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 Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:27 am
PROFILE Name: Razil Masamune(ra-zeel ma-sa-moo-neh)
Aliases/ Nicknames: Raz, The Blade
Rank:Captain of 2nd
Previous Offices:
--Squad 1, 10th Seat
--Squad 1, 3rd Seat
--Squad 1, Vice-Captain
Physical Description:
Pre Time-Skip
He is of Average height (around 6 feet or so), lean but muscular. He sometimes wears a sleeveless robe, and usually carries his Zanpakuto on his back, as it is slightly longer than most (strictly for better distance in combat, not used as a sign of power, although it could fake enemies out). He has silver longish hair, and pitch-black eyes, and always has a black bandanna around his forehead. His skin is tan, but not to tan, and he weighs approximately 200 lbs.
Post Time-Skip
Razil has retained his former dimensions, growing slightly taller and just a bit bulkier. New scars trace their way across his torso, as they account for the heavy training he has gone through in the past 3 years. His torso is bare, showing the previously stated scars, and only covered by a long white trench coat. Besides that, he wears a pair of black pants made of denim-like material, dark shoes, and his hands are sheathed in black leather gloves with a metal plate covering the back of the hand. He has abandoned the bandanna, choosing to show his Zaigou mark as a symbol of pride, and his Zanpakuto is strapped to his right side underneath the coat. Besides this, he wears the Vice-Captain badge on his left bicep over the trench coat, so others may recognize his rank.
Ascendancy to Captain
Razil looks more or less the same as when he was VC of 1st. The trench coat has been replaced by a white Haori, except the arms have been tailored to fit snuggly around his arms. Under the Haori he wears nothing, bearing his torso and the many scars that are there. A gas-mask covers his mouth most of the time, but sometimes has it off. The Zaigou mark on his forehead visibly glows darkly, leaking black energy in the form of vapor the color of night. His silver hair is long enough to reach his ear, and parts in the middle (see avi example). He wears his Zanpakuto at his left hip, under the Haori, and a smaller, straight-edged ninja-to on his back, the hilt poking over his right shoulder. Gloves with steel plates still cover his hands, and he still wears dark pants with black shoes.
Zanpakuto:
Katana Fungeki:
normal~A regular Zanpakuto, about a foot longer than most for an advantage in battle, with a black blade and a rectangular tsuba, all in black, the thread on the handle is crimson.
(Yes, I know this is Ichigo's Bankai, but I couldn't find a better example. Just imagine the tsuba being round)
[ACHIEVED]Shikai "Desecrate, Katana Fungeki." (Blade Fury)~
-Description: Razil grabs the hilt of his sword with both hands while speaking the release phrase. He then yanks with his left hand, separating the sword into two, one in his right colored jet black, and the other in his left colored pure white. The transmutation ability applies to both swords.
For the full training, go here.
Powers:
-Battle Meditation: When Shikai is released, Razil becomes more focused on the battle at hand, feeling less pain and being much less distracted by outside influences. Also, his technical skill increases, as well as his speed, accuracy, and power. This power does not consume reiatsu as it is latent, and goes away when his Zanpakuto is sealed.
-Transmutation: The Basic ability of Razil's Shikai, his swords can turn into any weapon imaginable, they can be turned into two unrelated weapons, such as a dagger and nodachi. There is a cool-down period between transformations however, he has to wait a few seconds (two full posts of his own) before making another transmutation. The time for it to cool down however varies according to what weapon it is, longer if it is a larger weapon, smaller if it is something like a dagger.
-Steel Mirage: Razil swings either sword or both in a circle, stopping either a quarter-turn, a half-turn, or full-rotation. The blade spreads like a ghostly fan (think like Tousen when he does his blade rain technique). This creates a trail of blades that follows his sword, confusing the opponent as to the exact location of it. When an object/person is struck by the blade in this mode, Razil has the option of making the mirage flow back into the blade, causing an impact equal to the original strike for every mirage blade that is created (depending on how full the circle was) simultaneously. The mirage blades cannot be used as a defensive measure, think ghost blades with some extra attributes.
-Phantom Trail: Similar to Steel Mirage, but using Razil's physical body. This technique is strictly for confusing an opponent, and does not have the strike multiplier that Steel Mirage does.
-Blade Vortex: Using a technique similar to his "Resonate", Razil swings his sword(s) at incredible speeds in a sphere around him. This creates a field in which everything is cut to ribbons. The longer this field is kept up, the more reiatsu it consumes.
-Feint Cut: Razil strikes an object or opponent, but the damage is taken on the opposite side, EX) Razil cuts an enemy on his left flank, but the cut appears on his right.
This makes it hard to predict where to block.
-Chaos Seal: This is the ultimate technique for Razil's Shikai, and thus is difficult to set up. It involves cutting six symbols into the ground, 3 by the black blade and 3 by the white. They are placed in a hexagonal shape, and then another is cut in the very center by both swords. The attack is activated by stabbing both swords into the seal; everything inside the hexagon is instantaneously cut many times from all directions, causing massive damage to the body (similar to Byakuya's Senbonzakura). This affects everyone inside the seal, including Razil, and so is a last resort. This can be used only once per battle, and knocks Razil unconscious when used. The reiatsu consumed grows or shrinks in relation to the size of the hexagon.
[ACHIEVED]Bankai"Kontontoshiteiru Katana Fungeki. (Chaotic Blade Fury)
- Description
Following the usual dramatic blast of dark energies, involving the ripping apart of the earth immediately surrounding Razil, he becomes enshrouded completely in a tattered black robe. The garment is form fitting, and comes with a hood that completely covers Razil's face, except for a pair of eyes that literally glow black from the depths of the cowl. On the whole, the robe makes him look tall and emaciated, somewhat like a wraith. His weapon(s) have vanished, literally turning to dust and melding with Razil's very flesh.
Powers
-Ultimate Weapon Mastery
The basic ability of Bankai. It gives Razil the ability to turn anything he touches into a weapon of some sort. For example, he touches a tree, the leaves all turn into leaf-shaped blades,which he can control. This can be used in a variety of ways.
-Slitwind
Razil dissolves away into the air, becoming countless tiny little blades. The full effect of Slitwind can be read in the quote below:
"I see fields smoking to the horizon, even in this pissing rain. I see these trench graves we dug for ourselves. I see the damned keep, as big as a mountain. I see-" He saw a wall of black, growing larger with impossible speed.
"Slitwind!" he shouted, hurling himself back into the trench. In his haste he landed face first in mud that reeked of ammonia and gangrene.
"What?" Thaniel said, but then even the smoke-gray sun above them was gone, and a sound like a thousand thousand swords on a thousand thousand whetstones scraped at the insides of their skulls. Two men who hadn't ducked swiftly enough flopped into the mud, headless, blood jetting from their necks."
It is in essence, a black cloud that will engulf and slice into microscopic bits anything it encounters. Because it is technically Razil himself, the cloud is intelligent and has a will of its own.
-Reiatsu Manipulation
Razil has greater control over the flow of his own reiatsu, letting manipulate it like water. This helps with his Ghost Blades, and lets him "touch" things that are far away.
-Desecration
The pinnacle of Razil's abilities. Razil's "touch" expands by a quarter-mile to a half-mile in a sphere around him, the distance varies with his current power level. The environment inside this area, including the ground, any nature, and the very air is subject to his Ultimate Weapon Mastery ability. He can turn anything in this radius into a weapon, the earth becoming a meatgrinder, the air into a toxin, and the trees, leaves, and shrubs into various instruments of death.
Special Accessories: A steel shoulder guard covering his right shoulder (his sword arm) with the symbol of his division.
Skills: Extremely Skilled with a sword and all weapons.
Abilities:
Pre Time-Skip
Razil seems to have had a keen sense on how to destroy things since childhood. This being so, he is naturally good at destructive kidou, and strives to master many of its forms.
Ghost Blades
-Mastering the manipulation of his own reiatsu, Razil can form them into blades and atack with them. Basic mastery of the Ghost Blades only allows the wielder to cut through flesh, so the blades cannot block sword blows, and is foiled by body-armor. More advanced stages may make them more tangible, and thus more able against such restrictions.
Zaigou
-Razil has trained for and successfully become a Zaigou. His powers when in Zaigou state include:
>Reido: A black burst of energy that can only be fired from the hands. This attack cancels out any Cero blast, even the infamous Gran Rey.
>Increased senses and reiatsu sensitivity: Used to track down hollow and Arrancar.
>Symbol: Razil's Zaigou symbol is imprinted on his forehead.
Post Time-Skip
-Ghost Blades: Perfection
This ups the level of Razil's Ghost Blades. He can control whether they become tangible or intangible at will, meaning that when they are, he can block blows and cut through armor with them. More or less, create tangible blades out of his own reiatsu and control them to the greatest degree possible.
-Shunpo
Mastered before the invasion to retake the Sereitei
Personality: Quiet and stern, he usually leans against a wall when not doing anything, and only inputs his opinion when he feels it is needed. Being a weapons master type, he is solitary in nature and prefers to do his work and missions alone, but will work with a group if he has to or is facing something particularly strong. Despite his outward attitude, once one gets to know him, Razil is a very fun-loving person, and will bare his blade for his friends.
Kidou
~Bakudo (restraint):
#1 Sai
#4 Hainawa
#9 Geki
~Hadou (destructive):
#1 Sho
#4 Byakurai
#? Resonate (of his own creation): Razil stabs a target with any weapon, a smaller one such as a kunai is better since it adds more power. He then vibrates his arm back and forth within a small area extremely fast, the movement is so small and fast its almost invisible to the naked eye. The quick movement effectively destroys matter around it, splitting large rocks with little effort.
Updates
--Re-posted my profile, added Bankai description and Zaigou powers. Bio is upcoming as well as Tim-Skip editing
--Edited Abilities for after Time-Skip and adjusted Bankai Powers accordingly
--Achieved Bankai w/ Yuki-Taicho 05/23/09
--Learned Shunpo w/ Yuki-Taicho 06/03/09
--Added a picture description of Bankai 06/06/09
--Added new abilities 07/04/09
--Promoted to Captain of 2nd Squad 10/25/09
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:01 am
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:02 am
strikeout= Katana Fungeki
"quotes"= Razil
italics=Razil inner thoughts
Lesson One: Ghost Blade
After wandering the maze of walkways that was the Sereitei, Razil decided to find himself some solitude, to think. He went to the gardens, a beautiful collection of plants, flowers and general fauna that perfectly balanced with the white walls of the surrounding buildings. Finding a clearing, Razil strode to the center and, with hell butterfly's flitting in the air about him, sat down on the cool grass. He winced slightly as the wound in hiss gut sent lightning through his torso, as it still wasn't completely healed yet. Closing his eyes, Razil let the world around him fade to black...
~{*}~
When he opened them again, he was in a large field at sunset, the dying mirage of the sun throwing colors into the sky, making it look as if it were bleeding. He was in the shade of a gnarled tree, and was surrounded by bodies. The sight would have shocked anyone else, but he had grown accustomed to this...this was his ZanpakutÅ's world after all...the Death Realm.
A voice rasped from behind him. Been a while, hasn't it? Sighing and closing his eyes, Razil turned on his heels, not surprised at the form of Katana Fungeki standing behind him, his tattered robe flitting in the sight breeze that always blew across the blood-soaked plain. "It has, but I have been...occupied..." His right hand strayed towards the bandage on his torso, referencing the underlying scar. His only memory of when Hogosha the Arrancar smashed his fist through him.
Oh don't give me that bull, I know of your trists with the maiden, Tsuki... Blushing slightly, Razil looked away. "That is none of your business, spirit!" There was no answer.
After a moment, Razil turned back. "So, are we going to start this, or not?" The spirit stood silent for a moment, then whipped around and walked to a spot where the bodies were cleared a way, a few hundred meters distant. Razil kept pace with him, and he began to speak.
Last time, you showed me what you already knew, and I taught you some new combos to use in combat. This time... he glanced at Razil, black eyes glowering from the shade of the cowl. ...This time you will learn a technique that is based on reiatsu. Because of this, you will need to maximize your reiatsu control, and start bulking it up some. The move I will show you can drain you particularly fast if you don't have enough in reserve so, be careful.
He stopped walking, and Razil followed suit, halting beside him.
A weapons master needs to always have a weapon on them, otherwise, what use are their skills? What I am about to show you will validate that. Now my pupil, dodge! His hand came from the left, going straight for Razil's face as if it were a blade. Razil saw it coming and moved his head in the opposite direction, causing the hand to go flying past his face a millimeter away. Smirking slightly, Razil chuckled. "Is that all? That was noth-" A line of pain slashed across his cheek where the hand had passed, and blood flashed in a line, as if an invisible blade had sliced his face. Razil stood in shock.
"How did you-"
Never think you haven't been hit, it is never a good assumption. the spirit in front of him spat. Look carefully at my hand, and you might have noticed something different about it... His eyes cautious, Razil turned slowly and looked at the hand besides his face. He noticed a faint shimmering around the edges, and realized with a flash what it was. He looked back at Katana incredulously. "reiatsu blades?!" he asked, excited at the concept. Although he couldn't see it, Razil knew that the Spirit was leering at him from under his cowl.
Exactly! With this, you can turn any body part into a weapon, indeed anything! The only downside is it drains you significantly, so you need to master reiatsu control as a result.
"I can already focus mine fairly well, I can make all kinds of strange shaped with it..." scowling at the childishness, the Spirit stepped back a few, preparing to instruct. Yes, I know. I do live in here to you know...anyway... he clapped his gloved hands together, commanding Razil's attention. Okay, here is how it is done. You know how to visualize your reiatsu and shape it as you want to, that is good. From there it is a simple matter of attaching it to the desired object, and then making it as sharp as possible. The greater control, the sharper the blade, the more it will cut and the less it will drain on your reserves. So get to it!
Nodding, Razil closed his eyes and concentrated, picturing his unique reiatsu and its color, a strange glowing black, and shaping it. He opened his eyes and manipulated the faintly visible mass to his hands, extending them slightly, he tried to sharpen them as best he could. When he thought they were done, he swung downwards at the red-tinted grass, slicing off a few. However, as the blades struck, they dissipated, like fog before a fan.
Frowning, Razil tried again. You have the cutting edge down right, its the blade itself you need to add strength to. The kind you just made is called a ghost blade, and is very good for throwing your enemies off, also for surprise attacks. This time try to add some substance to it, making it more solid. The spirit was silent again, letting the student perform.
Razil formed the blade again and swung at a tree this time, leaving a gash in the soft wood. The blade held this time, but could be felt to bend slightly against the blow. Good, that time it held. You have the basics down, with practice you can do all kinds of things with this, for example... the Spirit swung his arm at a distant tree, and a shimmering mass flew from it, striking the tree and dissipating, but leaving sizable holes in it. "Throwing knives as well?" Razil asked, interested.
Chuckling, the Spirit answered Yes, but not yet. You don't have that kind of finesse at this point. Seeing the disappointment in Razil's eyes the Spirit took pity. Don't worry, you're pretty good at this. Once you master it, there will be a myriad of uses for this, since reiatsu blades can't be blocked by physical ones, they can be deadly in combat if used at the right moment.
The Spirit grasped Razil's shoulder and shunpo'ed them back to the tree where they had started. Work on that for a while, once you master that it will be time for the next phase. Good-bye, pupil...
he image of the Spirit faded in front of him, and Razil sat down onto the packed earth. Closing his eyes, he anticipated using his new techniques in battle. They will benefit me, I need to master them as quickly as possible. he thought, as his conscious slipped into the dark once more...
~{*}~
He awoke once more in the field of butterfly's, with a little more knowledge. Getting up, Razil dusted off his clothes and stepped from the garden, heading off to the Dojo...
[Lesson One, End]
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:03 am
strikeout= Katana Fungeki
"quotes"= Razil
italics=Razil inner thoughts
Lesson Two: Genetic Imbalance- Sadistic Wrath
Intro-The mind is composed of two parts: the conscious, which we rely on to control and regulate our day-today activities, and the unconscious, that has all the basic instincts that we need, such as breathing, and the pumping of the blood through our veins. It is the latter however, that has to deal with the 'waste material', the thoughts and emotions that are darkest. Everything contained here loses all trace of humanity, being abandoned to pure animalistic behavior, it harbors such darkness as wrath, lust, gluttony, blood-lust...all the primal instincts that turn a civilized human being, into a ferocious killer.
There are those with a sort of imbalance in this area, a glitch that allows bridges to form between the conscious, and these darkest of recesses of the unconscious. When they are formed, the person becomes consumed by the emotion, losing themselves in the process. It is by this that serial killers are born, as well as rapists and cannibals. Driven by instincts, humans succumb to performing terrible deeds as a result of these. However, if one could learn to control this, to unleash the wrath of their unconscious at chosen intervals, and shut it off at their own bidding, they can become immensely powerful. This being said, there is a tendency for this insanity to be passed down through families, leading to the conclusion that they are genetic. This is about one of those people. Seeking greater power, Razil will take the plunge into the blackest corners of his own mind, and attempt to tame a monster...
Fading into darkness once more, Razil opened his eyes to the now familiar blood-soaked plain that was the death-realm.
Standing up, he looked about, taking in a deep breath of air. The coppery scent of blood was thick, and Razil wrinkled his nose.
"You really need a make-over, you know that?" he said, speaking to the form he knew was standing behind him.
Bah, I like it like this. Think of it as a photo album...except they aren't just photos...
Razil heard the grin in the rasping voice, and couldn't help but join in.
"So, what is this gift you wish to present me?"
Katana Fungeki had told Razil of a gift he was to receive, a congratulations of sorts for the recent promotion to 3rd Seat of his squad.
Hmm, yes...although I must warn you the spirit held up his hand, placing it on Razil's shoulder. I must warn you that you may not want it. This is a vital piece of myself, and you are not as cold-blooded as me.
Razil eyes the Spirit curiously, trying to discern his meaning. "What do you mean,what is it you are going to show me?"
The tattered form just stood there, silent. Turning on quiet heels, he motioned with his hand for Razil to follow, silencing him with a slice of his hand every time Razil tried to speak.
They walked across the plain t a small wood that Razil had never been in. The dark trees arched overhead, forming a shaded tunnel that led deep into the forests black heart.
This tunnel, the Spirit began, his rasping voice dry in the tight space between the trees
This tunnel, is a bridge. It leads into the blackest parts of your mind.Fungeki looked at Razil, his eyes glowing with...caution...fear?
There are many things in a human mind that you will not like, one especially. A monster, that will destroy you if it has the chance, painfully and tortuously.
The Spirit continued.
Go on, walk the path into your mind if you wish greater power. Be very careful Razil, if you die in there, your physical self will become a soulless void, turning to mere dust.
Looking down the gloomy tunnel, Razil shuddered. He did not like the taste, nor the scent of the air emanating from here. It was musty and stale, smelling of darkness and insanity. Planting a foot on the path, Razil spoke to the Spirit without looking at it.
"Tell me one thing, Fungeki."
The Spirit stood silently.
"What will I encounter in here?"
Pausing for a moment, the Spirit chuckled slightly.
You will encounter dark things, you will encounter insanity, death, hunger, pain, anger. The very darkest parts of the human soul There, you will fight them, tether them, tame them, and so make them yours.
With that, the Spirit strode away, leaving Razil alone before the black.
Turning around and peering through the shade, Razil took one last sample of the breeze, and walked on.
The darkness swallowed him whole, as if greedily consuming his very being...
~{*}~
Hours, days, weeks, years passed by inside the mind of Razil Masamune, 3rd Seat of Squad 1 of the Sereitei. Years of fighting, surviving, and hoping. When he opened his eyes again, and saw the light of a blood-soaked sun, it stung him.
He had not seen any form of light for a long time, and so the sun stung him, but he gazed on anyway, tears streaming down his face. The bandanna wrapped around his forehead flapped in the breeze, tattered from many conflicts.
A voice rasped from behind him
About time boy, I have been lonely here.
Razil spun, extending a ghost blade from his clenched fist, ready to attack if necessary. When he saw who it was, he relaxed, letting the concentrated reiatsu in his hand dissipate.
"Sorry, it has been a while since I met anyone...civilized..."
The Spirit chuckled, noting Razil's progress on the ghost blade technique.
After a few minutes of quiet conversation, there was a lull. The Spirit took this opportunity to ask Razil about his ventures.
What did you find, what did you learn?
"I learned many things." Razil spoke gravely, the voice of a veteran, wise and humble.
"I fought, a lot. I had to fight just to survive from day to day. Who knew my mind could harbor such vicious beasts..."
A shudder shimmied its way down Razil's spine, as memories rose unbidden to mind.
Katana Fungeki was silent, listening intently, up until the poin where Razil paused, his mouth open slightly.
What? Do you not remember the very beast I sent you in to fight? Razil screwed up his face, trying to remember. He could picture finding a particularly dark spot, where the blackness seemed to be a tangible thing, alive and hungry for blood...and then all he knew was that he was sitting outside the wood, laying in the blood-soaked grass.
Coming back to the present, Razil looked at the Spirit of his sword, helplessly.
"I am sorry, I must have failed." he knelt in front of the robed form, ready to be admonished.
And so was surprised at the dry laughter he heard. His head snapped up as he regarded the madly laughing Spirit.
...oh, please, you think you failed? Just the fact that you are alive means you succeeded...the extent of which I cannot tell, however.
I can tell the extent of the battle however...
The spirit looked down, at Razil's torso.
It was only then that Razil noticed he was half-naked, the top half of his robes completely torn free, with the tattered edges anchored at his wast flapping in the breeze. He also saw that his flesh was not the same as when he had entered the forest. Numerous scars and gashes criss-crossed his body, silver strips of flesh drawing crude designs across his body.
Razil ran his hands over his own mutilated form, crossing across the circular scar left by Hogosha, seemingly so many years ago...
At that particular thought, his head snapped up.
"How much time has passed?" he demanded, panicked and afraid of the answer.
In here, the death-realm? Ten years.
Razil sucked in the air, a lead weight hitting the bottom of his stomach.
In the real world? Sixty seconds at the most.
The air blew back out as relief filled Razil's frame.
He returned to his examination, counting the scars, but losing the number as it got too high. "What did this to me?" he asked himself out loud.
Something vicious and cruel, and you managed to tame it.
The Spirit said satisfactorily, gazing at the pupil.
But now it is time for you to leave here and return to your world, you have a date with your Lieutenant, do you not?
Razil thought hard, remembering something like that. Oh, how long ago it seemed.
"Alright, I will be going now I guess. Until next time, Sensei."
Razil sat down and closed his eyes, and the Spirit watched him fade from his world. It stood there for a moment after Razil was gone, thinking.
Be wary, my pupil. Do not let the beast you have tethered gain control...or all will be lost... Then he, too, disintegrated into nothing.
~{*}~
The trip back to consciousness took a little longer than usual, and so Razil had some time to think. He was unsettled by the apparent loss of memories, and so dug deep. Attempting to turn over the memory like so many clods of earth with a shovel. He found a block in his mind, after some searching, a seeming wall of darkness that smelled of blood and death. When he tried to prod and press the wall, a fiery anger ran through him, and for a moment...just a moment...he hated, hated so much he wanted to slowly kill everyone he ever knew. It faded, and Razil was left mentally gasping. Spirit...what have you awakened? He left the wall, and opened new eyes to the world around him.
[Lesson Two, End]
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:04 am
strikeout= Katana Fungeki
"quotes"= Razil
italics=Razil inner thoughts
Lesson Three: Shikai
A jumbled chorus of voices and sounds spiraled and spun ever on into darkness, resolving into a raspy voice speaking an alien tongue...
Razil opened his eyes with a start, leaping up from where he lay and dropping into a guarded stance. His eyes scanned the familiar blood-red horizon, and he relaxed slightly as he drank in the well-known site.
The Death-Realm panned out before him, with twisted trees and shattered bodies littering the broken plain, exotic weapons sticking into the air like some sort of morbid forest of war.
A dry, papery voice emanated from seemingly nowhere and yet everywhere at once.
And so the pupil returns...but why?
Razil looked around, and then down at the bloodied ground. He fell to his knees, and beat the earth in humiliation.
"Lost again! This cannot go on, I must become more powerful, or I wont be any use soon enough!" Razil's eyes filled with bitter tears that swam their way down his cheek, hitting the ground and being greedily eaten by the drunken soil
A moment of silence wrapped the broken plain, even the gentle breeze that usually fluttered through had stopped.
More powerful? I just taught you to harness the power of madness, and you wish for more? the voice grew ominous, as dark clouds drew together in the sky, casting everything in a steel-gray hue.
"I do! Even with the madness, I didn't win. This is unacceptable!"
An audible sneer hissed from the sky, making Razil wince.
...unacceptable? You aren't ready for what is next, go back to your world to lick your wounds and come back when you have an ounce of talent.
Razil howled in fury and stood up, brandishing his hands at the dark sky, daring and taunting.
"You think you are so great, and what are you teaching me? I could have figured out all these tricks on my own, you have been useless!"
Everything went quiet, nothing made a single noise...
You think you're such hot stuff? the voice rasped, angry enough that it shook the very earth upon which Razil stood. Winds started tearing through the plain, shrieking through the twisted trees and whispering through the diseased grass.
I will show you how uneducated... a black lightning bolt struck earth a few feet away from Razil, forming into a black robed specter with a tattered garment and cowl, flapping in the torrential wind.
...how uneducated you truly are.
The Spirit raised his right hand and snapped his fingers, and a black katana appeared in it. Razil grasped for the hilt at his side, but only felt air. It was then that he recognized the sword the Spirit clutched, ancient writing along the blade barely visible in the dim light.
He would do that to. Well no matter, I will not lose to him, he has always underestimated me! Razil grabbed two long daggers laying on the ground, flourishing them with silver spins before his body.
He had barely dropped into a stance when the Spirit shrieked and lunged at him, bringing the katana around in a flashing black arc.
Razil blocked by crossing the knives in front of him, taking the impact in his arms. He was flung straight back from the impact, his heels digging deep trenches in the dirt. Hellfire, he's strong! he thought grimly, noticing that the blades of the daggers had split off of their hilts. He dropped the useless weapons and, noticing a beam of wood extending from a nearby tree, grabbed the shaft and pulled out the curved blade of a Naginata. He spun the eastern lance in his hand and brought it around just in time to meet the oncoming spirit. Their blades clashed with a burst of tainted reiatsu, and Razil found himself gazing into the angry black-glowing eyes of his swords spirit. He glared right back and laughed defiantly, wanting to provoke the Spirit.
The being hissed, and let loose a barrage of reiatsu blades from his body, attacking with as many as he could muster. Razil responded in kind, loosing his own barrage to parry the attakcs. They stood their a mintue, battling back and forth like two socrpions with many tails, until one got through. Razil felt a stab of pain in is left shoulder, just as he felt his own sickle sink home in the Being's left flank. They jumped apart and regarded each other from a distance, eyes probing each other and their weaknesses. Razil saw the blood spreading through the dark fabric of the Spirit's robe and smiled.
"So you do bleed, that's reassuring." the spirit chuckled at the comment, and the blood began seeping back into the wound, eventually dissapearing all together.
This is my world, I control everything here...in other words, I am completely untouchable. Razil could feel the Spirit's evil smile, even as a tingling sense of dread began coursing down his own spine.
The Spirit vanished
Razil spun about, just to feel a tremendous strike slam into his side. He flew through the air, trailing blood and sweat, and struck a tree. His body crumpled around it as he slid down the trunk. Getting up drunkenly, he grasped the hilt of a broadsword and hefted it in front of him, his vision swimming before him. Feeling more than seeing the Spirit come at him, he parried a blow and rolled under the Spirit's blade, hearing the edge sing through the air as it whizzed past his head.
They continued for hours, performing a dance as ancient as life itself. A dance filled with flashing blade and sweated brow. As one attacked, the other would retreat, then counter with a ferocity unknown in magnitude. They matched each other stroke for stroke, parrying and attacking in a never ending symphony of blood and violence, the only difference being Razil's deterioration after every attack he let through, while the Spirit remained unharmed and untiring.
Finally, Razil stumbled back after his newest injury, blood spraying from a new wound grinning from his right hip to his left shoulder.
You're mine! the spirit exalted, lunging in with terrible speed, ready to deliver a death-blow.
As the spirit came at him, the whole world seemed to slow down. Razil could make out individual drops of rain as the came from the heavens, glistening and spraying when they were cut by the gleaming black edge that now flashed towards his own neck.
This is the end, I can't get out of this... even while thinking this, his mind raced with the options, trying to think of the way out of this situation.
The Spirit always said winning took sacrifice, if one was willing to sacrifice enough, there wasn't a battle that he couldn't win...what can I do?! his eyes flashed again on the looming blade as it inched nearer.
How ironic, killed with the very blade I swore to protect everyone with...have my own flesh cut by my partner... his mind raced, and a light grew inside. Sacrifice...! he thought, and it was suddenly clear.
Moving as if through water, Razil used the last of his strength to drop the quarterstaff he was holding and draw a knife from his sleeve. Still moving in slow-motion, he ran at the Spirit, kunai brandished in front of him. As time sped back up to normal, the sword in the Spirit's hand rammed home, driving between Razil's ribs and loosing a torrent of blood from the wound. Razil kept running, shoving his body up the blade that pierced his torso, and slammed the kunai into the throat cavity hidden behind the Spirit's cowl. They stood there unmoving, and Razil let a river of blood flow from his mouth, tainting his lips a dark ruby red. He regarded the Spirit with a fierce gaze, even as he felt the icy fire of death race through his body from where the sword impaled his body.
Without speaking a word, the Spirit pulled himself off of the blade embedded in its throat, blood spilling loose and dissipating as the wound healed itself. He yanked the sword blade out of Razil's chest, letting the body crumple to the sodden floor. The Spirit stood over Razil, watching his blood leak into the ground. Razil stared right back up, coughing a little and blood bubbling from his lips. Finally, the Spirit spoke.
You give up your own life in an attempt to take mine...no...to show me that i would be dead, were I human.
He shook his cowled head slowly, almost sadly.
A warrior indeed, swordsman through and through.
The being began to slowly back away, dissipating into the dark air.
That which you searched for will be granted, you have shown me that you are devoted to your blade.
His robes vanished into darkness, and only his head was left, like a grim totem suspended in the air.
This was merely a sprinkling Razil Masamune, the storm has yet to come.
Here this now, for I only say it once...
~{*}~
Razil's eyes opened for the second time that day, and for the second time he didn't remember closing them. He raised his torso from the ground, looking about with wary eyes, and noticed Mocka and the other Shinigami sparring a few feet away. He got up, grasping his Zanpakuto's sheath as he rose, and watched the bout with detached interest.
[Lesson Three, End]
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:08 am
Lesson 4: Desecration
Razil stared at the tip of his blade embedded in the doll. Yuki's action had been so quick that he didn't have quite the time to comprehend what had happened before the hole started emitting a dark smoke. Razil smiled slightly
"I was going to do that myself you know." He said, knowing she was still in range of hearing him.
The smoke began billowing out more and more, soon engulfing the doll in a black cloud. Razil let go of the hilt and leaped back a few paces, warily watching the spot he had left . Black jets shot out of the crux between the doll and the sword, wrapping around the ivory surface like so many dark vipers, a burst of energy then spiraled upwards, concealing the doll from view.
When the air cleared, Katana Fungeki stood, tall and menacing in his lacerated black cloak and cowl covering the black glowering eyes and emaciated form. His head turned from side to side as he took in the environment, and after a moment he finally looked at Razil, whom by now had made a quick bow, and was approaching.
The lowering sun painted the sky blood-red, and the clearing became dead-quiet. The animals, sensing the power of the Spirit had all fled in fear of what was to come. The Spirit hissed menacingly when Razil finally reached him, and his eyes flashed a dark hue.
Razil knelt before him, not wanting to provoke his anger...the Spirit tended to be a little touchy at times, Razil sometimes thought it was in fact female...
A growl escaped Fungeki's covered lips, before he spoke.
Well boy, I see for once you have brought me out into your own world.
his head spun about disdainfully, taking in the tall grass and the setting sun.
...Putrid, as expected.
Ignoring the jibe, Razil stood up and looked into the depths of the cowl, formulating what he was going to say next.
"I take you know why you are here then, master?"
For tea and biscuits? The spirit replied, one could feel the sneer under his hood.
Again, ignoring the comments, Razil walked a few feet away, staring at the crimson sky.
"Soul Society was attacked." e said shortly, and not spinning around.
"The Arrancar came with floods of Menos, we were overrun though we killed many." A sigh escaped his lips and he turned, looking once more at the Spirit.
"We will strike back and return to ourselves what is rightfully ours, but the Shinigami that are left aren't strong enough. If we are to return to The Sereitei, we must all get stronger." Here Razil stopped and waited, looking at Fungeki for a response.
The Spirit sighed and turned his head towards the barn, where the rest of the Shinigami were sheltered. Fluctuations in spirit aura were felt as some came and went, under it all were the same base emotions: pain, sorrow, and anger.
Yes Razil, I know why I am here.
The Shinigami was openly startled, it was the first time the Spirit had called him by his name.
They were both silent for a moment
The Spirit turned his back suddenly and walked a few feet to the north, he brought his right arm across his chest, then paused.
There is nothing more to say except that I think you are ready. Besides, if you don't survive, the more words I say will just add to the pain.
Razil's face softened, this was also the first time Fungeki had shown any trace of emotion besides contempt, never mind treat him as a true friend.
He swallowed his emotions, stood up straight and saluted.
"I am ready master, and I will not fail you."
The Spirit looked at Razil for a moment over his shoulder, then nodded. He swept his right arm across his chest.
As he did, just for an instant, the world seemed to stop, like a skip in a bad magnetic tape. After that split second, things seemed...different somehow. Then, as Razil watched, the Spirit began to dissolve into a fine black smoke, twisting ever up into the heavens. A voice resounded in the cavity of Razil's mind like dark lightning:
I once faced an entire army by myself and proved victorious, now it is you turn. Prove yourself worthy of my powers, and you will know how to truly be a swordsman.
Black smoke billowed from the ground and tall grass, joining the dissipating body of Katana Fungeki as it spiraled up. Then shapes appeared, thin, white, and lumpy. They were unrecognizable at first, but as the smoke continued to rise, more and more objects were suddenly littering the ground. Razil realized with a shock what they were. His eyes flitted up to the sun still suspended in the sky, painting it the color of blood
It was in the same position it had been ten minutes ago.
As the body of the first dead soldier materialized, Razil couldn't help but grin...the Spirit had brought the Death Realm here.
His eyes roamed the field as more and more bodies became tangible, until the area was literally covered in them, various weapons littering the ground where they were dropped, the corpses mere bones inside rotted armor and cloth.
it was then that Razil became aware of a smell, the putrid smell of rotting flesh. He looked down and his eyes widened with astonishment and horror. The bones of the nearest skeleton were expunging a viscous red fluid, and it was boiling it's way down the rotted remains. All around him, every dead soldier began to exude the same substance, which in turn rand down arms, necks, and exposed rib-cages. Razil realized what it was doing, as he watched muscle tissue and the joint in a nearby elbow reconstruct itself. He backed away slowly, knowing what was happening. After a time, the first soldier stood up, armor clanking against itself, rusted pike brandished about it's head. More and more of them rose, until the field was filled with the recent dead. Their skin was ash gray, where it showed through gaps in armor and tears in clothes, and their eyes burned black.
These are not mere undead. Thought Razil, as he studied the army amassed in front of him.
They are much as they were when alive, still professional soldiers, but they obey a new master now. He had noticed the eyes, and knew of only one thing in both worlds that had them. Razil opened his mouth wide and howled, letting loose his Zaigou as he did so. Black reiatsu swirled over him and blasted outwards, carbonizing the vegetation around him. He stood before the army, hands twitching daring them to move. There was easily a thousand of them probably more than that. The first line took a step, then another, and then the whole mass was marching, jogging, running towards Razil, arms brandished high, mouths open in a silent scream. Razil stood against the onslaught, palm slowly reaching around and circling around his swords hilt, gripping it tightly.
He waited for the storm.
________________________________________________________________________ Background music (Lacuna Coil: Our Truth)The ground trembled, like an ancient earthquake. The sky burned down red as blood. The shrill whisper of steel against leather sounded, and the first wave was upon him. Razil drew his sword with a slithering ring, cutting the first man in half at the waist as he did so. He then jumped straight up and forward, bringing his fist up and then down, striking the ground while unleashing a blast of energy, blowing those nearby onto their behinds, where they were trampled by the next wave of armored men.
Razil flourished his blade, and began the age-old dance. He spun from foe to foe, first with a diagonal parry across the chest, followed with a sweeping motion behind him to counter an axe. The same seep cut a pike-man's face in half, the top half sliding down a bloody ramp. As the body fell Razil grabbed it and spun it over his left flank, letting it absorb the five arrows that were whistling towards him. Their steel heads embedded in the body, and Razil flung it forward, knocking back a group of swordsman bearing down on him. He spun again and sunk his sword deep into ones gut, pulling it down and tearing him from belly to groin. Razil was gone before the blood hit the dirt, leaping up and over the heads of several more soldiers. He spun as he did, unleashing long blades from nimble fingers and following them with his eyes as they each found a skull to bite into. He landed with a kick, allowing another burst of energy to disintegrate the lower half of an archer.
The ground shook as if an elephant were approaching, and Razil looked up to behold the biggest thing he had ever seen now running full tilt towards him. It looked like some sick deity had stuck together a hippopotamus and a silver-back gorilla, then gave the result human growth hormones. The only way Razil could describe what approached him now was whit one word: ogre.
The huge mass of flesh was wearing a large plate of steel over it's chest and a helmet, in it's arm was a gigantic double-headed axe. The beast swung it down, carving a trench several feet deep into the ground and driving a cloud of dust into the air. Razil began to dash towards the advancing giant, zigzagging across the shattered earth, spinning and slashing the throats of enemies that got in his way as he ran. As he got within range, the hulking beast howled and swung down again, attempting to split Razil in two like so many pieces of firewood. Razil spun to the side and leaped up onto the giants arm as it stuck in the earth. He ran up the bicep, dragging the razor-sharp edge of his sword long it as he ran, carving a crimson line across the muscle. The monster howled and reared up, letting go of the axe in the process. Razil reached the neck and was almost thrown of, as the writhing creature bucked like a stallion. he held on using the thing's helmet, an stabbed a long dagger right into the neck. The beast reared up, shrieking at the blade now embedded in him. Razil quickly drew a knife, plunged it into the giants back, and let gravity take him down the curve of the back, splitting the flesh as he went like a rotten curtain.
He landed with a thud, feeling the ground under vibrate as the giant fell, never to rise again. Another blade came down, this time a long-sword, Razil deflected it, and came back with a slash to the gut, spilling the mans entrails. Razil spun in a circle, unleashing whips of reiatsu that cut, shredded, and decimated the bodies of whoever was near. Layering more reiatsu over his feet to increase his speed, he ran headlong at the nearest foe and punched him, sending all the force of his flying body into the blow. The man flew back as if he had been struck by a train, soaring twenty feet before hitting the ground, his crushed cuirass ringing like a bell. Razil aimed his two fore-fingertips over his shoulder, letting loose a reido blast that atomized the squad of swordsmen that had been sneaking up on him. He stood up, glad for the momentary reprieve. He cracked his neck, then parried another blow. The assault again bore down on him.
Razil burst out of the melee, now holding twin swords. He jumped and spun, landing on his heels and sliding backwards to a stop.
"Desecrate, Katana Fungeki!" wave of black reido energy shoot from the swing of the black blade, eradicating a column of advancing soldiers. Suddenly, the sky turned black as a literal hail of arrows descended on Razil like a swarm of angry locusts. He brought up a blade vortex just in time, only letting one arrow through to graze his calf. He let the wound bleed freely, as he held the barrier against the assauly, watching mulched arrows fly this way and that. It finally stopped, and Razil let the wave of energy that had gathered around him fly outward, pushing back the endless tide of sword bearing soldiers. He stopped, took a breath and leveled his black blade at the horde, the white held reverse in his left. He charged.
________________________________________________________________________ The battle continued as such for a large stretch of time, Razil lost track of the number of swordsmen, pike men, and archers he slew somewhere around the 763rd count. Hours were meaningless, as was thinking, it was all just hack and slash, bile and blood and bone, to survive at all costs. Razil was a skilled fighter, arguably the most skilled swordsman the Sereitei had, considering his weapon master background, but even he could not block everything. Razil had sustained several wounds during combat, there was an arrow-head embedded in his shoulder when a stray shot caught him, and a red line ran from his right hip to the very bottom of his ribcage, when a pike just barely scratched him. Aside from this, his flesh was pockmarked by numerous small holes and cuts, and his complexion was gray from the dust and exhaustion.
Still he fought on against the endless tide, sending heads, arms, legs, and various unrecognizable bits of flesh flying from him and their previous owners. Catching a sword blade over his head, he stabbed with his second sword and ran the soldier in question through. He whipped it out and straight back, the blade lengthening and turning into a long, razor-chain as it went. It wrapped around the necks and faces of several other enemies, all Razil had to do was give a slight tug, and he turned them into hamburger meat. His black blade was a bo staff at the moment, with embedded blades along the length of it. In his right hand the staff spun and struck, spraying blood and teeth at every strike. Every time he brought either weapon down, it was another soldier who fell, headless or otherwise into the bloodstained dirt, sometimes even two or three per strike. Yet still the endless savage waves assailed him, beating to and fro across the field, forcing Razil to run when their concentration became too great. He caught a flying arrow on his wrist guard, grabbed a man by the throat in the same motion, and shoved him over an oncoming lance, impaling the poor b*****d where he stood. Using a moments reprieve, Razil gathered his energies into himself and concentrated on an idea he had been formulating. Reaching into himself, he found the central node that held his primal powers, and let it loose, embracing the Zaigou state. When the dust cleared, Razil stood encircled in black flame and lightning, skin tinged a dark red and eyes glowing dark violet. His swords had become razor-sharp claws that extended half a dozen inches from his hands, and his body was covered in white plates that all had a piercing tip, either at the knees, elbows, or feet.
"Predator form, initiating." he murmured, letting the feral instincts take over. As the assault once more closed in, Razil let out a snarl and lunged into action, tearing into the ranks with his clawed hands. The effect was spectacular, he cleaved muscle from bone, and limbs from central body masses. Every howl was the unleashing of a lethal reido beam from a choice of several appendages, always resulting in the death of dozens of more of the strange golems. Slowly, ever so slowly, in fact so slowly that only a person Zaigou state would have noticed, but the numbers began to dwindlw, and shrink, until only a few hundred of the soldiers were left, a motley collection of swordsmen and lancers, mediocre compared to the thousands that had risen hours before. Razil danced and skipped at the edge of the circle they occupied, keeping them in a central location.
Now that these idiots are standing still, the killer blow should be a cinch. he thought.
Choosing his moment, Razil began to cut into the ground six symbols, three with a short blade he formed from several claws, and three from his white-sheathed feet. His movements flashed white-black as he made a tour of the perimeter, etching the designs into the ground, dodging blows and killing more men where it was due. When the final symbol was cut, Razil made a leap straight up and dove into the center of the remainder of the once great army, hitting the ground with a shock wave of force. Those around him were blown back, while the poor shmuck underneath him was crushed outright. Razil took the split second he had to reform his black Katana from his claws, and cut the final design into the ground. The remaining soldiers regrouped, and charged Razil, the earth shook with their thunderous footsteps, and the air rang with the clanking of their armor. Razil smiled a little and, just before they reached him, stabbed his blade into the center etching.
"Chaos Seal"
The effect was instantaneous. Six beams of light radiated from the center point to each outer symbol, which in turn shot another beam to the others, forming a hexagon that encircled the remainder of the army. The mob milled about in confusion, banging against an invisible force barrier that kept them inside the hexagon. From where Razil stood in the center, a sphere of energy and chaos steadily grew from where his hands clutched the pommel of the sword now planted in the ground. The sphere expanded rapidly, soon engulfing everything inside the hexagon, slicing into billions of pieces whatever it touched. As the light and mist of blood subsided, Razil stood alone in the center of the field, the grass around him was simply gone, as was the army, All that remained was the scent of blood on the air, and the metallic glimmer of steel dust. Razil glanced around the field, glancing at the thousands of bodies littering the place, now realizing its familiarity. It was exactly as the death-realm looked. The only difference was this: that Razil had done it, he had vanquished an entire army on his own, and he could now call his weapon a thousand-body blade. His grip on the hilt of Katana Fungeki faltered, and Razil collapsed to the dusted and bloodied ground, completely drained. He often didn't show how much reiatsu he used up in battle, to disconcert his opponent, but his tiredness was so complete, nothing could keep him going any longer. Using what little strength he had left, Razil heaved himself up to lean against the implanted sword, and looked down at himself with tired eyes. The first thing he noticed was the numerous cuts and bruises he had gained, including one that opened up his right bicep, and a hole in his left side deep enough that Razil spied his own ribcage, gleaming white in its plush crimson package. The remains of his black gi, which had been tied around his neck and shoulders as a scarf was now virtually nonexistent, only a few tattered shreds remained. The bandanna around his forehead had suffered the same fate, and Razil's Zaigou mark burned faintly from his forehead, still leaking dark fire from the exertions of minutes before.
Razil sat there for a good while, and had just began to question why no-one had appeared yet to congratulate him on his victory, when he heard a sound behind him. It steadily grew in volume until Razil could identify it as footsteps, crunching in the dust. Every so often a crack and a shriek would ring out, when whatever it was would step on a discarded weapon, limb, or piece of armor.
Whoever this guy is, he is heavy Razil thought, turning his head on achinh neck just enough to see what it was. He was facing away from the sun where it was frozen in the sky, and so was momentarily blinded by its glare. As the bright spots faded from his eyes, Razil beheld his final opponent, and his eyes grew wide with amazement.
________________________________________________________________________ It was a metal colossus. A massive body with every inch covered in black Damascus Steel plate. The man could have easily been eight feet tall, and had the build of a professional football player. Intricate designs were cut in gold filigree across a breastplate the size of a car door, spikes rose from the shoulder-guards, and a dark red cape billowed from his back, snapping in the faint breeze. His head was capped in an ornate helmet that concealed most of his face, leaving two thin slits where the eyes would be. Across his back was strapped a gigantic sword, more of a giant blade with a handle sticking out of the end, really. Its sharp edge caught the dying sun and reflected the light sharply into Razil's eyes, making him blink. The massive soldier stopped its slow march, unstrapped his sword and swung it. The deftness of the flourish surprised Razil, and he realized that the man must be incredibly strong to swing such a piece of metal with that amount of dexterity. The tip of the blade bit into the dirt and stuck, and then the man stood still.
Razil sighed an exhausted breath, then slowly and painfully crawled to his feet. Bracing himself against his own sword as a support, he regarded his new opponent with calculating eyes.
"You...must be the commanding officer of this army." Razil said matter-of-factly. The hulking form nodded slowly, crossing its arms with the grating sound of scraped metal.
"Hm. Sorry about your men, I didn't have very much choice you see."
The Officer did not reply, he simply stared.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Razil again spoke
"How much time do I have left?" The officer didn't respond for a moment, then raised two armored fingers.
"Two days?" Razil asked, incredulous. There was no way that he had killed all those men in one day. His doubts were confirmed when the officer shook his head, and once again showed the number two.
"Two hours then..." that was dangerously close...Razil would have to hurry. The officer nodded and, as if an invisible director had gestured a cue, grasped the hilt of his planted sword and tore it from the earth.
A sigh escaped from Razil's lips, and he realized he was going to pick up his blade once more. Steeling his body, he pulled his own sword from the ground and brought into a defensive stance in one fluid motion. Razil took a breath, filled his lungs, and all the pain was forgotten. He now existed to fight, that was his sole purpose, and the purpose consumed him. The officer was the final enemy, last of a great army.
He would be torn apart, just like the rest.________________________________________________________________________ Death Of Me - RED
The officer started to circle around Razil, sword held high in the air by one hand. Seeing no reason to delay this any further, Razil swept his own blade up and across his chest, then sped towards the hulking mass of metal and pain directly in front of him. The officer hefted the sword and brought it down, missing Razil by a fraction of an inch as he darted to the side at the last moment. Using the time it took the brute to wrench the sword from the trench it had cut, Razil leaped up and sent a shattering kick right into the face of the officer, sending him reeling back, clutching his face in agony. Razil followed up by landing, letting a bursts of energy explode underneath him and propel him up and forward. He landed again behind the writhing officer, and aimed a thrust of his blade between the two plates that protected his lower back. A last second turn by the beast deflected the attack to the left, and a mailed fist smashed into Razil's flank, he heard ribs snap and went flying off, hitting the ground with a painful roll, then coming to a stop.
As he slowly rose, spitting blood and phlegm, the earth shook anew, and Razil looked up to the officer again approaching, sword back in hand and twirling at superhuman speeds. The Shinigami rolled to his right and the huge edge of the sword shattered the ground next to him, sending shock-waves through his sine. Razil leaped up and away, wanting to get as much distance between himself and the officer as possible.
Hellfire, he's strong! Razil thought as he ran, clutching his broken side despite the pain.
I will have to be wary of getting in close, those fists of his will be the end of me otherwise.
He gripped the hilt of his Zanpakuto with both hands, and tugged, a burst of energy emanated from him and then dissipated, leaving him once again holding two katanas.
"Desecrate, Katana Fungeki."
He shaped the weapons with his mind, and the black katana in his right morphed into a bow, the white turning into a straight, small piece of metal that was attached to the curve as a counter-weight. Razil took aim and, setting his finger on the string, pulled back. A glowing rod of reiatsu formed along the weight, and when released flew towards its target with all the speed and accuracy of a regular bow. The modified Ghost Blade impacted on the breast of the giant, exploding on contact and hurling him backwards. When he recovered there was a sizable dent in his armor, about the size of a baseball.
Without batting an eye, the officer countered by raising his arm to shoulder level, and flicked his wrist. Several sharp darts fired from a hidden compartment in the armor, hurtling towards at Razil and trailing whistling black feathers. Razil caught one, deflected another with it, and had to use his right hand-guard to catch the last. The barb bit deep into the leather and pierced the metal plate, poking a hole in his hand big enough to hurt.
"Damn!" Razil cried, letting his hand drop and breaking off the tip of the dart with his two forefingers. He changed course and ran right at the officer, firing three more reiatsu arrows into him and driving him back, Razil jumped forward when he was within a few feet of the man and, drawing on his quickly dwindling reserves, morphed his bow into a long ninjato with black and white swirls up and down the blade. Lowering the straight blade to his left side, he slashed upwards, unleashing another wave of reido energy, point-blank at the brutes chest. His armor crumpled, and the huge mass of flesh and metal was sent hurtling backwards, crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar. He lay there for a moment, then clambered back to his feet, picking up his gargantuan sword where it had fallen. The officer shook himself off, gripped his blade, and charged. The world shook as if a herd of elephants was stampeding, and Razil was suddenly beset by a massive wall of metal churning the ground around him. He spun and dodged as fast as he could, but the beast was enraged from the last attack, and Razil was tired.
It is possible that he spun too slow, or that the sword was longer than he had anticipated, either way the result was the same. The sharp tip of the massive sword finally hit home, clipping Razil in the left bicep and slicing right through the soft tissue. Razil yelled in pain and dashed away, examining the wound. The blade had sheared straight through the flesh and nicked his bone, severing his brachial artery in the process. Dark arterial blood spewed from the wound and Razil began to grow faint from loss of the precious fluid, he sent reiatsu to form a barrier around the ends of the artery to seal them temporarily.
That will keep me from bleeding out...at least for now.
Razil again launched himself at the stalking menace that was the officer, using his superior agility and speed to land multiple hits, but they all glanced off the armor like mosquitoes hitting a windshield. Razil's vision wnt out, just for a moment from the loss of blood, that moment was all that was needed. The officer swung his sword right down, hammering the pommel onto the Shinigami's right shoulder, splitting the clavicle and driving Razil into the ground. He lay there, completely exhausted and unable to move.
This is bad... he thought, mind racing.
My arms are useless, and this giant lummox is about to cleave me in two like a piece of mutton. Damnit!
The officer stood over him, knowing that Razil wouldn't be able to fight back in his condition. He flourished his sword once more and brought it down to touch the blade-masters neck. He then raised the sword above his head, the sharp edge gleamed in the sun and blinded Razil, then it started to fall.
There's nothing I can do, I'm going to die! I have to activate bankai before he decapitates me...but how when i can't use my Zanpakuto?!
Then he realized his mistake, and looked down at Katana Fungeki, still clutched in his hand. The sword that was falling on him seemed to slow down, as everything else in the world did.
No....no use...be
The Zanpakuto was not a tool, it was a thing, a separate being entirely. Razil pushed his mind down through his shattered and useless arm, and into the sword itself. What he found was life, something dark and brooding, that reveled in destruction and the spilling of blood. It was also joyful, joyful that it had finally been found. The being that was Katana Fungeki raced towards Razil's mind after a moments hesitation, and engulfed him.
The world went black.
To a by-passer, it would have looked as if a giant black tornado had sprouted from the ground and swirled angrily up into the sky, where storm clouds formed and flashed with lightning. WHat actually had happened was that a incredible pillar of energy had shot up, and the dust and debris from the blast had been kicked up and was now revolving around the pillar at high speeds. To enter it was akin to being skinned by very fine sand-paper.
To the officer, it was suddenly chaos. He remembered being about to deliver the death blow, his blade inches from the knaves neck, when something black and powerful exploded from him. The officer recalled being thrown backwards and shakily returning to his feet, only to have the world around him dark. He stood in the dust storm, trying to discern where his opponent was, and what had happened in the past few seconds. As he stared, his eyes spied a black silhouette in the swirling dust, a shade blacker than midnight. As the officer readied his sword and prepared to charge, the black form lashed out, it's speed was incredible, much too fast for any normal human, the officer saw it coming at the last second and just barely blocked the attack with the edge of his weapon. The mass smashed into it and sent a numbing wave of energy down his arm, much stronger than anything he had encountered so far. At closer examination, he realized that his blade had cracked and chipped where it was struck, the integrity of the entire sword was now gone. This barely had time to register when another attack came from behind, slamming into his armor and sending him spinning away. He would have fallen, but another strike sent him flying in another direction, heavily denting the armor in the process. The officer staggered to his feet, his breathing disrupted by the crushed armor around his chest. He again saw the figure through blurred vision, and watched another strike, this time with something long and thin. He didn't have the speed to block it, and sharp pain bit through the haze as the sharp blade passed through his armor and flesh like butter. Hot blood flooded his armor and dripped down his body, filling his metal boots. His vision tunneled, and then was gone.
The dust cloud lifted, on quite a different scene. The officer fell to his knees, armor shrieking where it was dented and torn, and blood was smeared on the front, oozing from a large opening in his stomach. A few feet away, Razil stood, sword in hand and blood leaking from wounds he had received earlier. His breath was heavy, and his vision was going in and out, but he was exultant regardless, he had won. He slowly trudged towards the unmoving form of the officer, using Katana Fungeki as a support. The officer raised his head at Razil, and just stared, the Shinigami imagined what his eyes would look like, black, burning, filled with hate. The officer collected the last shreds of strength he had, and sent them into his arm. Ignoring the nausea and pain, he raised it at shoulder level and pointed it at Razil, waiting for him to get closer.
Razil stopped and raised his arms, letting the energy flow into his fingertips and having it gather in an orb at his chest. The black lightning that formed at his fingertips zapped inwards, the energy pooled and gathered, he kept charging the massive blast, waiting for the officer to do something that would lend him an excuse to fire it.
He finally got that excuse when the officer flicked his wrist up, sending two darts at Razil like earlier. The never reached their target
Razil let the reido energy he had gathered loose, and it blasted outwards from his chest, completely obliterating the darts and rushing the officer like the sweepers in the severed realm. The last thing the man saw was a wall of black swirling energy running towards him faster than a freight train. The wall hit the officer and, after a moment, continued on through him, stabbing out into the field until it dissipated about a mile away. Razil knelt down on a knee, letting himself rest for a moment. The battle was over. He stood up again with difficulty, and walked back towards the barn, hunting for traces of Yuuki-Taicho's reiatsu, passing by the remains of the officer: his legs. Blood hit the floor with every step, and Razil hoped he would make it before bleeding dry. Behind him, the sun resumed its natural course, and the multitude of bodies began to dissolve into smoke and burn away into the air, the only reminder of what had happened was the absence of vegetation, the thousands of footprints, and the blood. The field stood, three days before it had been lush and green, and now it was a mere scar on the earth, with dark marks and craters marring its surface. Many people would wonder what had come to pass in this place.
[Exit to 1st Squad Headquarters]
[Lesson 4: End]
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