What Lies in Darkness [DE | R] !OSEN ACTIVE!

[RayginX]

SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC} Sorry if this post is "bleh". I can't seem to wake the fuck up to write at my best. If there's any issues with it, feel free to PM me

What did she just say? Garret had been given what he asked, an explanation for her dream. Something that had once interested him, pushed him to spare the Arrancars life the last they met, had now been revealed to be something far more insidious than he originally believed it to be. His eye widened as her explanation continued, listening and drinking her words in. Noriko, the Arrancar once known as Shinzui, was planning to take control of a land called Japan, a land Garret had heard of before, and rule over any and all Hollows she crossed. Garret could not believe what he was hearing.

"An empire...of Hollows?" Garret repeated to himself as Noriko continued. She would use the Hollows to spread her will and rule. It was the plan of a mad man, the dream of something inhuman in fact. Noriko's laughter drowned out the sound of burning wood, giving Garret a moment more to think on her words. What he saw in his head, the images of an empire of Hollows, was something that sent a cold chill down his back. How could anyone think to rule with these things? A world run by monsters, where humans would be nothing more than food. His imagination ran wild with the possibilities of such a world.

What have I done..

Every second he spent imagining such a nightmare further pushed him into anger. His teeth grinding together, veins beginning to bulge beneath his skin along both his forehead and neck, Garret was struggling to remain in control. Every second she spoke further pushed the swordsman further and further into his anger. "Hollows and humans are quite the same, don't you agree? Selfish and full of malice, which in the end brings calamity and ill intention against one another." While she may have had a point, Garret was not in the mood to argue against it.

The Adjucha that Noriko had, a minute before, ordered to refrain from attacking had, unsurprisingly, ignored her and began to rampage. The massive beast lashed out at its master, trying to catch Noriko in its jaws and devour her as it did the Hollow before. A mouth filled with teeth like swords, dripping with blood and saliva as the two stared at each other. The Adjucha called Adrastos's lunged, aiming to scoop Garret up into his jaws. It was a full frontal assault, moving at a speed strikingly similar to Garrets own max speed. The swordsman's eye narrowed as he pressed his weight down into the earth, sending reiatsu into the limb before vanishing from the Adjucha's sight.

I was a fool to let you live.
Utilizing his Shunpo Step Technique, Garret moved away from the Hollow's rush attack. He lacked enough information about the Hollow to comfortably strike out in a counter, but it seemed that Noriko had her own plans about what to do with the Hollow. As Garret reappeared to the far right side of Adrastos, he watched as Noriko landed onto the monsters back and launched an attack of her own against it. Once again she was speaking to Garret, speaking more about her dream. Her dialogue was nearing its end, the final part of it was being delivered with a raised hand and a charging Bala.

Garret quickly drew his blade up across him, aiming the flat between himself and the Arrancar mounted Hollow, followed shortly by the impact of the Bala against his sword. Withdrawing his sword and returning it to its normal position, Garret narrowed his eye at what was said to him. "But for now, I just want to feel it Garret... Make me feel alive again." His sword lowered just a little bit as he stared at her, trying to find the words to best say to her. When they did come though, they came dripping with venom, "Do you think I will let any of that happen?

Do you actually believe I will just stand here and let you accomplish that? An empire of Hollows? Are you mad?" Garret asked. Slowly, one foot after another, he began to make his way towards the two. Noriko would see it, the anger and hatred in his eyes on the verge of exploding. "I made the wrong choice.." His words came again, but who was he talking to? Noriko or himself? Regret was mixing in with his anger, that hole of guilt inside of him continued to grow even wider. "I wanted to believe that because you looked so much like her, that you would have been different.." Garret continued to ramble, reaching up to his neck and unbuckling his cloak, letting the covering fall to his feet.

Garret wanted to believe that because she looked like Cassandra she would have been different. He wanted to believe that Arrancar had some hint of humanity, that something that looked so much like his wife couldn't possibly have been nothing more than a Hollow. If only he had killed her in the building. If only he had not asked "what if". Had Garret remained firm, had he held his blade more steady, had he let his hatred be his deciding factor, then those two wouldn't have had to die. "I was a fool to let you go. But now I am going to fix my mistake." Garret raised his head, his gaze meeting with Noriko's once more. He was now at least ten feet from Adrastos.

If I had killed you then, then those two wouldn't have had to die. I made a choice, a choice that cost them their lives. Two Arrancar that possessed humanity, dead because of my own weakness.

Garret stopped, his fingers tightening around his weapon. Noriko would begin to feel something eminating from him. A sensation she had felt the last time they had met. " It's my fault. I made that choice. But despite all that...it's still your fault. You threw those two against me, knowing what would happen!" Garret roared, reiatsu flooding his legs as he used another Shunpo, this time heading right towards Adrastos. He was aiming for Noriko, not the massive Hollow himself, appearing above the monsters body overhead Noriko, that sword held back above his head as he aimed to cleave her with a downward slash.

[smear:F62817] I'll tear you apart! Once I get my hands on you...

I'll rip your eyes out.

Tear you to shreds!

Slice you to pieces!

I will devour you![/smear:810541]

Garrets strategy, while simple, was the best way to approach the larger Hollow. Adrastos long body meant that he would have to turn like a clock to get that mouth close enough to Garret for him to fear it, and to add to the fact that Garret was appearing above the Hollow, there was no way for the Hollow to physically reach him with his body. The attack was aiming at Noriko, but the fact she was riding atop Adrastos meant that the Hollow would be in the way as well. Garrets swing would come down, aiming at Noriko, and if it connected there would be serious damage done. Noriko was stronger than before, there was no doubt about that, but compared to Garrets Strength her Hierro and physical abilities would not save her.

Remaining Reiatsu: 4200 / 4500
-100 for x2 Shunpo

[Adrastos]

How much more were the two going to talk. Talk talk talk, it is all that they've ever done thus far. All of the unnecessary noise that occupied the rummaged scenery was all but useless if not nonsense. The King of Beasts was there for one thing and one thing only, to devour. He was not a pet to no individual. No one could ever hope to claim a King, let alone establish some form of authority over him. The little Kitsune will learn that very well as much as the tiny human. Their arrogance and lack of respect would cost them dearly believing that the Tyrant lizard was of little threat. His size massive, and his intelligence meager, but his will to carry on the pride he once held as a Spartan carried on.

To fight, to win, all for the glory of the homeland, for the glory of Sparta. That warrior's spirit drove the King of Beasts, even when nearly all memory of what he once was lingered in the foreshadows of time. Thus, the Adjuchas cried out when in righteous anger when the human avoided his lung. Cowardly, a warrior would have met his strength head on, instead, the tiny human gave way and ran to create distance between them. Shunpo, a technique that the Beast was somewhat familiar with. For a time Adrastos could recover glimpses of the time spent as a Shinigami. Those days with his hunting party of proud fighters were one of the best that he could ever hope for. Although he was human for some time, those times were the best. But now, remembering those faint images only gave birth to the unfaltering hate that brewed within.

With his early attack on the Arrancar failed, similar the to the human, she had hope to surprise him from above. However, that would come to fail as his own assault failed. When she came down to pull her weight she had no leverage or a means to accelerate her descent. That meant she had no means to drop down at a quicker rate to apply her strength into his back side. So with the added momentum of his charge the beast simply swung his rear around, whipping at the trees that stood helpless in the way of the lizard's tail. Each one struck and torn from their respected positions as the woman came into contact with the Earth. Only a small crater was to be found beneath the settling dust, nothing in comparison to what the Hollow was capable of.

Just before he'd even charge the puny human appeared above the woman. His words filled with poison was found to be utter nonsense. A human who dared to compare weak woman with another. In his eyes they were all weak, so made no difference to him in the end. How idiotic was it to mistaken one person for another based solely on appearances. Few Hollows ever retain parts of who they were, but seeming that Noriko had been able to recall portions of her past, as well as Adrastos, it was fated that they never return to their rooted origins. In every sense Hollows and Arrancars were monsters. Adrastos knew this, and happily embraced it to satisfy his own quest for vengeance.

Down came the man toward the arrogant Arrancar, but not before he'd find his weapon snagged by the fangs of the beast. Much like Noriko he had no leverage to accelerate his plummet. If he had used Advanced Airground, then perhaps his fall would have been much quicker. Sad to say that his blade would have been intercepted with the short distance that Adrastos would have to cover. His body soley had to whip around when the he indicated the use of reiatsu, knowing full well that the human was a coward, and turned his attention toward the foolish woman. Happy to see that he could very well devour both at the same time. Which was the reason why he went after the swordsman first. Smash the fool to the ground on top of the Kitsune.

Between the two males their speed were the same, and shared an equal distance away from the woman, so didn't matter if he got to her first if he hadn't. Either way the human was his primary target when he entered into his line of sight once more. But why the weapon? Cowards had no need for a warriors weapon. That thought angered the great beast much more. For one such as he to wield something of the sort was an insult if all he did was run. Despite he the beast had ran into a cutback effect his tolerance to pain was undisputed. The amount of focus the creature had on his goal was unsettled, never waivering as to what he wanted to accomplish. He would bring that coward's weapon to the ground along with him. Should his will to continue to hold onto his weapon remain, then he himself would have been lifted easily into the air, then back into the Earth once more with the maximum strength that the beast possessed.

Their difference in strength was marginal yes. However, the creatures size and weight gave him the upper hand. The Cutback, if enabled, would do incredible damage throughout the lining of his gums and jaw line. Painful yes, but nothing that the beast could handle. The beasts muscles flexed. Those cuts and splitting wounds would have been opened further with the expansion of his muscles, but at the same time steeled his body for what was to come. That sheer force wouldn't have been halted by the difference in reiatsu strength of Adrastos to the man's spiritual pressure. And yet, his attention was so to be lured by the arrival of several new sources of life. Four of them.

If successful, the man would more than likely shielding his body from the fangs and crushing force with his sword. But no matter, new prey had arrived on scene, and would lash out at him to rid his being over the man. Three on one, an Anaconda, a Buffalo, and lastly the fat Crocodile that rushed the King of Beasts. The fourth however remained to be unseen as the trio came to fill his eyes with their pitiful assault. Of course, with so much activity going on his attention would shift onto the new intruders. His weight and fangs now focused onto new targets that whisked back several feet.

The damned snake coiling around the soft tissue that surrounded his throat while its partner, the Buffalo, charged into the Tyrant's gut. Felt like a damn car ramming into the ribs. More likely a bruise would be left behind with Adrastos unable to flex his muscles to guard it. However, that littl push gave his body the jolt needed to catch the snake off guard as his body crashed into the trees at his side. Claws drawn into the scaly hide of the Serpent to cleave its body into two halves, allowing the Adjuchas to breath. And with the snake gasping for air from the lack of its lungs the great beast found the opportunity to grip its bloody half with a single arm and fangs. Not much of a tug of war as the head of the worm snapped away from its upper half.

Nothing like a little tussle to stir up the appetite. But the snack will have to do for now until he can feed on the arrogant Arrancar, and her human "friend."


1 Class 3 Adjuchas Eaten

[Noriko 'Asuka"]

What a foolish man indeed. His nonsense was utterly laughable. The answers that he sought to his continuous wonders had been fulfilled, much to his dismay. Regardless, he spoke in such a manner to believe he stood a chance in preventing. What had been pieced together over the course of time within the void was the only way for the Earth to find peace. A single rule over a species that possessed the ability to be at all places at every moment. The ability to control mindless creatures, who only respected power, to have them police over those who would cause trouble for others. That was the significance of her dream, and yet, this human dared to oppose such a wonderful dream. Not on her life.

As he continued to announce his position to her she couldn't help but snicker. Every one of his words brought a much larger grin to her face. He'd never understand, not a single ounce as to what the world would be like when she took control, which was the reason why Japan would be made an example of. What a thrill it would be to see such a spectacle. Of course, the man retreated once the mighty beast began its assault after its little attempt after her own life. Needless to say that she didn't take into account that the Adjuchas averted a blow simply by swinging himself around. That very motion did place him into a superior position above them both. However, he was targeting the human first.

Pathetic really. Both of them went on with their two dimensional tactics to really believe that such meager attempts would actually land. To even further this realization all the Arrancar had to do what side the coming downward slash. Surely the debris and shrapnel springing forth from the crash of the heavy blade, if not intercepted already by the Adjuchas, would have been guarded against by the flexing tails that were wrapped around the woman's figure. Four tails were all that was needed to create that barrier of flexing muscle to dispel such filth away from her marvelous figure. That was also true for when Adrastos would come crashing down with the man. Another step was needed while their actions were being carried out, at least for her to remain out of harms way.

There, the two were to be fighting against each other at her front whilst she remained unopposed. Her scoff at their attempts was clear as she chuckled within the settling dust. Although she wasn't able to see, her senses were highly active on to what was transpiring around her. So, she believed that now would have been the best time to give the man her reply to his useless banter, "Perhaps I am a bit -mad.- However, who would be deemed more depraved, me, or you? For surely I am not who you label me to be. I am no other than myself." her words mocked him. The very thought was ridiculous for the man to have compare her to his lost lover. She is Arrancar, and not some weak human, not anymore.

His rambling did intrigue her to an extent, on the idea of how he was going to stop her. Those words of his continued to bring a smile to her face. Even now he tried with all his might to bring the sin of ending the twins on her shoulders. She felt nothing for it but to bring the man to the cold hard truth. "My fault you say? Then tell me, whose blade is stained with their blood?" More laughter. Garret was so funny. Human nature, a joke really as they attempt to avoid responsibility by throwing it onto others. It wouldn't work. This was Garret's sin. All Noriko did was fulfill what those two wanted from the very beginning. Her fur shield dropped when the trio of Adjuchas came for the tyrant. Their added force pushing him back toward the newly formed tree line that their little battle created within the man made opening.

The fourth however wasn't as smart as the others. This one had the galls to take on the Arrancar. Much like Garret and Adrastos it too was a slow being. Her tails easily dispatched the creature with little effort. Her body rotated with a hint of grace, whipping the tails around her as she did. Much like propellers the individual tails lashed out at the Hollow, ridding it of its limbs before sent flying over her body. Such a light weight for such a fat creature. Whether or not the man had been taking the time to rest himself or prepare for another assault on her wouldn't have mattered. The different between their capabilities were distant, like that of the sun to the ocean. In this case, Garret was the ocean that peered up at her light.

Though, her curiosity of his way of thinking concerned her. Like Vannan, the man believed the twins to be more "human" than her. She had to find out, "Tell me Garret, what did it feel like driving your blade through -fragments?- Was it the same as slaughtering the Hollows before you? Or perhaps you came to the realization that they are simply the manifestation of what all Hollows were like before they wore the mask?" Her eyes and Hollowified ears perked for the slightest sounds that the man would have made. The difference in speed was beyond what he could perceive. Three times as much. By the time he made a move the Arrancar would have already displaced herself from his line of sight. The same would have been then and now.

Noriko learned much from their first encounter, and leaned onto using that knowledge. The moment he made his move Noriko would have been set behind him. Even with Shunpo Karin, her sensory would have picked up his usage of reiatsu, and working in tangent with her Battle Analysis there was little hope for the man to withstand her onslaught of incoming barrages. For every move he made, she would have made three more within that same instance. If anything, his release would have been deemed necessary if he was to keep up with her. Oh how fun this was. Such glorious thrills that ventured onward. She wanted more. More. MORE MORE MORE MORE. MORE!

[RayginX]

Why did his sword suddenly stop? Garrets downward swing was suddenly halted, and he was pulled back from his single minded attack against Noriko. The Adjuchas, Adrastos, did not take being ignored so kindly. Garret had been so focused on striking Noriko down that he had failed to notice the Adjuchas approach, and was taken by surprise when a toothy jaw clamped itself down upon his greatsword. Garret turned his gaze back towards the Adjucha who had his sword clamped between his teeth, before being pulled off of his feet as a part of the Adjuchas plan to smash him, and his weapon, into the earth below.

With that sword between his teeth, Garrets superior Spiritual Pressure got to work damaging the Hollows inner mouth. Clashes between spiritual beings was literally reiatsu clashing against reiatsu, and so the stronger of the two would damage the weaker one during confrontations. Garrets Spiritual Pressure dwarfed Adrastos, and Garret had at least two tiers of Cutback against Adrastos. The interior of Adrastos mouth would become shredded, ripped apart at the gums, lips would become torn, tongue slashed and even his teeth would be damaged. Flexing wouldn't protect the Hollow, as it would simply make those injuries worse.

Garret ground his own teeth together as he was lifted off of the ground, confirming that the Hollow did have a Strength advantage over the Spirit. But before Adrastos could slam Garret down, the Rogue wanted to test to see such how great the difference between them was. The Adjuchas plan had been to snag the swordsmans weapon, lift it and the spirit up right before slamming both of them into the earth. Garret did nothing to stop the ascent, having been caught by surprise and then watching as the Hollows mouth exploded with injuries, but he didn't plan on simply being smashed down.

Adrastos would feel a resistance against him as he tried to bring the swordsman down, the spirit using Advanced Airground to create a floor beneath him. It was a strategy he used, well...one that the other had used, in his last battle against Shinzui. Adrastos had superior strength but not so much that Garret was able to slow the descent by creating the Airground and pulling back against the Hollow. Sure enough, the airground didn't work as intended, and Garret was pulled to the earth, but landing on his feet instead of on his back, as using the airground had given him the moment to adjust his balance.

The arrival of new Hollows, however, had lured Adrastos attention away from Garret as the swordsman pulled away, sword in hand. His features covered in the hot blood of the Hollow, he ground his teeth together in frustration as two things happened. One, Noriko wouldn't shut up. Her constant goading and taunting was getting to him, and further building the rage within him. As Adrastos stormed off to deal with the three Adjucha, Noriko asked him a question regarding the two he had killed. Noriko asked him if he had realized what Arrancar were, manifestations of who those people were before they became Hollows.

Garret had had enough. She wouldn't hush, and now the Bakkoto was active. He could hear its whispers as well as he did Norikos voice, could feel it trying to overtake his mind. The sight of blood, the excitement of battle had awakened it. Garret took a breath, turning his gaze backwards towards Noriko, that single eye of his training itself onto her. Garret was done arguing. He wanted nothing more than to drive his blade through her, to end her prattling. The guilt of their deaths was already on his shoulders, and adding to it would only push him further into his anger. "Be quiet. I'll be over there to deal with you in a minute." Garret suddenly said once Noriko was done.

He wouldn't be able to get at Noriko so long as the other Hollow was still alive. It would continue to interrupt his battle with her, so he had to end it now. Their last confrontation had clued Garret into something, some new information that he could use when fighting the Hollow. It was stronger than him, yes, but not by much. Enough that it would win clashes, but not enough that Garret had to be too terribly worried. Secondly, Garret had the defense advantage. His Spiritual Pressure would make short work of any physical attacks the Hollow threw against him. He'd need to be on the lookout for shockwaves, but he was more than capable of seeing the distortions and reacting fast enough in case they were thrown.

Adrastos was busy dealing with the python and bull, and Garret was not kind enough to simply overlook such a gracious opportunity. The bull shaped Hollow slammed Adrastos into a tree, whilst he was dealing with the serpent that strangled his throat. The larger Hollow managed to get his claws around the serpent, sinking those sword like fangs into the Hollows body. Momentarily distracted with his meal, the Berserker Hollow would not notice Garrets attack until it was too late.

The swordsman had approached from the Adjuchas exposed flank whilst he was busy dealing with the python. Once their little conflict had ended with Adrastos devouring said serpent, Garret had kicked off the ground with a Shunpo Eichi and literally slammed himself, and his weapon, directly into where Adrastos rips should have been. It was like a hammer striking a nail, Garrets impact with the Hollow would be greater than when the Bull had struck the Hollow. Garrets sword would sink deep, deep enough into the Hollow that it sunk all the way to the base where the chain link was.

For a split moment Garret was seeing stars, having bonked his head against Adrastos during the impact, but the instant he regained himself he initiated the technique. Garret had no idea if he had pierced any major organs, hell he wasn't even sure Hollows had organs. But what he did know was that Adrastos had less reiatsu than he did. He could have used Echo to get a precise amount, but Garret had seen that the difference had been great from the damage his cutback did to Adrastos. What were the chances of Garret even getting this attack off? Very high, actually. Adrastos had been busy with the other two Hollows to notice Garrets approach. A small human being seen while a monster battled monsters seemed unlikely. Secondly, while Adrastos had Energy Sensory capabilities, they were well below the average levels. Adrastos could, at that level, feel reiatsu...but not feel it being flowed or used, unless Garret had used some sort of super powerful reiatsu attack.

He had picked this spot for a reason, as he had seen the short length of Adrastos arms, and was sure that the Hollow could not bend himself in a way that allowed him to easily reach Garret from this spot. Those fangs, if they reached the man, would only be damaged by cutback anyways. So the swordsman dug deep, ignoring the expected thrashing from the Hollow and the intense heat of Adrastos blood as Garret reached into that darkness inside of him. He hated using this technique...as it brought the other to the surface.

I know you're there. You haven't had enough, have you?

Now come out and sink your fangs into this bastard!

Adrastos would suddenly feel something. Something was inside of him. No, not physically inside of him...besides Garrets blade. No, there was something inside of him spiritually. A foreign presence, something that forced its way into him. Adrastos would feel its intentions. He would feel the hunger. He would feel the anger. He would feel the same evil that dwelled inside of that swordsman suddenly inside of him. And then he would feel those fangs sink themselves right into his very soul. A wave of exhaustion would hit Adrastos like a damn bullet train, as over half of his reiatsu was suddenly ripped away by that foreign entity.

The Beast inside of him ripped away 500 reiatsu with its fangs. Devouring it. Drinking it. Savoring it. He would feel the growing hunger. He would feel the growing thirst. That Beast inside of him possessed a hunger that rivaled, or even surpassed, a Hollows own cursed hunger. As for Garret he felt that wave of reiatsu pass right through Adrastos and right into his body. His own reserves being restored as Adrastos was stolen. But using this technique had its own drawbacks for the swordsman.

More! More more more! This is not enough! Let it go, set me free, let us end them together! Why do you restrain me? Why do you hesitate! Surrender yourself! Entrust yourself to me! Let us kill them together!!

Garret ground his teeth together, his vision beginning to blur a bit as the Bakkoto began to rampage within him. He had to remain in control, or else that Armor would appear. If Garret could hold on for just a minute longer, his Life Drain technique would succeed in stealing away all of Adrastos reiatsu. He just needed to hang on.

Remaining Reiatsu: 4025 / 4500
-25 for AAG
-150 for Shunpo Eichi
+500 reiatsu next post if Life Drain works

SPOILER: Click to show

{Life Drain}
Technique Name: Vita Sollertia: Life Drain

Class: 3

Technique Type: Vita Sollertia

Usable By: Rogues

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects: It is common knowledge the difference between the Shinigami and the Rogue. A Shinigamis power comes from within their own soul. They must make bargains with their soul until the inevitable day comes that they must conquer it to achieve Bankai. The Rogue, however, does not acquire his power from the inside, rather from the outside. The Bakkoto is a parasite, feeding off the reiatsu and life of its wielder in exchange for great power.

The purpose of this technique was to change what it was the Bakkoto fed upon. The Bakkoto is a parasite, a symbiote of sorts, seeking nourishment above all else. All it cares about, all it needs, is life force and reiatsu. The art of Life Drain uses these basic motivations of the Bakkoto and turns it against his opponent. When the adversary of the Rogue comes into contact with the Bakkoto, whether it be weapon or attire, the parasite will begin to rapidly feed upon its new source. A powerful technique, for every post that the Bakkoto remains in contact with its new source of food, 500 reiatsu will be stolen from them.

This reiatsu allows for two options by the Rogue. First, the Rogue is able to take that stolen Reiatsu and give it to themselves, replenishing their own reserves with their enemies. Many races and factions have tried to create techniques designed to steal the reiatsu of an enemy, but only the Rogues are capable of this. The second option is to convert the reiatsu into what a Rogue truly needs, into what allows the Rogue to continue fighting; Life Force. The main function of this technique is not to regain reiatsu, but is to in fact regain Life Force. When used against fellow Rogues, the user of this technique can rob Life Force rather than just reiatsu, same amount and can only be given to the users Life Force pool.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): The Rogue must have his Bakkoto come into contact with the targets body. This can be done by simply having the Bakkoto touch them, impale them upon the weapon that is the Bakkoto, or any other method of getting the parasite onto the target. They must then activate the technique.

Technique Drawbacks: This technique, despite its strength, does have a few drawbacks. Firstly, on the matter of draining reiatsu. If the stolen energy surpasses the amount that the Rogue has (SpPr stat), then the Rogue must use that reiatsu within two posts or the extra amount will deal sudden Life Force damage, equal to the extra unused amount of reiatsu. For every post that this technique is used, a Rogue will take 1.5x extra Life Drain depletion for attacks, except for any damage taken by too much reiatsu absorption. This technique has the cost of a Class 3 technique as well, and can only be used if it has been Mastered.

Made By: Garret the Wanderer

Reserved? (Yes/No): No

[Adrastos]

Hot crimson blood was all that the great beast could taste. Whether it was from his most recent prey or from the spewing remains of his fangs all that dripped from the jagged edges was that thick red fluid. Simply marvelous that the small human could deal such harm onto him. Simply marvelous that he could never have been so thrilled. The sheer excitement that he felt lapsed over the throbbing sensation that clung to the curves of his gums. That flame, the anger and the hate, that which was lost for such a long time had been rekindled by what the Rogue had done. That burning hot sensation woke the sleeping spirit that remained dormant for so long. The heart of a Spartan.

Minced droppings of the Python slid into the void that led to the bowels of the beast. Peacefully as its accomplice was brought underneath the sole of the Tyrant's footing. Peaceful up until the point where reiatsu was felt. Like a sonar his senses alerted the King of Beasts to the usage of reiatsu, but as to the exact location of it was his guess. He didn't have much time to ponder such trivial things when the source found him. Exactly like a thorn to his side Adrastos felt his heavy form rammed into tree once more with splintering pain rooting throughout his side. And "NOT" to his surprise he found the weakling of a human dug into his side with the feeble sword of his.

That was the initiate thought before feeling an ominous presence befall him. Something was tugging at his strength, sapping it away from the mighty beast. His knees quaked for a moment before regaining their prior strength. Adrastos had not been plagued by a disease before, so he could root that affliction out. Perhaps something he ate? No, that wasn't the answer. He felt it, the source of the affliction, the intruder. Like a bee sting the burning came from where the swordsman plunged his sword into his body. That sword made the beast cringe as the burning continued onward, inching away of the Adjuchas' strength. He was taking it?

Such a thought only made the Hollow enter into a frenzy, one that not many Adjuchas display, perhaps not even as a regular Hollow. ..coward.. the beast thought as his fury escaped the bloodied lips and echoed through the mountain sides. The man was so weak that he had to resort to stealing his power to achieve victory? Disgraceful. Much like....Shinigami... Those paired voids that were his eyes glowed with an amber flame, sparking to life the beast once more as his rage could not be quelled any longer. The mark of a true beast released. As the man held onto his blade with dear life, his small ears were to be filled by the defiant rage of the King of Beasts.

The next moment was up to the man if he remained clinging onto him. More than likely he did, more beneficial to Adrastos as his side began to ram against the trees that remained standing. The body of the tyrant smashing into the tree lines to carve a path of pure carnage. Left and right did the trees came down. Ash and earth erupted from the ground as Garret's body was literally between a rock and a hard place. His side firmly pressing the man with his strength against the solid Earth that was the ground. Their strength was marginal, the difference in reiatsu strength and pressure were beyond equal, but that pressure felt by raw physical strength against was still felt. Outside the Rogue would suffer minor lacerations and bruising, but inside was a different story. Both creatures wielded "Super durability," so they can survive blows that would be considered lethal to them, however, what Adrastos was doing was continuously introducing Garret to the blunt force of several bullet trains.

One after another the man will give out long before the beast did as his strength surpassed the humans. Despite that the beast was focused, his tolerance to pain heightened through the years of war and brutal training. On top of that the life of a Hollow wasn't a simple one. Kill or be killed, much like Garret, yet, Adrastos had to be the one to face against those who were superior to him. Superior in every way in order to grow, to push forward rather than revert to that of a Gillian. By no means did Adrastos cease his life of war and bloodshed, it was his everything. Although the series of blunt hits would cause some form of head trauma, even with his release, the man's blade will bulge.

Garret had no means of supporting himself to push the blade further in. With Air Ground the idea was achievable, but with the onslaught of ramming the human will find no means of moments opportunity to sustain such an attack on him. Futhermore, it would be Adrastos' muscles that would fight against the man's blade. The Adjuchas was at the level to where his muscles could flex his body parts back into place. That heavy sword was a foreign entity that punctured the beast's body, its influence inside him grinding between the ribs. With their difference in strength it wouldn't be difficult to push the intruder out of his body. Those muscles hardening as they pushed outward, along with the man's blade. This was to be done as Garret's body was ravaged by the continued rampage of the Adjuchas.

One point or another the man was to be brushed off the monster's side and left behind in the wake of the carnage. Like if that wasn't enough then the inferno that was brewing surely did the trick. The animal's thick hid gave it some protection against the blazing flames as its side crashed into its source. That lasted about a few moments before stepping from the flames caress. Then, and only then did the Tyrant face the mockery of a warrior. A rogue that portrayed himself as a swordsman was an utter insult to his eyes. More than that, he was a disgrace.

Their eyes were to be locked with the man as his sole focus. Blood continued to spew forth from the gaps in his rows of fangs while the two squared off. The human's posture brought forth those bitter memories of when the Hollow was a Shinigami. That unrivaled rage crying out as it spoke, a rare occasion for one such as himself. ..puny.. human. Adrastos.. crush puny human...Human... weak.." This mention more towards the Rogue's technique of theft. Such a disgrace it was that a warrior had to resort to a power like that. However, what flared the great beast even further were two things; his memory of the man standing beside a woman, and that his style was similar to.."SHINIGAMI! .. ADRASTOS DESTROY SHINIGAMI! RRAAGGHHHHHHHH!"

It was only obvious from that point on which path the beast was going to take. Its chest bulked with small traces of reiatsu, nothing threatening compared to the amount that was being used. Sensory wise it wasn't anything too alarming, at least reflecting back onto what Garret felt in the past. Yet, that was the deception of what the technique possessed. This technique didn't use his reiatsu strength to assault the man with, oh no. That reiatsu Garret would have felt was meant to aid the Adjuchas for what was to come. A moment later that expansion of the chest deflated as its bulk was passed upward through the wind chambers. That pent up collection of air parted the bloodied lips to only release a stream equivalent to that of a Cero. This technique produced no visible stream. This was no collection of reiatsu, but air that the beast took in to form a concentrated stream of air that carved out a path of destruction.

With the distance no more than 15 feet, to Garret, all that can be seen was the dirt and remaining trees obliterated from the stream of air that matched the creature's physical strength. Only Garret would know what was to come soon.

Remaining Reiatsu; 1000/1000;

-500 Life Drain
-200 Burst Stream

300/1000 Reiatsu

SPOILER: Click to show

{Burst Stream}

Technique Name: [Burst Stream - Corriente Burst]

Class: [5]

Technique Type (Kido, Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other):
Hollow/Arrancar

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

Technique Element: [Physical Energy]

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect):

Stream is Adrastos' personal technique which was created after applying his own physical strength with that of his beast like scream. By condensing the vocal cords with his own physical energy combined with a little spiritual pressure, the Hollow is able to focus those pieces into a straight stream of shredding force. The technique resembles a Hollow's Cero, however, it possess a limit range of effectiveness and destruction. The effective range of destructive force is about 15 feet in order to deliver the tearing force of the technique. But, although the technique possess a limited destructive range it does have a after effect to those who are within 20 feet of the incoming attack.

Those who are hit by the technique or within the 5 feet past the techniques minimal range, they will suffer a deafening shrieking in their inner ear drum, which prevents the victim from hearing for 2 posts, or unless they are healed in battle.

How to use technique (How is it activated?):

The user must take in a deep breath while flexing their chest. After, the physical energy must be focused to the lungs and throat then manipulated by reiatsu strength and spiritual pressure in order to create the focused stream of tearing force. It is then fired from the mouth of the user for 5 consecutive seconds.

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc)

200 reiatsu cost and the lungs become sore after use. If used once more immediately after, then minor lacerations to the throat. If prolonged usage immediately after without waiting for a post to pass to recovery, then the lungs will become unusable for the rest of the thread.

Made By: Adrastos

Reserved? (Yes/No) (Can others use your technique, or just your character?):

Yes.

[RayginX]

All Garret had to do was hold on. He had to keep his weapon submerged in the Hollows body, else he wouldn't be able to pull off another Life Drain and end this battle now. On the other hand, Garret had to hold onto his steadily crumbling sanity, as the parasite that dwelled inside of him rampaged within the confines of Garrets identity and soul. It wanted out. It wanted freedom. It wanted to eat. Its thoughts were beginning to lay on top of Garrets own, the Rogue being unable to perceive his own thoughts amidst the torrent of the Bakkotos wrath. His technique had been a success, the Bakkoto having stolen away over half of the Hollows reiatsu. He could feel the flow of new energy inside of him, and he had plans to initiate the technique once again...but Adrastos had other plans.

From between those damaged lips came an ear piercing roar, one that actually caused Garret to see stars for a moment. He ground his teeth together, trying to focus through the pain he was feeling at this time. It wasn't too hard for him, what with his Pain Tolerance, his Damage Recovery and Strength of Will allowing him to focus through the pain. But even with all that there was no denying the power behind Adrastos roar. Had it been simple a roar then Garret could have probably regained his focus and pushed forward with another Life Drain attack, but the Adjucha was far from done.

His body began to move, to thrash and throw himself about to try and dislodge the swordsman from his position. Garrets teeth ground together as he attempted to hold on, to try and focus long enough to sap away the remainder of Adrastos energies. But when Garrets back suddenly slammed into something solid his concentration was lost. The Hollow was doing everything it could to knock Garret off, and part of this tactic included throwing itself against the surrounding environment to try and crush the Rogue. Not only that, but the muscles within the beast were now actively pushing against Garret's sword, making both holding onto the Hollow and keeping the blade inside near impossible.

He was getting hurt, his physical durability reducing most of the damage, but by no means did that mean Garret was having a good time. His back was getting torn apart from being ground against the trees and earth, and so Garret decided to cut his loses here and get out of this rampage before it was too late. His sword was easily pulled free, as Adrastos muscles helped with removing it, as Garret leapt away from the massive monster before it thrust itself into the growing flames. His knees buckled as he hit the earth, letting himself roll to better withstand the impact.

Turning himself so he could face back to where Adrastos was, the Rogue locked his eye with the Hollows. He recognized the look in the monsters eyes, the same one that reflected back from Garrets own. Both were brimming with hatred. The flames that circled around them, that consumed the forest, were fitting for both of these fighters, like it was their burning anger that drove them forward. The Rogue blinked when he heard Adrastos speak, referring to Garret as a weak and puny human. Garret wasn't the type to be bothered by insults, especially ones by an entity as pathetic as a Hollow. Unless Adrastos was referring to the technique that Garret had just used against him. Thinking on it, the Hollow did suddenly explode with rage after Garrets Life Drain had affected him. He didn't think too much on it, since the words of a Hollow had as much meaning as shit.

But when suddenly referred to as a Shinigami, Garret paused for a moment. Did the Hollow think he was a Shinigami? What part of him screamed Shinigami? There was something that Adrastos did not understand about Garret. Garret would not call himself a knight, or a warrior, or any other title of fighter besides one; he was a survivor. Honor was a weakness. Garret would do anything to kill the Hollows that came for him, he would use any underhanded tactic, any form of deceit, anything that would ensure that he would survive to see the next morning. Honor was for the Shinigami. Honor was for the ones who hid behind their walls, and followed whatever rules that were given to them by another.

Garret did not see it that way. He served no man but himself. All Garret cared about was survival. He would do anything to live. He would do anything to kill Adrastos. He would do anything to satisfy his hatred. Honor was a hindrance. Honor would only get in the way of the man whose life was a war. "Stupid beast.." Garret commented, in regards to the statement of him being a Shinigami. When Adrastos began to puff his chest, however, Garret realized what was coming. What he expected was a Cero, but what he got was something else. The Rogue had raised his weapon before him, planting the tip into the earth and positioning it so both flat sides of the blade faced him and Adrastos, turning his weapon into a makeshift shield.

Adrastos roar was unlike anything Garret was hit by before. Perhaps he could have dodged it, perhaps he would have been damaged worse if he had. Being hit by that stream of force was a new experience for Garret. His spiritual steel sword managed to block out a good portion of the force, but not all of it was stopped. Garrets vision blacked out a few times as he was sent flying, his body smashing itself along the earth and through a few trees, like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond, before finally coming to a painful stop against a fallen log.

It took him a minute to register the pain, and the darkness around him, as he had been knocked far enough back that the fires hadn't reached him yet. He coughed, his mouth filled with a metallic taste due to a cut opening in his mouth. His body hurt, but Garret was able to focus through it. Gritting his teeth together Garret pushed himself to his knees, getting his back off of the cracked log he had landed against. He was covered in scrapes and bruises and cuts, but looking down at his right hand he realized how bad it actually was.

See, in order to block out the Burst Stream Garret had used his sword like a shield. He had pressed his body against the blade to help with pushing against the blast, but doing so had left his right hand exposed as he had held onto the weapons grip with it. His fingers were damaged, so much so they were purple from the bruises. Raising his hand up he tried to squeeze his fingers together, and noticed how slow and pain inducing it was to do so. Damn it

He wasn't going to be able to hold his sword normally like this. Looking at his beyond damaged clothing, Garret had an idea. First, he suppressed his reiatsu to hide himself from Adrastos below average Energy Sensory capabilities. Tearing his shirt off, Garret got to work tying his right hand around the hilt of his weapon. Opening and closing his fingers was going to be tough, so Garret decided to not give himself the choice. Using his shirt he tied his right hand around the hilt of his weapon, ignoring the pain it was giving him. It was rough, and no doubt not the best solution, but it had to do. Overgrown bastard. If this keeps up I'll be too damaged to make it through the night. Garret cursed in his head, pulling on the knot string using his teeth.

Then let it go. Use me; let us tear them both apart together! Even together they will fall to us!

Be quiet!

Garret needed a plan. Adrastos was one thing, the monster being too loud to lose track of, but he had lost track of Noriko amidst the fighting. Getting back on his two feet, Garret realized he was missing something. Not his shirt, no, but his eye patch was gone. Without it, his damaged face was exposed to the world. A multipoint scar rested over where his right eye should have been, dragged off along the side of his head and ending behind his right ear. But besides that, however, was the series of unnatural vein like objects beneath the skin.

He was getting tired of this. His footsteps were his only company, besides the sound of his dragging sword, as Garret followed the trail of destruction left behind by Adrastos Burst Stream. Trails of blood dripped down along his massive form, the man lucky to be alive and possibly only because of his durability. Soon enough the spreading flames began to come back into view, and Garret also spotted the massive form of Adrastos amongst them. Seeing him immediately began to push Garret back into rage, his teeth grinding together as he finally unsuppressed his reiatsu.

Together we can crush him. Tear him apart. Rip him limb from limb!

No. This is my fight! My own actions lead me to this, and I will fix it myself!

Garret did his best to suppress the other, but using Life Drain had really woken it up. Garret stopped about twenty feet from Adrastos, glaring up at the Hollow before speaking, "You're mistaken by the way..", Garret said before taking a step towards Adrastos. He then took a second one, as if approaching Adrastos to begin fighting again. But what he was doing was far more deceptive. As Garret had made his way back to Adrastos, he had activated one of his Vita Sollertias. Not Life Force, nor Echo, but he had cast upon himself something called Soul Steps. And he was using it now.

When Garret took that second step, he had used a Shunpo to move towards Adrastos. But if he had simply used a Shunpo, then what was the deal with Soul Steps? The trick here was that Soul Steps left behind an afterimage of Garret. The second step wasn't actually Garret, it was the afterimage. The real Garret had already used Shunpo to go beneath Adrastos, directly beneath the Hollows neck and head. And right when he came out of it, he used a second Shunpo to go right up. "I'm not a Shinigami!" Adrastos would suddenly feel pain, as Garrets greatsword carved right through the right side of his neck. Four feet deep, in fact, as Garret had gotten in rather close with his attack.

There were a few factors in play here that would tip this attacks success in Garrets favor. Firstly was the fact that Garret did have the element of surprise. Adrastos didn't have any way of knowing that the Rogue had some sort of technique like this. The Hollows instincts would also be hard pressed to alert him to any deception, coupled with the fact that Garret really wasn't looking too good. When he had reappered from the woods, it was obvious that Adrastos rampaging and Burst Stream had done some damage to his body. The Rogues body was littered with cuts that drew blood, his body had numerous purple welts upon it from newly formed bruises.

Hell, the Rogue was sure one or two of his ribs had been cracked from the pain he was feeling from them. Basically, Garret looked like shit after dealing with Adrastos's attacks. If his attack did succeed, though, Garret would land on the ground, gritting his teeth as the expected pain in his right hand hit him. Garret had tolerance to pain, and he was one tough son of a bitch, he knew that using his right hand to wield his weapon was only going to make things worse. But if his attack did land, then it would have been a major hit against the Hollow. A four feet slash right into his neck? Something major had it have been hit. The shape of his body threw Garret off as to where the major organs were, but a neck was still a neck. Turning around, Garret looked to see the results of his attack.

Remaining Reiatsu: 4425 / 4500
-100 for Shunpo x2
+500 for Life Drain

Remaining Life Force: 3750 / 4500

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Steps}
Technique Name: Vita Sollertia: Soul Steps

Class: 5

Technique Type (Kido, Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other): Vita Sollertia

Usable By (Technique is available to which races?): Rogues

Technique Element: None

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect):
Perhaps one of the more frivolous Vita Sollertia techniques, and one of the more questionable usages of ones own Life Force, Soul Steps modifies Hoho, augmenting it with one’s own life energy. The particular Hoho augmented this way is the one that all Rogues know from their Shinigami days: Shunpo. Soul Steps is a stance technique, which lasts for four posts or until ended early. While in that stance, anytime the individual uses Shunpo, they may spend 100 Life Force in order to augment that Shunpo. If they do so, they leave behind an after image, infused with their own life force. This afterimage can do one simple action, such as clap, either once or on loop. If someone interacts with the afterimage in any direct way, or ten seconds pass, the afterimage disappears.

How to use technique (How is it activated?): Activate the technique to enter the stance, then use Shunpo normally, except also draw your own Life Force to your feet in addition to reitsu.

Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc)
Entering the stance costs as much as a normal Class 4 technique, and lasts for four posts. It can only be used twice a thread, and there must be at least three posts in-between each stance usage. The afterimages can be detected as anomalous with either a 200 energy sensory, or a 250 senses, or a 3 in Analysis. Soul Steps augmented Shunpos eat up double the number of step techniques per post.

Made By: Tsubaki Shiba

Reserved? (Yes/No) (Can others use your technique, or just your character?): No

[Adrastos]

OOC: Apologies for the absence. Harle isn't feeling well, but will be posting for her should her recovery take time.

IC:

The great beast was beaten and sore. Numerous of stab wounds and lacerations had literally decorated the beast's hide from head to tail. The overflow of dark purple fluids gushed from the massive gash that the swordsman had punctured him. Fangs and gums torn apart from their seams from the cutback effect between his meager reiatsu strength and the Rogue's spiritual pressure. His strength sapped from the Life Drain that the human's cursed blade. Not to mention that his own eagerness to throw himself against the trees, ground, and massing flames that now went rampant behind him didn't help his case with scorched bones and flesh. Any other being would have fallen before their foe, but not Adrastos. His years of training, fighting, and war in both life and afterlife have honed both body and mind to their peak. He was a Spartan, and knew never to surrender.

Each step taken was painful. One after another another pool of blood stained the floor beneath him as he traced the torn stream of earth back to Garret. Little did he know what results did his technique would have shown him. Burst Stream hadn't been used since when he first awakened as a Adjuchas, and not one he will be using for some time as the cost for such a technique issued tremendous strain on both his lungs and vocal cords. Although gathering reiatsu took minimal effort and small portions, it was the feat in gathering the air into his lungs and compressing it into a devastating force that did the real damage. Both external and internal pains that the beast suffered from, both playing against him while he continued to do battle with the Rogue, and no cursive fox in sight. No matter since the beast was ready for anything that the trickster would have planned.

He followed the path before him and found nothing but the ruins of his technique. The Rogue couldn't be felt, and no where in his sights. Adrastos was losing large amounts of his blood, and no means to heal. Thus, the only thing that he was capable of doing was to flex his muscles together to lessen the amount lost. Wounds shut when the firm hulks of flesh pressed against one another to narrow the wound's opening. Soft tissue that made its lips beneath the bone mask peeled back as a low growl vibrated from the sore depths of the beast when treading the earth for his target. He man was hiding in the shadows before emerging back into the light of the raging flames.

Based on his appearance he withstood a good amount of the Adjuchas' technique and continued on to face the beast. That Rogue carried himself with purpose and strength that reminded the Hollow of himself once upon a time when he was human, and a Shinigami; if he could recall his memories of those times. Garret did well to muster his strength to continue their fight. Adrastos peeled back his lips to smile as he found himself enjoying their time together. A long while since he was capable of relishing such a sensation of war and conflict. This made his blood boil like never before and caused it to roar with excitement. Adrastos desired more.

Garret spoke and the beast smiled. Rage and contempt were all that Adrastos felt for the Shinigami, and regardless of how much Garret swept the thought aside the beast knew, his odor was similar to theirs. A rise in reiatsu alerted the Adjuchas as to the Rogue's activity. Noriko had not shown herself and so he could immediately eliminate her as the reason, so which left.. The man stepped forward once. Then again, which brought the beast's attention yet again to his sensory, but no change. At least until the man's image blurred. His form blurred but remained standing at the same position. What was going on? Before he knew it, the man was beneath him. Adrastos' gaze shot down without moving his head at the tiny human soul. If the man were to initiate an attack at that moment the Beast King would suffer a tremendous blow. Only one opportunity to defend himself, only one.

Garret's blade found its mark without fail. That heavy hunch of spiritual metal cleaved directly through the bone and flesh of the tyrant's neck. A cry of pain and rage erupted into the night sky as metal met with flesh. The amount of force and strength applied into the attack submerged the steel in raw muscle and blood as it forced the beast toward the side. Stumbling for a moment to the side as the kinetic force caused the beast to sway, then came to halt. Should Garret have taken notice sooner, if he did, then he would have noticed that his blade went three feet rather than the full four feet into his neck. If anything, the human would actually find his blade stuck between the folds in which he had created with his strike. The beast's muscles were flexing, and it was the difference in strength that allowed the pierced blade to be halt in place.

The beast cried out then silenced himself, but the blood continued to kiss the edges of his blade, coating it in the powerful color of purple ink. The Rogue would find his blade unable to be removed as the Adjuchas' muscles clamped onto it, restricting movement, and leaving the man to hang over the creatures side. Only then will the man feel the claws of the beast that he sought to wound so greatly wrap around his body. A lone human body swinging back and forth to have its talons curl around his sides and arms. The pain was immense, which took all of his focus and concentration to keep his mind from wandering away from the task at hand. Adrastos had a strong will, and it was that will that enabled the beast to remove the man, with his blade, from his neck to have his body pressed to the ground with his back to the floor.

He found it impossible to maintain focus from one task over the other, as such he had to open the wound to the neck when squeezing the man in his hands. Unlike others of his kind Adrastos' arms were longer, and thicker, more capable of gripping normal human beings, much like Garret. Blood, more blood continued to flow through his wound even as the man would be crushed in the tyrant's grip. Only if Garret had been caught, if he was, then not even his cutback effect would work if the beast's claws never attempted to penetrate his skin. The human spirit was to be crushed, squeezed to death in the grips of the beast.

Recovery Post: 0/1

Remaining Reiatsu : 300/1000

[Noriko 'Asuka"]

This was truly a spectacle to see. A wonderful show of man vs. beast displayed for her blacked eyes to partake for her viewing pleasure. The dancing waves of the flames behind them. Those beneath them slain without much effort or even notice. Like the ants that they rover through they were forgotten just the same. Those few snaps of twigs that her bare feet tread over were immediately silenced by the rampaging violence that the two beings were so engulfed in. Both at the others throat in hopes to maim and devour. Only the weak perished and the strong thrived. This was the rule that governed Hueco Mundo, yet, she didn't care. Noriko only saw this moment as a welcoming party for her, and her alone.

Her presence melded with the shadows as her reiatsu was kept to a minimal. Nether one of the two individuals that fought wouldn't been able to sense her with their unexceptional talents in Sensory. Like a fox she crept about in the shadows. Like an animal she best waited for the opportunity to strike. They were foolish, Adrastos and Garret. Seemingly to put their pride and skills to the test against one another as their assaults caused the other to be decorated in deep lacerations and internal injuries. From the external view point Garret had the upper hand when it came to mobility and spiritual pressure. The Beast King's opening strike did a number on the creature, which was seen spewing raw meat and blood from its lips.

Noriko remembered all too well on how that went for her, or rather the twins. Their little charades managed to dump them into hazardous situations, which didn't fair well for the woman either. However, their tactics and antics did allow her to gain the upper hand when awakening from her sleep. All of her time spent in the dark realm, left helplessly to watch as the pair went about her life and causing havoc as if there were no repercussions. Now those times were over, and she was in control. Absolute control over her own life now. No longer did she have to bend to the will of the twins nor submit herself to a time limit during the release. No longer. She was free.

Her reiatsu being suppressed gave the Arrancar an advantage while she stalked around the combatants. Those swirls of blackened sapphire trained on the pair. Garret's blade penetrating the tyrant lizard's hide, and the beast wailing about in a frenzy, mashing into anything to help rid itself of the man. Obviously this is where Adrastos reigned supreme in. That tenacity and strength had not been challenged nor defeated during the time that they spent together. One by one Hollows of all shapes and sizes fell to him. From the regulars to Adjuchas the Beast King had not known defeat. Shinigami that stood before him shook in terror when standing behind the pair of girls. Like the rest of the Hollows, those Shinigami fell. He reigned unopposed.

But now, there was a challenger, and his name is Garret. She and him had a previous encounter, and obviously he came on top as the victor. Much to her dismay that her time was both limited and she had little to work with, thanks to Shiryou and Iraishin. With their end Noriko came to be, and with it a new form of power. The Arrancar grew in both spirit and in power, a power that her two foes will come to know soon enough. So, why make them wait any longer?

Then, when the woman turned her gaze to examine the two's interaction with each other she moved. Both of the males continued to assault each other. Garret's blade rose to hack away at the beast's neck, and the tyrant flexing to halt the blade's motion to squeeze the man in its arms. Whether or not it would succeed didn't faze the Arrancar, not as the Kitsune thrusting herself like a spear head into the side of her guardian. From the beast's point of view he would definitely feel a giant fist being rammed into his gut, though not a fist but more like a bundle of tails scrunched up into a giant fist.

More than likely he wouldn't suspect such an attack, not while he had his focus on the man. But at the same time her reiatsu was being suppressed so her hidden attack should have gone unnoticed. To what result she would get from such meager strength against an unguarded mountain of muscle she didn't know, however, it definitely gave her and Garret some time to trade words. At least for a moment. "Aahhh, I do hope you have not forgotten about me Garret, and to what I promised you... A vision of the future. So, let me show you that glimpse." That sly smile reappeared again down at the man. If anything he should know what was coming.

A familiar sensation he could feel from the pit of his gut. That same sickness swelling deep inside when the surge of reiatsu came to the surface. Before he would realize it, those dark thoughts came to the surface once more, ""Wallow in my Presence, Tsuitoi Kitsune. she said to the man. Much similar to the occurrence with the twins Noriko too would have been swallowed by light. This light however was dark, an exact match to that of miasma. Its mixture of violet and black aura spread like wild fire from the body of the Arrancar, lapsing over that smile of hers. Fragments of bone tearing away to make room for her newly developed ears. That bone piece that clung to her cheek torn away to allow the trails of black ink run down her eyes like tears. Her pale white tails bristle and expanded. Those robes that Arrancars were known for malformed as they reappear in the form of reiatsu like embers protruding from her body.

And from the miasma an arm swipes away the blazing form of reiatsu to reveal her true form. Her Ressurccion. That jet black hair dancing behind her as strands of it were brushed away to the side. "Much better." she chuckles as the man marveled at her magnificence. Noriko's smile never faded. From the man's view point he would see the Arrancar at her strongest, without realizing that he himself was already in the area effected by her power. Little did he know, nor Adrastos knew, that the two were within a field created by her release. As the shreds of reiatsu seeped out from her body, its residue became that of a substance known as Black Matter. A material in which was invisible to the naked eye and senses, that of course unless the pair possessed skills and the capabilities to detect it. Nonetheless, to the pair, she was felt everywhere.

"Now then, shall we get started?" she laughs.


Remaining Reiatsu: 970/1870 : -400 Release.

Ressurrecion: 1/8

[RayginX]

OOC: Sorry for the wait you guys. Sorry for the amount of time you had to wait, especially when I have been getting out replies rather quickly in this thread. What with my first attempt getting erased, my sleep schedule being fucked, and now with the Overwatch beta being out, not the best time for replies for me. But! It's out! Let me know if there's any issues.

How much more did he need to cut? How deep did he need to stab? How much more blood needed to be spilled? How much more did Garret need to do to finally bring this monster down? Garret had believed that he had dealt a finishing blow to the massive Hollow, having thought that a, attempted, four foot weapon impeding itself into the monsters neck would have been more than enough to finally bring it down. Adrastos body structure had continued to throw Garret off, the swordsman not being able to quite figure out where the most vital areas of his body were. Garret had been attacking under the assumption that Adrastos biology was still similar to that of humans like himself and Noriko. But it seemed that having a sword slice three feet into his neck was just not enough yet.

Garret was surprised when he realized he wasn't able to pull his sword out. The muscles inside of the Hollow had flexed, and instead of pushing the sword out this time the Hollow was trying to keep the weapon imbedded within him. Why? For what reason did Adrastos believe that this was a sound strategy? Garrets movement had been halted when his sword became locked in the neck of the Adjucha, hot blood leaking from the wound and dripping down the length of his weapon. Garret clenched his jaws together as he created an airground beneath him, attempting to rip his weapon free from the monsters neck.

Had Garret been given enough time there was no doubt he would have been able to pull his sword free of Adrastos, their difference in strength not being so terribly different, what with his injuries and all. But Adrastos was not going to give him that time it seemed. Garret blinked in surprise when he suddenly felt fingers wrapping around his form, a sudden pull as he was moved by a force that was not his. He might have lost his weapon had it not been tied to his hand. Slammed down into the earth, Garret coughed and gagged as the full force of Adrastos strength was suddenly pushed down on him, the Hollow aiming to crush him.

Their strength was similar, Adrastos being high enough that he would always win in confrontations. If Garret fought with his fists, then the Hollow would have been in a much better shape than he was now. Both of these fighters were capable of flexing their bodies to reduce the damage they took, meaning they could withstand blunt force quite easily. The reason that Garret had the upperhand was because he possessed a weapon, a sharpened blade that came with the power of his strength and sharpness of his spiritual pressure. But Adrastos had Garret pinned, the man's flexing doing only a little to withstand the slow building pressure of being crushed.

The man coughed, struggling to take in air. He needed a plan, and he needed one now. His arms were pinned inside of the Adjuchas fingers, meaning that he could not swing his sword. Garret was also finding that the exhaustion he was facing from this battle was beginning to affect him, meaning he could not hope to overpower Adrastos by pushing back against him. Bastard! Garret cursed in his head, realizing cutback wasn't going to work against this sort of attack. It was funny, really, how that spiritual defense worked. Cutback only worked when two sources of reiatsu came clashing together, the stronger dominating and injuring the weaker one. Slashes, cuts, stabbing, punching, slapping, any form of sudden and direct contact would trigger the defense. But grappling? Grabbing, throwing, holding, those sorts of things would not trigger the defense. The swordsman gasped again, trying to take in air as he glared up at Adrastos, hot purple blood dripping down on him from the injury he had inflicted only a moment before.

Is this how you will die? Crushed beneath a Hollow that is standing on the edge of deaths doorway?

Garret grit his teeth together, trying to fight to remain conscious and come up with a plan here. Vision was beginning to grow hazy as he was beginning to suffer from not being able to breath.

Look at yourself. Bruised and beaten, your hand is crushed, and now here you are with the very air being squeezed out of your lungs. Your body is broken, beaten and exhausted. But you now it, don't you, how none of that would matter if you used my power.

So take a step back. Before you cannot even regret your choice. Let me out! Let me do it! With my power this beast will fall and so will the whore! Use my power Garret! Let me feed!

Before Garret could think, before he could even consider that proposal, something happened. Adrastos was suddenly slammed into by Noriko herself. With how focused he was on Garret, and suffering from the debilitating effects of his incredible blood loss, there was little chance of him noticing Norikos attack. In fact, not even Garret had noticed it. The impact should have shocked Adrastos a little, loosening his grip just enough for Garret to suddenly take in a huge breath of air. His vision finally became clear again, and he was able to see Noriko looking down at him. Her small lips pulled back into a smile, that smile causing the anger to grow within him. Out of everything he could have seen when his vision came back, it had to be that damn smile.

She traded words with him, but right now Garret didn't care. Her words continued to ring in his ears as he focused. He needed a way out. Life Drain wasn't going to work right now, as he needed a clear point of entry or a solid level of contact to allow his Bakkoto to steal away Adrastos life energies. Garret didn't have either of those, but he did have this massive beast holding him. Holding a good portion of his body. It was a reckless idea, one that was going to have consequences whether or not it worked or not. Reaching into himself he gripped a hold of his own life energy, grabbing onto the very flames of his anger, and pulled them to the surface. Only Noriko, with her 400 Energy Sensory, would be able to see them. The same flames that Garret had used against her once before. The Vita Sollertia technique, Soul Burn.

Generally only applicable to a hand or a weapon, Garret had displayed his mastery over this technique once before by firing off a shockwave covered in this flames. It only worked at short distances, but it did show that Garret was able to use this technique in a few ways different than its intended purpose. This time? This time Garret was activating this technique on every part of his body that was in direct contact with Adrastos skin. So what happened? Garret had used the strongest possible level of Soul Burn he was able to call up, summoning the very flames of his rage and hatred into an invisible heat that brought extreme levels of pain to both himself and physical damage to Adrastos.

"Get...off...of...me!!" Garret roared as his body was consumed in these, normally, invisible flames. Utilizing the Class 2 version of this technique, the very instant these invisible flames manifested themselves Adrastos was struck with third degree burns. Every point of contact of Adrastos hand touching Garret had been burnt. Every layer of skin, right down to the bone, the nerves, and even the muscles were burned away by his technique. Flex defense would not block this, as flexing could not stop the extreme levels of heat. Adrastos, though, was not the only one hurt by this technique however.

Using this technique caused muscle damage to the user. Normally it would only be inflicted to a single arm using this technique, but Garret had used this technique across a large portion of his body. The pain he was feeling was immense, enough that the yell he was making was not just one of anger and determination, but hints of pain had been mixed in to. Adrastos had a choice now. He could either let go to save what remained of his hand, though the damage to the muscles inside meant that his grip was going to loosen either way, or he could remain in contact with Garret, defiantly ignoring the damage to carry on through with trying to crush Garret. But doing so would have a new consequence. Remaining contact with Garret would mean those third degree burns would worsen, turning into fourth degree burns very very quicky.

There was also something wrong. Garret had noticed it a few moments after Noriko had spoke. Something was wrong in the air. As Garret continued his Soul Burn, seeing if Adrastos had released his grip or not, Garret could feel the other stirring. It wasn't like when he had used Life Force. Something was wrong. He was feeling a pull, but not towards Adrastos but towards something else. Garret hadn't noticed Norikos release, the swordsman so focused on trying to escape from Adrastos grip. But, if the Hollow did release Garret, or loosen his grip enough, the swordsman would quickly use a Shunpo to gain some distance from the monster. He would have came to a rolling stop, instead of being on his feet. His massive sword would be planted into the earth, the Rogue having to lean against it rather heavily to keep himself from toppling over. Thick beads of sweat, mixed with dirt and blood, came rolling off his face and dripping from his chin. He was exhausted.

Fighting Adrastos wasn't like fighting normal Hollows. Garret had been required to use nearly his entire technique arsenal against him. This fight had been far more demanding that nearly any other night Garret had gone through before. The swordsmans eye was raised back up, looking at the Hollow before moving over and seeing Noriko...at least what she had become. So that's what it had been. The pressure he had felt amidst his Soul Burn. She had released. Her form now different, Garret remained there, leaning against his weapon as he pushed himself up, though not fully, as he glared at the Arrancar. It wasn't looking good for him, that was for sure. Adrastos was in a bad state, nobody was denying that, but Garret wasn't much better. Sure, he may not have been as hurt as Adrastos, but he was probably just as exhausted.

But Noriko? She had been taking a back seat this entire fight. She was still at one hundred percent. If he was going to look at this like a numbers game, then Garret had to be at less than thirty percent of his stamina levels. But he had to try. He couldn't let Noriko go, not this time, he couldn't let her even attempt to complete her goal. An empire of Hollows was not something that Garret could stand to see. He would fight till the end to make sure it did not happen. "You...should already know that your release won't work...against me." Garret said, trying his best to keep from having his pants break his sentences. "I know how...to beat your poison. I still have more...than enough reiatsu to outlast your release..." While true, he couldn't help but wonder if his own body could last that long.

Remaining Reiatsu: 4375 / 4500
-50 for Shunpo

Life Force: 3200 / 4500
-400 for Class 2 Soul Burn
-150 for Damage x 1.5

[Adrastos]

How much more interference could there have been before the Beast King could savor his meal, or his fight? The two individuals were trading glares for a time. Garret had been ensnared within the talons of the Adjuchas and pressed against the ground. Through all his efforts and struggle the beast managed to pin the worthless human down and was by all means crushing him. His strength was considerable but insufficient to deal against the beast's own might. He could feel man's internal structure giving in bit by bit with the amount of time that pressure was being applied. During the encounter Garret had been on top with his ability to guard against the monster's brute strength, but with this method his guard meant nothing.

The Adjuchas suffered from numerous lacerations, puncture wounds, and a drained body, and yet he showed he could stand against two foes whose power were more than likely above his own. They surpassed nearly all his current capabilities, but in terms of physical strength, he surpassed them both. That very strength currently kept his body going and limiting the amount of blood loss. That only lasted for some time before the effects kicked in. His vision was the first to blur. His lack of focus gave way while the pool of blood continued to leaked through the broken fragments of teeth from his lips. Only his rage for the small human kept his will and strength constant.

Adrastos remained vigilant with his attempts at crushing the small man in his grip, at least until the Kitsune decided to ruin it. An immense of kinetic pressure was applied against his side, more around the sword wound that the man inflicted upon him. This only caused the beast to sway to the side with a loud gasp spewing from his lips. His grip lessened to that of one hand on his target as the recoil from the blow settled in. He felt something in his side giving into the blunt strike, most likely a few ribs broken from being unguarded. The cowardly Fox struck him while his attention was diverted and as such he was paying the price. If only that was his only concern as his hand burned. Once more did his attention shift back to the Rogue to only witness his body was set a blaze. His dominant rigth hand charred and broiled beneath the insuring abnormal flame. He had no choice but to release the man before further damage could be done.

Adrastos had no choice but to throw the man off to the side as he regained his footing and position on the battlefield. Looking at his hand now he saw the amount of damage that the flame had done to him. He had to admit that he was awestruck when seeing chunks of muscle and flesh simply peeling off the digits of his fingers made him sick. But not ceasing his will to fight. This meant that his right hand was utterly useless as the numbness over took the functioning of his dominant hand. It simply went limp while he wrestled himself back up from the blood loss. He snapped back to attention to face the coward to struck him at least until the air thickened and pulled back.

A flash of light engulfed the area before it darkened, but that wasn't what alarmed him. The sensation of something more insidious came about from it. An aura which the tyrant was uniquely familiar with spending his lively hood in Hueco Mundo. This was the aura that can only be produced from a release. An Arrancar's release. Noriko was undergoing her transformation into her perfected form. Noriko was going to go all out now, something that the beast would have enjoyed very much. But how much longer could he continue fighting. His blood loss was to be the very thing that would take him down. The lacerations and stab wounds could be dealt with easily, but the creature lacked loss tolerance, so his body did show the obvious signs of fatigue and exhaustion.

The bulk of his body lowered, nearly clinging to the ground. Little much he could due in his condition, but the very nature of a Spartan continued to rage within his spirit. A single hand allowed him to balance his weight as he prepared himself to lung at his new foe. The shroud of reiatsu finally ceased and unveiled the new form that the Noriko took on. Nine tails in perfect view. The pale exterior of her appearance with embers of reiatsu spewing form her arms like fire. Finally, a foe worthy of fighting. While the man was capable of meeting the beast's demand of a good fight, he relied heavily on tricks to win. Adrastos had no need for such tricks. He was no coward nor a deviant to use such methods for victory. Adrastos by all means is a warrior, and he shall conquer those that stand before him. Adrastos is King.

A single rage induced howl erupt from the depths of the creature's bowels before he came charging. His target, Noriko.

[Noriko 'Asuka"]

OOC- Sry for the long wait you guys, busy busy busy lol. But now lets get back into it.

IC-


In and out. Her presence waivered from between worlds. The realm of the living in which she currently resides in. And yet, her figure continued to blur from the human realm back to the void in which she lived in for some time. It is within her release that her body abruptly dissipates between the two along with her presence. Her existence wielding to nether world as her body fades in and out from the two's sights. With their senses below 300 her own figure was near translucent if not obscured by the flickering of the dissipating embers that sparked into the night sky. Yet, she remained felt by their energy sensory. If it had not been for their sensory then she might as well not even exist in the world. She smiled at the human that gazed up upon her full release, her true form.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Yes, it's cheesy...}

He spoke to express their past encounter, that awful experience in which Noriko had to endure from the shadows. But not anymore. "So you say Garret, but remember this... She heard the Adjuchas coming from behind in a induced berserkers charge. His earth pounding steps made no mistake as to what his intentions were when his bloodied lips tore open when nearing her person. ".. that was when you were facing a fragmented Arrancar. This time.." The difference in their speeds was more than simply marginal when the Kitsune slide below the creature's jaw and through his legs. A moment was taken to uppercut the lower lip to insure that she was capable to sliding beneath his powerful jaws. A second later is what would come as a surprise.

She knew more than anyone what Adrastos was capable of, and being caught by him was a death sentence as Garret found out. Despite the damages that the beast suffered he continued to charge with little remorse for those around him and his own well being. By all means he was the perfect guardian. However. A single thrust kick to the shin was all that was required to cause the creature to lose his balance. Regardless of how much training one did there were certain areas of the body that were more sensitive than others. The shin was one of those areas. Perhaps not exactly to the effect that she would want but would suffice as to what she desired to happen next. Because of that she only required him to stubble for but a moment to take a firm hold to his tail. The next sight was something that could fill the human's sight with a few hundred pounds of muscle being swung at him.

"...this time you face a complete Arrancar!" she cried out with absolute glee written all over her face. She was actually going to use Adrastos' body as a blunt object to strike out at the human. Her nails dug into the ground as the beast definitely carried her some feet forward, but with the short stumble gave Noriko the leverage to whip his body to the side and off his feet. At least for a single wide swing to the side, or more precisely to Garret's right side. Wouldn't much to her what Garret did next. Such a feat took her entire physical strength of 600 to lift such a massive body and swing it fluidly against the Rogue's small body. But that wasn't the end as the Kitsune entered into a soundless step, Sonido. A single step was all that was necessary to really place her over the two as she used her technique to push off the ground and off of the flying beast.

Once above Garret will have a taste of what her power was capable of. With her freedom came changes to her overall being. It wasn't just her physical appearances that became altered, but her very nature itself. "If you think you know it all, then brace yourself Garret. Síndrome de Pesadilla." she laughs. With her release came a field of influence that covers a 50 ft range. A field that consisted of Noriko's own reiatsu that took on the form of Black Matter, a substance that is invisible to the naked eye, and just so happens that both Adrastos and Garret are within the field. Síndrome de Pesadilla, a newly formed technique that emerged with her release, a technique that could only work in her field of influence. With its name muttered a single black spot tore open beneath Garret's footing, unleashing the small pack of four arms.

Their ominous slender pale figures shot forth from the pitch black void that had been created. Their small fingers crept up to tangle themselves around the heels of the man as well as his arms. To his surprise that their slender digits were strong, each one wielding 600 physical strength, but not compared to what the man wielded. He could easily break away if he could muster the strength of their influence. On a physical stand point Garret was more than capable, however, the nightmares and wails that came with each other those hands was more psychological than anything else. To how the man dealt with it was entirely up to him, however, in his current predicament he had to deal with the arms and with a large Adjuchas being thrown to him. Though, the largest threat came from above with the Kitsune swinging from the large branches above, peering down below from above.

Her strands of black hair nearly visible to the eyes danced along with the chilled wind with sneering azure eyes looking downward. Noriko couldn't help but be pleased with all that goes on below. Though everything had been fruitful to her she still couldn't help but feel hungry. That unsettling grumble down in her bowls only encouraged such actions to be taken as a secondary step was taken down below behind the man. The odor of sweat and blood enticing those instincts to reawaken, or rather, someone's appetite to re-emerge. She wasn't all gone, as her hunger remained behind. Thus, the pair of fangs sprouted from her dentures as she came close behind the man. More like a pounce onto his shoulders, just for a quick bite to eat. Although, it wasn't just a simple bite, but cannibalization.



Remaining Reiatsu: 570/1870 : - 100 Síndrome de Pesadilla {Nightmare Syndrome} x1, - 200 Sonido x2, - 100 Cannibalization x1.

Ressurrecion: 2/8

Transfer 20 LA(Light Aura) To DA(Dark Aura): Adrastos, Garret.
(From being within the 50 ft Area of Effect of Release)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Techniques}

Technique Name: [Cannibalization]

Class: [4]

Technique Type (Kido, Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other): [Hollow/Arrancar]

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

Technique Element: [Darkness]

Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect):

Bearing your fangs and having them sink into the flesh of one of your own kind, what form of taboo could this possibly be? Hungering for the flesh of another is more than a crime but down right labeling yourself as a monster that should be shunned by all. Well, in the perspective of the one feeding it is not all that bad. Rather than feasting on the flesh of others Cannibalization feeds on another individual's strength. Sinking in the teeth the user is capable of tearing away the stamina away from the body of their victims to create a pool of reserved stamina pool of 3 posts while leaving a numbing sensation at the targeted area. When applying the necessary reiatsu, the user develops sharpened fangs that are altered by the flow of reiatsu that courses through the body and which conducts a suction motion when puncturing the target's body.

A pool of stamina is gained each time a successful use of cannibalization is used on an individual. Rather than reiatsu being taken away, stamina has its own merits to it allowing a constant use of high Class Techs, such as Class 1 - 2, without suffering the fatigue that would come with it. The bite itself only lasts as long as a regular bite that lasts a single post.



How to use technique (How is it activated?):

A cost of 100 reiatsu is necessary to produce the fangs to allow the technique to work, and requires a full bite for the technique to work.


Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc)

Obviously the technique does have its requirements, such as physical contact is needed with reiatsu strength equal or greater than the target.

Secondly is the built up fatigue that settles in after the 3 posts of stamina are done. When using techs of Classes 1 - 2 causes a certain degree of fatigue, however, with Cannibalization it represses those instances of fatigue, which only builds up and plagues the user once the pool ends after 3 posts.

The third drawback is the restriction of using techniques that are Classes 1 - 2 for a duration of 2 posts.


Incantation and Effect:

None.

Made By: Twins/Shinzui

Reserved? (Yes/No) (Can others use your technique, or just your character?): [Yes, and can be taught to others.]


Síndrome de Pesadilla {Nightmare Syndrome}

Those that beckon to the living from the void, they call and seek out those who have grieved and have known despair. And will conjure the despair that lingers within them. Their attraction to those with Dark Aura is unequaled and follow the will of Noriko. Phantoms are what they are. Arms that rip from the Dark Matter that is emitted from the woman's body to reveal the hidden darkness within those that they touch, and bind them in a near suspended animation. Black holes rip from where ever Noriko rests her eyes on for the hordes of arms to emerge from. Their glowing pale white arms spring forth at the same speed as their Master and can expand up to 35 feet in length. Their cold touch pulling the darkest of memories deep within the soul to the surface, causing 25 points of Dark Aura to be gained, if not transferred from Light to Dark when contact is made with each arm.

Each black spot capable of sprouting four arms, and each spot costs 100 reiatsu to creaye, which can go up to four spots total. However, what are these arms exactly? They are the manifestation to the tortured souls that Noriko has devoured and linger within the void. They call for more, and yet, never cease to stop until their Master will's them too. Each of their individual hands capable of mustering the same physical strength as Noriko. Yet, the arms alone are not their truest form. For the cost of 300 reiatsu Noriko can cease all activity of the arms to have four wretched souls appear. Four beautiful but damned souls to emerge from her shadow and take on her form. But they are not Noriko while at the same time they are.

Beings which have been enslaved and do the bidding of their Master take on her form with Classes 2 less than her current one.

Example: Noriko is Class 1, Phantoms Class 3.

[Physical Strength] 200 *[25] 250
[Speed] 150
[Spiritual Pressure] N\A
[Reiatsu Strength] 200 * [25] 250
[Senses] 50
[Instinct] 100 * [25] 75
[Energy Sensory] 0 * [25] 0
[Healing Expertise] 0

Their strength (stats) are untrained and sloppy, unable to wield the same powers as their Master is capable of. Such fragile souls they are. With only a single hit they are vanquished. But it does not matter, for they will return to the darkness from whence they came, and shall remain until they are called upon again. That is the power of Nightmare Syndrome. The manifestation of Phantoms. The manifestation of those whom she -loves-.


Drawbacks/Weaknesses

There are several degrees that this technique can be used but both stages do have their particular functions and limitations, and of course weaknesses. While using such a technique Noriko does become quite exhausted when using the maximum number of phantoms, regardless of form they take on (Arms or fully formed). The amount of stamina that it takes to actually Will each of them will reduce her overall movement by half during the next post if she goes beyond 3 Phantom summonings. (Does not effect the rate of how she perceive things.) The first version of the Phantoms, the Arms, are non-lethal to an extent. This means that they can not wield weapons, use spells, or techniques of any kind. Not only that they are incapable of such things, but they have limited reach of 35 feet from where they were summoned. And while their gripping power his the same as Noriko's own physical strength, their overall material is equaled to her Reiatsu Strength.

These Phantoms can cause injuries, but never able to end a living individual's life. Inanimate objects can be destroyed by these hands, such as reiatsu walls, and physical objects. For the arms a superior Physical/Reiatsu Strength can tear through them, and the same can be said about the Full Formed Phantoms. Now these girls are extremely sensitive to direct contact. A single blow will cause them to vanish. While possessing physical forms they can touch and crush, but like The Arms, they are not able to use any form of techniques and are 2 Classes below Noriko at all times. Their own stats are considered to be untrained Freak Types (Rank 1).

But the biggest flaw is when Noriko reaches 15% of reiatsu left, as the Fully Formed Phantoms will turn on their Master. They will fight until Noriko Wills them away, or until they are destroyed. Overall, the technique is dangerous but flawed, and does come at its own risks to both the enemy and to the user. Though the alteration from Light to Dark (or adding on to Dark Aura) from contact can be cured with 100 reiatsu for 10 points, if nothing is done then the change in Aura will last until the thread is over.

[RayginX]

His breathing was rough, gasps of air being pulled in and pushed out from his mouth. It wasn't that he wasn't used to fighting, in fact it was the exact opposite, but what had been draining his endurance up to this point was the combined usage of so many of his Vita Sollertias. These particular techniques, the Vita Sollertia sets, were techniques that utilized Life Force rather than reiatsu. Draining ones Life Force, of course, carried with it numerous negative effects. One of which was the increased rate of stamina depletion. Garret was losing his bodies physical energies at a rate of five times that of a normal, reiatsu using, technique. It was what had pushed him to the this state of exhaustion, along with the battle that was raging around him at this time. He was being pushed to his limits against Adrastos, while Noriko had barely even begun to fight.

Soul Burn had also done its damage to Garrets body, causing a wave of pain to course through the mans body each and every time he breathed. The injury to his body, the bruises and cuts across his body, Garret was hurting. There was no denying this. But even so. Even with all the pain he was experiencing, never once did the thought of defeat or surrender rear themselves in his head. Nothing about this was new to him. Fighting in these desperate conditions, where all the card were against him, was nothing new. He was comfortable being uncomfortable. The man clenched his jaws together, narrowing his gaze as Adrastos had begun to charge again. But this time, instead of targeting the Rogue swordsman he instead went after his own ally again.

This beast was the perfect example why Norikos dream was nothing but foolishness. Hollows could not be controlled. Any opportunity they got they would strike, eager to satisfy their own hunger by consuming the closest thing to them. They were uncontrollable. An empire of this things would amount to nothing more than a sea of blood and corpses, something that Garret would never allow happen. Noriko had begun to speak again, their eyes crossing together once again as she spoke. Garret blinked as she begun to attack Adrastos, moving beneath his jaws to strike at his shins. What was she planning? Garret lifted his sword, holding it out before him in preparation to either attack, defend, or move.

Norikos tactic was to use the lumbering beast as a unwilling, living, mace. Garrets single eye widened a bit as he watched this for a moment, seeing from the way Norikos body had begun to move as to give him a indicator to how she was going to swing the beast. "...this time you face a complete Arrancar!" she cried out as she launched Adrastos at the man, whom responded by using his physical strength to launch himself into the air, over and above the thrown dinosaur. Both would hit the ground, one after the other, Adrastos being the first with his heavy landing after being thrown and Garret landing after his jump. A simple attack like that couldn't have been all the woman had been planning. No, something like that? Something like that was too easily avoided.

He noticed that Noriko was gone, having lost sight of her from being focused on dodging the thrown Adjucha. "If you think you know it all, then brace yourself Garret. her voice came from above and behind him, prompting him to quickly turn and find her again with his gaze. He wasn't going to give her the opportunity to play anymore games with him. He was going to end this, and her, here and now. " Síndrome de Pesadilla." Garret was too slow. What Garret didn't realize was that with Norikos new rebirth came new abilities, ones unlike what he had faced before when the two last fought. When she had released he had already come under the effects of her release, the darkness inside of him being stirred and beckoned forth.

Looking down, Garret witnessed the four arms reaching up from the dark hole beneath him. He blinked, quickly pulling a bit when they grabbed onto him. He could have easily broken them, there was no denying that, but what he didn't expect was what happened when he was grabbed. Everything changed. No longer was Garret in a forest lit ablaze with flames, no longer did he see, or sense, either Noriko or Adrastos. No, he was somewhere that he had not been in a long time. Buildings surrounded him on both sides, the man stood upon a dirt paved road, wearing clothes that were not the ones he was currently wearing. The man blinked, looking down at his right hand and seeing the white spike that he was holding.

No..

He was in the Rukongai. Both of his eyes widened as he realized where and when he was. He was under the effects of Norikos Síndrome de Pesadilla, an ability that forced the darker memories inside of him to surface up from the deepest parts of him. But what was happening now was caused by this technique, the technique causing the most powerful memory that Garret possessed to rise to the surface. Panic and despair crept into the mans breathing as he dropped the object he was holding and ran. No! He wouldn't let it happen! He knew how to fight! He knew how to kill them! He wasn't going to let it happen again!

No! Not again!

He turned the corner, that same corner that haunted his nightmares. That same corner that once turned, showed him the three Hollows that had surrounded that lone woman. A scream escaped Garrets throat as he rushed forward, only for the Hollows that he had thought he had killed to pin him down from behind. It was happening again. He begged within himself for it to stop, for it not to happen. He saw her face, those blue eyes staring right at him. That arm that was reached out for him. Admist the laughs and growls, amidst the pain of that claw shoving itself into his right eye, Garret heard her speak his name. And in that instant, her form of ripped to pieces by the monsters.

Cassandra!

Noriko had lunged herself at Garret, aiming to utilize her Cannibalization technique to take a chunk out of the paralyzed man. While those arms had Garret clutched he was not moving, completely still as if his consciousness had been lost. But then that all shattered. From the man came a wave of power, like that of his shockwaves, a force of physical power that blew off of him like a great wind. Noriko would be struck sent flying back by the force. The arms that clutched him were destroyed, disintegrated by the power that was released from within him. Garret suddenly roared, the air having grown heavy from the sudden release of his Spiritual Pressure. It was as if Gravitational Pressure had been activated, weighing down on the two Hollows as Garrets rage came forth.

Music! Fuck I'm tired

He stood there, trembling, one hand raised to cover his left eye. "How dare you..." Garret hissed, the two Hollows now witnessing something happening to the fires around them. The flames closes to Garret had begun to converge around him, rising up like a wall behind the man and beginning to shape themselves. Garret ground his teeth together as he began to lose it. Norikos Ressurrecions ability was one that dragged out the darkness from within someone. Her Dark Matter would convert ones Light into Darkness, and her Síndrome de Pesadilla had assisted with this. But...what would happen if Garrets inner darkness was dragged out? The man who wore his hate, his anger and his grief on his shoulders, a man who displayed all of the negative qualities without hiding them, what more was there to drag out?

There was suddenly a new presence in the battle field. Noriko would feel it first, and immediately recognize what she was feeling. Adrastos would feel it a few moments later, his lower levels of Energy Sensory not being as keen as Norikos, but he too would recognize it. The hatred, the hunger, the anger, the hate. Both would recognize what they were sensing but for different reasons. Noriko had faced it before, and Adrastos had felt it when Garret had used his Life Drain on him. And what they were seeing now confirmed that there was another in this battle. The flames around the Rogue had shaped themselves into an imitation of what dwelt within the man. Above his figure was a monstrosity in the flames, the fires having changed their shape to resemble the head of a hound of some sort. A hound with lightning shaped eyes.

There is no forgiveness. There is only the anger. Devour her!

"I...will not...forgive you for making...me see that again! I...am going...to kill you! Garret roared, moving his hand away from his face as he turned himself towards Noriko. She would see it, how his left eye had been consumed by blackness. A dark coloring had replaced the whiteness of his eyes, right before the man was consumed within his reiatsu. Reiatsu of a crimson color, as the flames that surrounded the man was suddenly pulled into the reiatsu, swirling and twisting together. Noriko would understand what was happening, and would no doubt raise her guard. She would remember what had happened last time this happened.

I won't let her get away. I won't let her go. I won't stop until she is dead! Her and every single other like her! I will kill them. I will kill them all!

No longer will I be restrained. The chains have been shattered! No longer am I suppressed! I will run, ravage, and kill! I will feed! I! Am! Free!

Both Hollows would have heard that last line from within their heads, as the flames that encassed the swordsman were suddenly blown away from a howl released from within. The roar was loud, and carried with it the mans power and hatred. Both would be buffeted by the strong winds being released from that roar. A roar that contained the man and the Beast. Garret was different now. His form was no longer the same. The man had become encased in a suit of black armor, one of monstrous design. Its design was like that of a hound, jagged and sharp, with a torn black cape flowing behind it. Two lightning shaped eye sockets glowed with the same crimson color as Garrets reiatsu. The suit trembled, the armor rattling, before he leaned forward and released another roar at the Kitsune, a shockwave being released around him as a result, blowing away the earth.

Garrets Release, his Bakkoto, had been unleashed. The monster roared, vanishing from sight as it utilized a Shunpo to suddenly appear above Noriko in the air. The rage in its screams were evident, as it swung Garrets sword downwards at her, releasing a shockwave packing his complete power. The slash would strike at the earth, shattering it and causing an explosion of ground and debris. The armor was in control now. The Bakkoto had taken over Garret. The grief, anger, and hatred that resulted from his bearing witness to Cassandras murder again had caused him to lose control. The Hound had ceased the opportunity to shatter the chains that Garret held to keep the monster from possessing him. It was now free. It was free to fight, to kill, and to feed.

Release Duration: 1 / 3

Remaining Reiatsu: 4425 / 4500
-50 for Shunpo
-200 for Release to Level 2
+300 for for Level 5 ability

[Adrastos]

Did his eyes fail him, or was it that the woman issued some curse onto him? Every inch he drew closer to the Kitsune, however, from moment to moment her body blurred as though her very figure ceased to exist from the world around them. Each time his thunderous steps took hold of the ground Noriko's body vanished from his sights. His Energy Sensory alone told him that she remained within the area, if not for that then she'd have been nonexistent to him. Her presence faded in and out of reality when he came down on top of her. Yet, his fangs found nothing but empty space, along with a blunt force coming up against his lower jaw line.

Though not as strong as he thought it would be it definitely did do what it sought out to accomplish. Before he knew it another blunt strike was felt, this time against the surface of his shin. Despite his legs being as powerful as they are, in his current condition and task he found himself unable to react to someone being smaller and quicker than he was. He stumbled for just a moment, before feeling the Earth beneath him vanish. Was it misplaced? Was he flying? Neither one or actually both. For a brief moment did he feel the sensation of being weightless, that was the surprise. The next thing that came to mind was that he wasn't really flying. A being such as him could never achieve such a feat, at least for the time being, and yet, his attention was more keen on the fact that a warmth sensation gripped his rear, or tail in other words.

The cursed fox was wielding him like a tool, a weapon. Adrastos found himself being twirled around like some child's plaything. What an insult. Nerve wracking even. What added further insult to his shame was the fact that he couldn't really do anything. Nothing to grip as his side skids across the dirt and his arms ability to move on their own was reduced to 50 percent if anything else. One arm scorched down to the bone while suffering from numerous puncture wounds. The beast only pondered as to how much more can his body take before ceasing function. His shame seemed to have last forever, at least until the warmth left his tail for the tyrant lizard to find himself being thrown.

He didn't feel anything else. No trees nor obstacles, instead, he felt several flashes of reiatsu incline on his sensory capability. It alarmed the helpless beast of what was transpiring around him. Dully noted that he could do very little until his hulking body came crashing down to the floor. A quick shockwave echoed into the Earth when he came down to land. Abruptly to be honest. With shards of flesh and bone that was left behind along with his landing. Talons dug in deep to halt his constant grinding then reclined his head to discover what had been happening during his small venture.

Both the Arrancar and human continued to face each other in their little scuffle. The two mocked and trade blows with one another. At least until the human spout further nonsense before a wave of reiatsu shot forth from his beaten body. The ground beneath shook for an instant then calmed. And from that shockwave did some metallic chassis began to sprout out from his body to envelope him. A bestial cry emerged from that metallic form, one that would normally come from an animal. Much like from a Hollow.

The man's final words filled the thoughts of the tyrant lizard before falling silent. The new form had been complete, and now, a new presence had taken over Garret's place. A human no more, but instead a beast like him. Finally, a worthy foe. Just as the battle was beginning to bore the King of Beasts, his lust for combat, for a beautiful death, now rekindled. That old Spartans drive to continuously seek out more powerful foes ever craved for combat. A secondary shock wave ran rampant against his body, shaking the layers of fat and muscle that lies beneath the surface of the beast. The man was now a Hound. A Hound, a Fox, and a Tyrant lizard. This was going to be a battle between beasts. What could be a better scenario that this?

Adrastos clawed his way back to his feet. The large body a bloody mess, but not something that he didn't enjoy. It seemed as though every wound on his body was nonexistent despite the amount of blood that he lost. His body staggered some when he placed his feet under his body looking up at the two. The Hound vanished from his sights, soon to be discovered hovering above the ground to face down the Fox that stood below. Only the King of Beasts remained some distance away, 25 feet to be exact. By no means did Adrastos would find himself out of the fray. His pride wouldn't allow such a thing. To add on, the man's reiatsu spurt forth. He has been fighting against the Hound for a long while already, more than capable to recognize something was coming. He did not know what, but the sense of being left out of the fight was far more important to him. Besides, the Fox was his.

A powerful gust of air pierced through the cracked lips of Adrastos to fill his lungs. The immense pressure gathered into the core of the beast surged as his sore ribs and muscles pushed against it. Two forces warred against each other within himself. At least for a moment before the beast tore open his mouth. Was at this time did the Hound swung, releasing his fury to the woman. Was at this time that his Burst Stream erupted from the depths of his core. Perhaps it may have not made it in time to intercept the shockwave that came from the Hound, if not than surely it came to clash against its raging edge toward the Hound.

No matter as his primary target was the Hound. Then, the similar beats of thunder came when the beast came charging once more. The heavy beaten snout dusting the ground and battered trees with another howl, one to match the Hound. If the Hound remained in the air, then his armored being was to be met with jagged gums and remaining fangs of the Tyrannosaurus. He'd meet the cutback once more like before. His present wounds that already riddled the creature's mouth would be reopened if not deepened. Nonetheless, the beast wanted to know what a metal Hound would taste like. Crushing his metallic hid between his jaws. "Adrastos, DESTROY!"


Remaining Reiatsu : 100/1000 : -200 Burst Stream x1

[Noriko 'Asuka"]

Finally, it arrived. The beast that hid within the depths of Garret's soul had emerged onto the scene. It's howl echoing through the mountain terrain. Through the barks of trees and sheering flames that ran rampant around the three creatures, the beast within man surfaced. The very scene brought a smile to her face when being able to feel a familiar presence. The dancing of flames that engulfed the man moments before transforming his weakened body was a sight to see. But more to it, the measure of damage it will cause him by wearing it.

From their last encounter Garret continued to fight with the aid of the armor. He would suffer blow after blow and continue to run rampant against the twins and her. Under the circumstances she was at odds with herself and in placed into a dire situation because of those two. However, what she did manage to discover was that the armor had been hurting him as much as she was causing him. His body fidget and moved as though something was impeding him, as if he was being held together by something. If that was the case, she wondered how far did those abilities were capable of helping him, or more, how long were they able to help him before his body broke down completely? This was going to be fun.

Those venom filled words bounced in the back of her mind when the transformation was complete. He allowed this new presence to take over and fuel him with the unrelenting rage the dwell within. Much like Adrastos, Garret at this point had little sense let alone computational skills. Perhaps a few of those brain cells remained, but none to really allow him to keep his own safety a priority. That fox's tongue whipped along the ridge of her lips. The blast moments before did catch the Arrancar off guard, but his speaking and threatening was all to obvious as he spouted such nonsense before hand. Beyond all reason and remorse the man was nothing more than an animal. And to such regards, predictable.

In the course of their fight Garret displayed the same tactics over and over again. He knew that his own capabilities fall short to her own. As such he bolstered those weak points in order match pace with the Kitsune. Of course they only last for but a moment, then shortly returning the man to the reality that he couldn't keep up with her. For Noriko on the other hand....

The new arrival wasted little time to act on its passions. From the ground it took to the air with little effort, Shunpo if anything. Then, a familiar sensation peaked her attention toward its position. She already knew what was coming from the countless other instances that he applied it. The rush of reiatsu that surged through its body indicated a technique was coming. Bands of metal and muscle tethered back, positioning itself for a single swing. Her attention was captivated by the metal being's action that she almost didn't take notice to a secondary howl erupting from behind her. She knew of this one as well. One of Adrastos' techniques.

An erupting stream of pure vocal and lung power that was compressed by the creature's body, then to be utilized as a stream of pure force. The funny thing was that it required little to no reiatsu to muster out either. That same force stream was fired past her rather than toward her, seemingly that Adrastos didn't like to left out of the loop. His hunger for war and against those that belittle him she found to be nearly unrivaled if not matched by Garret's own distaste for Hollows. Both are nuisances but useful in their own ways. However, the time now wasn't meant to be used to contemplate, but rather act. Noriko was too damn excited to simply leave things be, besides from that, she still had to show Garret what she meant about her dreamm. To show what it meant to be loved. In the words of her Segunda, "..Know despair." she snickered.

Her smile everlasting, even grew when she found the Hound's technique being applied. Was at the moment that his technique was put to use did the Kitsune move about. No stepping technique was required to really avoid the shockwave, because the debris that the initial impact created really didn't faze the Arrancar as her tails bundled together to shield her backside. Garret's body may have been nearly invincible and everlasting, but his stamina itself was an entirely different factor. No mistaking that the Hound's effort would go to waste, especially if the Adjuchas' technique went through to collide with him. All the more better for her.

Just as she was about to move even further a thought came to mind. Why not pit beast against beast? That meant reaching back into her own soul to bring out the one that held more anger than she did, at least, for this particular individual. "Come on out my dear. There is someone I would like for you to see once more. An opportunity if you will." That was the funny thing about despair, there was more than one way to cause it, to inflict it onto others. And for that, Noriko was going to utilize everything she had in her arsenal. And with that, she would allow a single wish to be granted for "caring" for her body while she was away.

The Burst stream howled forth, and behind it was Noriko. Adrastos would have given the woman some time to adjust her heading to face off against the metal being, to have her fist mashed into its face plate from beneath. After avoiding the creatures shockwave did Noriko follow up on Adrastos' technique. From the Hound's stand point Noriko's fist would be found smashing down on its scalp. From down below the Kitsune's body was launched into the air to place her behind the metal figure, only then did her enclosed hand came down on its head like a club. Whether or not did the bestial man would come crashing down to the ground he could hear her voice. "You took my sister from me. The one person who could ever understand me." Her voice should have been familiar to the repressed human spirit as it was she who he wronged.

Those azure eyes peered at the chrome being with absolute disgust for the one she saw. Narrowed and full of hate did she spent the moment expressing her anger. She loathed the man, "You tore my happiness apart, so now, I'm going to tear you apart." She repelled back as her tail latched on to a nearby tree. The Arrancar had her sights on the man, or what use to be a man, but now, it was rage against rage. However, who desired it more? "That's right. Know despair."


Remaining Reiatsu: 570/1870

Ressurrecion: 3/8

Transfer 20 LA(Light Aura) To DA(Dark Aura): Adrastos, Garret.
(If within the 50 ft Area of Effect of Release)

[RayginX]

SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC} Sorry for the wait guys X.X been busy with some IRL shizzle like getting approved for an apartment

[smear:F62817] Everything....I...I![/smear:810541]

His mind, and identity, was completely consumed by the beast within him. The armor was in control now, absolute control. His attack clashed against the Burst Stream released from the Hollow, Adrastos, catching the Hounds attention and drawing it away from Noriko. The explosion of both physical force attacks deafened the battlefield but did little to distract the berserker. Those flaming eye sockets remained locked on the approaching Burst Stream, the armor terminating the airground it stood upon to allow gravity, and the combined weight of Garrets body, sword, and armor to assist its descent to the earth below. The air wave passed overhead, and the beast let out a roar at the charging Adrastos, as its descent was halted by the recreation of new airground.

The charging Adjucha would have no idea what it was the Hound was preparing. The Armor had complete control of Garrets body. During the battle with Noriko, when she called herself Shinzui, the Bakkoto had shown itself more than capable of dipping into the arsenal of techniques that Garret had learnt. It had performed Shunpo, which wasn't much of a surprise, but it had shown itself able to use Vita Sollertia: Soul Burn. So what it was doing now wasn't too farfetched. The Armor stepped forward, leaned forward, and roared. And with that roar came a sudden pain along the left side of Adrastos's head.

A great pain would tear itself along the length of his head and mask, slashing through the top portion of his jaw and slashing through his left eye. The Armor suddenly appeared, coming out of the Step Technique it had just used, sliding against the ground as it came to a stop. Fresh blood dripped off of the greatsword it held in its hand, the Beast turning itself to face towards Adrastos once more. What had happened? The Armor had tapped into the Soul Steps Vita Sollertia before the stance expired. Soul Steps could be used for a number of minutes (four posts) after its initial activation, though after this usability period the technique would require some time to recharge itself.

So the Armor, completely aware of whatever effects Garrets reiatsu currently had active, had decided to use Soul Steps before it expired to catch Adrastos off guard with a sudden surprise Step Technique attack. All Adrastos would have seen was the armor clad swordsman stepping forward and roaring. The Hollow would no idea that there was a surprise attack coming. After all, why would he? Neither of these Hollows understood the finer mechanics of Soul Steps. Neither of them knew that this technique cost Life Force, all they would know was that Garret was suddenly creating a doppleganger left behind by his Step Technique. Noriko might have had some understanding that even in this state Garret was still capable of using techniques, but Adrastos wouldn't.

[smear:F62817] All...of it...everything![/smear:810541]


Another earth shattering roar erupted from the helmet of the armor, it stepping forward in preparation to engage with Adrastos yet again, but then something happened. The armor suddenly swung backwards, its arm vanishing with the use of a Shunpo Karin, turning its form as it did so and slamming that armored limb right into the side of Norikos torso. A satisfying cracking sound would be heard before the Kitsune would be sent flying through the air, following the swing direction of Garrets arm. The Fox had underestimated it. What neither of them knew were the full extents of this releases power. Neither of them knew that the armor had a extended range of awareness. Six and a half feet out and around him. Noriko, who had tried to get in close to perform a sneak attack smash on the helmet, had gotten too close.

That blow to Noriko would shatter ribs, the difference in their physical strength being enough that a full strength blow at that speeds would have done serious damage. It would have caught Noriko, who had dedicated herself to that attack fully, completely off guard. The armor turned, staring down Noriko even as the identity of the younger Arrancar came forth to profess her hatred to Garret. What, exactly, did Noriko hope to gain from this? She wasn't stupid. She should have known the futility of that action. How could she drive guilt further into the man when he wasn't even here anymore?

[smear:F62817] I will destroy everything!![/smear:810541]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Music!}

Suddenly it roared, far louder than it did before. Its form became encased in a red aura, darker red than the normal coloration of Garrets reiatsu. The air became heavy, winds wipping up around the armor as it crouched, lowering its head, its roar becoming a struggled gurgle...as if it were trying to push something out. Within the next few moments red lines began to outline themselves across the armor, covering it from head to toes. Red lines that looked, oddly, like the network of blood vessels throughout the human body. And then it came. That scream was unlike any that came before it. The shockwave that came forth would buffet the fox and Adjucha. The mist that was expelled from the armor was red in color, and had the distinct smell of both blood and body odor.

The way it moved afterward. The way it walked. Noriko would realize what had happened within a few moments. The controlled movement as it began to head in her direction, the blood and odor. The armor had, literally, expelled the exhaustion from Garrets body. Neither Noriko and Adrastos truly realized what it was they were fighting against. The ultimate battle equipment. The ultimate armor. This black suit of spiritual steel wouldn't stop. It would keep fighting until there was not a single iota of Life Force left in Garret, not until the last drop of blood had been spilt. This Bakkoto was designed to kill. It was designed to kill hordes. It was designed to survive an endless onslaught. It was like two soldiers facing a fortress alone. Noriko had wanted to cause Garret to feel despair, well now that would be turned around and inflicted onto her. Her mind games, her attacks, would not breach that armor. Even Adrastos, with his love of battle, with the Spartan within him, would realize just what they were fighting now. A screech erupted from the helmets sharpened jaw as it sprinted forward, heading right towards Noriko.

Release Duration: 2 / 3

Remaining Reiatsu: 4500 / 4500
-50 for Shunpo
-150 for Shunpo Karin
+300 for Level 5 ability

Life Force: 2850 / 4500
-100 for Soul Steps
-250 for Level 5 ability

Soul Steps has now ended and needs a 3 post recharge