Crimson Edge Arc: A Second Attack - Event Four [Closed]

While the Soul Society was under attack, another battle began on a different front. It was much easier for hollow to move into the World of the Living, so after the initial boom went off, Kurokotasu and Arachne led an army of hollow into the mortal realm. They waited for a while, making sure to get confirmation from the other troops before they opened the Garganta. Once it was open, hundreds of hollow flooded into the outskirts of Tokyo, Los Angeles, London, and Hong Kong. The hollows rushed to their targets, the souls that lived there and the few that they could sense with spiritual energy.

"Better get this done quickly." Arachne ordered.

"Shut up. This will be done right. I won't rush it." Kurokotsu spat back at her. The male Arrancar held out his hands and thousands of bugs leaked out of his sleeve and onto the grass below them, scattering to the winds. "You have your orders..." Kuro spoke to the bugs as they left him. "Now go."

Crimson Edge Arc: A Second Attack - Event Four [Closed] Crimson%20Edge%20Event%204%20Posting%20Header

When Captain Arishima was called for a meeting with the other Captains, Kaminari WANTED TO GO TOO, but obviously wasn't allowed to. She waited back at her Division for news. The entire time, she was unable to answer any question her Division members had. She did her best to calm them down, but honestly wasn't much help. Just a little while ago, the world shook, and how could anyone easily be calmed from such an event? A few minutes into the meeting, Kaminari was approached by someone from the Twelfth Division, who seemed in a panic about something. Once the guy calmed down, he explained the situation in the World of the Living to her. Kaminari was just... stuck.

"You've got to be kidding me." Kaminari said and took a deep breath, looking back to her surrounding Division members. "Bring in the squad leaders. Make sure everyone else is on standby. I'll go inform the Captain. Have every squad leader back here before we're back. Now, move."

Kaminari hurried toward the First Division. It didn't take her long to arrive, but it seemed the meeting was already letting out because a few Captains were leaving. She could still sense her own Captain present, so she rushed toward him and Captain Gogatsu. "Captain Arishima!" Kaminari slid to a stop in front of him. "I was just informed by the Twelfth Division that there is a massive attack throughout multiple cities throughout the World of the Living. I was told of Los Angeles, Hong Kong and London. Hollows are swarming and a few Arrancar have made an appearance, specifically in Tokyo. I have the the squad leaders being gathered as we speak and the others are on standby, waiting for your orders."

"An attack here and in out there, hm?" Isamu rubbed the back of his head. "Aye... This isn't good."

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Genpaku and Captain Gogatsu had not gotten far in their discussion, nor there travel, when Genpaku sensed a familiar energy approaching them. His lieutenant slid into sight a few moments later, almost buzzing with nervous energy and bringing ill tidings. She reported quickly, and for half a heartbeat Genpaku was stunned. It hadn't been said during the Captain's meeting, but Genpaku came to the same conclussion that some of the older captains had likely arrived at.

This was no attack; this was the beginning of a war.

A hundred questions began to spring up in his mind, and with them it was likely a sense of panic and expectation would have followed; the youngest Captain of the Gotei Thirteen did not give those questions a chance to crystalize, did not let those feelings find root. Genpaku's gaze suddenly took on a sharp focus, and his path became clear, consequences be damned. He turned on his heel to his fellow Captain, and suddenly gave a deep bow.
"Captain Gogatsu, my apologies," he called in a clear voice before he rose back up, fixing his fellow Captain with those focused eyes. "I'm going," he said; he waited for neither response nor argument as he turned and started forward.
"Come Lieutenant."

Genpaku arrived at his Division shortly after that. Normally he paced his steps so as not to outpace people; he was not as considerate in this moment however, nor was he trying to leave Kaminari behind. He simply had decided he needed to be back at his Division and prepare them for what was to come. The squads were indeed assembled, and his arrival sent a stir through the gathered Shinigami. They looked concerned, they looked tense.
"We're mobilizing. Something from out in the great dark of Hueco Mundo has launched an assault on our homes and the World of the Living. The Crimson Edge has been breached," he said, and paused a moment to let the words sink in. Before the terror that would accompany those world sank its claws in though, he spoke again.
"Captains Toma and Blake are already mobilizing as we speak, and are headed for the breach. The other Divisions have begun to do the same. In the meantime though, the World of the Living is defenseless; the only ones out there are those that have been there for weeks. They are our friends and allies, and they need our help. That world needs our help. I'm trusting our allies to hold this wolrd, and I'm going to save that one," the young Captain said, and in that moment he meant it.

"The bulk of the attacks are on the major population centers of Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York. Squads one through three will accomany myself and Leiutenant Hatakeyama to Tokyo. Squads four through nine will take Los angeles. Squads ten through thirteen have New York. The rest of you, get information on where the attacks are strongest and move to reinforce. The Twelfth should be able to provide that information as the situation develops." That left just one last problem.
"Make contact with the squads that were already in those areas and provide backup. They'll have the best lay of the land. If you notice any strange behavior like we've been dealing with, restrain the offender. Try and not use lethal force if possible. Stay alive," he said with all the seriousness he could muster.

"You've your orders! Squads one through three, we're leaving now." he called.

Crimson Edge Arc: A Second Attack - Event Four [Closed] 8klWaOIn_o

Kaminari watched her Division scatter after the orders were given. She took a deep breath. This was to be her first real combat mission and she wasn't able to tell whether she was really nervous or super excited. Knowing that she'd be near her Captain made it feel more like excitement than anything else. Now, it was time for them to move on. With the squads following, the two of them made their way to the Senkaimon and made haste toward to the World of the Living. Luckily, it didn't take too long for them to arrive, but every moment they weren't there to help people would cause some pain.

Upon arrival, many areas of the city were calm, but others were in chaos. Those in chaos were people reporting attacks by invisible monsters. The more "logical" reporting came with the idea of terrorist attacks. People were panicking in the streets. Buildings were being torn through, a couple smaller ones being turned to rubble. Many souls that were once hiding were running around, hollows rushing through the streets. In moments where the souls were caught, the hollow were not eating them. Instead, they were restraining them and running toward the forest line outside of the city where two Arrancar were.

"They're not exactly hiding..." Kaminari said, looking the direction that even she could sense the coalescing energies. "They might not be able to with how many are practically charging the area." Kaminari looked back over her shoulder to see the squad members standing around. "Hey! You know what you should be doing. Get out there and protect all you can. Go, go." The squad scattered and began fighting the hollow in the streets of Tokyo. Kaminari turned to her Captain. "Captain?"

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“Stick together, move at least in pairs! Save any you can, and cleanse these monsters quickly. We cut their numbers, we end their bloodshed!” Genpaku called out in the wake of Kaminari's order. His eyes tracked unseen motions as he sensed various Hollows out there, attacking innocents. It made him angry, but he sat on that feeling quickly; he took a breath and concentrated. He caught sight of the Hollows dragging their still living(in some senses of those words) victims towards the forest, and his eyes narrowed. That made no sense; Hollows were made of hunger and spite, and rarely kept meals. They also rarely moved in groups like this. He could sense the energies of the Arrancar in the distance; that must be where the Hollows were headed.
“We leave the Division to deal with the Hollows for now; we're going to cut off the head of this operation Lieutenant Hatakeyama,” Genpaku said, nodding towards the forest line and the half-dozen Hollows currently making for it.
“Take the two on the right.”

Genpaku wasted no time after giving his direction, and rushed forward. Two quick Shunpo steps brought him above the group of Hollows as it moved. With the limiters placed on them, he couldn't move as fast as he'd like. Normally that wouldn't matter, but the Hollows had victims this time. He couldn't risk any of them getting the chance to hurt their prisoners. So simultaneous attacks it was; he tipped forward, creating a platform under his feet as he took aim, and shunpo'd down at an angle towards the second from the end of the line of Hollows. He brought a Tessho strike down with him, striking the back of the Hollow's masked head, cleaning obliterating it as he impacted with the ground. Before he'd even made contact with the earth, his left hand came up with two fingers extended.
“Byakurai,” he said softly as the lightning rippled down his extended fingers and lanced out, smashing into the last Hollow in the line clean in the masked creatures fact as it had turned to look at him.

The two Hollows to his right had started to turn by then; Genpaku's right hand flashed up then out, and he used the motion to turn and sight onto the last of the for Hollows he'd called. The third Hollow in the line had just fully turned to look at him as Raiden, Genpaku's zanpaku-tou, embedded itself in the creature's forehead. Not many Shinigami threw their Zanpaku-tou, or really allowed themselves to be separated from them, which is why it was an unexpected tactic that Genpaku employed. He didn't wait to see if the attack was successful however. He shunpo'd once more, and brought a knee strike straight into the fourth Hollow, taking advantage of the creature's shock at the fall of the other three. He turned his gaze to the two Hollow's he'd tasked Kaminari with handling to see if she'd succeeded.

Captain Arishima gave his orders. Kaminari brought her hands out in front of her and began to chant the incantation needed for Hōrin, "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini. Look upon yourself with horror and tear out your own throat!" At each of the tips of her index fingers, Kaminari generated two orange colored spiraling energies. She shunpo'd forward, holding the kido at the ready as she went after the two hollow. "Bakudo number 8. Hōrin." she called out as she got in range of the first.

A tendril shot forth and coiled around the first hollow. She then took aim with her other hand and the second tendril fired. As it coiled around the second hollow, the first tried to struggle against the energy. Not wanting to let it free, Kaminari took this moment to land on a building between them, using the rope-like kido to swing the hollow around until they came together. The tendrils quickly merged, becoming like one and forcing the hollow together and restraining their movements. While the second hollow didn't struggle, the first went to bite down on the soul it held in it's mouth.

Kaminari shouted reflexively, "GEKI." A red energy engulfed the hollow and paralyzed it, giving the souls of both hollow time to get out and run. The hollows howled, their high-pitched screech filling the air and Kaminari quickly dropped the Geki. She wasn't bad with kido, but using two at once without preparing the second with an incantation was going to take it's toll. She took a deep breath, Hōrin luckily still being intact. She took a deep breath and pointed her free index finger toward them. "Hado number four. Byakurai." she said and a bolt of lightning shot them both through the head.

With the hollow defeated, Kaminari closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. A bead of sweat dropped down her forehead. That was a touch too much energy expelled for merely two hollow. The incantation-lacking kido was a problem. As she took this moment of respite, the Arrancar, Arachne made her move. Already transformed, Arachne suddenly appeared behind Kaminari. "Hello, little one." Arachne said. Kaminari turned her head back to look into the eyes of the woman that spoke to her. "You're going to die tonight." Arachne added and moved to strike one of her spider legs down on Kaminari's shoulder.

Before Kaminari really realized what was happening, she felt a heavy pressure strike down like a bat onto her shoulder. The ground beneath her gave out and her body was sent through the roof of the building she landed on. Two floors down, she made contact with the final floor, her head striking concrete and knocking her out. As Kaminari lay at the bottom of a long hole, motionless, but alive, Arachne turned to the stronger of the two and licked her lips. "Didn't think they'd send a Captain." Arachne spoke seductively and chuckled. "And so young and cute! Look at those baby-faced cheeks and those determined eyes! You're like a child with a mission. Tell me... Wanna have a little fun?"

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Kaminari had handled her side of things well enough. Genpaku turned back towards where the Hollows had been headed, reaching out with his senses. The report had said two Arrancar, and as he focused on it he could sense them farther back in the woods. As he did so though, one of them suddenly was on the move; he spun in place as Arachne made her arrival and struck down on Kaminari. Genpaku grit his teeth, but held himself in place for a moment as he reached out with his senses once more. Arachne turned on him, her voice full of mocking as she prattled on at him. His response didn't need any words to answer her question.

Genpaku shot forward; limited as he was by his limiter he didn't know if he was faster or slower than the Arrancar, but he had to get moving. He shot forward and up towards Arachne, his hands landing on the edge of the building. He used his hands as a fulcrum, flipping over and bringing his legs up to face Arachne; from there, he launched himself forward again, aiming to slam his feet into Arachne. This attack however wasn't aimed to really cause damage however, but instead aimed to force Arachne back and away from her current position. However, Arachne countered and parried his attack. He'd have to make do then.
“Bakudo #21, Sekieton!” he shouted, and from his hands sprang forth a huge cloud of red smoke. Arachne seemed to not much like what that would entail, retreating out of the smokescreen.

Under that smokescreen, Genpaku formed a platform under his feet as he kicked back up and used that platform to shunpo off of. He landed on the ground floor of the building next to the unconscious Lieutenant. He held out a hand over her, a soft green glow rising up for a moment as he checked her over. She was breathing, if unconscious. He didn't have the time or luxury to heal her though, not with the enemy still on the field. The color of the light shifted and changed as Genpaku erected a barrier around Kaminari. He'd have to count on that and controlling the fight to keep her safe.

He shifted his gaze back up and shunpo'd straight back up, bursting out of the smokescreen and landing on a platform of his own roughly on level with the Arrancar. By this point he had drawn one of his Zanpaku-tous, and his gaze was steely as he stared down the monster once again.
“I don't have many words to waste on a monster like you. I'm Genpaku Arishima, Captain of the Eighth Division, and this world is not yours to play with,” he said, his voice controlled. He took a stance then launched forward once more, aiming to close the distance and bring down his blade to cut into Arachne's head.

Arachne slid her tongue along the bottom of her top teeth. Her eyes got bigger from the excitement. "He's gonna play!" She barely had time to say before parrying his attack. Young, smaller, limited. It didn't matter. A grown man can be knocked back by a toddler running fast enough. Arachne felt the pressure and was pushed back just enough to give Genpaku the time to use a kido she instantly did not like. Vision blocked, she jumped backwards and up out of the cloud of smoke.

"Shinigami tricks." she hissed through her teeth, her elongated fangs growing over her bottom lip. She expected another attack, but it didn't come. It wasn't hard to figure out where the boy was going. A couple changes in energy let Arachne wait calmly for him to return. Soon, he came back out.

"How sweet: A shinigami Captain taking such good care of his little minion." Arachne attempted another playful berating of Genpaku, but only received an introduction in return. "Oh, why do I recognize that name? Tell me, have we met? I'm not exactly forgettable. I know I've heard that name."

The boy-Captain didn't want to talk anymore though. He moved into a stance and launched another attack, this time heading for a vertical slash down through her head. Arachne quickly skittered her way to the side, avoiding the blade entirely. She immediately attacked twice, using both of her hierro covered claws to scratch in a vertical swipe downwards towards his shoulder. "Young men who ignore my questions get punished." she chuckled, moving to repeat the same two attacks, but at his chest.

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The spider arrancar skittered nimbly and easily out of the way of his strike. She was fast, faster than he was as things stood; she launched her counter attack, raising and bringing down two sharp claws to impale his shoulders. He brought his blade up to catch the strike but she out muscled him, and he could feel the tips of the claws bite into his shoulders. He held the worse at bay, making the wounds shallow for now. She admonished him, raising two more claws to strike at him and he decided it was time to change the situation. Of all things, Genpaku jumped. Maybe it was more accurate to say he hopped. Either way, Genpaku pushed off the platform of reishi he had been standing on, then used Arachne's own strength as she pushed down to propel himself forward and underneath her, through the second set of claws that were coming for him. He felt more scratches as he dove past, but he was no stranger to injury. He created another platform of reishi, this time under his right hand as he supported himself on it and struck upwards with a kick. The goal was to strike her and send her upwards, while using her as a platform to push himself off of and send himself back down and away. From there, he'd figure out his next course of action.

Of course, it was entirely possible that Arachne might dodge the strike from below. She had proven quite agile already, and a missed kick here would leave Genpaku floating in mid air and an easy target. If that came to pass, and Arachne sought to capitalize on it, he did have a trick up his sleeve to try and turn the tables. When she struck, he'd create another platform of reishi at the sole of his foot and use utsusemi. To Arachne, her strike would connect with a satisfying impact. At least for a moment. During that moment, Genpaku would have an opening to launch a strike from behind and he'd aim to slice through her head. He had already begun to gather that her lower bits were armored, but she'd been more particular about keeping her top clear of blades. It would be worth trying. It was also possible that he wasn't going to be able to take her out as he was now. While Genpaku had trained to be exceptionally well versed in combat in the world of the living, making use of the new directions of combat available, he had not fought many Arrancar out in the World of the Living. He wasn't as experienced at fighting them while limited as he was.

The quick little bastard got under her and struck the shell she had on her bottom side. Using her as a platform, he pushed her up and pushed himself away from her. She stopped herself from moving too far and watched him as he moved away. However, her senses reached outward to the city and the hollow within them. She took note of many hollow having been killed by other Shinigami, many souls being taken out by hollow, and Kuro's location beyond the current area. "All is going... decently."

"Not too bad, little man." she spoke up before he got to moving again. She went on with her flirtatious speeches, jiggling to the left, shaking to the right. Buying time. During this little bit of time, Genpaku got a message. A black butterfly appeared and landed on his shoulder. "Due to the war-time decree, all Captain, Lieutenant, and Seated level Shinigami are hereby granted permission to release their Gentei Kaijo. The limitation on unsealing zanpakuto has also been temporarily lifted." The butterfly left its message and went on it's way, just on time for Arachne to become frustrated.

"Hey, boy. Are you even listening to me?" Arachne yelled and held out both of her armored claws toward him. She shot out a large amount of webbing and began frantically shooting it at him and around the battlefield, hoping to use it to her advantage. "Let's see if this slows you down a bit." she thought and went to charge at him, once more going on the attack. After being able to close the distance between them, her right claw came down in a swift sweeping motion, aiming to rip open his chest. Whether hit or miss, she repeated the attack, but this time coming upwards with her left claw.

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His kick connected, though as he suspected it seemed to have had no lasting impact other than to buy him space. He landed on the roof of the building below, gathering himself and preparing to move once more. He wasn't used to being as much at a disadvantage where speed was concerned, and combined with her carapace providing immense defensive capability it was leaving him with little viable option in w hat to do. He couldn't count on backup either. This was his area of expertise, his place to watch over. On top of that, things were dire back in the Spiritual Realm as well. He'd also left without much in the way of notice. Things were looking bleak. Luckily, it seemed the Arrancar was more interested in crooning over her apparent victory; it gave him precious extra time to think. To consider breaking the rules. There would be consequences to be sure, but if the Arrancar was allowed to continue as she pleased then both her and Hatakeyama would die here. Those division members who he had brought here would follow suit, along with countless mortal souls. All this, and the second Arrancar hadn't made their move yet. His hand tightened around his Zanpaku-tou as he let out a breath, dark memories playing in the shadows at the back of his mind.

Then, as is often the case, a seemingly small action turned the course of the fight. Something fluttered at the corner of his vision and a Hell's Butterfly alighted on his shoulder. He cast a glance in it's direction then turned his gaze back to the Arrancar. He expected admonishment for moving on his own, and yet what came was permission for exactly what he had just been contemplating. A small smile danced across Genpaku's features as the butterfly lifted off and continued on to pass the message along; at the same time, it seemed the Arrancar had grown tired once more of him not playing along with her quips. She unleashed a flurry of webbing that rained down towards him. His mind moved quickly; he needed a few open moments for it to take effect. It was time to shift the location of this fight.

He shunpo'd as the webs rained down, reappearing in mid-air a few hundred meters away from the building Kaminari lay unconscious in. As expect, the Arrancar wasn't planning on giving him more time just yet as she closed the distance and launched another pair of attacks. Her first strike stuck deep across his chest with her follow-up attack finding its mark as well. Or so it seemed, for a single moment. Before her floating in the wind was Genpaku's Captain Haori, disturbed by the rush of her claws and the night air. A shadow danced behind her as Genpaku brought his blade across in a horizontal strike aiming at her head. He did not expect this attack to land, she'd proven quick and skittish about her top half where injury was concerned. Once more, this was about spacing and he needed the few moments he hoped this would buy him. Even as the attack went out, the words danced out of his lips.
“Gentei Kaijo.”

A corona of blue energy expanded around the young Shinigami as a flower symbol appeared on the right side of his chest, barely visible through the torn kosode. The energy seemed to rise in a pillar up into the sky. After a few moments it seemed to fade until the dark took back its rightful place. Genpaku stood there on a platform of reishi. His gaze was fixed on the Arrancar however.
“You seem to like to talk. Like to play with opponents. You remind me of one of your kind,” he said after a moment, the last part darkened by something that Genpaku knew that Arachne had no reason to know. His eyes were dangerously bright in the night.
“You said you'd heard of me. If that's true, you should have run when you had the chance. Up until now, I haven't given you much of a real fight. Let me remedy that. Bankai; Reikoku Raiden.”

At the words energy unlike anything the young Shinigami had demonstrated in the course of the fight so far spilled forth, bearing down on the area. Accompanying it, the sky clouded over with startling suddenness. The clouds hung heavy with spiritual power, and Genpaku wasted no more time in putting that to use; it was time for the young Shinigami to go on the offensive. A bolt of lightning roared out and down at Arachne with expected but no less potent ferocity. She would have had to expect such an attack though after a declaration like that. Genpaku followed her movement and appeared above her, bringing down a fierce kick aiming to either break bone or force her down. Following in the wake of his attack, another bolt of lightning would strike down, passing either by or through Genpaku to strike at her again. With lightning comes thunder, and the sonic boom of the lightning strikes rang out, the sounds of a war-drum signaling the counter assault not just to those on this battlefield but to the Shinigami fighting in the city.

Though Arachne's first attack met its target, the second did not. Her intention was to continue a flurry of blows, but a sudden release of energy stopped this. The pressure let off of the Shinigami before her was much stronger than before. In a moment of cliches, she uttered words all too familiar to those like her opponent. "Where... Where did all this power come from?" She brought her arms up, as if blocking out a bright light, and moved back enough to get out of the range of his newly found power.

Genpaku's sudden desire to talk and the energy he was emitting intimidated Arachne. This was a new, more confident behavior. "Well, darling." she spoke up to feign her own confidence. "I am one of my kind. I think I just remind you of m-..." His next words caught her off guard. She watched him curiously, eyes widened in fear of what he was going to do next. This fear had adrenaline pumping. Her skin crawled and her senses were in overdrive. And then it all got much, much worse...

His energy flared again. He called his bankai and Arachne could feel the pressure pushing down on her. She wasn't weak enough to be brought down, but like sitting on the bottom of a pool, the energy weighed her down like water. It was all around her enveloping the area... like a storm.The clouds darkened and lightning struck down at her. Arachne moved to the side, but not quick enough to fully dodge it. It hit her left arm; the skin burnt and the muscles spasmed. It also hurt like hell...

With her eyes to the sky, watching for another lightning strike, she caught the movement Genpaku made to end up above her in her peripheral vision. His new found power also came with some amount of speed. Though she saw him coming, she couldn't entirely move out of the way. His kick aimed for her head, but missed and struck her shoulder. The force of the kick cracked something in her shoulder, but did not bring her down. The number of legs she had helped her to keep standing.

Less than a moment later, another lightning strike came, but she did not expect it to fire through him. Because it did, it hit her and she screamed, the ear-piercing shriek echoing under the sound of thunder. With her skin scorched and pain throbbing throughout her body, Arachne's love of talking vanished. She yelled angrily toward him and swung an arm around to strike him like before. The ends of her claws released the same webbing as before, hoping to get him stuck in it. "You are a RUDE child!"

With the claw strike, two of her front legs shot up to stab him through. If they hit their mark, Arachne would push them forward and curl them down in order to push him down below her. In doing so, she'd begin a flurry of multiple blows toward his chest, neck, and face, releasing her webs at the same time. If the two legs did not hit, her next attack came as a lower body slam, her large backside coming around in a swift turn to slam against him like a wrecking ball into a building. The follow up to this will be the firing out of an immense amount of webbing as two different nets to try to catch him.

Kuro had no intention on going to the city with that power level increase. However, Arachne wasn't one to scream in the manner Kuro just heard. Though they both had different orders, he was curious what could make that stubborn woman feel pain. He made his way to the edge of the forest and looked out over the city to where he sensed the increasing power. By the time he got there, since he walked, Arachne was being hit with a lightning strike and then went into her well-known rage.

"Women..."

He looked around to see hollows still running in his direction, carrying souls, fighting other Shinigami, and many dying in the process. As far as he cared, this was going well. Their numbers were dwindling, so they'd have to leave soon. Then he sensed something strangely familiar. Kuro casually made his way over to a building using one of his best skills: sonido. He looked down into a hole to see a young woman at the bottom. "I remember you... Well, they do at least..." He thought and looked at six different bugs crawling on his hand. From there, he just looked up to watch Arachne and Genpaku fight.

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Genpaku’s attacks found their mark, though they had failed to bring her down yet. She was sturdy for all her speed it seemed; a trait common to her kind, but Genpaku had precious little experience actively fighting Arrancar. Generally, they didn’t strike the World of the Living and when they did they seemed to melt away back into Hueco Mundo quickly after wreaking swaths of destruction. It was also true however that it was rare to see the Bankai of a captain unleashed in the World of the Living, or for the limiter that effected them to be lifted. Today, it seemed, was a day for rarities.

Arachne had proven quick, keeping several steps ahead of the young Shinigami with the limiter in place. As she was about to find out however, with the limiter removed and his Bankai released things had changed. She struck out in retaliation for the previous attacks, a flurry of claws and spraying web. As she started her counter attack Genpaku formed a platform under his foot and pushed off, using Shunpo to create distance between the spider arrancar and himself. He left her a gift however, as another bolt of lightning struck down at her. Above them, the clouds lit up as lightning spread like spiderwebs across their face. The young Shinigami was preparing for another strike, aiming to end this fight.
“Bakudou #9, Geki,” he called, his finger tracing a pattern in the air. Genpaku was competent with Kidou but not much more than that. He couldn’t expect the kidou to hold Arachne for long at all. Then again, he wasn’t counting on needing it to hold her more than a second. As the kidou tried to latch onto the Arrancar the clouds erupted in a beautiful and terrifying display as dozens of bolt of lightning rained down on the Arrancar’s location. Genpaku was aiming to finish this fight.

For the moment, the young Shinigami had not noticed the second Arrancar moving into the battlefield. His focus was on the first, though it was likely that if Kuro decided to go on the offensive he’d give his position away.

Kuro’s fighting ability was almost non-existent. He preferred to avoid combat and brought down his prey in more swift and deceitful methods. With Arachne’s life on the line, and knowing he would be in trouble if he just walked away from here, Kuro quickly thought up a plan. Thousands of bugs rapidly flew out of his body, running around the battlefield, but mainly down into the hole he was standing next to. They soon covered the barrier that Genpaku placed around Kaminari. There were enough insects that no light could reach the inside. And of course, Kaminari just began to wake up.

Arachne found herself in a bit of a predicament. “Quick little bastard.” she shouted as her attacks missed and he vanished from sight. However, she expected the next attack and moved out of the way. Normally, she knew she could get away from it, but something was slowing her down. Once again, the attack hit, and the lightning struck. “STUPID KID.” she yelled again. Right as she caught sight of him, with every intention to attack him once more, she realized she suddenly could not move her own body. Her eyes widened when could sense the incoming lightning attack again, “Here it comes…”

“Shinigami.” Kuro called out as the clouds darkened, knowing another devastating attack was incoming. “Did you think a simple barrier would protect your friend? That insufferable woman you’re holding, let her go, or my insects will tear the girl apart.” Kuro allowed his own power to flair, ready to rush into his natural form if needed. Genpaku could sense the barrier he had erected slowly fading away, the energy being eaten away by the insects that surrounded it. They were acting like termites, biting into the energy to disrupt it and get their prey. Beneath the infestation, Kaminari was up and moving.

Posts : 139 Join date : 2018-08-17

His kidou caught hold, and the power built in his Bankai. A moment longer on Kuro's part, and Archne would have already departed from this world. Instead a voice rang out and grabbed the young Shinigami's attention. He did not release the kidou he held on the first Arrancar, instead pouring more energy into it to keep her still. Genpaku may only have been compotent in Kidou, but he had energy enough to fuel his kidou. Inefficient they might be, but he could keep them powered long enough to make up the difference. He turned his attention to the other Arrancar, the lightning dancing across the clouds above. From this distance, in this light, it wasn't easy to make out the small motions that moved across Kuro; if he hadn't called them out, Genpaku wouldn't have had a chance to notice them. His senses reached out in the moment of silence that fell between Kuro's demand the Genpaku's reply, and he felt the flood of energy that betrayed the insect's location.

Even at this distance Kuro would have been able to make out Genpaku's eyes, which burned a vivid emerald green in response to his power. They burned like fire, fed by understanding and hate. For all that hate, Genpaku reigned it in; it was a close one. He wished to instead simply obliterate both of the Arrancar. Unleashing that much power on the World of the Living would have consequences though, and Kaminari might not make it through that altercation. Genpaku had great control over his Bankai for his age, but his age was very young.
“Pull your pests off of her and I will let the other one go. If then, both of you leave this place, I'll let you,” Genpaku called out, voice contained but angry. Angry at the Arrancar for existing, and at himself for not noticing the second's arrival on the battlefield.
“I will warn you now though monster; you best leave he unharmed. Because her health is all that keeps you, both of you, from death. Harm her any further than you already have, and nothing will save you from me.”

Genpaku stood there, holding Archne still as best he could. Above them the sky danced in a strange display of light as the lightning danced across the clouds once more, like cracks in glass. Yet they did so silently; not thunder followed their motion. Instead the clouds and lightning seemed to be waiting, perhaps for the next words from the Arrancar's mouth.

Kaminari woke with a pain in the back of her head and in her shoulder. In fact, most of her body was sore, but when she realized it was dark, she ignored it and look around. It didn’t take her long to realize that bugs surrounded her, and it made her want to curl away from it. A moment later, she realized why they weren’t attacking. They were eating at a barrier that her captain put up; she recognized the energy pretty easily, and she had a theory about these bugs; she wasn’t sure she wanted confirmation.

Beyond the noise of the insects, Kaminari heard the words of an unfamiliar voice. She focused harder and realized the second voice was her Captain. She was a hostage? He was making a deal with an Arrancar to help her? Kaminari’s stomach twisted to knots. She looked around, searching her mind for some way to get out of this. Her zanpakuto was out of the question because it’d just cut through the barrier and let these insects rain down on her. She needed to bust out without letting them touch her.

“Doing this in close quarters like this might be a pain in the butt.” Kaminari thought as she grabbed her zanpakuto and bringing it out in front of her. She laid down on her back and looked up to the barrier. Taking a deep breath, she focused her energy and let go of the sword, her energy allowing it to float above her head. A gentle tap against the hilt and the blade began to spin, building up energy within the wind. After it was spinning fast enough, she grabbed the hilt and released the collected energy.

“Hado, fifty-eight. Tenran.” Kaminari spoke calmly. A widening tornado formed from her zanpakuto and fired out and up toward the sky. The wind tore through the barrier, and less than a second later, the bugs. They were all caught in the torrent, being blown into the sky, up through the hole that her body had originally made when Arachne struck her. She took no time. Even as the kido was still moving and creating her path, Kaminari jumped to her feet and shunpo’d to the building’s roof to look around.

Kuro was ready to make the deal. He planned on following through too. What he had not planned on, was the sudden burst of energy and destructive force that came from what he thought was an unconscious Shinigami. Some of the roof broke under his feet and he instantly reacted like expected: with fear. He took no time to even assess the situation and began fleeing, rushing back toward the open garganta that sat in wait for him and the many hollow he had brought. Arachne was on her own.

Posts : 139 Join date : 2018-08-17

Whatever the second Arrancar was going to say, he never got the chance to. Genpaku’s eyes flicked down a moment as he sensed the build up of energy before Kaminari let loose the kidou, sending rubble and insects flying up out of the hole and spooking the Arrancar. Genpaku wasted no time; before Kuro had begun his retreat Genpaku had shifted back to the offensive. The lightning dancing above rained down; his target though was not Kuro, but Arachne. He could not afford to continue pouring energy into holding her while pursuing the second Arrancar. So he made to finish her, or at least remove her from the conflict. After the bolts touched down he dropped the Bakudou holding her. In the meantime he closed the distance to where Kuro had been standing, lashing out with a kick to force him back and away. Genpaku needn’t have bothered, as Kuro was already beating a hasty retreat.

Kaminari landed on the rooftop nearby. Genpaku met her eyes a moment, before looking her over; she didn’t look that much worse for wear, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to get a thorough going over from the Fourth when they got back. He was not repeating last time. His eyes focused back and away from her, on the retreating energy of the Arrancar.
“Secure this area, I’ll be back in a moment,” he said. He disappeared then, rushing forward with Shunpo hot on Kuro’s trail. He focused, reaching out with his senses to try and pinpoint Kuro’s energy from what he had felt. Then he rained down more lightning on that location. He wasn’t as practiced at this so he couldn’t be sure of his aim. He hoped that at worst he might slow down the Arrancar long enough to catch up to him. At best, with a lot of luck, maybe he’d catch the Arrancar with one of the bolts and immobilize him.

In short order though, Kuro would be through the Garganta and out of his reach for now. Genpaku would be frustrated, but there was little time to dwell on that now. There were still Hollow about, and his Lieutenant to keep an eye on. He’d return to her, then work from there. Only, things were not going to go that smoothly. What had this day?

The lightning struck. Kaminari settled at the top. She squinted to lessen the bright flash and tensed when Arachne's scream pierced the air. The Arrancar fell and Kaminari saw it. Genpaku gave his orders and left and Kaminari realized it. The charred woman on the ground was someone she recognized. She moved over to Arachne's side and looked down at her, drawing her zanpakuto. She raised her weapon and froze. Arachne, slowly dying in front of her, looked her in the eyes and Kaminari couldn't move. Her Captain's orders repeated in her mind. She was about to swing again, but stopped. The vacant look in Arachne's eyes angered her. She brought her sword back down to her side and stared at her.

"You don't remember me, do you?"

"Should I?"

Arachne's body began disintegrating right in front of her. Like hollow and Arrancar normally die, she was breaking down and fading away. Kaminari fell to her knees beside Arachne and began crying, though she tried holding the tears back. She shook her head no and gently took Arachne's hand.

"N-No. You shouldn't."

Kaminari pulled Arachne into her arms and held her close.

"What are you doing, girl?"

"Do you want to die alone? Your friend left."

"No, I guess not."

Silence. Kaminari couldn't look away. Arachne watched as this small shinigami waited for her to die, barely feeling the few tears that fell on her cheek. As Arachne's body began fully disappearing, flittering up into the air like a dying fire, Kaminari leaned down and put her forehead against Arachne's.

"I was wrong." Arachne smiled, "I did rememb-..."

Arachne's voice faded away. Kaminari's eyes widened and Arachne was gone. The pressure of Arachne's hand in hers vanished. Kaminari began sobbing, tears creating a small puddle on the floor. She felt a lump in her throat. She didn't make a sound and her bangs blocked all sight to her face as she leaned forward, fully hunched over and holding her stomach. She gritted her teeth, and just... let the tears fall.

"Goodbye, Mom."

Posts : 139 Join date : 2018-08-17

The Arrancar was fast and wasn’t wasting time. It didn’t slow or wait, it did not double back for its companion. It intended to leave it and all the Hollows still here to their own fates, and Genpaku was determined to not let that happen. The briefest delay had allowed Kuro to get out of Genpaku’s vision, but that didn’t mean it had escaped yet. He wasn’t as practiced at this as he’d like, and Kuro was not the only power in the area. Even as Genpaku pursued him Kuro suppressed his power and was barely detectable amid the other Hollow signatures. Still, he had to try; Genpaku reached out with his senses and as he found the one moving the fastest away from him he struck. Lightning rained down, chasing Kuro the entire way of his escape. Escape Kuro would; Genpaku had misjudged the Arrancar’s speed and reflexes. He passed through the Garganta that stood waiting, willing to close with not a moment’s hesitation. He kept fleeing all the same.

Genpaku arrived in time to see the Garganta closing; he left a parting shot for Kuro to remember him by all the same. As the Garganta closed Genpaku struck himself with his lightning, then launched it forward out of his fist. He couldn’t tell if it found it’s mark or not. He stood in the clearing, an audience of stunned Hollow and what few pluses that had not been taken through yet. He cast his gaze around the clearing a moment, and made short work of what followed; what Hollow did not have a viable hostage Genpaku rained down lightning upon. The rest he dealt with personally. Such simple Hollow stood not much of a chance as they were all but hammered in place by the reiatsu of the young Captain. It was settled in the space of a few breaths.

Genpaku retreated then; he would have to help the souls pass on, but he was hesitant to do so at this moment. His power was just as likely to harm the souls as the Hollows before them if he remained such as he was, but he had not sensed the dissipation of the other Arrancar yet, and there were yet more Hollows about. After he’d gotten a handle on his own emotions and power he’d return. It shouldn’t take longer than a minute at this rate. Instead, he returned to the previous battle site.

He found Kaminari cradling the dissipating form of the Arrancar, and he was prepared to do what she could apparently not. He heard her final words however, and they washed away the anger in him for the moment. He had no words to comfort his Vice-Captain in that moment, because he knew words could not do that. Instead, he reigned in his power, dismissed his Bankai, and left her a piece of privacy. There was work to do now. There would be time for apologies later.

[THREAD END]

» Crimson Edge Arc: Sealing The Edge [Event 6] [CLOSED]
» THE CRIMSON EDGE ARC: The Breach [Event Three] [CLOSED]
» THE CRIMSON EDGE ARC [EVENT ONE] -COMPLETE-
» Crimson Edge Arc: Into Enemy Territory - Event 7
» Crimson Edge Arc: The Opening [Event Five] -Complete-