Climbing Back Up Again [Closed, Training, CTP]

[Schala Alexandria]

OOC: Will acknowledge with a bump when ready to grade for points.

IC:


Had been a while since joining the ranks of Squad 10. The first line of defense within Soul Society against foreign threats. To her understanding they were the Knights that patrolled the borders of their world to insure its safety. Although they didn't enforce the law their main aspect was to keep the peace within the Soul Society. She had some familiarity when it came to guard duties as they were similar to that of her Knight duties. However, since she was no longer a Knight but a Shinigami now, and so, she had to begin from the bottom once again. Which was the reason that brought her to the Squad 10 barracks.

Instead of sparring with her fellow Shinigami Schala found it more wise to take her time to adjust herself to the open world itself. How far could she take it before giving out. To see the subtle differences between the world of the living. So she decided to test her newly acquired limitations on the stuffed dummies lining the edge of the outer courtyard. Each one had been recently stuffed with straw and stuck to thick wooden poles for their training purposes, which was good and all for what Schala intended to do. And while only armed with a practice Rapier nothing else would be better than this, well, this and taking her art with her to the outside world to face off what it had to offer.

All the while walking up to her target she quickly analyzed the layout of the practice dummy. Her eyes scoured the image several times as the information slowly came together in her mind. The dolls where formatted to replicate the human body with several foreign contents inside to simulate innards. Heart, liver, intestines, spleen, kidneys, lungs, they were all there and accounted for. After locating the organs her eyes scouted for the sensitive areas, or pressure points. Her blunt weapon was raised to level to her chin line beside her head. A single arm held out in front as though being used as a measuring stick, or to keep others at bay. Throat, chest, ribs, groin, temples, shins, these areas were considered sensitive and when struck could produce enormous amounts of pain and damage.

Her breathing was steady, like keeping rhythm to the beats of her heart pounding in her chest. Each second taken to lessen her breathing was another second taken away from her overall heart rate. The sense of calm and clarity soon followed, enabling a higher sense of perception. "One, two, three.." she muttered to herself then swiftly enacted a trio of blows to the right shoulder, midsection of the stomach, and heart region to the body. Each blow was concise and trained into simple thrusts, which suited her fighting style. The driving force behind each of her motions was the use of her body and extension of her arm and shoulder to ensure a longer reach and a nimble form to adjust her strikes if need be. For now each thrust was slow to help adjust her said form to discover the flaws within her technique.

Soft thuds sounded when wood and a thick layer of straw met. Every time a trio of thuds filled the courtyard in a time lapse of ten seconds. The time gap gave the Shinigami moments to retrain her focus and stance, and analyze her technique before the next flurry. But not only her thrusts were being tested but the motion she took in her footing as well. When easing her blade back into position she strut forward with a side step into the action to lead into her trio. After, before moving into the next three strike combo she went with her off leg instead of remaining with her dominant right. She'd continue her method for about an hour before finishing her warm up session. Then after she would proceed on to the actual combat scenario.

[Schala Alexandria]

A series of gasping air continued to rasp from the protruding lips. A two mile distance run along the border of the training area was quite difficult to handle when the sun is at its highest peak. One step after the other carried the Princess over each foot closer to her objective. Her speed eased into a slow jog shortly to catch her breath followed by a quick stretching of her arms and thighs. The tingling burn stretching across her muscles reminded her of those old days. Her Captain's remarks of how slow their movements were, the constant pouting of her team mates, and scoffing jokes that they would mutter among themselves.

A warm felt smile emerged as a result from those joyful moments of the past. Each one of those moments inspired Schala to push herself as much as she did in the past. To think that she would take it easy despite everything she has been through already. Yet, even with all her past training she doubted that anything would be able to prepare her for what was to come in a world she doesn't know. Too many factors and variables that could make or break everything that she trained for. Not to say that what she learned was useless, but seen more as a good stepping stone to further herself.

Once more the Shinigami brought herself around to return to the side of the training doll. This time around her body was loose rather than firm. A steadiness in the air as well as her form cocking back her primary right arm. The reflective wooden edge of her practice Rapier glared back the reflection of the hazing fun away from her sights. Her breath was brought to a halt again, kindling the focus she once had during her warm up session. She waited. She was listening. The wind brushing against her cheeks, kissing the nape of her neck. A single sound was heard. A single droplet of sweat was what spurred into action.

Blurring motion brought the tip of her blade into the mid section of the straw doll. Another blow made contact directly into the bicep. A stand still, but only for a moment as her blade was drawn back into striking position. Her stance was a dead give away, but that was the reason why her training was necessary. That wasn't all. Schala tugged her weight back with her stance to pivot right around to further enhance the quality and power behind her thrust. The said thrust found its mark into the shoulder. The full rotation enforced her speed while enabling an opportunity to dodge. Furthermore, the thought of expanding her mobility within her strikes. There was more to learn, and more methods in furthering herself.

[Schala Alexandria]

Another quick twist in her stance that led into a rapid lung before being withdrawn into her side. Soft thuds sounded within the immediate area. The blade of her foe was nonexistent, however, to the eyes of the Shinigami the doll's blade lashed out in a similar thrust motion to her head. Her eyes scanned the length of the blade and the speed it was moving. Like any other Katana it was a single edged weapon that slid through the air, cutting through the still wind that resided around the two. Her balance shifted to the side as she waited for the last second until the blade drew close enough to deem it likely that its edge had cut her face. It hadn't.

Her eyes maintained their focus on the target at hand. Narrowed but widened across the spectrum to take in the empty gaps from her sides. Probably a mistake but if anything the more likely force that could have ceased her assault would come from the sides. Her foot planted in between the doll's foundation stems as though it was a placeholder to prevent her foe from moving aggressively or shifting to the sides. More than likely the individual would have fell back into cover, to widen the gap between them or if they were stronger they will advance onto her position. That notion would contest physical strength against physical strength, and a scenario which Schala would gladly love to avoid. So, why would she commit to advancing. The act provided insight on her enemy whether they be a careful planner or a mindless brute. Secondly, her footing gave her in the presence of her enemy gave her enough space to pivot her way out of harms way should she ever require it. Schala took the alternative route.

Instead of acting as though her foe was weaker than herself it was more prompt in believing the worst case scenario. This allowed further planning and information gathering instead of going about the situation as shadow fighting. Predicting an opponent's moves in advance rather than reacting to them benefited in a numerous of ways. Regardless of how strong she thought she was there was always someone out there who could out class her entirely. Better be safe than sorry and best to be prepared for anything. Besides, her best qualities was in her fighting style than relying on speed and strength. When properly put to use she could dance circles around even the mightiest of foes. Still, ideas and reality were on different scales and something she didn't wish to try her luck on.

She encircled the doll as she took on the alternate route and her arm sprung forth in a single motion into the conjunction between both the neck and skull. The soft tissue was a keen sensitive spot which with enough pressure can knock a fully grown organic being unconscious. Even with massive amounts of muscle training those spots could not be reinforced. On other accounts while in the world of the living this idea would be solid, but there was still much that Schala didn't know about when applying it against spiritual beings. For now training solo was more like stretching until she actually gotten in some real time combat. For now this would have to suffice. After another spurt of three strikes Schala decided to call it a day whisking her practice rapier back into her sash and moving on to the showers.

[Amagai Kuchiki]

13 paragraphs = 60 CTP.