The Blessed Blade [NDE, Hard]

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

Name: The Blessed Blade

Participants: Any Race - Max 3

Location: The Human World

Difficulty Level: Hard

Setting: The Monastery of the Blessed Brotherhood, which is in the centre of the Oleshky Sands in Ukraine.

Plotline:

Humans are the strangest creatures. Their tales of myth and magic are so often dismissed as folklore, even though many of them have roots in the truth. And this is one of the few that are nearly completely true.

Several centuries ago, there was an isolated monastery in the Far East of Europe. Even though it was located in the middle of desert sands, a cool chill always ran through it, and the area around it was always covered in snow and ice. The abbot, and all the monks there, were in fact powerful Spiritual Beings with human bodies, much more powerful than the Fullbringers and Quincy who inhabit the earth today. However, representatives of the Spirit King surprised these monks one day, in an attempt to eliminate the threat they posed to then emerging Gotei 13's power. A squad of 8 elite Shinigami were sent, but never returned. The monastery was suddenly lost. Local myths said that the monastery would reappear when certain stars were in place.

Sure enough, the monastery has reappeared. Tales have sprung up in several different places, with the most ludicrous tales being attached to it. The most believable one is that in this monastery rests the blade of one of the monks, an artefact of amazing power and strength. However, the tales also state that the monks, and the 8 Shinigami would tried to kill them, still stand watch over the monastery, waiting to kill anyone who tries take the Blessed Blade.

And so people have come from far and wide, attempting to take the Blade which had scared the Gotei 13 all those years ago.

Estimated Enemy Strength: 4-1

Estimated Time Until Completion: 4 pages

Starts: The Adventure will begin this Friday, assuming at least one slot has been filled. Post placeholder posts for the moment.

Special Conditions: None

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

((As all three slots have been filled, I am posting this as something in which you can base your introductions on. Please delete the placeholder posts above, and post your intros below this one. See the above image for what the Oleshky Sands actually look like.))

A small breeze caused the sparse foliage to rustle, and also disturbed a small layer of sand in what is called Europe's largest desert. It was dead of night, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The sand dunes glisten in the silvery moonlight, reminiscent of the sands of Hueco Mundo. However, no small creatures stirred, there was no sign of life in the 15km wide expanse of sand that rested in Ukraine.

So nobody would notice the sudden chill which permeated the air. A cool wind, seeming similar to the light breeze which was already present, whistled out from the centre of the sands outwards. This wind was a lot less innocent though, its cool air currents froze everything it touched. It levelled the sand dunes in the area, creating a large flat surface, similar to a frozen lake. It had begun.

With creaks and groans, massive walls lifted themselves from the smooth surface, creating something similar to a castle. The walls shone a pale icy silver, reflecting the moonlight and casting it down on the ground around it, making the castle appear as if it were surrounded in a silvery, hazy aura. One would be forgiven for assuming this castle was a mirage, but that wouldn't make them right. Firstly, this was not a castle. This was a monastery. And secondly, it was perfectly real, existing solidly in the Human World.

In a way, it was similar to the Ice Castles used by the Vandenreich, perhaps it was from this fabled monastery that the Emperor stole the idea. This was the stronghold of the Blessed Brotherhood, a select group of beings with spiritual powers beyond those of any race who walked the Earth afterwards. Inside this legendary building there apparently rested the Abbot, guardian of the Blessed Blade and the final practitioner of the Blessed Arts. It was this item which attracted so much attention, people have already arrived, their minds obsessed with obtaining this weapon.

As if inviting them, the gates of the monastery swung open slowly, their ominous creaking echoing around the desert. The secrets of the Blessed Brotherhood lay inside, waiting for those who had both the courage and the strength to search through the monastery to discover them.

[Pavel Fedoseev]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Play Me}

"Have you heard of the dark tale surrounding the Bleesed Blade?" Pavel sat in silence, with bandages wrapped over his face, exposing only his eyes, and still then his habit of reaching for disguises when he could prompted him to grab contacts that would change his normally dark brown eyes to a light shade of blue. The rest of his attire was a buttoned up shirt and a black tie. Covering it was a bullet proof jacket, covering the majority of his chest, with the words "To Secure and To Protect" sewed into the fabric, black combat boots and black heavy leather for pants, he was dressed and disguised as a "Private" security officer that drifts from client to client. The current transportation he had decided to take was a public transportation many denizens had taken when they had taken city to city travels. A large truck with a very large bed, and a tan tarp covering them from the harsh sun. Pavel had been called here from Head Quarters to investigate the appearance of the "Blessed Brotherhood Temple Appearance" or the predicted appearance. Because the location of the actual job was in the Oleshky Sands. Pavel needed an attire that would be "decent" in that kind of weather. Over what he was wearing, he had a large brimmed hat that provided a small amount of hanging tan cloths, blocking out the sun from his face. The XSG had taken the early route there, making sure he had as much time to bring as much knowledge into the "Blessed Blade" and the so called "Blessed Brotherhood" and it was in the best of interest for Pavel to listen to what the man had to say. Sitting next to him, and speaking to anyone on the truck that would listen, he continued speaking. "Several centuries ago, there was an isolated monastery in the Far East of Europe. Even though it was located in the middle of desert sands, a cool chill always ran through it, and the area around it was always covered in snow and ice. The abbot, and all the monks there, were in fact powerful Spiritual Beings with human bodies. Their powers rivaled even the Gods, their best soldiers fell to them. Being sent on a simple mission, and never coming back. The monastery, along with the monks soon disappeared. They say that today, tonight is the day that the temple will reappear.

The assassin listened in silence as they drove towards the nearest city, the drive took a three hours. By the time it was the afternoon, Pavel had departed from the transportation and found his way towards a contact in Ukraine. He was a rather plain person, the kind that would not draw attention to himself. They met behind a bar, many of the patrons kept to their business. Allowing whatever happened around them to happen as long as it did not interfere with them. "I need transportation to the center of the Oleshky Sands. I will need to get there by nightfall. Do I make myself clear?" the man nodded, holding his hand forward, knowing that every informant needed the right price he was paid for his services as well. That very afternoon, Pavel made a phone call, opening his private cellphone and dialed the only phone number he bothered to remember. It rung for a few seconds then the breathing of a tired voice spoke through the speakers "Hello?" with a smile he responded "Always calling when you are tired. Huh." Valetnina made her signature "Hmph" as they discussed how their day went. This burned a good two hours of the day away, as speaking to each other over the phone was often an uncommon thing. By the time the sun had began to set, they had said their goodbyes and Pavel had set out to meet the informant who had agreed to transport him towards the center of the desert. Walking up, he observed the heavily used off road vehicle with the man sitting at the drivers seat. "Well? Let us be off." And they were off, the drive was long and cool. Transitioning from the hustle and bustle of a city to the empty, quiet arms of the open desert. Because of the reliability of the vehicle and his knowledge of the desert the drive only took an hour, but the drape of darkness had already filled the sky. Illuminated only by the soft light of the moon and the stars. Stepping out, the driver immediately drove away. Both of them knew he had a way out of the desert, he only needed a way in .

The transformation and appearance of the building had taken place, majestically rising from the ground, a building composed of ice. Sending a sense of chills down his spine, this building was responsible for the disappearance of the Shinigamis greatest men, he cracked his knuckles and observed what the building did. The chills he received, and how he felt about this building. The sheer beauty of this building gave a sense of an illusion, but something made the man feel as if this was reality. The rustling whistle of the wind, and the whispers of the groups around him. He ignored them all, he ignored it and stared deeply as the doors slowly creaked open. It was as if the building had welcomed them, taking a step back he allowed which ever group to enter first. He wanted to see what would happen to them if they entered in through the door. Was it going to be a trap? Will there be someone in there to greet them? He watched, waited, and listened to what the others said and how they would enter in. With swift movement he opened a small notebook, the size of a notepad and began to write in it. "This is a journal entry to keep track of what is to come today. I have found the location of the "Blessed Brothers" headquarters. It appears that there is a group surrounding it, hearing the legends that this building has. I will enter it soon, once I am aware of what I am getting myself into. This "Blessed Blade" has taken the attention of many, but I find myself skeptical that this blade will be possible to wield through normal means. I will make it out alive, with the blade by my side, and the bodies of these "Monks" as trophies." he closed the journal and stared into the abyss, the darkness reminded him of what it was like when he stared into the mirror. The darkness that occurred, the sense of deception and loneliness. Something that he was used to, something he had to live by. "Lets get this over with."[/i]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Abilities}Strength - [400 X2 = 800] Points

Speed - [225 X2 = 450] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [200] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [200 /2 = 100] Points

Light Aura - [10] Points

Dark Aura - [90] Points

Instinct - [100] Points

Senses - [100] Points

Energy sensory - [100 X 3 = 300] Points

Healing Expertise - [75 /2 = 38)] Points


Total SP: [1400] Points

[Disguise] [3]

[Acting] [3]

[Weapons: Swords] [3]

[Strength of Will] [3]

[Martial Arts: Systema] [3]

[Deleted]

Atop rolling sand dunes, a light peeked over the multitudes of peaks, sending a white luminance stretching over them in all directions. Despite the heat and time of day, this exotic light was not any less noticeable, and sent a few of the lizards and snakes underground. Two paper doors hovered, shimmering in the air, slowly opening and bathing the area with an even stronger glow. In the midst of the two wooden frames, there was a small shadow that moved from within the confines of the door out into the heat of the desert. As soon as he had left the doors, the surreal structures began to close, until they faded out of view once closed. In the normal light of the sun, the being that had walked out of the portal seemed to be nothing more than a boy. He wore a black robe, which clung loosely to his body, almost like a curtain, along with a white sash around his waist. At his back, there was a weapon, a two and a half foot sheathed katana, simple and function at its place. Around his waist, strapped in by the sash, two jugs, or containers were present, unknown to anyone what was within. The boy put his hand flat against his forehead, making some shade for his eyes, and as he did so, his sleeve rolled slightly down, revealing a metal gauntlet on that left hand and forearm. Strange. Its not as hot here as I was led to believe.


And it was true. The wind that ran through those parts was chilling, almost supernatural; turning what should have been unbearably hot into a temperate oasis. Kazuko Shiba, the boy who had just arrived moments before, descended towards the ground, landing softly, taking note not to get any sand in his socks. He walked forward, already intent on a location of where to go, only bothering to glance around every so often. I thought Anastasia was supposed to be here too? I can’t seem to detect her. Maybe I came a bit earlier than I should have? Oh, well. The farther I get from her, the better. Kazuko thought, shuddering slightly, remembering for a moment how she pinched his cheeks mercilessly the last time they were on a mission together. But not this time; if Kazuko could get as far as he could through whatever magical ruins were there, he might just be able to avoid her for the whole mission. Barely realizing it himself, he noticed that he had walked into an area where the sand was mostly flat, a stark contrast to the hilly area all around. This must be the place, I suppose. Mirroring his thoughts, the whole area shook with movement as structures began to rise and take shape all around.


Almost like a castle, the building that rose up was quite massive, and ancient judging by the condition and damage of the stone and mortar. “Well, that’s a check for magical and another for spooky. Must be in the right place, then.” He said, casually, making sure that Anastasia was nowhere around. The doors sung open, inviting the Shinigami in, and he soon complied after making sure that his badge, sash, and zanpakuto were all strapped firmly to his body. As he moved, anyone that had any such form of sensory would be able to detect him; Kazuko made no move whatsoever to disguise his spiritual pressure, and instead kept a heft amount circulating outside of his body. In his mind, there was no need to even bother hiding his presence; whatever was in control of these ruins obviously knew he was there, since, well, the place literally rose out of the sand for him. More than that, he was confident that whatever was inside was manageable. Aside from that, Kazuko was a Vice-Captain, and despite his Limiter, he felt confident that his ability would be enough to handle things, no matter what they were. Regardless, by keeping his pressure released, Anastasia would be able to keep track of his location throughout the venture. Hopefully, however, she might have enough sense not to join him and start pinching his cheeks and start treating him like a kid again.

SPOILER: Click to show

Kazuko Shiba: Level 2, Spiritual Genius

Strength – [100] (50)
Speed – [400] Limiter: 240
Spiritual Pressure – [200] (400) Limiter: 240
Reiatsu Strength – [400] (800) Limiter: 480
Light Aura – [75]
Dark Aura – [25]
Instinct – [150]
Senses – [100]
Energy Sensory – [50] (150)
Healing Expertise – [0]

Total SP: 1400


Abilities

Weapons: Sword {3}
Hakuda {3}
Battle Analysis {3}
Mental Incantation {3}
Calm Mind {2}
Pain Tolerance {1}
Learning {1}

Total SKP: 16

SPOILER: Click to show

2x Medium Sake Jugs
2x Ethereal Sake
2x Resistance Sake
Reiatsu Gauntlet
A shit-ton of candy

[Deleted]

Treasure.

Treasure was every pirate’s friend. Treasure was what made the world go round and it made Anastasia Solis-Kuchiki's world go even..er.. rounder? Did that make sense? ”No, Anastasia. It didn’t.” She sighed. Her placid expression never leaving her face. Even if she could never win against her beloved zanpakuto spirit, affectionately nicknamed ‘Shoku-chan’, she could never lose her blithesome nature or harbor any negative feelings for him. Anastasia loved her spirit… even if he was a stick in the mud. He’s always been her best friend. Right next to that majestic lion Raion. Ooh. Rhyme. Speaking of Raion, she was sure Kazuko was supposed to be around. Or, at least, he should be here already. Something like that. Anastasia didn’t know. She just knew that there was treasure here and she had her trusty flask of Spanish rum to keep her occupied. What more could this mistress of the seas want?

To hold the treasure and not actually see it disappear in her hands. Things of monetary value just seemed to magically pull a houdini as soon as she touched it. It was such a nasty habit~. Anastasia idly played with her hair as she waited and chatted with her spirit about her goals for today. Hm~ The Blessed Blade… How much could it be worth? Surely trillions and trillions of ryo. Perhaps it would be enough to get her out of debt? Doubtful. Anastasia did not come with a gigai. Instead, she wore her normal uniform; short black sleeveless yukata that hugged her petit, lethe form with leggings, and a white obi with a crimson flower design along with the traditional shinigami sandals. She wore a white belt that hung loosely at her hips and attached to it was a holster with her zanpakuto inside. Nothing special.

Anastasia made a point to be in the ancient, decrepit castle before anyone else could get there. Or at least, she’d try to. Drinking and getting to your destination was a hard thing to do simultaneously. Then again, what was she, a magician? Only magicians can multitask! Like walking and breathing at the same time... who does that? Anyways, when she arrived, she scanned the area before her eyes fell upon the grandiose castle. It looked like it belonged to the Vandenreich but she could be quite wrong; she'd only seen one of those castles after all. There were small groups scattered about here and there. Anastasia did not kid around entirely when it came to treasure. It wasn’t like a mission where she’d been ordered to do something. Anastasia did this willingly of her own accord and dammit, she was going to put her best foot forward and give 110%!! Anastasia masked her reiatsu; curious to see who would come around. She kept herself hidden, mingling amongst other people She could see a familiar figure. A very special familiar figure. One she couldn’t help but victimize. He didn’t bother to keep his reiatsu masked either. Nice~ Anastasia took quiet steps, silently approaching the boy. It would be nice if he didn’t spot her, but if he did right away, it didn’t matter. Nothing was going to stop her from what she was about to say next.

“..And a final check for cute, adorable Captain Commander~” She donned a grin, resting her forearm on the top of his head and leaning her weight on him; as if he was some kind of table. The vivacious shinigami was at it again, mercilessly teasing others and shamelessly dropping flattering comments to… pretty much anything with a pulse. This time around, she’d be gracious enough to spare him from the cheek pinching... Well, for now at least. She'd like to instill some false hope in him first; letting him believe that she wasn't going to pinch his cheeks but do it anyway. Instead, she’d do something far more infuriating. Being the thief that she was she’d just reach into his pocket and hopefully pick out a piece of candy. She’d seen him with plenty back at the hospital during that one mission. What’s one little piece? If she succeeded in that (and didn’t die in the process via midget rage) then she’d just shamelessly pick apart the wrapper and start eating it. What was he gonna do, reach up and grab it from her? Yeah, like that’ll happen. Pft.

“Como estas, Kazu-chan~? You didn’t think I’d have the sense to not join you and start pinching your cheeks and start treating you like a kid again, didja~?” Her grin grew wider and cheekier with every syllable. Well, now she’d try to pinch his cheeks. Well, she’d do so lightly. She figured it hurt but at the same time, she couldn’t help herself. The kid was too darn cute. She wondered if Raion ever babied him. Some how the thought of that was more amusing than seeing him get flustered and frustrated right now. Ah, Anastasia loved frustrated reactions. They were so entertaining~ She’d start to snicker. “What do you think we’ll run into, aru~? Maybe we’ll find the map with the road to El Dorado~” If it wasn’t the legacy of the four toed foot, it was something else. Anastasia just wanted to cause trouble for anyone with a pair of ears and a brain. Sigh… All jokes aside, Anastasia was more than ready to find her treasure and find her way out of debt.

“…You know there’s no map here, right? It’s just a guardian and his blade. For god sake Anastasia, don’t you listen!?”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Abilities}

Strength - 50 Points

Speed - 260 Points

Spiritual Pressure - 320 Points (480)

Reiatsu Strength - 240 Points (360)

Light Aura - 70 Points

Dark Aura - 30 Points

Instinct - 100 (65) Points

Senses - 100 (65) Points

Energy sensory - 30 (19.5) Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points


Total SP: 1100 Points

Skills

-Add more if necessary

To add more, use [Insert Skill #X Here] [Insert Level Here]

] Weapons : Nagamaki [3]

[♣] Battle Analysis [3]

[♣] Stealing [3]

[♣] Martial Arts: Kali [1]

[♣] Calm Mind [3]

[♣] Heat Tolerance [2]

[/ul][/font][/font][/blockquote][/spoiler]
[/div]

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

It wouldn't take Pavel long to realise that the two strongest people at the gates of the Monastery were the two Shinigami who were already heading in. Everyone else was weak and desperate. There were a large number of weak Fullbringers, too weak to level up properly and instead seeing this treasure as an easy way to obtain a quick boost to their power.

However, before even Ana and Kazuko could get into the monastery, and over-enthusiastic bunch of Fullbringers ran in front of them. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the monastery however, something very unusual occured, something which should certainly stop anyone else rushing in recklessly. The first sign was imperceptible, something which Pavel and Kazuko might barely notice, but that Ana would miss completely.

As if they had passed through a liquid, the air around the Fullbringers seemed to ripple. As soon as this happened, the resulting scene was like watching a tape on fast forward. The Fullbringers began to move quickly and erratically, far faster than their speed should allow. It was as if time inside the monastery was progressing at a different rate. They were soon joined which only appeared on the outside to be dashes of black. One by one, the Fullbringers were struck down.

Their screams could be heard from the outside, and some people rushed to help them. However, they were flung back from the gates as if thrown by an invisible force. It appeared the monastery only accepted three challengers at a time. It would take the second group of three's deaths before the others began to realise. It was like some twisted game. Groups would have to enter and challenge whatever those dark flashes were, if they wanted any chance at obtaining the legendary treasure.

Of course, Kazuko and Ana being a group of two, they had room for one more. And by now Pavel should have realised that these two were, without a doubt, the strongest here. If he wanted to stand a chance in the Monastery, it would probably be his best option to team up with the the two Shinigami, even if the alliance was only temporary.

Of course, they could all decide to do completely different things. Ana and Kazuko could decide the challenge was just too much for them, and leave the Blessed Blade to rest in the sands of Ukraine and return the Soul Society. And Pavel could decide to join a weaker group and try infiltrate the monastery. Their options were still open. There was still time to turn back.

((Pavel should post first in this round with his decision and reaction, and then the others can react accordingly, to both the events of this post and Pavel's))

[Pavel Fedoseev]

Pavel was silent when he sensed the two Shinigami, he was silent as the two were about to enter the building, hidden and acting among the crowed gave him the ability to blend in without much issue. But they were stopped as a group of three entered the building before them. Foolish as they were, it would play a purpose that allowed Pavel to see what kind of traps and other things awaited them. It was when they sped up inside that would cause the eyebrow of his left eye to rise in curiosity. He removed the sun shade around his head but kept the bandages around his head as he their speed continued towards down the hall. It was not too long afterwards that the screams of death echoed outside of the hall, now there were seventeen human partners. His eyebrow rose again as he observed three other people try to save the dying men and women only to be forced backwards. It appears that the Hall only allowed three at a time. If he wanted to get to the artifact, then it would mean he would have to partner with the Shinigami and get as far as possible, once their guards are low he planned to betray them and possibly hope that the guardians of the Monastery kills them before he had to. Without hesitation, he calmly walked up to the two, making sure to change his accent to accommodate his current name and the heritage of the name. Walking past the crowds and standing before the two, towering over Kazuko, and slightly taller than Anastasia he held his hand out and offered a handshake, making sure to hold off as much strength as he could but keep a firm shake. Speaking to them with perfect Japanese, the only thing that stood out when he spoke was his accent. Which, in itself had a Turkish sounding to it. "Selamlar. That means Greetings in my Home Country." his voice was deep, charismatic, and charming. There was no sense of a cold demenor that Pavel normally carried around. He turned slightly to the remaining Fullbringers that could have possibly served as an easily manipulated pawn instead of Shinigami. But ultimately he decided to stick with them and see how long they will carry him before he had to carry out his plans. "My name is Mavi. Mavi Elmas. And I know, what you two are." his light blue eyes scanned the face of Kazuko, and Anastasia, the moment his eyes met hers he immediately looked back at Kazuko. "This Woman... Of all the places I had to have met her again."

"It would appear that this building only allows Three at a time. And I have a proposition for you two. I work in the Security Department, back at home. And like these 'lot' I carry more potential than they ever will" Making sure to keep his voice down to avoid anyone else from hearing him. "You two can go in by yourselves and see how that carries. Or you can bring along an extra and benefit from the help I can give. But where are my manners? Talking about what I can do before actually showing it. Please, allow me." Pavel cracked his knuckles, making sure to have had bandages over them. Covering all of his skin from view, he turned around and slowly walked towards another Fullbringer. For the better of the job, any action must be taken to ensure that there is success. That was the philosophy that he carried, and it is what he carried with deadly precision. The person he approchaed was a rather muscular male, giving him the body of a body builder. He appeared to be in his mid twenties, in his youth, with a spiky blond hair. The smug look on his face made it seem like this man was expecting an easy back down, pulling out a pair of black metallic black metal knuckles he clanked them together. The ringing that the metal gave off brought some more attention to the event that will take place "Yeah? Da fuck you looking at, ya piece of shit." Pavel placed his hand onto the gloved one and then pointed at his face. "Hit me." like certain people with a point to gain, he obliged. Taking a step back and immediately swinging into Pavel's head, aiming specifically at the left cheek. But there was something that this young man failed to know, Pavel was much stronger, he was much stronger and he will soon find out. Flexing the muscles in his face and bracing for impact the punch did not even move his head. Horror soon filled his face as Pavel raised his fist, with his speed whipped it forward, gripping him by the throat and lifting him up in the air. The space between the mans feet and the ground was a noticeable one, it wasn't even a few inches but a few feet. "By coming here, you accept the fact that you may or may not come back alive. You accept that face of death is around you. Yet you do not turn around. There is Bravery, and there is stupidity. It appears you are on the bottom of the pole when it comes to stupidity." Slowly crushing on his windpipe.

At the last minute, he placed his other hand onto the top half of the man's skull. "Close your eyes and sleep. It wont hurt as much." then immediately crushed downwards, dropping the corpse down. Brain matter and skull fragments were visible as blood sprayed outwards into the sands. Giving a scene that would or should prompt others. "It takes an immense force to rip a man in half from his midsection with just your bare hands." he bent forward and gripped the corpse by its midsection and ripped it in half, before pulling off his arms and legs off. Pavel then took the mans clothing and wrapped the limbs in it before walking back to the two shinigami. The light blue eyes continued to gaze into their eyes, if they stared into his. All they would see is a sense of abyss, darkness hiding the very emotion that they should see. They would only find nothing, and they would feel alone. His voice returned, speaking in a charismatic and very lively tone "So how does my offer sound to you? Are you satisfied with what I promise you? Or do you require another demonstration." his eyes peered at the others that had not ran because of the sight they were subjected too. "If you refuse my Service. I will not bear ill will to you, just know this..." he stepped slightly back "I only offer my services once. Choose wisely"

[Deleted]

Standing there, glancing around the crowd, the boy was lost in his thoughts. There were not too many people there, but they would still pose a problem. The Vice-Captain did not intend to kill anyone there, so he would have to figure out some way of knocking them out in an efficient manner; then again, he could always seal them outside. Though, that option meant that he would have to hope for another exit as he progressed through the ruins. So far, with his sensory, the strongest spiritual presence amongst the crowd might have been the equivalent to an Unseated Shinigami, and that was a stretch. The boy had to wonder what any of the men intended to gain from risking their lives on this quest. Unfortunately, his line of thought was soon interrupted by a haphazard weight on the top of his head. Oh no, please no! The boy turned around and found the infallible Anastasia, with an all-too pleased smile on her face, leaning on his head. Well, he had to know his peace would end sometime. “Anastasia! I already told you not to treat me like a kid!” Kazuko piped, with his voice high and his cheeks cherry red. That, of course, was no help in trying to prove what he was saying. Why? Why did she always have to baby him around? Well, at least you didn’t try and pinch his cheeks again.


Anastasia reached into his pocket, while the boy was still fuming, and stole one of his candy bars. Trying to maintain his composure, the boy let the act go, and let her eat the thing uninterrupted. She’s just lucky I brought enough for a few days… “Anyway, I was doing fine until you showed up... Now that you’re here, people are starting to take us serisouly.” Kazuko said, commenting on their situation. It was true. Until Anastasia had showed up, no one had paid much attention to the boy since, well, he was a kid. Why would they have any reason to be afraid of a kid? Of course, none of them could accurately gauge his Reiatsu, so they had no reason to assume he was dangerous. Now that she was there, they were paying them a lot more attention. Well, to be fair, they were paying more attention to her, but that was for another reason altogether. “What happened to your uniform? I thought we were going to – DARN IT ANA, STOP PINCHING MY CHEEKS!” Kazuko practically screamed, rubbing both sides of his face tenderly. He should have known! She was waiting for him to drop his guard so she could annoy him again. Flustered, and embarrassed – yet again – Kazuko took a few steps back, making sure to keep those vicious hands away from his face.


“Concerning the mission,” the boy finally said, after giving Anastasia the evil eye, “Intelligence states that there are likely to be a few high level threats within. Chances are, we might have our hands full if we are not too careful inside. If we get past that, then reaching the objective should be a simple matter.” As the Vice-Captain said this, he noticed a group of three venture forth through a ripple in the air. Screams followed, alongside a few shadows, and their presence vanished. Moreover, those who entered after them seemed to be unable to do so; if anything, the number of people who could enter seemed to be fixed, which meant they would have to drag along one of the nearby Fullbringers to make it through. Noticing this fact too, some bandaged man approached both Vice-Captains, offering his name and his willingness to join them. He called himself Mavi Elmas, worked at some Security Department, and seemed to be comfortable talking to both Vice-Captains as if they were something common. Regardless of whom he was, Kazuko could hardly detect anything from the man in terms of pressure, so he had his doubts about his capabilities. That is, until he decided to show them both a sample of his power…


Elmas walked away, challenging a nearby Fullbringer, and ended up with a fist straight to his face. Surprisingly, it did not seem to faze him, and, with incredible speed, caught the man’s windpipe, crushed it, and did the same with his skull. No mercy, I see. Kazuko thought, as he watched the body of the man torn into two pieces while he was already dead. The whole act, years before, would have made the boy sick, but he had already seen his fair share of gore in the invasions. In fact, his face was a mask devoid of emotion. Inside, he could not understand why Elmas would go to such lengths just to prove himself. Kazuko, taking the moment to move while the towering man spoke of his offer, walked straight past him toward the remains of the dead Fullbringer. Curiously, the boy waited at the body. After a few more moments, the soul of the Fullbringer appeared, unconscious, and lying next to what used to be him. The Vice-Captain drew his zanpakuto methodically, placed the hilt on the man’s forehead, and performed a Soul Burial right then and there. No need leaving this soul to wonder the sand dunes endlessly. He had suffered enough already. By the time Elmas finished with his proposal, the boy had finished with what had to be done.


“You’re a scary man, Mr. Elmas.” Kazuko stated, voice flat, staring straight up at his eyes. “Under normal circumstances, murder would have been the worst thing you could have done to impress us. But we have a job, and so do you. As such, we accept your offer, Mr. Elmas.” At the moment, the situation seemed tense; Elmas had just committed murder, justified as it was, in front of two Vice-Captains who had little taste for it – well, as least he did. Now, they were going to work together. Taking the moment to his advantage, the boy spun around on his heel, startling a few of the remaining Fullbringers with the sudden motion. He said, his voice high pitched again, losing all sense of seriousness, “Listen up, everyone! This guy is my papa! And this is my mama!” He pointed toward Elmas, and then to Anastasia, making sure everyone got the idea. “If any of you guys try and follow us, my parents are going to get angry! You get it, so scram! Else, I’m telling on you all!” By the time the boy finished, those who had remained after the show Elmas put up got smart, realizing how precious their lives were, and ran out of there. As soon as they left, Kazuko sighed, taking the time to rummage in his pocket for something as he did so.


Kazuko pulled out another chocolate bar from within his robe, and would attempt to hand it to Mr. Elmas. “Here have some chocolate, Mr. Elmas. Sorry about that little show, I had to make sure we got everyone else to leave thinking we were a family. The less they know about who we are, the better. Anyway, my name is Kazuko Shiba; Vice-Captain of Squad Nine.” Kazuko said, his voice friendly and childish yet again. The boy paused for a moment, taking a thought into consideration, and piped, “We should get going then, I guess. No need keeping those scary monsters inside a reason to wait any longer.” He finished, giggling a bit at himself. Since they started off on the wrong foot, Kazuko was trying to make sure they had a better time getting to know each other at least. The boy had no idea who this man was, and because of that, had no reason to trust him, but they were a team now. The better they understood each other, the easier it would be working together inside. Regardless, once everyone was prepared, they would begin to enter the ruins together, and thus submerge themselves into the eerie depths of the crypt.


Remaining Reiatsu: 2400/2400

Combat Posts: 0/8

[Deleted]

Oh now this was just too delicious. A new victim and an infuriated kid. Anastasia swore she was set and ready for this adventure. There was no way she’d get bored. She watched all the other humans rush in front of them and try to make their way into the monastery. She didn’t quite know what was going on, but all she was some serious dark magic at work. Well, that was the only way Anastasia could describe it. She was black dashes here and there and all she could hear were screams. In the next instant, they were struck down. Looking slightly panicked, she knew what was coming. “…Did they.” Here it comes.. “I’m sorry, Shoku-chan..” THE PRAYERS. Shoku-chan had this tendency to chant and pray for the departed souls… which was nice. However, what came after that was tears and forlorn. Shoku-chan didn’t handle death very well. That bit made Anastasia feel uneasy.

More people that rushed after that were just blown back by some kind of force. Anastasia raised her hand and opened her mouth, as if she were about to tell them to stop. However, the pair’s new friend would introduce himself as “Elmo”. Mavi Elmas? That’s not what she heard. Sorry, buddy. Placing her hands at her hips, she inspected the man closely. Hmph. He looked awful familiar. Like she’d met him before. She smiled, hugging the man as if he were a friend she hadn't seen in a long time. Though, that's what he felt like so she went with her guts. “I am Anastasia Solis-Kuchiki~! Nice ta meetcha’, Elmo…Say, you look like someone I know..” She paused for dramatic effect, letting him stay confused or nervous or whatever.. “You look like my next boyfriend~” she purred. Yes, she was hitting on him. She grinned mischievously, eagerly anticipating his reaction. Though, what came next was really unexpected.

Things were all find and dandy until a full bringer with blonde hair rushed over and got the snot beat out of him… and then Elmo practically killed him. Actually, he did. Unlike Kazuko, Anastasia’s eyebrows scrunched with great confusion. She bit her lip as he continued with his little execution. It wasn’t that Anastasia was nervous. It was more ‘Why?’ and ‘Was it really necessary?’ running through her head. “Why do people keep killing things in front of me…” she said in a low voice, slightly annoyed. Shoku-chan was having a heart attack at the moment; clutching his chest and falling to his knees like an old man…even though he was a pretty damn hot priest if she may say so herself. Still, he was upset. “Hey…Hey! Buddy, it’s alright~ Anastasia’s here… Calm down. It’s okay~ You just pray like you normally do and remember, death is a part of life, no~?” She said, trying to relax him, lightly patting the hilt of her zanpakuto. Part of her found it slightly amusing that she needed to be the mature one in this situation. Still, she was more than happy to help. "Sorry~ Uneasy spirit~" she smiled sheepishly.

She noticed the look on Kazuko’s face… who appeared to be used to it. Or rather, it was blank. “Elmo… You’re such a great boyfriend. Killing people on our first date.” The line was flirtatious enough but her tone said that she was less than thrilled with the killing. No one wants to deal with an upset spirit and..remains. Eugh. “Listen up, everyone! This guy is my papa! And this is my mama!” Kazuko literally opened Pandora’s Box there. A sly grin worked it’s way on to Ana’s face and she hoisted Kazuko up like he was some kind of trophy. “THAT IS RIGHT. I AM WITH CHILD. YOU CAN’T TOUCH ME OR ELSE MY HUSBAND WILL TOUCH YOU.” and then she dropped him. Anastasia went over to link arms with Elmo and started walking towards the ruins, dragging him along. Sure, she was all cozy with Elmo and what not, but Anastasia also didn’t trust him. In fact ,she was the one who distrusted him the most. Being a selfish thief, you naturally don’t trust anyone at these sorts of things. The only one she could really place her trust in was Kazuko. Still, if you kept someone under close watch, there wouldn’t be much room for anything deceitful tricks they might pull. “You know, darling husband, I think junior over there has too many cavities, y’know? We should really take all of his candy..” She grinned evilly at Kazuko. The group would enter the ruins together and Anastasia would decide on waking the dead, using her outdoor voice…

“Helloooooo~?”

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

Fortunately, the vast majority of the Fullbringers present did not see Pavel's gory display of strength. They were much too concerned with saving their own skins. The weak-willed treasure hunters scarpered, their greedy hopes crushed by the frightening display which had just occurred within the gates of the monastery. They had hoped the Blessed Blade would have been easy pickings, but that was clearly not the case. It appeared the Blessed Brotherhood were not going to yield their secrets without a fight.

Ana and Kazuko's shouts would go largely unnoticed amongst the people rushing away from the monastery. The Fullbringers had forgotten their fallen comrade in the rush to escape. Soon, there was nobody around except the three last adventurers, those who were both curious enough and powerful enough to believe they could enter the monastery and survive. With Ana leading the charge, the three would walk into the monastery, undeterred by the horrors they had already witnessed.

As soon as they stepped across the threshold, the air around them rippled like they had stepped through the surface of a liquid. Behind them, the icy gates swung shut. It was difficult to tell if it was an illusion or not, the gates hadn't closed on any of the other groups. However, any attempts to touch the gates would be futile, as soon as one got close, the icy chill from the walls made it unbearable to touch. However, other things would certainly be on their minds now.

The first thing they should notice was that even though the monastery appeared to be a ruin from the outside, inside the building still appeared to be in pristine condition. However, it didn't seem to be constructed from anything except ice. The open courtyard they were standing in glinted like diamond in the moonlight, reflecting off the ground and the walls of the courtyard. Everything was varying shades of blue. However, there appeared to be nothing else special about the courtyard. The ground was smooth and slippery, making moving quickly tricky.

SPOILER: Click to show

{MUSIC}

But, aside from the gate through which they had entered, there was only one other door. It was a large set of double doors, easily twice the height of anybody present, and appeared to be made of a darker shade of ice than the rest of the wall. Obviously, if they wanted to progress, this was the route they had to take. But, as soon as they reached the main courtyard, a strange cracking noise could be heard coming from the walls.

If the three members looked at the walls, they would see layers of ice shatter, and dark figures walking out of the resulting cavities. There were eight of them in total, shambling out of the walls like zombies from a film. The ice clung to them, making their clothes sparkle as they moved in the moonlight. It would be clear that they were hostile almost immediately, each of them were already drawing long katanas...

Katanas. It might be this fact, or the fact that they were wearing dark kimonos, that these zombified beings were in fact the original Shinigami taskforce which had been sent to wipe out the Brotherhood. Clearly, they had a change of heart, and had started to work for these mysterious monks instead, guarding the secrets with the depths of the monastery. Kazuko and Ana, who had access to Shinigami records, might vaguely remember that there were supposed to be 9 Shinigami, if they had done enough research. Also, they might notice that they were not attacked instantly, unlike the unfortunate Fullbringers who had entered first.

But they had bigger problems. They were now surrounded by these zombies, who encircled them in a wide arc, with approximately two or three metres between each one. They all assumed the standard defensive stance taught to every young Shinigami in the academy, there could be no doubt now that this was the original taskforce, sent to annihilate this Brotherhood a thousand years ago. Their awful state was a disgrace to the brave men and women they once were. While the ice had partly preserved their bodies, bits and pieces of them were decaying, so here and there was the strong smell of rotting flesh. This gave them a bizarre appearance, as if some cruel child had held dolls over a Bunsen Burner.

Perhaps Kazuko and Ana might have misgivings about attacking the founding members of their society. Perhaps not. Either way, it was obvious that all of them would have to be defeated to succeed.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Zombie Shinigami Stats and Skills}

Rank 1, Untyped Shinigami - Class 4 - 900 SP - No Shikai - Mastered Techniques: Shunpo

Strength - [400] Points

Speed - [300] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [30] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [50] Points

Light Aura - [N/A] Points

Dark Aura - [N/A] Points

Instinct - [60] Points

Senses [60] Points

Energy sensory - [0] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [900] Points

[Pavel Fedoseev]

“Listen up, everyone! This guy is my papa! And this is my mama! If any of you guys try and follow us, my parents are going to get angry! You get it, so scram! Else, I’m telling on you all!” The woman took this opportunity and spoke up as well, much to Pavel's self disapproval, he had to silently play along. Making sure that he had to stare into the eyes of those that refused to leave at that very moment. At that point, Kazuko chose it as an opportunity to explain himself “Here have some chocolate, Mr. Elmas. Sorry about that little show, I had to make sure we got everyone else to leave thinking we were a family. The less they know about who we are, the better. Anyway, my name is Kazuko Shiba; Vice-Captain of Squad Nine.” The XSG stared at the chocolate then at the young boy before calmly talking it from his hand and bowing. "Thank you very much." The one thing that Kazuko guessed right that would help him in the future was his liking to candy. As he placed it into his pocket, Pavel nodded to what Kazuko had to say "That is true. The less anyone knows about what will go down here. The better for the paper work from our respective organizations. At that point Anastasia grabbed onto his arm and and dragged him towards the entrance, in order to make sure that the act is believable, when Kazuko spoke “We should get going then, I guess. No need keeping those scary monsters inside a reason to wait any longer.” Pavel immediately grabbed onto him and hoisted him up. Placing him onto his back, the tone that Pavel spoke in would change from the usual tone that he initially spoke to them to being loud, as if he was a proud father. Pavel's ability to act gave him the ability to make believable tones and speak in a way that made it believable. "Come along son! You must stay close to us so we can protect you. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I let anything bad happen to you... But what secrets this Temple hold. It will be the solution to all of our problems."

“You know, darling husband, I think junior over there has too many cavities, y’know? We should really take all of his candy.." Pavel looked at his "Wife" with the "are you kidding me look" before speaking out loud "Ah but our Little Junior deserves all the candy for being brave enough to accompany us to this scaaarrry temple." he playfully reached behind and attempted to squeeze his cheeks and laughed a "false" laugh. But because his skill in acting allowed him to fake many tones, this laugh sounded genuine and caring. And in that short walk between the entrance and the inside of the temple, Pavel wondered, he wondered deeply what it would be like. To start a family with Valentina, to have her call him her husband, to have a child and to settle down. But because of his job, and his mission, he would not be able to stay at home as much as he wanted to, in fact at the moment it was quite uncommon for Pavel to drop by Valentina and see how she was doing. He always did the phone calls but he wanted to be able to see them as often as he wanted, but this job allowed him to support her and the job allowed him to use his connections to make sure that she was secured. "A Family... A Wife... A Child... A Son? A Daughter?" Pavel thought for a brief second, before the gates shut off behind him.

The moment that the "Gate" closed. Pavel slowly let down Kazuko and looked at the two "Disregard what occured outside." he fixed the bandages that were placed on the visible skin and continued to slowly walk forward, admiring the sight and the walls. How cold it felt inside and the fact that the walls were iced over. Pavel took this as a time to continue fabricating lies to the people he worked with, it was his guess that if he did not trust them, then they did not trust him. Especially with his show of power and strength, Pavel calmly walked forward and started to speak "This mission requires us to have trust and faith in each other. To say that I do not trust you and I have a hunch that you do not trust me. I will understand. But take this as a man who needed to make sacrifices to make sure that his family will be able to thrive in this world." The slow walk was to make sure that they had the time to answer and ask questions. "I won't do any questioning, I assume you two trust each other. So ask as much questions before something shows up to try and get themselves killed." it was a way for them to "get to know Elmas" and for a way that gave Pavel an opportunity to get to know them more. The more he knew about the people he had to kill the more it was easier for Pavel to get it over with. By the time they arrived at the court yard, that was when the crackling noise occurred. Pavel took this as a natural thing, because of the area they were in. That changed when he saw figures walking out of the walls, weapons drawn, disfigured beyond all means.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Play me}

He stared at the disfigured things, their stances were basic and the fact that they had a sense of Shinigami Reiatsu when he tried to scan them, gave Pavel know that these were the supposed "soldiers of god" that disappeared when the temple first appeared. Because of his skill in Systema, Pavel was confident in his ability to dispose of these things. He looked at Kazuko and Anastasia, before the group of eight that surrounded them. Cracking his knuckles, growling at these monstrosities. "Allow me." the XSG immediately thrust his fist forward, stopping only 1 feet away the zombie's chest cavity. Because of the speed and strength that went into the thrust, and the fact that these things had little reaction time, a large blast of force left Pavel's fist and into the body of the decaying creature. With the force that the punch placed into the air blast, it should have caused the zombie's decaying and weak body to explode with immense force. Because the force itself was massive, it should have affected the ones closest to the one that Pavel had struck to have been pushed back a considerable way, if not explode as well. But the wave did not stop after causing the zombie to explode, it continued down the courtyard, causing anything that was already weakened by the ice to explode. Pavel stared at these things, allowing his "companions" to show what kind of skills they were able to bring to the party. With a cold and uncaring tone in his voice back, the assassin spoke one phrase, one phrase that is a symbol to him that this fight will end in their deaths. And that when it was over, all they will be is trophies. "You are my trophies. Accept death."

Combat Posts 1/12

Remaining Reiatsu:2,000/2,000

[Deleted]

The smile on his face never wavered. The boy clung on to the shoulders of his ‘father’ for quite a while. Not until the three of them ventured past the massive doors of the temple was he promptly let down. Even so, his face was brimming with that ever present smile – a little too much. It was starting to broker on creepy, actually. This… this bastard actually carried me! And Anastasia, she – no they… they… they both need to die! Kazuko walked gingerly forward, none the wiser to all the pent up rage that threatened to leak out inside of him. All anyone saw was that friendly face he had on. Oh well, he had it coming, he supposed. The boy knew that the other Vice-Captain was a few parts short of an engine, so to say, and he knew practically nothing about the Fullbringer. Though, he never expected them to take his little ‘act’ to another level. Still, either of his teammates, whether they chose to acknowledge it or not, would notice the boy walk a little farther away as they moved forward. He needed some time to cool off – and that meant keeping his distance. Kazuko, regrettably, had never quite outgrown his temper, despite his time as an officer. But eh, he could always blame puberty or something for his foul quarks, if Shinigami even had that to begin with.


“Talk about spooky,” the boy mused about his surroundings, his anger subsiding for the time being. Elmas asked both Shinigami there is they wanted to know anything about him, but Kazuko stayed quiet. Let Anastasia handle all the talking from here on out. The boy might not have been that angry with them both at the moment, but he was not one to let bygones be bygones. Regardless, they were surrounded by ice – lots and lots of it. For the moment, it seemed that was all to it; spooky. That is, until the ice began to crack all around them as figures, once trapped within, pried themselves out for freedom. These ‘things’ surrounded the group of three, intending to stop their progress. Elmas, wanting to continue to prove his worth, moved to the front of the three, and launched his fist forward. The motion, coupled with his strength, sent a burst of air forward toward their opponents. With the first attack given, the boy jumped up into the air, catching plates of advanced air-ground underneath his feet and ascended upward. Obviously, things were going to heat up, and the boy had no intention of bunching himself up with all the combatants with the fighting underway. "I'll give support from the air," the boy said as he launched off. Close range combat was not really his area of expertise, so he would play support for the moment.


From his vantage point in the air, the boy could make out their opponents to a much better degree, but soon regretted it. They wore the same uniforms, albeit outdated and worn, as both Vice-Captains there. Moreover, their faces, though disfigured and decayed, were vaguely familiar to the officer. Kazuko grit his teeth, realizing the likelihood of who they were up against. Darn it! After another moment of frustration, the Vice-Captain angled his left hand downward, three fingers pointed forward like a trident. Pale lightning crackled around his fingers, and without a word, three bolts escaped forward, one after the other. Two of the bolts were aimed at the two Shinigami to either side of the one that Elmas had intended to hit. Likely, they would be affected by the blast of air that he had shot out as well, so they would be momentarily pushed off and off balance. Both these bolts were aimed dead center at both their chests, intended to punch on through. The third bolt aimed and fired a few moments after the first and second, would hit one of the former Shinigami at his head, just above his neck. This target was a little farther off to the side, so he would not be affected by the concussive wave the Fullbringer had launched.


Other than that, the boy merely waited a bit to see if any of the dead Shinigami would react to their attacks. It had been so many years since the Gotei had lost contact with these former allies, so he had to wonder how capable their combat abilities still were. Moreover, the boy wanted to know if they could still fight and think to some degree other than basic attacks; maybe they weren’t a lost cause? It left a bitter taste in his mouth knowing that they would have to clear former Shinigami to advance, but that could not be helped. Still, if any of the dead Shinigami intended to attack the Vice-Captain, they would have to use ranged attacks, or some form of Air-Ground, to face him. If they did the latter, then they would inevitably have to cut their numbers on the ground to attack him up close. This, of course, meant that Elmas and Anastasia would not have to worry about the fighting getting too clustered on the ground. Regardless of what anyone did, the Vice-Captain would hold his position mid-air, until he felt the need to give a hand to his comrades, or make a move on his own.


Remaining Reiatsu: 2300/2400 (-25 for Advanced Air-Ground, -75 for 3x Byakurai)

Combat Posts: 1/8

[Deleted]

Well… this certainly took an eerie turn. Here Anastasia was, cozying up next to her new fake husband/boyfriend (much to his chagrin) with her beloved child whose anger she swore could be felt from a mile away. Why, it was almost on par with a certain someone who had this annoyingly constant need to pretend to be royalty. What was it…Empress? Princess? Bah. It didn’t matter~ Neither mattered in this moment. What mattered was the treasure. Anastasia’s own plan was to make it seem as if the Blade itself didn’t exist and keep it for herself.. Hopefully, it would do well in paying off some of her debt. However, the only thing that seemed to get in her way was Kazuko. That was a hindrance. Cute kid. Too tightly wound. If he kept a constant eye on her, she’d have no choice but to play the part as a good guy…

No one ever said being a shinigami made you a good girl..

Alas, Anastasia only did things for herself and personal gain. If there’s an easy way out of her own little mess (understatement of the year…), then the pretty pirate would gladly take it. Anastasia remained calm when the zombies came out. Their shambling corpses moving at the speed of a snail. Sort of.. Though, she did appear interesting. She noted that they wore the traditional shingami garb. Ah…Dead brothers and sisters~? That’s sad. Anastasia unfortunately did not care. "Ew." she said flatly, taking a slight step back. She was an only child anyway. She would do what had to be done; get rid of the problem without upsetting Shoku-chan. The undead bothered the man more… The dead should rest after all.. What sort of sorcery would bring them back? That might be worth finding out..

Laziness was a beautiful art form of its own. That and Anastasia was the sort of thief that did not like to get her hands dirty. Blood on her hands just wasn’t a nice thing and more of then than not, it could be avoided when you’re in the middle of a robbery. She watched Elmo make quick work of a corpse and soon came the little captain commander who felt the need to fire Kido from above. Anastasia scrunched her face into confusion and scratched her head. Was this all necessary? Nahh… The best thing about being a thief was knowing how to conserve your time and do things quickly and efficiently. Not that this was any sort of real hoist, but she’d really like to get a move on and conserve her energy. She was sure there were greater battles up ahead.

Suddenly, the zombies would be stopped in their tracks. Some might even be forced to the ground. Her opponents would be paralyzed in just a flat instant. What was the cause of this great force? Her spiritual pressure. There was a good enough class difference for Anastasia to hopefully force any of the other zombies down. Elmo or Kazuko probably wouldn’t feel it all too much; they were either above her or just on par with female shinigami. The force of her Spiritual Pressure might be enough to immobilize the zombies and flatten them to the ground. Alas, this would not be enough. They weren't gone for good after all. Anastasia drew her blade and raked her blade through the remaining zombies heads. If she was successful, there would be no enemies left to harass them.

Anastasia would sheathe her blade once she was finished and looked up at Kazuko for a moment blankly…before grinning something wicked. It was as if she was getting ready to be annoying again. “Ah, Kazu-chan~ You’re such a good captain commander, aru~ Supporting your mother and father like that~! Be a good boy and give mommy some sugar.” She pointed at his pockets, in a feeble attempt to get another candy bar from him, snickering. Yes, Anastasia realized how it sounded. Any more attempts to infuriate him would be quickly snatched up. She made a point to link arms with Elmo and slide along the icy floors, dragging him with her in little circles and small figures of eight. She'd bring him along in random directions and if she fell, she was bring him with her~ “Elmo, mate, tell me about your kids and your wife. Your real wife and kids~” she demanded. He wanted them to trust him so, for Anastasia at least, he needed to talk about something a little personal. She figured that’d do the job.

“Is she as hot as me and do your kids have pinchable cheeks like Kazu-chan’s~?”

[Hadrian J. Ryan Ⅻ]

Pavel's punch ripped through the middle Zombie like a bullet through paper. The resulting outward force tore the remnants of its body apart, sending pieces of decaying flesh and frozen body parts flying. The alternating sound of the flesh hitting the icy ground, and the frozen parts tinkling prettily like glass would be somewhat disturbing. However, the Zombie had been annihilated. The two on either side were not effected as badly as Pavel would have hoped however, their formation wasn't tight enough for splash damage. Also, none of the walls of the monastery were damaged from the force. It would be a mistake for the team to assume that the structure was weakened due to this unnatural ice. The resulting force did push the Zombies back a step though.

Sadly, this force was enough to cause two of Kazuko's Byakurai's to strike slightly off their intended targets. The simple step meant the bolts of lightning were no longer heading for the chests of the Zombies, but rather to the left arm of one and the right arm of the other. The third struck it's intended target, however the lightning shot right through its neck, with apparently no effect on the creature. The Byakurai's would obliterate parts of the arms, causing one Zombie (the one to the right of the centre) to drop its katana to the ground. The metal chimed off the ground as it landed, sending a distorted note echoing around the vacant courtyard, like a bell, or a call to arms. This sound seemed to set the others in motion, as they assumed an attack stance, preparing to rush in at Pavel and Ana on the ground.

But, they didn't get very far before Ana's spiritual pressure caused them to a grind to a halt. A distinct advantage which they had over the previous team who entered was the simple difference in power. Ana was well able to force them down to the ground. However, these Shinigami, either clinging to their honour, or simply carrying out their orders, were not going to give in so easily. Expending the remainder of their reiatsu, they stood up against the massive weight of the pressure, allowing them to continue their onslaught.

The momentary delay might allow the three intruders some time to react however, but the consequent movements of the Zombies might be surprisingly difficult to deal with. With Kazuko out of reach, the Zombies focused on Ana and Pavel. The two outermost Zombies rushed in from the sides, attacking Ana from both the left and right flank. The first came in with full speed and strength to Ana's left, with an attack that would lop off Ana's head if she wasn't careful. The second came in from her right, with a sweeping upwards diagonal cut, from the opposite direction. With the two swords slicing in like a deathly scissors, escape was limited.

Pavel could try and help her out, but he had problems of his own. With one Zombie disposed of, and two fighting Ana, he was left five to deal with. True, two of them were missing an arm apiece, but that didn't make them 'armless. ( ) The Zombie who no longer possessed a weapon immediately rushed onto Pavel, attempting to go in for a grapple. Except, this was really no more than a sacrificial scapegoat, to make hits easier for the others. Simultaneously, two Zombies from opposite points on the arc rushed in, converging on Pavel. The one to his left came in with a two-handed stab, aiming for just above his left hip. The second came in from the right, with an overhead slash, which would trace out a path from Pavel's left ear to his right hip if he didn't avoid it.

But again, these two were only providing an opening for the final pair. The final pair again came at Pavel from opposite sides, both holding their blades like lances, appearing to want to impale Pavel from either side, slightly from the back. They would proceed even with their comrades in the way. With Ana's Spiritual Pressure now crushing them, this was their last chance to attack the trio. But Kazuko had already escaped to the sky unscathed, free to pick off the attackers, if he wanted to. Was he really that angry at them for treating him like a child? Perhaps, perhaps not.

All Zombies now have 0 reiatsu. After avoiding their attacks, all undefeated Zombies will be crushed by Ana's Spiritual Pressure, you can take that to be a certainty in your next posts.

[Pavel Fedoseev]

[OOC] School Keeping Me Busy. sorry for late post. AND SHORT POST IS SHORT

[IC]

"Feh. These things are more troublesome than liked." Pavel cracked his knuckles as he observed what was happening, this was a waste of time, energy, and effort. Making sure to get Anastasia into his sights, he tensed his legs and rushed towards her with all of his strength, these things has a pathetic form of spiritual pressure and they were not released. So even if they were to strike Pavel, they would suffer some form of cutback. When they were closer together, Pavel immediately picked her up and then used the rest of the momentum to jump upwards, using air ground to stay away from those "things" setting the woman down, Pavel stared at what was remnants of the Shinigami from a time long ago. "Zhalkiye" he quietly muttered to himself before staring at Anastasia, his eyes looking deep into hers before walking towards Kazuko. "Those things will be dead soon, and we will continue on with the job. Pathetic things are they not? They deserved Death." when the effects of Anastasias Gravitational Pressure finally crushed them, Pavel stepped down, staring at his comrades he awaited them. "My actual wife and kids?
I do not have a wife, nor do I have Kids. I do have a Girlfriend, but she lives very far away." he slowly walked down the hall and gazed at decor. Everything about this building has an eerie beauty to it. If and hopefully when they arrived to the courtyard, Pavel stared at the two will accompany him to the desired prize. "But Yes. I do not believe that this will be a direct job. My guess is further to the center of the temple, that will lead us to this "Blessed Blade" and to the protectors of the entire place. Let us make sure none of them survive."



Combat Posts 2/12

Remaining Reiatsu:2,000/2,000