Welcome to Gaia! ::

[Mission Commence: We'll be making progress from here onwards.]

((Edit: I've added an aerial photo of Mount Vesuvius. Given it's a real volcano and all))



A humongous pulse of burning reiatsu emits from the top of the mountain. Could it be some strong spiritual creature has mixed itself with the fires of the volcano? Volcanoes have for a long time been places of spiritual significance too and so it is possible that a creature of immense power exists atop. The fact of the matter though is that the signal indicates a Shinigami origin and a Shinigami origin is more likely to be good news than bad news. More likely. Not certain. Shinigami betrayals aren't exactly unheard of these days.

However, from the backs of the Shinigami who should be preparing to rush up the mountain an extremely fast hollow spiritual pressure is racing towards them. Mixed in is the slight scent of a Shinigami. An enemy is coming and although they probably won't arrive before the Shinigami have made good progress up the mountain they should still be wary. The humongous spiritual pressure emitting from the mountain is certain to have brought other enemies in for a fight.

This is the kind of situation where the Shinigami are sure to get attacked from both sides. They'll have to keep a watch for enemies climbing the mountain alongside them.








[Max time between posts is 5 days. I'll move on and you'll have to catch up if not within 5 days.]

❝Are you watching closely?...❞




Bob sighed rubbing the back of his neck as he arrived as the base of the mountain, "This seems rather tedious, but I suppose if this is what I'm assigned to do then I shall get going" He loosened his shinigami robes allowing the top half to fall off so that he could properly air out and keep from overheating while ascending this mountain. His gaze shifted to the top of the mountain, "There is definitely something up there, I'm glad I only brought the essentials. I was sure to hydrate before hand so I shouldn't need anything until the mission ends. Still I should be sure to pace myself while climbing this so that if anything happens to pop up I won't pass out from heat exhaustion" His mind mulling over the best course of action as he wiped the sweat from his brow that was already beginning to permeate through his skin.

"Names Bob, squad 11. I'm heading on up now, you may wait for the others. I'll be sure to pace myself so you guys should be able to catch up pretty easy." He spoke to Kusari in a calm tone with a slight hint of excitement. Bob was a very social person but the only thing that could override this desire to interact with others would be his desire to fight and test himself. He tilted his neck to either side allowing a symphony or cracks and pops to emanate outward from his upper vertebrae. He took in a deep breathe holding it for a few seconds before exhaling allowing his heart rate to slow so that he could hopefully do a better job at remaining cool.

He took his first steps up the mountain, noticing that since the gradient at the bottom of the mountain wasn't very sharp he was able to begin walking up with ease. He was going at a nice pace allowing the rocks on the mountain to stabilize him so that he wasn't wasting careless energy trying to keep his footing in loose gravel. After about twenty minutes of walking he had made it to a more hardened part of the mountain making it so that he could continue his ascent with less caution of where he stepped. Bob was determined to reach this mountain and complete this mission. He knew that his comrades would catch up with relative ease. He also knew it would be prudent for a scout and be easier for him to come down to them if he encountered an enemy he couldn't handle on his own.

(Sorry... wasn't sure of the mountain layout so it made the ascent rather vague since I wasn't sure what to assume...)

Packing his backpack was the hardest part of the mission for Rat. Aside from the basic necessities for survival if he managed to get lost, he was torn between armoring up to prepare for anything that may come his way or stripping due to the heat he would face. He’d never encountered a volcano before but if they were as fickle and full of lava as he had heard from tales; well he didn’t want his armor melding into his skin. Rat decided to just chuck some basics in his backpack. They were climbing, and carrying explosives wouldn’t be good but what if he needed them? With that in mind, he threw in a huge wad of clay. His hatchet-shovel might come in handy at some point if they needed to fortify. Another item into his pack. Extra water would never hurt. Hydration. Bug spray might come in handy. If there were any bugs up there. Just in case though. Matches were also necessary. Rope, two separate 60 meter half-ropes for climbing. Then his bag was full. He looked forlornly at the other items, finally decided to grab a large wooden board-like shield and strapped it on his back under his heavy backpack and set out to meet the others.

It seemed that his packing dilemma ended up making Rat the latest arrival. He noticed two people had begun their trek upwards. The slope appeared consistent for now, at least. Were introductions in order? Nah, probably wasn’t that important anyways. This was just a search and find-out-what-was-going-on type of mission that involved climbing a volcano. He couldn’t picture himself bonding with someone climbing a volcano. Rat’s pack was large though, he would probably end up the slowest in the group. It didn’t bother him too much, if he needed to lighten the load he would get rid of a can of bug spray. Or perhaps not. Well, here he went. He’d just loosely follow behind this 7’3” tall, heavy-set bear of a man. At least it would assure him a stable path up the mountain. Following behind him made Rat feel like a child. As long as the man didn’t get heat stroke from his helmet and crash into him.

Quote:

#1: Hado #35 - Shell Blast
#2: Hado #24 - Suichokuryoku
#3: Bakudo #10 – Speed Barrier
#4: Hado #13 - Grey Quake
#5: Hado #7 – Buster Blast
#6: Bakudo #9 – Horin
#7: Bakudo #19 – Accelerator Plane
#8: Bakudo #16 – Blaster Net

Kusari looked at the kids eagerly rushing up the volcano. Bob, with his attitude and spiky hair seemed liked he would be the biggest headache here, The second kid seemed like he may be worth a crap in a fight, but outside of that, what good was he? The last guy seemed to have brought all of his worldly possessions with him. Kusari lit a cigarette and turned towards the mountain, ready to climb. Thats when he saw it. In the distance a cloud of dust rose, horses? He whistled to get the attention of the others, "Hey maggots, check your six!" He looked behind him and used his superior athletics ability to climb up a little bit. He pointed his hand at the approaching cloud, figuring out were he would be, he adjusted his focus and said, "Twenty seven by seven o two. Moon raises higher, tide crashing. Vision Obscured as the Great God takes his seat on the throne and cast out the impudent from his court! Hado number thirty-eight Yabu Retsu!" A black ball launched from his hand towards the filthy mass of hollow energy coming at him. It was destined to land in the creatures path and explode, when it did, twenty six explosions would crush the beast from every side.
"Get yer' arses up this mountain and focus fire on the hollow. If your worth your salt with kido, firing is authorized, melee fighters get up the mountain and scout ahead." He looked to see who would be staying. Then he ran up the mountain a little more. These punk kids acted like it was hard, short of the heat he did better workouts for his morning PT, but damn that heat, he was already building up a sweat from the heat alone.

Shirokuma was slowly making his way up the volcano when he heard someone shouting. He turned around to see two more shinigami behind him. One of them was the one yelling and another had what seemed everything ever made in a backpack. He shook his head and looked to where the other shinigami said to look. He tilted his head at the oncoming cloud that seemed to be set on running at them. He held out his finger and mumbled something before he shot off a Byakurai at the cloud. He then looked down at the shinigami with the giant backpack and sighed before he picked him up and began to run up the volcano. To him he felt like he weighed nothing. He pointed back telling Rat to do anything while he carried him.

He continued up the volcano and continued to carry Rat as he mumbled and whispered some things before a blue orb appeared in his hand. He would then quickly kneel down and push it into the ground before he began to run again. Whatever was chasing them it would have a hard time catching up. His boots thudded against the ground as he made each step count pushing him and Rat up farther and farther, but also to make sure they didn't fall or slip and tumble down to what ever was chasing them.

Sorry for autohitting but I really wanted to get the strength of this thing across Zephyrsblade and Angel of Death112.






The Kido cast by Bob would not just reveal a good path up the mountain but would also reveal the state of the mountain. It was something they may have been able to guess themselves from the approaching scent of smouldering flesh and the immense spiritual pressure emitting from the peak of the mountain. Upon looking at the Sanic Tracker Kido they would find all surrounding the mountain the corpses (or rather more likely burnt out shells) of hollows surrounding the mountains. Hidden by larger rocks. It was quite likely that whatever the force atop the mountain was it had slain the other hollows with a fiery power strong enough to cook the organs of the hollows and burn them from the inside out. To put it simply the Shinigami team had found themselves in-between a rock and a hard place. However in good news they had now found a more easy route to climb the mountain. If they were to go to their right they would find a move even route up the mountain that hadn't been as badly destroyed by constant eruptions.

Meanwhile a Kido onslaught was fast heading towards the huge Hollow reiatsu. With a definite sound of a hit an explosion went off in the path of the Hollow and for the first time the reiatsu of the creature could be felt to be slowing down and the dust cloud surrounding it was settling down. In a few seconds Kusari's, frankly understandable, mistake became clearly visible. A gargantuan beast stood before them. At least a hundred metres tall. Each hoofed foot was as wide as nine Shinigami. There was no question Kusari's Kido had hit its' target but its' effects were negligible when combined with the hugeness of the enemy he was facing. There was also the slight worry that the creature may boast a hierro but that power was mostly reserved for Arrancar. Which this was certainly not. The intelligence or surprising lack thereof could not be felt off this creature. A great bushy looking thing with dark brown fur all over and two enormous tusks and yet with no eyes and no clearly visible mouth. This must be one of the Hollow Warbeasts which rumours had started to circulate about. It was said they were a special breed of hollow purposefully created for their focus on physical power at all other costs and that it was completely impossible for a Shinigami to win a physical battle with one.

It was more than likely true. However it was an interesting challenge.

Another thing the Shinigami may have heard was that due to the sheer stupidity and actual non violent nature of these beastly Hollows they had to be commanded by some sentient creature sat atop. Although it was only a tiny black dot in the whole picture of things the Shinigami sat atop had an easily felt reiatsu central to the destructive force that the Hollow emitted. He could be no stronger than the Shinigami here or at least the difference was negligible. This meant if they could get atop the beast they would be able to stop the force directing it. There was now a clear path of attack for the Shinigami.

Meanwhile Rat had made the mistake of firing a binding Kido at a creature which was easily stronger than him. Possibly a creature strong enough to drag the mountain itself with it. With a yank from one of the creature's legs it pulled Rat out of the hands of the Shinigami holding him, or at least attempted to, with the kind of strength that could move even the strongest Shinigami alive. Rat would be better of dispelling his Bakudo if he didn't want to be thrown about like a sack of potatoes. Very small, very fragile potatoes.

This movement was actually the result of the Hollow Warbeast resuming its' charge up the mountain and now it was on a crash course for the one who had fired an offensive Kido at it. Kusari. With a body large enough to seemingly tear the mountain in two Kusari would have to move out the way or try and clamber on top of the Warbeast so that he might fight the Shinigami atop it. All in all the situation was not looking bright but at the very least a chance for victory, however slim, existed.

Kusari looked up at the approaching warbeast, and its rider. "You think I'm afraid of something just because its big?" He smiled as he began to run a little towards the right. He ate the kido Bob had left him and said, "In all things moderation. Shatter and Smash. The sun, the wind, the moon. A black rain descends. All frown upon the Earth. Bukudo Number twenty Ooze Gun. Hado number fourteen Dark Stone Shard Blaster." A gun coated his right hand, a black ball in his left. Mud and ash flocked to the ball as Kusari tossed it into the beast's path, simultaneously canceling it, leaving a great field of mud. Next he fired the entirety of the ooze gun's contents spread over the path of the beast. A large thing like that couldn't stop on a dime, it would crash. The final two shots hit the beast's feet, initializing the trip. "How much do you want to bet Warbeast don't have seatbelts." With any luck that driver up top would be tossed off from its mount, and once on the ground he would get a swift kick of justice. "BAAAAAWWWWWWWB," Kusari shouted, "HEAD RIGHT SOLDIER, THE PATH IS CLEAR AS DAY!" He hustled back more an more, clearing the beast's possible trajectories. Watching the skies for any signs of the driver.


((If Kusari sees this guy flying through the air I am going to use my custom Bakudo on him to disorient, increase damage.))