light of these errors, I don't think I should be allowed to post for quite a while here, or in any other thread where I have made this mistake. Again, I apologze for my mistake. I'm sorry.)

[Royce The Great And Powerful]

OOC: You are overreacting, RX. It is a simple error which is easily forgiven and forgotten. Do not be so hard on yourself. It happens. We will not even remember it in a few posts.

OOC 2: Also I give myself back 50 reiatsu. I had forgotten my Shikai only costs 150 now. Therefore I should have had 1350 this post, and my two Shunpo bring me to 1250.

IC:

Irudai had been waiting. Irudai had been waiting patiently. He had been waiting patiently for approximately the last ten seconds. He had been waiting for the last seconds, and so he had grown impatient. It was time to move. Irudai had been blinded and stunned, and had not been able to attack. Irudai recovered, looked around to see what happened, and found it. By then Kuroi had already been in engagement with others. Kuroi had already engaged with others, but Irudai was annoyed. Had Kuroi forgotten who the main opponent was already? Irudai was the main opponent. It would be Irudai who won. Irudai, who would defeat Kuroi, was about to attack. He clenched his fists more tightly.

"Oi, Irudai." said someone somewhere. Irudai looked to where the someone somewhere had spoken. It had been Kaen. Kaen had spoken to Irudai. Kaen had wanted to gain Irudai's attention, for then Squad 7's Vice Captain whirled a large mallet at Irudai. The Squad 10 Vice Captain perked up. It was a new weapon. This was good. "It's hammer time." Kaen told Irudai. Kaen told this to Irudai, and Irudai grinned. Irudai grinned, and reached out. He grabbed a hold of the hammer and he caught it. "It's hammer time." he repeated. Irudai knew about this weapon. It was meant to smash. This was much better than a little knife. This was meant to cause damage and to destroy and cause pain. It was perfect for Irudai.

Irudai used Shunpo to cut off Kaen and Kuroi. He appeared in between them when Kuroi was spinning off. He appeared in between them when Kuroi was spinning off, for he had been planning to attack Kuroi. Instead, a sword was coming forward for Kaen. A sword was coming for Kaen, so Irudai blocked it. He hoisted his new and mighty hammer into the way. This new and mighty hammer which got in the way blocked the sword. It deflected the blade, and Irudai saved potential wounds this way. The sword flipped into the air. The sword flipped into the air, and Irudai was then rewarded with a devilish idea. He caught the sword by the handle in his knife hand, and held his small Zanpakuto and the sword handle together in the same large hand. He now had two weapons, hammer and sword.

"Nice..." Irudai said. "Now I've got two things to fuck you up with..." He did not yet know it, but the contact with the sword had imbued the hammer. The hammer had been imbued with the sword's reiatsu strength. Kuroi's reiatsu strength. Irudai now had two weapons with the means to hurt the Segunda. Irudai now had two weapons which he could use to further his destruction, the means to hurt the Segunda Espada. He grinned. This was going to be a good and fun battle now. Squad 10's Captain, Okusa Shogen, would be proud. He would have wanted to be a part of this battle. "I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU OOUUUUUTTTTTT!!!!!" Irudai yelled. He was beginning to increase his excitement. Irudai was ready to attack.

Irudai used a second Shunpo to intercept Kuroi in between the Espada and Kyousei. Forget the water, and forget Kyousei. Forget the water, and forget Kyousei, for Irudai would attack now. He brought down his mallet with a great swipe. The vertical motion created a compressing current of air over Kuroi's body to hold him to the ground and prevent a step technique. The hammer was headed for Kuroi's head. If it hit him, it would shatter most of the bones in his body, probably his skull as well. The fight would be as good as over, if not over already. Irudai also used his other arm to slash across Kuroi's stomach with the sword. He too began to pivot as he slashed. Irudai put his whole body into this slash, though he began to press down on his foot. He was slashing and smashing at the same time.

If Kuroi was struck by the slash, his insides would be torn open and revealed along the torso. His intestines would spill out. His intestines would spill out, and not even high speed regeneration would save him from blood loss and pain. The hammer would shatter Kuroi's body. The hammer would shatter Kuroi's body, and turn him into pulp and bone. Irudai was powerful. He could defend them all. However he would not defend them all. He had defended Kaen for the assistance. One for one. One for one, yet he did not defend Kyousei for that. He defended Kyousei because he wanted to beat Kuroi. He wanted to beat Kuroi, so he was attacking. He was not defending Kyousei. He was attacking Kuroi. This was Irudai Izumi!

Irudai's Reiatsu: 1250 Reiatsu

Shikai: 2/10

[Zou ۞]

SPOILER: Click to show

Kuroi was intercepted by Irudai on his way to Kyousei, but it did not matter. The combat happened so quickly that Kuroi doubted interference from Kyousei would be coming any time soon. At the very least, it would not be happening on time to save Irudai from the onslaught which was about to come for daring to strike out at Kuroi in a one on one fight. There were two things which Kuroi noted in the immediateness of Irudai's assault. First, the Vice Captain had two new weapons, a hammer and a katana. Second, that katana was not Irudai's. It was Kuroi's. It had been foolish of Irudai however to wield a blade which did not belong to him. None could challenge Kuroi in sword combat, let alone with his own weapon. Irudai was about to be hurt very badly.

First, there was the issue of the hammer. Indeed, the air power which Irudai used was capable of pushing Kuroi down, so that he could not use Sonido. However, Kuroi had other tricks to employ for such tight situations. His eyes glinted as he detected Irudai's assault, and prepared himself to strike. Kuroi had a free left hand, and this was where his advantage was. The Segunda Espada released instantaneously from his left hand an enormous Bala into the ground. This caused a blast of reiatsu and a shockwave which knocked Kuroi away from Irudai. The shockwave was enough to push Irudai back and cause slight burns on his body. More importantly, it blasted Kuroi away, except that the Segunda Espada had already been prepared to move his feet.

Skidding back, he countered the backward momentum and launched himself back toward Irudai, but this time to the side. In this way, Kuroi evaded both the hammer, whose attack was interrupted and perhaps even forced upward by the Bala, and the sword, which would not have worked anyway. It was at this time that a counterattack began. Kuroi's sword, Ryu No Ketsuatsu Kou, was special. This was why Irudai could not wield it. It was a cursed sword. That blade was filled with Kuroi's reiatsu, having been modified to allow him to use it to fight others of spiritual power, but this was also partially what had allowed him to master it. As a master swordsman, mastering a sword's curse was something which he could do normally anyways, but this extraordinarily strong curse had required Kuroi to subjugate the sword in more ways than one.

Irudai, who had not subjugated the sword, which out of all of Kuroi's weapons was the "problem child," was not going to be prepared. The sword had a will of it's own, and as Kuroi reached Irudai's side, it used tremendous strength to jerk him into an offbalanced position, and it extended out his arm. Kuroi, in one seamless motion which used only his arm, and with his feet twisting as they had earlier when striking out at Kyousei, slashed at Irudai's outstretched arm. The end result if Irudai was hit would be for that entire arm to be severed. On top of small burns from Kuroi's Bala, a severed arm would ensure that Irudai was no longer the threat that he originally had been, and would make this fight a lot easier.

However, Kuroi was not done. Regardless of how that strike turned out, his blade whipped around into a fluid transition motion. Kuroi delivered a second slash, this one aimed at Irudai's side. If it struck, it would cut so deeply into Irudai's torso as to sever him into two halves. Worse yet, in the event that Irudai lost his arm, it would strike Ryu No Ketsuatsu Kou and flip it around, twirling it and launching it like a javelin toward Irudai. In other words, if Irudai lost his arm and thus the blade, then Kuroi would also slash at Irudai's side, and would send the cursed blade toward the Vice Captain's neck, aiming to stab him straight through there. It was a masterful swordplay move which few to none could ever even hope to pull off.

Kuroi, during all of this attacking, spoke to Irudai. "How regrettable." Kuroi said. "It is a pity that you attempted to use my own blade against me. Most would have known better than to attempt to use a master swordsman's weapon against him, especially if that weapon gave off so foul an aura as Ryu No Ketsuatsu Kou's. However, fear not. Rather, Despair, for soon you will give off an aura of death as you rot away on the ground as bone." Kuroi's attack was intended to defeat Irudai or at least make him so weak as to neutralize him within the context of the battle. This was the power of the Segunda Espada. Even against so many foes at once, he held the clear and obvious advantage in ability.

Kuroi's Remaining Reiatsu: 3850 Reiatsu

Pesquis: 5/20

[Royce The Great And Powerful]

Irudai grinned widely. Irudai grinned widely because Kuroi had at last made an error in judgment. Kuroi had at last made an error in judgment, this being that he believed he could defeat Irudai undamaged! He believed that he could defeat Irudai undamaged, but the Segunda was incorrect. The Segunda was incorrect, for Irudai had a reckless battle style which was also unpredictable. As long as Irudai was still alive, personal injury did not matter. Personal injury did not matter, for as long as Irudai could continue combat, this would not be a problem. Nothing hindered him. Nothing hindered Irudai, not even the loss of an arm. Not even the loss of an arm could prevent Irudai from making the attack which he had intended to make from the beginning, knowing Kuroi's skill and power.

Irudai's attack was thrown off by the Bala. Irudai's attack was thrown off course by the Bala, however he did not stop his strike there. His sword move failed because of the cursed sword, and his arm was outstretched. His arm was outstretched, but he was turning on his heel. He was turning on his heel as Kuroi approached him. Irudai laughed and roared as this happened. His hammer attack was stopped, but Irudai was not. Irudai was not stopped, even if his sword was as well. Irudai did not react to Kuroi severing his arm. This would be pointless. Irudai wished to make an attack land. Irudai wished to make an attack land, and had no desire to defend himself if he could not do this. Stalling was boring.

Irudai lost his arm but did not stop as he turned around and used Shunpo to blur forwards. His body movements adjusted only slightly, and he interrupted and stopped Kuroi's slash as he stepped. As he stepped, he took Kuroi's cursed sword in the shoulder. Irudai took Kuroi's cursed sword in the shoulder, and his arm had been severed from beneath the elbow. Irudai charged with Shunpo. He was faster than Kuroi by an enormous amount. Even prepared to use Sonido, Kuroi could never escape Irudai. Irudai was too quick. Irudai was too quick, and Sonido would not be completed by the time Kuroi was slammed by Irudai's charging body. Irudai slammed at Kuroi with enough inertia to shatter all bones in the Espada's body and rupture all organs.

Irudai did not finish there. "HAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" he roared as he grinned. His body slamming into Kuroi with Shunpo was not all. Irudai slammed his head forwards. Irudai slammed his head forwards as he moved. As he moved, Irudai's head slammed forwards with the intention of hitting Kuroi's. If their heads met, the force would shatter Kuroi's skull and brain and kill him there. This would be in addition to Kuroi's bones and organs being shattered from the body hit. This was two hits of tremendous power. These would finish things if no defense existed or happened. Irudai's Shunpo speed was 12,000. Kuroi's Sonido could only reach 5200. Even using a step, Kuroi could not escape that body slam.

If this attack was successful, Irudai would continue forwards with heavy damage to his body. He would continue forwards with heavy damage to his body. He might even have had enough damage to shatter his own skull. He might even have had enough damage to shatter his own skull, but this did not matter. Irudai had made his attack. There was no way that Kuroi could dodge it. It was impossible. There were perhaps ways by which it could be blocked, if Kuroi was willing to use them. However, if not, then Irudai had finished the fight and Kuroi. This was Squad 10. There was no such thing as predictability. There was no such thing as predictability, for Squad 10 worked under the greatest Gotei Captain, Okusa Shogen.

Irudai's Reiatsu: 1200 Reiatsu

Shikai: 3/10

[Zou ۞]

SPOILER: Click to show

Something strange happened in the moments before Irudai slammed toward Kuroi, even while Kuroi was slashing. It would all be possible to witness in a seeming slow motion by those of great enough experience, who would feel as if the entire world had been slowed down. As Irudai was preparing to slam forwards, and Kuroi was in mid attack, preparing himself to cut through his opponent, and Irudai was in mid turn, moving into what would transfigure into his unpredictable Shunpo movement. Kuroi was able to process Irudai, albeit with some difficulty, and noted a forward movement of the muscles, a lack of intended sword attack, and a quick burst of reiatsu. He knew that something was about to happen. Even so, it was obvious even to the inexperienced that Kuroi was too slow to get anything done.

And yet, something odd happened at that moment. Kuroi's right eye began to change color. It was in fact extremely quick, and would be noticeable immediately. It would be observed as if it were in slow motion, yet it was not. Kuroi's right eye glowed and mimicked an icy blue color, rather than it's usual black. This was what happened first, before Irudai even started his movement forwards. Kuroi could counter it. He observed the incoming attack as if it were in slow motion as well, and he processed it that way, knowing that he could counter it. It was however impossible with Kuroi's current movements or instinctive ability. No, he could never ordinarily counter Irudai's strike. Not with his physical body. It was too fast. It was too powerful. He had a solution, however.

To all onlookers, there was some kind of distortion around Kuroi. Spectators to the move, save for Irudai, would see Kuroi easily side step and get out of the way of the body slam. This did not actually happen. Kuroi was not fast enough to get away on time, and did not even try to step. Rather, the distortion was an after effect of what was to come. Irudai at first would appear to have completely missed. The truth was that the body slam was countered, but not by side step, for that did not actually happen. Kuroi did not side step. Rather, it looked from the outside as if he did, and as if Irudai's course was going to miss because of it. This simple distortion occurred because of the power that emanated from Kuroi's body.

The untrained eye would see the movement as a side step, but it was simply the distortion caused by such powerful, outflowing reiatsu that his figure seemed to change locations to the side. It simply shifted, and in fact it did not even appear to step. This was of course all aesthetic effect. In the middle of all of this, of this entire exchange, and even before Kuroi countered, things seemed to stop completely. Time seemed to stop. All movement seemed to stop. This was because they were truly skilled warriors, and such effects of the world were not uncommon for them. "This has grown tedious, Irudai Izumi..." Kuroi informed the Squad 10 Vice Captain. "You have lost your right to exist." The entire time, Kuroi had left his left hand free for a reason.

A Bala exploded outward in an instant, faster than the blink of an eye. It was not however to harm Irudai or create shockwaves to knock him back. It was so forceful and so compacted against the ground that the explosion of reiatsu at it's release blasted Kuroi upward, like a propeller. Unfortunately, Irudai was too quick. His body would ram into Kuroi's legs as Kuroi was on the way up. Naturally, this would ordinarily have pulled the rest of Kuroi with his legs and yanked him down. However, to continue soaring up, he continued his slash, simply using his swordsmanship to angle his body in such a way that his arm was forcibly relocated into a different slashing motion, this one across two simultaneous targets.

The first target was Kuroi's own legs, which he severed so that Irudai would simply plow through them and take them with him, rather than drag Kuroi along with him. He activated high speed regeneration around that time, deactivating his Hierro. This took off Kuroi's legs all the way up at the thigh level, but allowed them to begin to regenerate while he maneuvered in mid air. His sword however continued in an arc as Irudai plowed through the legs, and would slice straight into Irudai's neck to cut it open three quarters of the way down, making his head nearly severed if it hit. Irudai was moving at incredible speed, and plowing forward with a Shunpo. He would most likely find it impossible to stop himself from being cut.

Not only that, but that exchange was so fast, especially given Irudai's Shunpo, and the distance of all the others from that confrontation, that no one would be fast enough to get anything or themselves there on time to interfere in the confrontation. That was all Irudai and Kuroi, the latter of which had most likely just severed Irudai and finished him. Regardless, this movement allowed Kuroi to evade the Shunpo ram. In mid air, his attack, already halfway in motion, would have completed by taking his own legs and carving Irudai's neck. As Kuroi turned into a landing, his legs completed their regeneration, and he landed solidly on new feet. Surprisingly, his pants had somehow regenerated with his legs, though his shoes had not, and were on the other legs, leaving Kuroi barefoot as he landed on the ground once more.

That said, Irudai should be history by that point. It was almost guaranteed that Irudai had been defeated just there, especially because it was impossible for the others to get there in time to interfere, and Irudai himself would have a great deal of trouble reacting. Kuroi had been forced however to high speed regeneration over his Hierro. This meant that it was time to stop showing off his minimal effort, and begin to attack to kill all of the Vice Captains. No, there would be no more holding back. They deserved him at the weakest of when he was trying. It was time to kill them once and for all. "Very well." Kuroi admitted. "You have earned the right to be killed. All of you." This was the time that they should spend in preparation.

That said, since Irudai missed, his Shunpo would take him to where Kuroi had originally been positioned to attack. Kuroi's maneuver to get away from Irudai had changed their positions, and a Shunpo to ram Kuroi missing would also mean that Irudai was ramming, even dead if he was hit by the sword attack, straight into Kyousei. This would be difficult for any to help guard against. That said, it was likely that that huge slam would hit and shatter Kyousei, while Irudai himself would be taken out by the sword strike. It was entirely possible that Kyousei had a way to survive, but it was unlikely, just as it was unlikely for Irudai to survive. It all remained to be seen, however, just how formidable of a battle this could become.

Kuroi's Remaining Reiatsu: 3400 Reiatsu

Pesquis: 6/20

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

10 paragraphs from Kaen, meaning 100 TP here! Given no other participants are on the forum anymore, no other rewards will be awarded.