Canon Z-3: Empire of Betrayal

[Zeich Yajuu]

Both sides were rallied or prepared, both groups determined to make what could be the final charge. The Shinigami, numbering few yet bearing a good deal of power, were allying behind a man of great charisma, along with his companion Captain whose light-hearted enthusiasm was enough to boost spirits. Those from Xcution were numerous, and though as individuals lacked the power of Shinigami, made up for it in numbers and equal determination. Their forces consisted of many “normal” humans, whose only weapons were those manufactured and given to them, but they also possessed units of Fullbringers who would prove invaluable support to reduce the rate of casualties. Both sides were as prepared as they could be, and soon it was time to go into the breach.

The Shinigami forces would be the first to advance, leaving through a Senkaimon. This was not a standard Senkaimon, however; rather than opening a gate to the World of the Living, it had been jury-rigged to transport the small group to an area about a quarter mile away from the entrance to the Senzaikyu Prison system. This would place them squarely amidst enemy forces, so they had to be ready from the moment they arrived. The area chosen was one that had been scouted out, behind the general tide of bodies that was pushing towards Seireitei, but there was still a large unit of about thirty Shinigami standing before the prison entrance, most of which were mid-range seated officers. Compared to their smaller unit of thirteen, the stakes were about even; if the higher-ranked individuals were able to take on several at once, they’d have to aim to protect their subordinates as well. This first clash could be tricky, especially if it cost them too much time.

Five of the units stationed before them were already in position, and the moment the attacking force came within two hundred meters of the prison entrance, five different Kido spells exploded outwards at once. A massive wave of water was the first strike, crashing across the distance as the Hado #40: Gouzen Demizu filled a large portion of the space before them. Yet before the waves struck, they froze over, a Hado #42: Amimono Shimokumo turning it into a wall of solid ice, and a moment later, that ice exploded as an unknown Kido from behind it turned it into thousands of razor-edged fragments that rained down upon the Shinigami group.

It was a brutal start, and the beginning of their skirmish; that was only three of the five spells. The last two were going off even as the party recovered from their initial assault; the ground quaked and heaved, surging up beneath them and causing footing to become dangerous as Hado #55: Hiragana erupted beneath them. Moving too quickly would cause them to stumble and fall, leaving them vulnerable to the remaining ice shards raining down as well as a wave of earthen boulders as Hado #57: Daichi no Tenyou sent more of the trembling ground towards them.

What would they do? How would they act? Would the individual Shinigami be forced to defend themselves, or would their leaders organize them to stop the oncoming blast of chaos? Only time would tell.

((OOC: Trying something interesting here, and assigning you the units to control as you choose. Of your ten units, two of them are Class 3 Kido specialists that can cast up to #85 in either Bakudo or Hado, two of them are Class 4 Kido specialists that can cast up to #70 in Bakudo or Hado, four of them are Class 4 close-range fighters, one of them is a Class 2 close-range fighter, and one is a Class 3 Kaido specialist with up to Kaido #75 available. You all can control them freely by giving them IC commands, but remember your chain of command; opposing orders will cause the most superior rank’s will to be done. Don’t worry about stats on your NPCs; assume they’re capped SP, and specialize in their appropriate stats. This is more of a cinematic clash than anything.))

---

The human world’s encounter was no less brutal, though it was not a range of powerful Kido spells working in unison that was being used to keep the attackers at bay. Instead, a more brutal and direct method was used; the front line was occupied by non-combat units, particularly women and children, who formed a living wall with their bodies, grabbing at any soldiers who tried to get by and holding them back. Many were gunned down, several were forced away by those who were strong enough to do so, and slowly a twisted pile of corpses formed in the front lines of battle. It wasn’t numbers or force that defended the human world’s Senzaikyu Prison entrance, but rather, a tide of despair that began to wash over the soldiers as they were forced to butcher those who would be considered innocents in order to get to the entrance.

Morale fell rapidly across the units, and while there were many who could harden their hearts, professionals in the arena of war, there were just as many who could not stand such wanton slaughter. Some threw down their weapons, unwilling to fight, while others turned them on their so-called allies who had less moral qualms than they did. Infighting broke out, and the battle became three-sided in sections as combat broke out between the converted, the soldiers, and the demoralized. The attacking line began to fall back, buckling under the pressure, and then started to surge forward again, only to collapse once more as more of its units either fell to a belated conversion or refused to fight. They were making no progress forward, not at this rate.

The leaders would have to take charge. How would they best deal with the line of women and children that were holding their soldiers back? And even if they dealt with them, there were still hundreds of men between them and the entrance to the Senzaikyu Prison system. It would be an ugly, bloody battle, with thousands of casualties that might have been avoided, but there was just no time; they had to make their way into the prison and deal with the leader behind this atrocity, lest the death count rack up even higher. Asmoskon, Kazura, and Shizuka would have to command or act, as well; would they direct their forces to open up a hole in the enemy lines at the cost of human lives? Would they charge through themselves, using their powers to break through the wall of living humans like tearing through paper? How much blood would be left on their hands?

The time to act was now. But were they ready for it?

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Asmoskon could hear the sounds of combat throughout the island due to his developed senses and even just after telling Cynthia what he had planned and what she should do to led the troops in his absence since he was needed to handle the leaders of this problem, he just couldn't bring himself to not keep aiding his family and those that swore to follow him. His troops especially the Quincy were some of the most loyal in all of Xcution. Not to Xcution itself, but to Asmoskon as their commanding officer.

While Satsujun ruled Xcution through power and fear Asmoskon commanded the military through loyalty. He was the one that got up early in the morning to train them all to show them how to become better so that they could protect themselves and each other. So that they wouldn't no so they couldn't be pushed around by those more powerful then themselves. If they worked together they could handle virtually anything that's what they had all been taught and right now it was time they trusted those teachings with their very lives.

While it was true that a fair amount of Xcution and the other forces were scaried and some of them were giving up hope of being able to do anything due to all of the slaughter something different was happening with Asmoskon's small division of three hundred. The amount of troops that he had managed to train personally was small in comparison to how many lives were actually on the island that much could not be denied. What also couldn't be denied was the fact that these individuals were showing that they could do more than what the others were at the moment. Asmoskon had ordered them to take up defensive positions and only do what they could to cripple the oncoming waves of hostile targets.

Already around the group of soldiers were stone walls reaching up ten feet in height while being multiple feet in thickness as well to reinforce the defense to keep the threat at bay. The Fullbringers that served under Asmoskon had been treated no differently than the Quincy being taught by him how to use their abilities to the best of his knowledge. Teaching them all what it meant to serve with oen another to become a family that could count on each other through anything in order to survive. So the holes each a foot in diamater were throguh the middle of the walls which encircled the group. This allowed for the Quincy and the distance proficient Fullbringers to attack through the walls at the hostiles. The hostiles though would be lead to enter through the gaps in the walls which would only allow for at most two possibly three individuals at a time. This is where the most powerful close combat soldiers were located so that any progression into the group could be halted.

A strategy that would allow them to hold off the hostile foes for a longer period of time than any of the other groups, but eventually they'd fail as well being overun by the sheer number of adversaries that they were facing off against on this island. The walls would eventually be crushed brought down by so many people or the bodies would pile onto of themselves giving those that kept coming enough of a boost to start getting over the walls. Asmoskon realized this and saught to make an additional to the strategy.

"Cynthia. Have the Fullbringers command the stone past the walls. Turn the stone into mud. Any that get past the walls kill immediately all of you are more important than any of them." Asmoskon had only kept his communication ear peiece on long enough to get out what he had to say and after that he turned it off once again not wishing to hear any backlash from Cynthia knowing Kazura might give him the same warm hearted opposition to his statement.

Now though the three of them had to get into the prison and to do that apparently they would have to get through this swarm of hostile humans. Asmoskon was done waiting this had to end now whether or not he had Kazura and Shizuka backing him or not he had to get in there now. "Alright we got to get into the prison. I suggest either both of you command the stone to make a bridge high enough that the hostiles can't get onto it that leads us right to the prison or Shizuka you use your ability to keep them away through fear while we make our way there. I don't think any of them would willfully try and run through lava. I'm open to anything else that either of you might have thought up, but we need to come to a decision now while the soldiers still can hold at least part of the island."

[Kazura Uzaki]

Kazura could only turn his nose up at Asmoskon's plans, but Xcution had an army and UE didn't. There was a reason for that too. Kazura was no War General. He was a pawn, however many connections he had, and he had to play nice and work together with all the involved parties if the world was going to survive, much less come out for the better in this planet shaking event. The fullbringer would speak his mind at least a little, though. "There are non-lethal options... Hopefully your fullbringers know of Soul Dominance, Asmos?"

With a step of Bringer Light, Kazura entered the midst of the battle, stopping a few meters from the wall of women and children. Arms up, the CEO commanded the oxygen out of the air that was close to the defensive line to move towards him. The Converted innocents would still be able to breathe, but every breath would be harmful rather than helpful. With no oxygen, but plenty of other gasses, they would pass out within seconds. After falling over, Kazura would release his control of the air and use Bringer Light to return to the vantage point where Shizuka and Asmoskon stood.

Given the Fullbringer's below average reiatsu strength, he wouldn't have been able to rob the air from the whole line or pierce it completely, but he at least had demonstrated a non-lethal way to pierce the line safely from a distance. If he could save even one life from Xcution's methods, it would be a success in his mind. The last few weeks had shattered his "Every Life Every Time" goal. So however he could assuage his conscience... That would just have to do, given the situation.

Remaining Reiatsu: 9,750/10,000 (-100 Bringer Light x2, -150 Soul Dominance)

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka felt her ears press flat against her head. It was an involuntary reaction to hearing things she didn't like to hear, but she couldn't help it sometimes. She did tend to have rather animal-like habits, sometimes. With this case, she wasn't feeling so great. Asmoskon and Kazura seemed so ready and willing, yet Shizuka felt rather... unprepared? That was a decent way to say it. She was thrown into her position fairly recently and still hadn't adjusted completely, causing her to feel pretty uneasy. Kazura was the CEO of his own organization and Asmoskon was important, too, so what could she possibly bring to the table? What could she do?

Asmoskon's suggestion wasn't necessarily a bad one, but it would be hard to gather enough molten rock to shed over the enemy lines. Even if she refilled her bucket and immediately dumped it over and over, she'd exhaust herself trying to throw her speed all over the place. She moves decently fast on her own, but magma cools quickly and she would run out of time. Shooting a light spray of something else might help, too, but she didn't want to risk anything too dangerous, and sprays can get picked up by the air and be redirected. She wouldn't be able to control its direction all on her own.

Once Kazura was finished demonstrating his methods, Shizuka smiled at him. That was really smart. She didn't learn Soul Dominance in the same way he did, but she could manipulate the souls around her to a decent extent without wasting Reiatsu. She wanted to follow suit, so she signaled her own party to do the same as Kazura. If someone was an enemy, they needed to pass out. Shortly after her cue, small groups of about five Fullbringers inserted themselves into battle and did what they could to copy Kazura with the skills they had. It was minor, and each person could only control so much, but it was enough. Shizuka spotted a few areas where it could be easier for the three of them to break through, so she offered her thoughts.

"Kazura, I like the initiative and the ideas. It's perfect. My people can go in and finish up, then quickly retreat out of there to save their skins. What the three of us can do is pass through, unseen, to the other side of the opposing army. I don't want to leave my team at all, but they can handle themselves. We need to get going."

Shizuka looked around herself, noticing how a lot of 'enemies' were falling. She also saw a few of the piles of corpses that were left behind from before and chose to ignore them, not wanting to face the harsh reality of their situation. It wasn't fair and she hated it, but she also wasn't as against killing as Kazura was. With a swift movement from Bringer Light, Shizuka made her way across the fields of people and lightly tapped down on air ground just before the prison. She assessed her situation and didn't seem to be in any immediate danger, which was fine, but she needed Kazura and Asmoskon to stay close.



Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 4,950 (-50 for Bringer Light)

[July Kasumi'Oji]

{OOC: I was going to wait until Bo and Rudy had posted, but I’d prefer to post for this thread now. XD I’ll be using July’s updated technique list (which includes Advanced Air Ground) as a result, if that’s ok. I’ll also be taking control of one of the Class 3 Kido specialists - and making him specialise in Hado.}

”So, Amaaaaaagai-kun, shall we depart?”

July skipped through the Senkaimon without waiting for an answer. It was a rhetorical question, sort of. Amagai shouldn’t get too hung up about it. Well, he might - seeing as July had just skipped his way into the heart of the enemy nest. But that too was ok. July was more than capable of handling himself in a fight. Sure, he might have to use his Bankai straight away - but what was wrong with that? He was a man who lived off his Release - and combat without it was quite difficult. Who could begrudge him for playing to his strengths? It was not as if someone had expressly forced him to play by the rules of social expectations - but July would take them up on the challenge, if they asked.

”Oh dear, it seems we have a problem.”

The thirty Shinigami stood blocking the entrance, and five of them had already moved to intercept them - as if they had expected their arrival. July had to admire the ingenious combinations of Kido, but he had to wonder if they were strictly necessary. Surely, in the massive arsenal of techniques that Shinigami had at their disposal, there was one that could fire icicles with slightly less… effort? They seemed to have a Kido for nearly everything else, after all. July gave a quick grin. Still though, ingenuity was to be encouraged. Thankfully, it seemed whatever method of mind control was being used left the skills of those affected intact. Fighting mindless zombies was never any fun.

”Eeeeek. Will some dashing prince come over here and help this poor Captain?”

July looked back over his shoulder, smiling at the small group behind him. While he was joking, the request was half-serious too. July lacked any techniques that would be terribly useful against an attack like this - without his release, of course. And it would be a shame to reveal all his cards so early on - he’d like to withhold certain things for dramatic effect. He took note of the two Shinigami who nodded, and skipped backwards - using Advanced Air Ground so that he could move freely without suffering the effects of that earthquake. Still though, they would have to close the distance eventually. But for now, a retreat and cover was the smartest option. Nothing wrong with being a coward now - in fact, such an opening would only make the lategame more interesting.

”Ice is cold! So surely you should just melt it? Isn’t there a Kido for that?”

July asked, half jokingly. There was a Kido for everything, right? How was he supposed to know? He was Captain of the Financial Squad, not the Kido Corps. Let that knowledge rest in the the hands of those who needed it, right? He didn’t need Kido to make and manage money. Sure, it was fun for games and such - but he preferred to use the inherent powers of his release instead. Wouldn’t some brave soul come forward and protect their Captain? He - technically - outranked everyone here, right? Amagai was a Vice-Captain (of Squad 1, admittedly, but July wasn’t going to fuss over small details like that) - and everyone else was only a seated officer. Surely they’d move in for him, right? Right?

One brave Kido specialist moved forward and raised his hand.

”Hado #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!”

The two orbs of blue flame illuminated the area, burning through the icicles in the immediate vicinity around the small group. July ducked behind the caster as the liquid water splashed on them - ensuring that he kept his hair and coat dry. Hardly behaviour fitting of a Captain - but he’d make it up to them later. However, there were still numerous problems to deal with. July jumped up, barely keeping his balance over the rumbling earthquake. He turned to Amagai, Aevus and the others, grinning wildly - in spite of their impending deaths beneath the flying rocks. Fun stuff.

”Well, well - has anyone any bright ideas?”

Reiatsu: 6375/6400: -25 for Advanced Air Ground

[Zeich Yajuu]

(OOC: I know that it's a little more difficult with six participants, but seeing as it's been over two weeks, I'm going to institute a three-day warning for the two remaining posters. The thread will move on at that point.)

[Amagai Kuchiki]

(OOC: Apologies for doing this, but I'll just pass on this round, as I'm not in a place where I will realistically be able to post)

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: As I said, I’m moving on, albeit somewhat later than I meant to. This will be the only warning post I give, however; while I won’t remove people from the thread immediately, a no-show on post without an excuse is treated as a non-action post, and the consequences will have to be dealt with. While most of them won’t be serious, repeated no-posts will stack up to leave you at a notable disadvantage.))

On the Shinigami side of things, it was a rough start. The mix of Kido left the attackers in disarray, and while a quick blast of fire negated the worst of the icicles, the fact remained that there was just too much coming at once and in quick succession. The moment that the earth jumped beneath their feet, nearly everyone was floored, too stunned to react. The rocks that had been launched in their direction thudded down among their ranks, and immediately a sickening crunch could be heard as a body was crushed underneath a massive boulder that slammed into the ground. Though the stone remained lodged in the ground, saving them from viewing the worst of the carnage, the pool of crimson blood flooding out from beneath the fallen earth was indication enough: they had lost the first of their rank.

Without organization and commands from their superiors, the party fell apart. July’s quick thinking had stopped them from being skewered by a large number of ice spears, but his words lacked a confident command, and were more that of a damsel in distress than that of a leading figure, while Amagai and Aevus’s lack of immediate action had only served to further undermine the party’s morale. The Shinigami split up at seeming random, going in their own directions and acting without working as a cohesive whole. Two Kido users were simply firing spell after spell rapidly, without consideration of how they’d work together; a Tenran extinguished a blast of Sokkatsui, while an attempt to throw a similar earthquake back at the opposing forces was interrupted as another hastily-cast spell backfired, causing it to explode in the caster’s face and ruin the other’s concentration.

A group of three swordsmen lunged forward, aiming to try and cut through the front lines so that they could reduce the suppressing line of Kido fire, but they didn’t even have a chance to get close. A powerful Bakudo #75: Gochutekan, slammed into the forerunner and pinned him to the ground, and two blasts of Soren Sokkatsui forced the other two to retreat, unable to help their ally as a Haien exploded around him, incinerating the victim to the sound of his rising screams. The smell of burning flesh and ash filled the air, the scent of boiling, hot blood rising in an acrid cloud, and when the violet flames cleared, there wasn’t even a skeleton left where the man had been a moment before.

The Shinigami forces were in disarray now, with two of their number dead. The commanding officers would have to act to reorganize their units in a hurry, and they would have to make a plan in a hurry before another line of attacks came. Time was critical, and every second risked another person lost or another moment for the enemy plan to come to completion. They couldn’t afford to hesitate now.

---

In the human world, Kazura had come up with a plan to try and reduce the fatalities, creating lines of oxygen-free air that would cause individuals to pass out and collapse. It was less directly effective than Asmoskon’s plans, which involved brutally crushing the frontrunners in choke points and walled-off areas, but unlike the Quincy leader’s orders, the CEO of Uzaki Enterprises was able to act in a way that was more befitting his desire to save as many people as he could. Yet even his good intentions came with negative consequences; even as some fell, others would move forward, trampling over bodies. Screams of pain could be heard as bones snapped under the weight of the masses, as individuals were literally trampled to death; in a way, Kazura had developed a strategy to kill the individuals more efficiently and with less energy wasted on his side. The enemy would simply crush their own.

It wasn’t a wholly ineffective bid, however; though the scenes were still gruesome, it helped restore some morale to the troops. They could see that some of the stronger fighters were trying to do their best to contain as opposed to exterminate, and as a result their heart was getting back into the battle. Anger filled some as they watched innocents be trampled underfoot, and more were spurred to act, dealing with hostiles as best as they could. Shots were aimed to cripple, not kill, hoping that the damage wouldn’t leave the victims scarred for life. But no matter what, no one could deny that the death count here in the World of the Living was staggering.

And then the worst part happened; while Kazura’s plan was a well-intentioned one, it had a fatal flaw. To move the oxygen out of the air in certain areas required it to be moved into other areas, making them far more oxygen-rich than usual. One such area happened to be occupied by a soldier whose gun was raised, and who pulled the trigger to shoot at a target. This was a fatal incident, but sadly one he could not have predicted, as the small amount of heat from his shot was enough to ignite the enriched air around him. The air literally exploded around him, incinerating the man and leaving him with severe burns, but worse, it ignited other similar pockets of oxygen-heavy air, causing a line of explosive detonations like a minefield placed on the front line of battle.

When the chaos cleared, there was a line of craters and fallen bodies, a break in the battle that lasted for only a few moments as the front lines of each side were forced to recover. The walls that Asmoskon’s forces put up had been utterly blown apart by the force, but they did reduce the casualties somewhat. Soon though, the two were forced to clash once again, but in that time, Xcution’s forces would see the carnage, would see the mass of deaths that had come from this plan. Some thought of it as a weapon, and were encouraged, while others were demoralized as they looked over the bodies within. It was a disaster, one that unfortunately happened in war when unpredictable elements surfaced. And it left many people dead.

But the sudden blast had also created some confusion and forced the converted to steer around them due to the uneven and damaging terrain created from the blasts. There were some openings through the crowd now; though there would still be plenty of combat on the way, and there would probably be a mountain of additional casualties to cause on the way, there were paths, opportunities. If the human forces wanted to make their move, now was the time.

[Kazura Uzaki]

As was usual for the last few months, all of Kazura's best laid plans fell apart and resulted in far more deaths that were far more gruesome than they would have been had he left alone. First, there had been A who lost her freedom and more or less her life because he didn't press the button. Now, innocents were being trampled and blown apart. On the bright side, the Uzaki Enterprises CEO had influenced the Xcution soldiers to start aiming for crippling blows instead of kill shots. That was a small glimmer of hope in a hellish situation, but it was something to hold onto. With Shizuka and Asmoskon at his flank, Kazura steeled his resolve, gritted his teeth, and began to march forwards.

"We need to push forwards. Too many more will die if we don't root out the cause and cut off its head. Shizuka, your raw spiritual power is higher than mine. Keep Push activated and respond to any projectile threats with Soul Command if possible, with Energy Generate if necessary. Asmos, my old friend... your ways are brutal but at least they don't have such collateral backlash as mine... Would you widen the gap in the line so we can get ourselves and a small team through into the Prison? Meanwhile, I will support as best I can and prepare for another clash with Cross. With more time, I can be ready this time..."

Kazura held out his right arm and willed his Pride in Humanity to take shape. The flesh was gone in an instant, replaced with cold titanium with no adorning figures or designs of note. Kazura willed the nanobots inside his Secondary Fullbring to emerge and begin to collect rock from under his feet. They would eat into the ground and collect three times their size in rock before returning to the arm and storing it inside. The basketball sized cloud would collect three basketballs worth of stone and then be done for now as Kazura would wait to find a good source of steel in case he needed to craft something on the fly.

"Let's go hunt down the fool responsible for all this..."

Remaining Reiatsu: 9,450/10,000 (-300 Secondary Fullbring)
Secondary Fullbring: 1/8

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

They failed. Shizuka knew they did. Failing was such a horrible feeling and it was even worse now because Kazura was trying to avoid casualties. Shizuka's gaze looked out towards the bottom-right direction of her eyes, showing her discomfort and disappointment in their actions. It could have been worse, but seeing their plan backfire the way it did was really disheartening, especially for Kazura. Shizuka couldn't sense everything the way normal people would, but even average humans had empathy. As a Fullbringer, she just felt that part of the soul a little more. She understood his feelings.

"Shizuka, your raw spiritual power is higher than mine. Keep Push activated and respond to any projectile threats with Soul Command if possible, with Energy Generate if necessary."

"On it."

Shizuka immediately extended her awareness out with Push the second he asked it of her. She wasn't so quick to use her Energy Generate right away, but she knew she'd have to focus on that ability sooner or later. She could initiate it whenever she needed to, so that wasn't too concerning, but she needed to make sure she could protect her comrades right now. If deflecting the projectiles was what Kazura needed her to do, she'd gladly help. Anything to lessen the load. As she began to use her own technique, Kazura activated his Secondary Fullbring. She was familiar with his abilities since she'd seen them before, but she knew what he was preparing them for. Cross was here and Kazura was taking it upon himself to initiate that confrontation if it came to it.

"Since I can sense these things a bit further than you two, I'll keep an eye out as first in line to move onward. Kazura, I think that having you stay behind the two of us would work better because we can warn you if there's trouble, and your abilities are much more flexible than ours are."

Her Soul Command wasn't as strong as something like Soul Dominance, but she could manipulate basic objects. Even changing the course of something like a bullet by just a few degrees would lead it astray enough to help out Asmoskon and Kazura, and if she missed something, she could warn them as quickly as possible. Even just those two inches could make a difference in time when she could warn them enough to have them use some kind of step technique. Safety came first and foremost. She desperately cared about her own militia but when it came down to the bottom line, Asmoskon and Kazura took the front seat. She felt bad, but it needed to be prioritized.

Now the only thing was making sure they could get through to find whoever was causing all this madness. She had her ideas, but was all of this just a big game? Were they all pawns? She couldn't shake the feeling that they were all just being played with somehow. Their minds were being messed with and distracted by all of this death and destruction around them. Shizuka looked towards Kazura and Asmoskon and questioned telling them that since her theories were not usually incorrect, but she didn't want to risk being wrong and leading them down a bad pathway. Not again, anyway. For now, she'd follow Kazura's lead.



Shizuka's Remaining Reiatsu: 4900 (-100 for Push)
Push Duration: 1/5

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Asmoskon was getting tired of standing by and waiting for an opportunity to present itself it was time for the three of them to get into the prison and kill these scumbags. Kazura's method of preventing the ragging converted was proving to be something of valuable use as the enemy was crushing itself to death while also making a hill that all of the others would have to climb over to get to each of their groups. Asmoskon wasn't as worried as he normally would have been for he trained all of these individuals on the island and knew what they were capable of handling better than anyone even Satsujun. The problem though came a few moments later as the explosions occurred throughout the battlefield and the area where his squadron was located was right near one of them.

SPOILER: Click to show

The explosion more than likely caused the walls that had been put up to crumble and throw off the Fullbringers that had been closest to them. While the converted couldn't reach them for a few moments that same amount of time was going to be used up by the Fullbringers getting back on their feet. It was a good thing that his Quincy knew what to do in this situation. There location had become dangerous more so than intended with a high chance of causalities there were two different actions that had been trained to execute in this situation. The first of which was a retreat which Asmoskon wouldn't blame any of them for yet the followers of the Renegade that placed his own life on the line to save the majority of them from horrible fates had loyalty that wouldn't allow such a thing.

While the walls had come crashing down and the Fullbringers were on the ground doing their best to gather themselves so that they could reform the walls into the same defense that had been proving well against the onslaught of numbers the Quincy had to get them time. Which is why they resorted to the rather harsh and merciless teachings of their Major. Each of them forming their arrows and firing in unison sending volley after volley down over the demolished ground. Most of the converted that were trying to get to the squadron would find it difficult as arrow after arrow came down around them. As they got closer and the Fullbringers would start to realize what they needed to do the arrows would be guided downwards so that now they would strike the converted dead on slowly them down more.

It would prove to be just enough that the Fullbringers would get back onto their feet and together the fifteen of them would execute Soul Dominance reforming the walls in front of them for protection. Those were the Fullbringers in the front though and now the others that were to the sides followed suit forming one large wall that surrounded the squadron on all sides preventing attacks from any direction aside from behind. They were effectively boxed in by themselves, but on the outside of each walls were spikes that would prevent at least for a degree of time any of the converted from climbing over. Fullbringer at the back entrance were ready to bring down everything if the squadron needed to retreat, but for now they'd be fine crippling the onslaught as it came at them.

Sneering in annoyance Asmoskon had to trust in his troops to handle the situation while he and the others got inside the prison and eliminated the true targets on this island. It seemed that Kazura wished to take the lead for the time being and Asmoskon was fine with that. Having Shizuka be the sensor was fine there were two many bodies moving in this sea of death that Asmoskon couldn't pick out approaching projectiles based on his hearing alone. At the moment his senses were playing against him more than anything as his head was starting to hurt while his nostrils and tongue couldn't rid themselves of the traces of blood that was quickly covering the island.

Kazura wanted Asmoskon to make them a path through the madness so that they could reach the prison and he wanted to get through as soon as possible. That left him with a few different options, but the fastest one was to use a technique that neither Kazura nor Shizuka had seen. Asmoskon though took the chance to gather up the reiatsu that was in the area around him into his cross. Then placed his hands on Shizuka and Kazura's right and left shoulders as he did the both of them would feel reiatsu flow back into them as their reserves were restored back up to the maximum. "Alright then let's go and kill these scumbags."

Asmoskon was done waiting and he didn't have a problem voicing his opinion on the individuals causing all this death. When they got near the converted that would prevent them from entering into the prison Asmoskon decided to hold out his right hand in front of himself then pushed forwards almost as if he was striking someone. Both Shizuka and Kazura knew that Asmoskon wasn't an individual that practiced close combat so for him to make such a motion seemed pointless especially considering that the swarm they needed to get passed were several yards away from them. In the next moment though while no one could see his reiatsu it pushed all of the converted backwards with a force of 400 that were in front of them up to thirty yards away. He'd have to do it several more times as they got closer, but using the Kyōsei sa Remasu was the fastest way into the prison.

Remaining Reiatsu: 2200/500
Quincy Cross: {+800}
Kyōsei sa Remasu: {-50}
Shizuka: (Reiatsu Recovery) {-100}
Kazura: (Reiatsu Recovery) {-550}

[July Kasumi'Oji]

{OOC: Ok. That went worse than I expected. I’ll be more proactive this time, and won’t make the mistake on relying on ye. XD}

July sighed, and put his hand to his head - as if more disappointed about the deaths of their two comrades than sad or angry. Amagai had assumed leadership of this small group - under the command of Squad 1 - but now that they were under attack he had not created any sense of unity to advance the gamestate. Their pawns had rushed forward blindly, and now they were down two of them. July sighed again, but nobody seemed to notice his apparent calm in the midst of the chaos. Sure, it was difficult for him to deal with all these attacks. He was someone who played games - he didn’t have all the time for these weird Kido combinations.

”My goodness. This was the best we could manage?”

July left aside the fact that he had not participated in the counteroffensive at all - that was the job of the cannon fodder, not the players - and began to make tutting noises as various Kido spells exploded around him. How fruitless, how pointless, how… counterproductive. Two pawns were lost, the others couldn’t even manage a pin - let alone a capture - and the two bishops were standing their aimlessly, as if the whole event didn’t concern them in the slightest. July withheld the final sigh. These were not just chess pieces, they were units with morale - continuously lowering said morale would make them even less effective.

But still, if this was the best that the Seireitei could provide in the face of this threat, July didn’t fancy their chances of success.

He skipped over to the nearest Kido user - just after her own spell had backfired. How pitiful. She probably would have been rather beautiful, if her face and hair weren’t singed and covered in ash. Perhaps July would offer to buy her drink when all this was over - she might be fun to play with… Actually, on second thoughts, she was probably a bit jumpy - if all this was fazing her, then July probably wouldn’t get all that much fun out of her. Still though, she was far more useful to him now than anyone else - the other bumbling idiots had gone and scorched themselves in front of the line of Kido users. Well, Kido was king - swordsmen really didn’t stand a chance.

July put a hand on the young woman’s shoulder - and immediately regretted his decision. Her clothes had been burnt black by her own explosion, and the dark ash stained the palm of July’s silk white glove. He just about managed to keep the sigh contained. These people were far more trouble than they were worth. Still though, they would be useful in subsequent manoeuvres - and to lose them all now would just be bad strategy. July gave her a smile when she turned around to him, using his Acting to help put her at ease. Sure he didn’t really care how she felt, but, y’know, she’d probably be more effective if she was totally in control.

”Well, miss, that was unfortunate. How about trying something less… explosive? I think Hado #53 might be a bit more… stylish.”

July had to use the right words, slowing down his speech so that she, even with her addled mind could understand. She blinked a few times, before realising what his strategy was. Simple really. The swordsmen would only be effective against Kido users incapable of using their Kido. And to do that, they’d have to give them a shocking surprise. July raised the woman’s arm gently, drawing her into the perfect position for what she needed to do. He gave her another smile to put her mind at ease - this was the right thing to do, probably. How was July supposed to know? He was no expert - he had only been recently brought here from London.

”And… Now. Let it fly, honey.”

July skipped back, moving away from the spear of crackling electricity that had formed in the hand of the Kido user. She glanced at July uncertainly, before launching the spear at the group in front of them. It would easily make it that far - the spear was made of energy, after all - and the fact that the group were so focussed on their own attacks on the swordsmen (who had been chased out of range at this stage), that they would find the spear difficult to intercept. But even if they did, the resulting sphere of electrical energy would be a shopping surprise. As soon as their opponents felt the effects of the electricity, July sprung into action.

”Well then, Knights, we must move to take the centre squares! Forward we go!”

July beckoned to the remaining members of the group - now was their chance to capture the incapacitated units. Who knows, the shock may have brought them back to their senses. July didn’t really care. They were opponents to be defeated, nothing more or less. Mid-stride he had unsheathed his dagger from his jacket, and those who accompanied him in his charge would see the blade twirling expertly between his fingers. The Squad 8 Captain was poetry in motion, and the flash of green and gold across the battlefield would form a distinctive shape for the others to rally behind. July grinned again - although he felt it was a pity, he enjoyed the fact that the Queen had been forced to move so early in the game.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

The mannerisms of the the Captain and the Vice Captain spoke volumes. July in his eyes was bit eccentric, an oddity to say the least. Which wasn’t entirely a bad thing. After all Lumina seemed to like him. She had almost even jumped at the chance to get one of those sweets he was offering out. Yet she stopped herself much to her dismay. Ears flattening, she’d whine internally. Whatever a jellybaby was, she had wanted it. It sounded so much better than those dog treats others mistakenly tried giving her.

Which she gave one sniff and immediately turned her head in disgust. It was insulting to her. Hmph As if she looked like a dog... She was Lumina Umbra a wolfish spirit who once thrived in a world with her same namesake. Not some...lapdog. Aevus was not one for speeches especially when idle conversation was something that he avoided on a daily basis. Generally they were a hassle. But this one, this one roused even him. Aevus stood in the back listening attentively his head lightly perking.

For a noble, this Kuchiki heir seemed to speak from the heart. Was he being genuine? Or was he just trying to shed some light in the darkness? To give hope to those who desperately needed it. Maybe it was both, Aevus guessed as such. But it didn’t matter the reasoning. Regardless it was a nice speech. It easily swayed Lumina. Her silver eyes lit up like two full moons, beaming brightly. She didn’t quite understand what was going on. Except for what she was now hearing.

After all Aevus himself never really bothered to tell her the ins and outs of this mission. Of course it was only recently that she could parade freely on her own four paws. So it wasn’t entirely Aevus’s fault. It would have been nice though... As his Zanpakuto Spirit she could at least read his emotional state. But holding a conversation with him. Well that was another story. Even as one of higher ranked officers here, Aevus doubted that his experience on the field rivaled either the Captain or even the Vice Captain for that matter.

Maybe even some of these other seated officers had more experience than him. That was always a possibility and he wouldn’t have been surprised if it was true. Hell everyone assigned to this mission may already be stronger than him. It’d be a blessing in disguise. It’d mean he wouldn’t have to look after anyone except for Lumina. But knowing his own heart, he doubted he could keep himself from trying to help. He was reckless like that.

Aevus found his position jarring to say the least. Even though he wasn’t the only one leading this small rag tag of seated officers, he didn’t think of himself as a leader. The thought of leading never even crossed his mind. He figured he must have been a diamond in the rough in Okami’s eyes. He must have seen something in him that he didn’t, that he still couldn’t see. He took his position to get away from the limelight not place himself in it. This was a big mistake. He’d sigh, don’t look to me for guidance he thought to himself as he entered the Senkaimon with Lumina at his side. I can’t help any of you.

This was insanity. To draw your blade on an ally. The creeping perversive nature of that mark. The men and women who stood before him had fallen to the call of that tattoo. He’d look askance for but a moment. In a twist of fate he could have been standing with them. A cruel showmanship of kido littered his eyes with light. Bewilderment stirred in his heart as he watched as a shrapnel of both ice and earth began to rain down upon them. In a blaze of blue fire the Captain had ordered a defensive maneuver.

Casting advanced air ground he would create a surface for both Lumina and himself to take foot on. He was a sitting duck as the boulders fell around him. Moving on his toes he would would quickly come to the aid of a fellow officer. Moving the girl out of the way as one came crashing down. This was insanity. His heart raced as he clenched his Zanpakuto for dear life. Lumina’s ears ringed and she felt herself nearly buckle under her own paws. “Aevus!” She shouted but Aevus shook and the earth followed after.

The ground rumbled beneath sandaled feet as an onslaught of kido barraged the opposition. This was insanity. Wide eyed he’d grimace as another rock plummeted but he couldn’t move in time to stop it. The crack of bone, dust filled the air. The smell of burning flesh filtered through Lumina’s nostrils. Singeing her with the very same fright. The haze of ash coiled with the dust from the falling rocks. This was insanity. It blinded him and the screams of his comrades orchestrated in a bellow of mismatched echoes.

Kicking up dirt another stumbled and Lumina would catch him with the skin of her teeth. Biting his sleeve to keep him from tumbling over. She noted the look on his face. He was wide eyed just like Aevus. just like a lot of those in this black parade, just like her. This was insanity. Light once again fell across the visage of the two. Lumina’s silver reflective eyes caught the brilliance of that crackling light. Lightning collapsed like a spear upon the enemy. “Aevus!” She would shout again attempting to wake the reaper.

”Well then, Knights, we must move to take the centre squares! Forward we go!”

“Aevus we have to move!" He was still shaking, his fingers stirring away from his sheathed blade. It was subtle but he’d clench the white scruff of the wolf with his left hand causing her to flinch. He was trying to seek comfort but she was shaking far more than him. It took Lumina to wake him from his slumber. The fear that fell away from her body held onto him. Digging into him far more sharply than any blade ever had. He wouldn’t let her face this. She needed to escape the battlefield.

“Whisper Softly...Umbra.”

Lumina’s eyes lit up, fading in a show of silvery light as she was called to the reaper. The runic katana lengthened and a black ribbon fell away from the pommel, stirring in the wind behind him. A dark and bleak aura spread thirty feet around him. Burying deeply into his allies like a crashing wave. It was cold and unforgiving but such was fate. Threads of pale Reiatsu flowed around him as he began to run into the battle field erupting into six phantoms of his Zanpakuto. They were but echoes that could have been and they danced around him. Whirling in the air they sung at immense speeds (600).

He was no killer but he’d certainly maim if he had too. A faint flicker of fear would spread to any who fell into his territory. It’d stir in the hearts of many and they’d feel his presence. Lumina’s silvers pierced him even now as he shadowed the captain. Marking him as he brushed his arm. He didn’t utter a word as he fell past him. Within his eyes wisps of cyanic Reiatsu would escape as he sought forth the wretched traitors who had killed his comrades. “Keep their hearts beating.” Lumina pleaded, her voice would echo within the captain’s mind.

Aevus fell into the fray. Six blades danced and within his hand he held forth his Zanpakuto reverse gripped. He fell into the middle of their lines. Digging those fast blades into the flesh of complete strangers. They wore his garbs yet they had fallen. He wasn’t going to kill. Tightly he held his Zanpakuto as he attempted to disrupt the order within their ranks. Don’t die. Don’t die. Don’t die. He shouted to himself as he cut into at least seven of them. His heart beat within rhythm with his fluid attacks. Racing as his toes danced upon the air ground.

Reiatsu: 4250/5250

Advanced Air ground - 25
Shikai - 200
Resonare {6 phantom Zanpakuto} - 600 + 150 (to keep active) = 750
Mark of Fate - 25

[Amagai Kuchiki]

(OOC: My apologies for the delayed posting. Seriously. This was....a mistake.)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Some music}https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3QFape1zvw

Amagai blinked, and the world spun around him, fire, rocks, destruction. He didn't act, and everyone died. Not everyone but...anyone. Amagai had never let someone die on a mission. And suddenly, people were dying left and right, all because he had chosen not to act. Yes, chosen. Amagai was too well seasoned to have simply failed to act, so clearly, if he hadn't acted, it must have been intentional. He was a total monster. And everyone would know just how terrible he was.

He blinked again, and time seemed to slow, and rewind. His heart was pounding, and he rapidly realized that all of that was a vision, induced by the endless fear of failure. The stakes were unfathomably high, and although he wasn't about to miss the chance to act, he was terrified that he would. His heart kept beating, faster and faster, until it felt like it was going to break out of his chest, just as he started to move, and the world move around him, again. The ice was hailing down, the ground was moving, volleys of fire were launching, and he was ready for this shit.

"Seated officers, fall behind me and July! Aevus, move forward and neutralize the foes. July, lay down suppression attacks." He called out. The tactics weren't the best, and his strategic knowledge was providing him with better solutions every instant, but it was almost impossible to communicate all of his thoughts with as little time as they had. From here, he needed to deploy defensive techniques, and hope for the best. With a great sigh, Amagai's reiatsu welled up, and spilled out into the surrounding area.

Silently, he released, although the words would still spill out of his mouth as he moved throughout the battlefield, an guardian angel of his allies. His hand burned with Soukahou, although he didn't bother with an incantation, he was using it for mobility. The rocks below them launched people upwards, and Amagai flicked his hand outwards, and launched a flurry of fiery blasts along the frontline of the shinigami forces. These would land in front of the actual forces by a good 5 feet, and give Amagai the ability to move amongst those points with ease.

Shit. Rocks moving to crush the center of their troops, and Amagai cursed loudly. He threw a burst of fire, hoping it would move fast enough, and one underneath his feet, teleporting next to the troops in that part of the formation and pushing them out of the way. The teleportation there was instant, but the movement of pushing wasn't. As Amagai thrust his hands, forcing his allies away from the largest of the boulders, he stumbled, and his right arm was caught in the path of the massive boulder.

If it wasn't for his reflexes and speed, his arm would've been ripped off. But immediately, Amagai moved, bringing the arm close to his body, so instead, the skin and a layer of muscle underneath were shredded. The pain almost caused him to black out. But he couldn't stop. Not. Yet. Another fire blast from his fire wreathed hand, luckily the one that still was functional, hit the ground under his feet, and once again, Amagai was in motion, moving towards his allies.

The last one he could help with: an ally pinned to the ground, and a flame traveling towards him. Amagai's eyes widened, as he realized the man was pinned, and thus unable to move. He needed to act now, but...the technique had to be ready. He had to use it. Reiatsu surged from Amagai, golden, and engulfed the entire battlefield. And everyone who was Amagai's ally would notice the effect: Amagai's fires, once burning hot nearby them, no longer felt like anything.

"Moonlight Sonata" He stated simply, as if that should explain everything. His experimental technique, that negated all heat. THe fire kido would hit his ally, and do nothing. It wouldn't burn him, or cook him. It would just...fizzle around him. "That man needs evac. Aevus, retreive him!" Amagai was on the defensive, and he could play zone, covering the entire fucking battlefield singlehandidly. And his hand burned, and his breath was short, but he needed to do this. 

Never back down. Never let a man die. Never stop moving.

Reiatsu: 2000/3000 (-400 Soukahou, -200 release, -400 Moonlight Sonata)
Release: 1/10
Soukahou: 1/5
Moonlight Sonata: 1/8

[Zeich Yajuu]

The Shinigami forces recovered, rallying as their officers started to actually take command and guide them. Amagai’s acts of protection were a particularly profound morale boost as the Vice-Captain literally threw himself into harms way, even suffering harm in order to save the lives of those he had promised to protect. It was madness, thinking that it was possible to protect everyone in the middle of a war, yet there Amagai was as he stepped into the fray, releasing blasts of fire in order to leap from one end of the battlefield in a moment, turning those scorching blazes into cool, unburning masses of color in the next. Lives were saved that should have been lost, as though the man was turning back the hands of time to save them. But this was impossible; even as a Vice-Captain, he was still only human. Just a very determined and capable one.

July also got into the fray, and he started to guide their actions in a counterattack. The spear of electricity that he directed to be fired at the enemy did its job, sending a surge of electricity through the opposing Kido users and disrupting them. Spells were canceled out for a moment, and there was an opening in which to attack. And of course, both July and Aevus leapt forward even as Amagai moved back into a more supportive role, preparing their next course of strategy. Both officers on the front lines moved with speed and skill, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

Aevus was the first to go on the attack, aiming for non-fatal, maiming blows; wounds could be healed, but lives could not be recovered. Yet in the end, this was not an ultimately effective method, as Kido did not require mobility, or even the use of limbs; a master could simply conjure without any sort of somatic action needed, and it would leave their back lines exposed if they tried to move past fallen foes. They could attempt to dart past quickly, or they could attempt to knock out their targets; either way, while the opposing line was in disarray, this was their chance. They had to make it count, and if they acted swiftly enough, they would make it right past and into the opening of the prison. There was no guarantee that there wouldn’t be more reinforcements inside, but they had no choice; they had to press on.

The enemy was now at their mercy, and the way was open. It was time to advance.

---

((OOC: In the future, Asmo, list posts in which you are drawing Reiatsu into your cross or else they do not count. Quincy Cross absorption actually requires specific concentration, so it should be listed each time it’s done. Letting it go this time, but keep it in mind.))

On the human side, the others were advancing just as readily. In fact, the human forces were actually closing in on the prison now, with Asmoskon pushing converted away, Shizuka deflecting bullets, and Kazura acting as a leader to guide them in. Before long, they were past the converted, and the few who noticed them in the back lines were easily dealt with, leaving the three of them to make their way into the actual prison. The opening loomed like an ominous maw, the darkness within beckoning them forward; they did not know what lay within the gloom, only that the enemy that was at the center of this catastrophe lay within. They had no choice but to advance, and so they did, making their way into the prison.

The hallways were made of some strange stone, a type that none of those present would recognize, with no markings or gaps that suggested placed brick. It was almost as if the prison was all one piece, an enormous block of stone that had been shaped and carved from the inside out. But that was impossible, right? What sort of material existed that spanned both worlds, that was both spiritual and physical in nature at the same time? It was too much to think on, though Kazura would probably note that even his nanobots couldn’t even scratch it; he couldn’t take a sample no matter how hard he tried. Well, the prison would hopefully still be here after all was said and done, and maybe he’d be able to study the stone later. Right now, they had work to do.

The tunnel continued a fair distance, lit only by a light that seemed to come from no apparent source, as though the hallway itself were glowing. No shadows were cast to indicate the direction the light came from, but as long as they could see, it was fine. Before long, though, the tunnel opened up, and the group came to the first of the major prison chambers. The ceiling rose above them, vanishing into the distance, and as they stood at the edge of a sharp drop, even with the handrail between them and the fall, it was a dizzying distance downwards, with no actual bottom in sight. The path spiraled downwards, a stone floor that led deep into the bowels of the beast, and for the moment it was the only way to proceed. They hadn’t seen any twists or turns, any side paths, only this one.

Descending lower, they’d find that there were holes seemingly cut into the walls, forming perfectly cubic impressions that were big enough to be considered cells. They all seemed empty, to the naked eye, yet any of them with some form of Energy Sensory would allow them all to feel powerful pulses of Reiatsu forming a wall before them. Moving closer would treat them to an invisible barrier that they could not pass, suggesting that none of these cells were occupied, merely sealed away from the “normal” world. Perhaps there were prisoners that had sight-based powers, or those who were so horrifying to look upon that they were not allowed to be seen; either way, it seemed that they were in an occupied prison, one whose captives were not to be seen or interacted with. But if this was the case, how many other hidden paths had they missed just because they were not supposed to be seen?

The path continued to spiral downwards, deeper into the darkness. Before long they couldn’t see the platform that they had started on, and they continued to descend. The lights were constant, in fact the scenery as a whole was, leaving them with the impression that they were going nowhere. Eventually, though, they’d reach the top of their ascension, arriving at the top floor. This sudden realization would probably startle them; they had been going downwards, yet now they had reached an upper landing? They would not even have been sure of when their perspective had shifted, no matter how sharp their senses were or how quick their mind was. At some point, though, they had arrived “up” when they were going “down.”

There was no time to think on it, though; an explosion of sound echoed from down the corridor, admittedly a good ways away, but it sounded like a blast of fire exploding against something. The crackle of lightning, the cries of injured men and women; it was likely combat located up ahead, and they would hurry ahead; after all, it could be where Cross and the others were likely fighting off advance forces. The entrance to the third prison had to be near, if the sounds of battle were any indication.

But then, as they stepped out through another wide door, much like that which they had entered, those from the human world would find that they were no longer in the world they knew; a landscape unfamiliar spread out before them. Asmoskon would recognize it, of course, having been here once before: they were in Soul Society. Before them were Shinigami that had fallen, being cut down by one of their own, while explosions of fire and lightning erupted around the group before them. The opposing side was still on the attack, led by a colorful youth who was darting towards them, a dagger elegantly whirling in his hand. Was this an attacking force, led by the Martyr’s men? If so, those from the human world would have to intercept it, and stop the reinforcements from making it into the prison.